Self-Guided Walking Tour in Delhi

A point-to-point route through Delhi's layered history, starting at the Red Fort in the old city and ending 12.9 km south at Humayun's Tomb, with 6 stops in between. This page gives you the map, the distance and time for every leg, real admission prices and opening hours, and shorter versions when the full walk is too much.

6 Stops12.9 km~4 hours walking6–7 hours with stops
See Interactive MapStartGPS Navigation + AI Guide

Try it for free

What you get with AI Tourguide
Full GPS navigationInteractive AI guidePersonalized to youWorks in your browser
Try this tour with Alex
See Interactive MapStartGPS Navigation + AI Guide

Try it for free

Delhi Walking Tour at a Glance

This route is built for travellers who want to read Delhi in order, from the 17th-century Mughal old city down to the garden tomb that shaped everything after it. Every interior on the way is optional. Skip the ticketed monuments and the outdoor walk still works; the point is that you decide where to spend your time, not a group schedule.

StartRed Fort
FinishHumayun's Tomb
Route typeA point-to-point line, not a loop. You move steadily south from the Red Fort in Old Delhi to Humayun's Tomb in the south, so there is almost no backtracking. Each leg pushes further in one direction.
Realistic timePure walking across the 12.9 km is roughly 2.5 to 3 hours, but nobody does it that way. With the six stops and the ticketed monuments, plan a full day of 6 to 7 hours, more if you sit through a Thursday qawwali session.
DifficultyLong by walking-tour standards at 12.9 km, and the surfaces swing from cramped Old Delhi market lanes to wide open New Delhi boulevards with little shade. The heat is the real difficulty, not the terrain, which stays mostly flat.
Cost to followThe outdoor route itself is free. Three interiors charge admission: the Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb are 600 INR each for foreigners (35 INR for Indians), and Jama Masjid is free but adds a 300 INR camera fee. Chandni Chowk, India Gate and Nizamuddin Dargah cost nothing.
Best for:

Travellers who want Mughal and colonial Delhi in chronological order and are comfortable mixing on-foot stretches with a metro ride or auto-rickshaw for the longer gaps.

The Route

Free Walking Tour Map of Delhi

6 stops12.9 kmabout 4 hours
Loading the interactive map…The complete walking route will appear here.
Want the route to guide you while you walk?Open the route with navigation and a personal guide for the history, stories and questions that matter to you.
Open route + AI guide

The 6 stops along this route

  1. Red Fort in Delhi, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour
    1Red Fort
  2. Chandni Chowk metro station in Delhi, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour
    2Chandni Chowk metro station
  3. Jama Masjid, Delhi in Delhi, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour
    3Jama Masjid, Delhi
  4. India Gate in Delhi, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour
    4India Gate
  5. Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour
    5Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah
  6. Humayun's Tomb in Delhi, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour
    6Humayun's Tomb
  7. That's the complete route.

    If you want more than the map and text, add live navigation and a conversational AI guide while you walk.

    Open route + AI guide
    You made it
Stop 1 of 6
Swipe →

Your Delhi Walking Tour, Stop by Stop

  1. 1

    Red Fort

    Red Fort in Delhi, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour

    The massive red sandstone walls stretch 2.5 km around the perimeter, rising over 30 meters at points. Enter through the Lahore Gate on the western side, which drops you into Chhatta Chowk, a covered arcade where vendors sell souvenirs and textiles in the same spot where Mughal courtiers once shopped for silk and jewels. The fort was completed in 1648 by Shah Jahan, designed by Ustad Ahmad Lahori, the same architect behind the Taj Mahal. Inside, the Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Public Audience) is where the emperor heard petitions from commoners. The Diwan-i-Khas behind it once held the legendary Peacock Throne before Nadir Shah looted it in 1739. The fort spans 254 acres, so budget 90 minutes for a proper visit. Mornings before 10:00 AM are noticeably quieter and cooler. From the Lahore Gate exit, turn left and walk west along Chandni Chowk Road.

    Hours
    Daily: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM (closed Mondays)
    Price
    600 INR (foreigners); 35 INR (Indians)
  2. 2

    Chandni Chowk metro station

    Chandni Chowk metro station in Delhi, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour

    The noise rises before you see the market. Chandni Chowk is one of the oldest and busiest market districts in India, laid out in the 1650s by Princess Jahanara Begum, Shah Jahan's daughter. The original design centered on a pool that reflected moonlight, giving the street its name (Moonlight Square). That pool is long gone, replaced by traffic and commerce. Every side lane specializes in something different: Paranthe Wali Gali has been frying stuffed parathas since the 1870s, Dariba Kalan sells silver jewelry, and Khari Baoli claims to be Asia's largest spice market. The recently pedestrianized stretch near the metro station makes the main road walkable. Stay alert for cycle rickshaws cutting through. Come before 11:00 AM on weekdays for manageable crowds. This is also a religious crossroads: a church, mosque, gurdwara, and Jain temple all sit within walking distance of each other. Head south from here toward the minarets visible above the rooftops.

    Hours
    Daily: 10 AM - 8 PM | Closed Sun
    Price
    Free
  3. 3

    Jama Masjid, Delhi

    Jama Masjid, Delhi in Delhi, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour

    You will see the three white marble domes and twin 40-meter minarets from blocks away. Jama Masjid is India's largest mosque, built between 1644 and 1656 by 5,000 workers under Shah Jahan's command. The courtyard holds 25,000 worshippers. Enter from the eastern gate (Gate No. 3) facing the Red Fort direction. Shoes off, and women should carry a scarf to cover their head and shoulders. The mosque is open daily 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:30 to 6:30 PM, closing for afternoon prayers in between. Climbing the southern minaret gives you the best rooftop view of Old Delhi, period. The spiral staircase is narrow and dark, not for anyone with claustrophobia. The eastern gateway was historically reserved for the Mughal Emperor's personal use. Spend 30 to 45 minutes here. The streets south of the mosque lead into the Matia Mahal food area, where kebab shops have been grilling since the Mughal era.

    Hours
    Daily: 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:30 – 6:30 PM
    Price
    Free (300 INR camera fee)
  4. 4

    India Gate

    India Gate in Delhi, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour

    The shift from Old Delhi to New Delhi is dramatic. The 42-meter stone arch stands at the end of Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath), flanked by manicured lawns and wide empty boulevards designed by Edwin Lutyens. Completed in 1931, India Gate bears the engraved names of 13,218 soldiers who died in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. The design was directly influenced by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Beneath the arch, the Amar Jawan Jyoti (Eternal Flame) burns for unknown soldiers. No entry fee, no closing time. The lawns fill up in the evenings with families, ice cream vendors, and balloon sellers, creating a carnival atmosphere. Early morning is peaceful and best for photographs. The surrounding area was recently redeveloped with new gardens and walkways. Do not bother with the overpriced snack stalls near the parking areas. Bring water and find shade on the lawns.

    Hours
    Always open
    Price
    Free
  5. 5

    Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah

    Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour

    The narrow lanes of Nizamuddin Basti compress around you as you approach the shrine. Street vendors sell flower petals, rose water, and green cloth offerings. The dargah honors Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, a 14th-century Sufi saint of the Chishti order who died in 1325. The marble tomb sits inside a courtyard surrounded by smaller graves, including that of the poet Amir Khusrow and Princess Jahanara, whose grave remains open to the sky by her own request. Open daily 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM, with extended hours to 10:30 PM on Thursdays. Entry is free. Thursday evenings are when qawwali sessions happen in the courtyard. If you can time your visit for a Thursday evening, do it. The devotional singing starts after the evening prayer and continues for hours. Cover your head and remove your shoes. The atmosphere is unlike anything else in Delhi: incense, rose petals, singing voices echoing off marble walls. Humayun's Tomb is barely a 10-minute walk east from here.

    Hours
    Mon-Wed: 5:30 AM – 10:00 PM | Thu: 5:30 AM – 10:30 PM | Fri-Sun: 5:30 AM – 10:00 PM
    Price
    Free
  6. 6

    Humayun's Tomb

    Humayun's Tomb in Delhi, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour

    The first Mughal garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent, and the building that changed the course of Indian architecture. Completed in 1572 for Emperor Humayun, commissioned by his widow Hamida Banu Begum, designed by Persian architects from Herat. The central tomb rises 47 meters inside a charbagh (four-part garden), and the symmetry is flawless from every angle. Red sandstone with white marble detailing. The complex contains over 150 Mughal family graves spread across the surrounding garden structures. Near the entrance, Isa Khan's octagonal tomb (1547) is worth a separate stop for its blue-tiled dome and quiet garden. Morning light is best for photographs. The gardens are peaceful before 10:00 AM and the red sandstone turns gold in late afternoon. Budget 60 to 90 minutes. The garden paths are flat and well maintained, a welcome contrast after the cramped lanes of Old Delhi. This is the final stop on the route, leaving you in south Delhi with easy metro access from JLN Stadium or Jangpura stations.

    Hours
    Daily: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Price
    600 INR (foreigners); 35 INR (Indians)

How Long Does This Walking Tour Really Take?

The walking alone is about 2.5 to 3 hours, but the monuments are where the day goes: budget 90 minutes for the Red Fort, 30 to 45 at Jama Masjid, and 60 to 90 at Humayun's Tomb. Add Chandni Chowk and Nizamuddin and you have a comfortable 6 to 7 hour day.

The route covers 12.9 km with 6 stops. Pure walking time is about 2.5 hours, but you should plan for a full day of 6 to 7 hours with proper stops. Red Fort deserves 90 minutes. Jama Masjid needs 30 to 45 minutes. Humayun's Tomb is worth 60 to 90 minutes. Nizamuddin Dargah, especially on a Thursday evening for qawwali, can absorb an hour or more. The gap between Jama Masjid and India Gate is too long to walk comfortably in Delhi's heat. Use the metro (Yellow Line to Central Secretariat, then Violet Line) or take an auto-rickshaw. In summer (April through June), limit outdoor walking to before 10:00 AM and after 4:00 PM. Midday temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius are not something to push through.

Full Route, Shorter Walk or Two-Day Version?

The full route is 6 stops over 12.9 km, and the middle leg from Jama Masjid to India Gate is a 5 km grind through traffic that almost nobody should walk. Here are three honest ways to run it, depending on your heat tolerance and how much time you have.

The full route

All six stops, Red Fort to Humayun's Tomb

Stops 1–6, the complete 12.9 km, a full day of 6–7 hours with stops

Everything in chronological order: Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, then a metro or rickshaw hop south to India Gate, Nizamuddin Dargah and Humayun's Tomb. Do the Old Delhi cluster on foot and use transport for the two long legs (stops 3–4 and 4–5).

Old Delhi only

The compact Mughal core

Stops 1–3, about 3.5 km on foot, 3–4 hours with stops

Red Fort, Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid sit within an easy 3.5 km of each other and make a self-contained morning. Cut the long southern legs entirely. This is the version to pick if the heat is brutal or you only have half a day.

Two-day split

Old Delhi one day, New Delhi the next

Day one stops 1–3, day two stops 4–6, each half a day

Split at Jama Masjid. Do the three Old Delhi stops one morning, then start fresh another day at India Gate, walk to Nizamuddin Dargah and finish at Humayun's Tomb. This removes the awkward 5 km transfer leg and lets you time Nizamuddin for a Thursday evening qawwali.

You can run it in reverse from Humayun's Tomb up to the Red Fort, but the given south-bound direction is better: you clear the crowded Old Delhi lanes early in the cooler morning and finish in the calm gardens of Humayun's Tomb, which have easy metro access nearby.

Is This Delhi Walking Tour Right for You?

Delhi rewards a self-guided walker who comes prepared, but it asks more of you than a compact European old town. Here is who this route suits and how to bend it to your day.

A good fit if you…

  • Travellers who want Mughal and colonial history laid out in chronological order in one route
  • Anyone comfortable combining walking with a short metro ride or auto-rickshaw for the long gaps
  • Early risers willing to start by 8:00 AM to beat both the crowds and the heat
  • Visitors who like mixing ticketed monuments with free markets, mosques and memorials

Adapt the route if you…

  • If the heat is intense, cut to the Old Delhi cluster (stops 1–3) and skip the exposed southern legs
  • If you have only half a day, run the compact Mughal core and save New Delhi for another time
  • If you want the qawwali singing, time the Nizamuddin Dargah stop for a Thursday evening
  • If long transfers tire you out, use the two-day split and remove the 5 km transfer leg entirely

Tickets & Skip-the-Line in Delhi

Three stops on this route charge admission or a camera fee; the rest are free open spaces. Here is what each costs and when it's open, so you can plan your day and buy tickets before you arrive rather than queuing in the heat.

Red Fort600 INR for foreigners, 35 INR for Indians. Open daily 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, closed Mondays. Buy your ticket online before you go to skip the counter queue, and arrive before 10:00 AM for the quietest, coolest visit. official ticket site ↗
Jama Masjid, DelhiEntry is free, but there is a 300 INR camera fee if you carry one. Open daily 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:30 to 6:30 PM, closing for afternoon prayers in between. Bring a scarf to cover your head and shoulders. official ticket site ↗
Humayun's Tomb600 INR for foreigners, 35 INR for Indians. Open daily 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Book online to avoid the counter line, and come before 10:00 AM when the gardens are peaceful and the light is best. official ticket site ↗
Everything elseChandni Chowk, India Gate and Nizamuddin Dargah are all free to enter, open public spaces with no tickets required. India Gate is always open; the dargah runs 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM (to 10:30 PM Thursdays).
Optional upgrade
+2
The same 6-stop route,
now with navigation and a guide.
Optional AI experience

You already have the route.
The AI guide brings it to life.

Standing in the chaos of Chandni Chowk wondering which alley leads where? Open AI Tourguide in your browser, no app, no download, and a voice guide walks the whole route with you, from the Red Fort and Jama Masjid down to India Gate and Humayun's Tomb, telling the story along the way, asking what you want to see and adapting as you go. A real conversation built into the walk, not a recording. Start with 100 free credits.

Livenavigation13languagesAnyquestionYourinterests
▶Open this route with the AI guide

Try it in your browser · No app or download required

Tips for Walking in Delhi

  • Start at Chandni Chowk Metro (Yellow Line) by 8:00 AM to reach Red Fort before the crowds build. The metro opens at 6:00 AM on weekdays. Buy a tourist card at any station for unlimited daily rides across all lines.
  • Carry a scarf or shawl. You will need head covering at Jama Masjid and Nizamuddin Dargah. Women should also cover shoulders. Having your own avoids renting one at the mosque entrance.
  • In Chandni Chowk, eat at Paranthe Wali Gali. The oldest shop, Pt. Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan, serves stuffed parathas with curd and pickle. Near Nizamuddin, Karim's on Gali Kababiyan serves mutton burra kebab that has been on the menu for over a century.
  • Agree on auto-rickshaw fares before getting in. Meters exist but are rarely used. A fair price from Jama Masjid to India Gate is roughly 150 to 200 INR. The metro is more reliable: clean, air-conditioned, and connects to most stops on this route.
  • The best photograph on this route: stand at the southern end of Kartavya Path facing north toward India Gate in early morning light. The arch frames perfectly against the sky without harsh shadows. At Humayun's Tomb, the reflection pool on the south side gives a mirror image at sunrise.

Why Walk This Route?

This walking tour through Delhi covers 6 stops across 12.9 km in about 3.8 hours, connecting three centuries of Mughal architecture with the grand British-era boulevards of New Delhi. You start at the massive Red Fort, push through the sensory overload of Chandni Chowk, stand beneath the domes of India's largest mosque, cross south to the 42-meter war memorial at India Gate, slip into the medieval Sufi lanes of Nizamuddin, and finish at the garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal. The distances between stops are significant. This is not a compact European stroll. Plan for a full day, use the metro or auto-rickshaws for the longer gaps, and carry water at all times. Start early: Delhi's heat builds fast, and the Old Delhi section is best before the crowds and temperatures peak.

Common Questions

Can I walk the entire 12.9 km route or should I use transport between stops?

The Old Delhi section (Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid) is walkable and should be done on foot. The gap from Jama Masjid to India Gate is about 5 km through heavy traffic, so take the metro or an auto-rickshaw. From India Gate to Nizamuddin is another stretch better covered by transport. Nizamuddin Dargah to Humayun's Tomb is a pleasant 10-minute walk. Think of this as three walkable clusters connected by short metro or rickshaw hops.

Is Delhi safe to walk around?

The major tourist areas on this route are generally safe during daylight. The area around India Gate is heavily policed. Old Delhi around Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid is crowded but not dangerous. Stay alert for pickpockets in dense market areas. Avoid poorly lit back lanes after dark, particularly around Old Delhi Railway Station. Common issues include fake tour guides near Red Fort and rigged auto-rickshaw meters. Women walking alone should use the metro's women-only carriage (first car) during peak hours.

What is the best time of year to do this tour?

October through March is the best window, when daytime highs stay between 20 and 28 degrees Celsius. November and February are ideal. April through June is brutally hot, with temperatures above 40 degrees regularly, and walking after 11:00 AM becomes miserable. The monsoon from July through September brings heavy rain and humidity but also green gardens and fewer tourists. If visiting in summer, start at 7:00 AM and finish the outdoor stops by 11:00 AM.

Take this route with you

Open this exact tour with navigation and your personal AI guide.

Start GPS Navigation + AI Guide
AI Tourguide
Researched and curated by the AI Tourguide teamWe plan and quality-check every route, then research and verify the opening hours, prices, and practical tips for each stop along it.
▶ Open route with AI guideNavigation, stories and your questions