Old Delhi: The Real City Experience
Step into the lanes, markets and everyday life of Old Delhi with a local who knows how to navigate it.
Duration
3 Hours
Max People
No limit, 1 guide for 4 people
Tour Type
Private, Group, Customisable
Meeting Point
Rajiv Chowk
Experience Delhi beyond the Monuments
Old Delhi is busy, layered and full of contrasts. Markets spill into narrow streets. Rickshaws weave through crowds. Places of worship sit alongside shops that have served generations. Around every corner, everyday life carries on.
Exploring it alone can be fascinating, but also overwhelming.
With a local guide, you’ll experience the neighbourhood with someone who can help you make sense of what you’re seeing, navigate its busiest corners and share the stories, traditions and everyday details you might otherwise walk past.
This isn’t simply sightseeing. It’s a few hours inside one of the most distinctive parts of Delhi.
Price starting from INR 2500 per person.
Prefer to plan with us first?
Have questions, want to make changes, or combine this tour with another experience? Tell us about your plans and we’ll help you work out the details.
This experience can also be customised around your interests and available time.
A Few Hours in Old Delhi
Your experience begins with an introduction to Shahjahanabad, the historic walled city that became Old Delhi, before you step into its markets, streets and places of worship. A typical experience includes:
Meet at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, Gate No. 8, usually at 9:30 AM, and travel together by Metro for two stops into Old Delhi.
The Metro isn’t simply transportation. It’s also your first taste of how millions of people move through Delhi every day.
Enter the lanes of Old Delhi and make your way to its historic Spice Market, surrounded by sacks of spices, traders, porters and the activity of a working wholesale market.
Step away from the busy streets for a rooftop view across Old Delhi.
From above, you’ll get a different perspective on the neighbourhood you’ve just been walking through, its rooftops, buildings and dense network of streets stretching around you.
Hop onto a rickshaw and travel through the old city’s streets, passing the Red Fort and experiencing the movement and energy of the neighbourhood along the way.
Your guide will introduce you to the history and context of the places you’re passing rather than simply pointing them out.
Continue through Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi’s best-known historic market areas, while experiencing the shops, streets and everyday activity around you.
Finish your exploration at Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, a historic Sikh temple in the heart of Chandni Chowk.
Learn about Sikh traditions and visit the community kitchen, or langar, where meals are prepared and served to people regardless of religion, background or circumstance.
Travel back with your guide, finishing approximately three hours after you began.
Want to change something?
This experience can be adapted around your interests and combined with other Delhi experiences.
Everything You Need to Explore Comfortably
What's Included
- Private local professional guide
- Metro ride
- Rickshaw ride
- Mineral water throughout the journey
- Toilet stops
- Tea or cold drink
- Personal support from your guide throughout the day
What's Not Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off aren’t included in the standard tour but can be arranged at an additional cost
- Food, shopping and other personal purchases are not included
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible
Good to Know before the Tour
Expect some walking
Old Delhi is best experienced partly on foot. Wear comfortable footwear and let us know if anyone in your group has mobility concerns.
Dress for Delhi's weather
Delhi summers can be extremely hot, while December and January mornings can be cold. Check the forecast and dress accordingly.
Accessibility
Parts of Old Delhi can be difficult for travellers using wheelchairs or with significant mobility limitations. Contact us before booking to discuss what's possible.
Expect a busy environment
Crowds, traffic, sounds, smells and activity are part of the Old Delhi experience. Stay close to your guide while moving through busier areas.
Visiting religious sites
Modest clothing may be required at places of worship. Shoes are removed and heads may need to be covered at Sikh temples. Your guide will explain what to expect.
Bring a little cash
It may be useful to bring some cash if you want to buy anything outside of what's included in the tour.
Explore Old Delhi with Us
Below is how our booking process looks like:
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Step 5
Want something different?
Combine this experience with another Delhi or Agra tour or create a completely custom itinerary.
Here's what our customers say...
Frequently Asked Questions
Both options are available. Private pricing varies according to the number of travellers.
Yes. The standard meeting point is Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, but hotel pick-up and drop-off can be arranged at an additional cost.
Families can join, but keep in mind that Old Delhi involves walking, crowds and busy streets. Let us know the ages of your children and we can advise you.
Comfortable clothing and walking shoes are recommended. Dress modestly for religious sites.
Yes. You can combine parts of this tour with experiences such as our Old Delhi Food Tour, New Delhi Sightseeing, tuk-tuk tour or another Delhi experience.
Tell us what you’d like to combine in our our custom Plan My Delhi Tour form, and we’ll help work out what is realistic within your available time.
Have more questions? Reach out to us at delhibylocals@gmail.com or Call/WhatsApp at +91 9599679235
Want to See More of Delhi & Beyond?
Travel that gives something back.
Since 2017, Delhi by Locals has supported Learning by Locals, a community initiative helping young people develop skills and opportunities for their future.
When you travel with us, you’re not simply paying for a tour. You’re supporting a business that believes travel can create connections and opportunities beyond the traveller.
50% of our profits are invested in youth empowerment.
