Delhi 7-Day Itinerary: Slow Week with Agra and Jaipur

What is the best 7-day itinerary for Delhi?

Give Delhi one area a day and leave the middle of each day loose. Day 1: Connaught Place. Day 2: Old Delhi. Day 3: Humayun’s Tomb, Nizamuddin and Purana Qila. Day 4: Agra by train. Day 5: museums and gardens. Days 6–7: a Jaipur overnight, or Mehrauli, Hauz Khas and Akshardham.

Our Delhi 3-day itinerary packs the headline monuments into three full days. This week does the opposite: one district a day, a long break in the middle of each, an Agra day trip on a fixed train and the option of a night in Jaipur. It also adds sights the short plan skips, from Agrasen ki Baoli and Raj Ghat to Purana Qila and Safdarjung’s Tomb.

Hours and fees come from the Archaeological Survey of India, Incredible India, Delhi Tourism, the official Taj Mahal site and the museums’ own pages. Metro times and weekday fares come from Delhi Metro’s journey planner and walking distances from its tour guide, all checked on 16 and 17 October 2026. None of it is a first-hand walk-through.

Sleep near Connaught Place, where the Yellow and Blue lines meet, and the week’s rides stay short; our where to stay in Delhi guide weighs the alternatives. Check the season in best time to visit Delhi before you book, because fog, heat and smog all change how much walking a day can hold.

What does the week look like at a glance?

The table gives each day’s area, the main stops, the station or train and the closure that fixes its place in the week. Arriving on a Saturday works best: Monday then falls on day 3, whose ticketed sights list no closing day, and the Agra trip lands on a Tuesday, well clear of Friday.

Closures come from Incredible India for the Red Fort, the National Museum, Akshardham and the official Taj Mahal site; the Gatimaan’s days of running come from the Ministry of Railways. Metro rides are timed from Rajiv Chowk, Connaught Place’s interchange, on DMRC’s journey planner for a Wednesday; Sunday fares were lower when we checked.

If you cannot start on a Saturday, keep three rules: no Old Delhi on a Monday, no museum day on a Monday or a national holiday, and no Agra on a Friday. Everything else can move.

Day 1: How should you spend arrival day around Connaught Place?

Keep it short and central. From Rajiv Chowk, ride one stop to Barakhamba Road for Agrasen ki Baoli, a 103-step stepwell, then one stop the other way to Patel Chowk for Jantar Mantar, Jai Singh’s 1724 observatory. End at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, about 1 km from Rajiv Chowk, as the light goes.

DMRC’s tour guide describes Agrasen ki Baoli as a step well protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, 60 metres long and 15 metres wide with 103 stone steps, 650 metres from Barakhamba Road station. Its journey planner gives Rajiv Chowk to Barakhamba Road as a two-minute ride for ₹11 on a weekday, so this is a gentle first outing after a long flight.

Delhi Tourism dates Jantar Mantar to 1724, built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur, who also built observatories in Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura; it is open daily from sunrise to sunset and lists ₹300 for foreign visitors. DMRC puts it 550 metres from Patel Chowk station, one stop from Rajiv Chowk (DMRC). If you take the Jaipur option on day 6, you will see its larger sibling there.

DMRC lists Gurudwara Bangla Sahib 300 metres from Shivaji Stadium station and about 1 km from Rajiv Chowk (DMRC). Dress modestly and follow the dress and footwear rules at the entrance; the FCDO asks visitors to respect local dress codes at religious sites. If you land late, skip all of this and rest: day 1 is the week’s buffer.

Day 2: How do you take Old Delhi slowly?

Reverse the usual order. Enter the Red Fort when it opens at 9.30am, then visit Gurdwara Sis Ganj, 200 metres from Lal Quila station, and break for lunch and a rest. Return for Jama Masjid’s afternoon session from 1.30pm, then end at Raj Ghat, Gandhi’s memorial, 900 metres from Delhi Gate station.

Incredible India lists the Red Fort’s hours as 9.30am to 4.30pm, closed on Mondays, with the Jai Hind sound and light show every evening except Monday. The ASI’s own page says sunrise to 9pm and names no closing day, so plan around the stricter hours. Tickets for other foreign visitors are ₹600 in cash or ₹550 online, and the ASI dates the start of building to 1639.

From Rajiv Chowk, the planner gives 16 minutes to Lal Quila via Kashmere Gate for ₹32 on a weekday, and DMRC puts the fort 30 metres from that station and Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib 200 metres away (DMRC; DMRC). Spend the middle of the day at your hotel or over a long lunch; the FCDO warns that pickpockets and ticket touts target tourist areas, which is easier to manage when you are not tired.

Incredible India gives Jama Masjid’s hours as 7am to noon and 1.30pm to 6.30pm. DMRC describes Raj Ghat as the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated after his assassination in 1948, marked by a black marble cenotaph in a garden, with a prayer every Friday; it is 900 metres from Delhi Gate station, about 13 minutes from Rajiv Chowk (DMRC; DMRC). The 3-day itinerary does Old Delhi at a faster, sunrise-first pace.

Day 3: Why give a whole day to Humayun’s Tomb, Nizamuddin and Purana Qila?

Because the three sit close together and reward a slow pace, and none lists a Monday closure. See Humayun’s Tomb in the morning, walk to the Nizamuddin Dargah, rest through midday, then explore Purana Qila. The ASI lists Humayun’s Tomb as open until 9pm, so you could return for the evening instead.

The ASI says Humayun’s widow, Hamida Banu Begam, began the tomb in 1569, fourteen years after his death, and lists it as open from sunrise to 9pm; other foreign visitors pay ₹600 in cash or ₹550 online (ASI). DMRC puts the tomb 1.5 km from Jangpura station and the Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah 1.4 km from the same station, which the planner reaches from Rajiv Chowk in about 17 minutes for ₹32 (DMRC; DMRC).

The dargah is a place of worship, so dress modestly and follow the rules at the entrance; the FCDO asks visitors to respect dress codes at religious sites and to take care of possessions in crowds. Afterwards, rest through the hottest hours, especially from April to June, when Safdarjung’s mean high passes 36°C (IMD).

Delhi Tourism says Purana Qila stands on the site of Indraprastha, that Humayun built its gateway and walls for his new capital, Dinpanah, and that Sher Shah Suri continued the work after overthrowing him. It lists no closing day and a ₹300 fee for foreign visitors. The nearest station on DMRC’s list is Supreme Court, 2.3 km away (DMRC), so take an app cab or auto from Nizamuddin.

Day 4: How do you do Agra as a day trip by train?

Take the Gatimaan Express, timetabled at launch from Hazrat Nizamuddin at 08:10 to Agra Cantt at 09:50, with the return at 17:50. See the Taj Mahal first, then Agra Fort after lunch. Never go on a Friday: the Taj is closed and the Gatimaan did not run on Fridays.

The Ministry of Railways’ launch notice timetabled train 12050 from Hazrat Nizamuddin at 08:10 to Agra Cantt at 09:50, and 12049 back at 17:50, reaching Hazrat Nizamuddin at 19:30, every day except Friday. Indian Railways’ schedule enquiry sits behind a captcha we do not solve, so check today’s times when you book; reserved tickets open 60 days ahead, or 365 days for foreign tourists (Ministry of Railways).

For the early start, the metro works: DMRC’s first Blue Line train leaves Rajiv Chowk at about 5.58am, and the ride to Sarai Kale Khan–Nizamuddin, changing at Mayur Vihar-I, takes about 26 minutes for ₹43 on a weekday. DMRC lists that station’s gates 2 and 3 as the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station exits (DMRC). An app cab is the alternative; the FCDO advises against hailing taxis on the street.

The official Taj Mahal site gives hours from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset, closed only on Fridays, and a ₹1,100 foreign ticket including ASI and Agra Development Authority fees, plus ₹200 for the main mausoleum and ₹50 off online; children under 15 enter free and food is not allowed. Agra Fort, built by Akbar between 1565 and 1573, opens sunrise to sunset; foreigners pay ₹600 in cash, including a ₹50 toll, or ₹550 online. For sunrise or a full-moon viewing, sleep in Agra instead; see Delhi to Agra: train vs flight and is the Taj Mahal worth it.

Day 5: How do you spend a slow day of museums and gardens?

Start at the National Museum when it opens at 10am, Tuesday to Sunday, then walk past Rashtrapati Bhavan from Central Secretariat. After lunch, take the Yellow Line to Jor Bagh for Lodhi Garden and Safdarjung’s Tomb in the late afternoon, and end with dinner at Dilli Haat, one stop south.

The National Museum on Janpath opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, closes on Mondays and national holidays and charges foreign nationals ₹500; a notice on its site says the Arms and Armour, Textiles and Jewellery galleries are closed for renovation until further notice. DMRC puts it 750 metres from Seva Teerth station, formerly Udyog Bhawan, and Rashtrapati Bhavan 600 metres from Central Secretariat, four minutes from Rajiv Chowk (DMRC; DMRC).

Delhi Tourism lists Lodhi Garden as free and open daily, with Sayyid and Lodhi-period tombs, mosques and bridges, including the octagonal tombs of Muhammad Shah and Sikandar Lodhi. Safdarjung’s Tomb, built in 1753–54 for a viceroy of Awadh and described by Delhi Tourism as the last enclosed garden tomb in Delhi, opens sunrise to sunset and lists ₹300 for foreigners. DMRC puts it 450 metres from Jor Bagh station, with Lodhi Garden 900 metres away (DMRC).

Dilli Haat INA is a craft and food market where stalls rotate between registered craftspeople, with regional kitchens alongside; Delhi Tourism lists it as open daily from 11am to 8pm, and DMRC puts it 100 metres from Dilli Haat–INA station, two minutes from Jor Bagh for ₹11 (DMRC; DMRC). Delhi Tourism shows two different fee tables, so expect a small charge at the gate.

Days 6–7: How does an optional Jaipur overnight work?

Go on day 6 by a train that reaches Jaipur by late morning, see the City Palace, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar that afternoon, and catch Amber Fort’s light show at 7.30pm. On day 7, return to Amber for its 9am opening, then ride back to Delhi. Book both trains when your dates are fixed.

Incredible India says Jai Singh II founded Jaipur in 1727, lists direct trains from Delhi including the Shatabdi, Rajdhani, Duronto and Mandor Express, and puts the road at about five hours via NH 8. Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express, launched in April 2023, runs between Delhi Cantt and Ajmer with stops at Gurgaon, Alwar and Jaipur, covering Delhi Cantt to Ajmer in 5 hours 15 minutes (PIB). Confirm current times on Indian Railways when you book.

Incredible India gives the City Palace hours of 9.30am to 7.30pm, Hawa Mahal 9am to 4.30pm and Jantar Mantar 9am to 5pm. Do Hawa Mahal first, since it closes earliest; it was built in 1799 and has 953 windows. Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar, built between 1728 and 1734, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amber Fort, commissioned in 1592 and 11 km from the centre, opens 9am to 6pm, with light shows in English at 7.30pm and Hindi at 8pm.

The overnight can also end the trip: Incredible India notes international flights from Jaipur to cities including Muscat, Singapore and Abu Dhabi, so some travellers can fly home from there. Otherwise, allow most of day 7 for the return to Delhi and keep that evening free.

Days 6–7: What if you stay in Delhi instead?

Use day 6 for Mehrauli: Mehrauli Archaeological Park in the afternoon, then Qutub Minar, which the ASI lists as open until 8pm, in the evening light, and dinner around Hauz Khas. On day 7, see Akshardham’s exhibitions from 10am or the Lotus Temple, and leave the evening for packing and the airport.

The ASI describes Qutub Minar as 72.5 metres high, begun by Qutbu’d-Din Aibak in 1199, and lists it as open from sunrise to 8pm; other foreign visitors pay ₹600 in cash or ₹550 online (ASI). Qutab Minar station is about 27 minutes from Rajiv Chowk for ₹43 on a weekday, with the monument 1.7 km and Mehrauli Archaeological Park 1.2 km from the station (DMRC; DMRC). The 3-day plan visits at sunrise; this one uses the late opening.

For the evening, DMRC lists Hauz Khas Village about 2 km from Hauz Khas station and the Tomb of Firoz Shah Tughlaq 2.2 km from Green Park (DMRC), so a short auto ride from either station works. Hauz Khas is also where the Magenta Line reaches Terminal 1 in about 15 minutes for ₹32, useful before a domestic flight (DMRC).

Akshardham opens from 10am with last entry at 6.30pm, is free to enter, charges ₹260 for the exhibitions and ₹110 for the water show, and requires phones and cameras to go in its free cloakroom; its station is 13 minutes from Rajiv Chowk on the Blue Line (DMRC). The Lotus Temple opens Tuesday to Sunday, 8.30am to 5pm. For a late flight, the Airport Express from New Delhi reaches Terminal 3 in about 16 minutes for ₹64, with the last train from New Delhi at 11.40pm (DMRC).

Which closures, weather swaps and bookings matter most?

Mondays close the Red Fort, the National Museum, Akshardham and the Lotus Temple; Fridays close the Taj Mahal. Book the Agra and Jaipur trains, and ASI tickets online for the ₹50 discount. In fog, heat or poor air, swap gardens for museums, and keep one afternoon free for the unexpected.

IMD’s 1991–2020 normals for Safdarjung give 21.6 foggy days in January and 19.2 in December, a 39.9°C mean high in May and 226.8 mm of rain in August (IMD). The FCDO warns of severe air pollution from October to February, and Delhi’s average AQI was 354 in November 2025 (PIB). On bad days, move the Lodhi and Mehrauli blocks indoors to the National Museum or Akshardham, and avoid road travel in fog, as the FCDO advises.

Holidays shift closures too: the holiday calendar lists Diwali on 8 November 2026, Republic Day on 26 January 2027 and Holi on 23 March 2027, and the National Museum closes on national holidays. Before you fly, apply for an e-Tourist visa between 120 and four days before arrival on the official portal and file the free e-Arrival Card in the 72 hours before landing (FCDO).

A guided Old Delhi walk or an Agra tour with transport can replace the do-it-yourself days above. Compare the meeting point, group size, which entry tickets are included and the cancellation terms; our GetYourGuide vs Viator vs Klook comparison explains the differences.