What currency is used in Delhi?

Delhi uses the Indian rupee (INR).

How much does a day in Delhi cost?

Roughly $20-35 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $60-110 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Delhi?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Delhi without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Delhi travel guide

India

Mughal monuments, crowded bazaars and wide colonial avenues share one sprawling capital. Delhi is intense, but its gardens, tombs and food reward anyone who paces themselves.

Essentials

Language: Hindi and English
Currency: Indian rupee (INR)
Plugs: Type C, D and M, 230 V
Emergency number: 112
Tipping: Around 10% is usual in sit-down restaurants if no service charge has been added; small tips for drivers and hotel staff are appreciated.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $20-35, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $60-110, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Delhi

Old Delhi: Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid and lanes of street food and spice traders.
Paharganj: a hectic, budget-friendly base right beside New Delhi railway station.
Hauz Khas: medieval ruins and a lake beside a strip of cafés, galleries and bars.

Getting around Delhi

The metro is the calmest way to cross the city, and on most lines the first carriage is reserved for women. For shorter trips use auto-rickshaws or ride-hailing apps, agreeing a rickshaw fare before you set off.

Best time to visit Delhi

October to March, though air pollution is often at its worst from November to January.

Top things to do in Delhi

Explore Humayun's Tomb, the garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal
See the 13th-century Qutub Minar and the ruins around it
Share the free communal meal at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, covering your head as asked
Walk the red sandstone walls of the Red Fort
Take a cycle-rickshaw through the lanes of Chandni Chowk

What to eat in Delhi

Chole bhature: spiced chickpeas with puffed, deep-fried bread
Parantha: stuffed flatbread fried on a griddle, famous in Old Delhi's Paranthe Wali Gali
Butter chicken: tandoori chicken in a mild, creamy tomato sauce, a Delhi creation
Jalebi: coils of fried batter soaked in syrup, best eaten hot

Day trips from Delhi

Agra: the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, about two hours by fast train
Jaipur: the forts and bazaars of the Pink City, around four to five hours by train, so better as an overnight

Local etiquette

Cover shoulders and knees at religious sites and take off your shoes; at gurdwaras and some mosques you will also need to cover your head. Use your right hand for eating and passing things.

Staying connected

Local SIMs need a passport and photo and can take some hours to activate, so many visitors use an eSIM; Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés.

Staying safe

Ignore anyone near New Delhi station who says the ticket office is closed and steers you to an agency, and watch for pickpockets in markets and on the metro. Check the air quality index in winter and limit long outdoor exertion on bad days.

A local tip

Walk Lodhi Garden early in the morning, when joggers and families share the lawns with 15th- and 16th-century tombs.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Delhi on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Delhi for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Delhi, you could be one of the first hosts.

Join free

Questions about Delhi

What currency is used in Delhi?: Delhi uses the Indian rupee (INR).
What is the emergency number in Delhi?: In Delhi, call 112.
When is the best time to visit Delhi?: October to March, though air pollution is often at its worst from November to January.
How much does a day in Delhi cost?: Roughly $20-35 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $60-110 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Delhi?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Delhi without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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