Book Flights to Delhi, India
Delhi — India's capital and one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities — is the gateway to the Taj Mahal (200 km away by fast train), Mughal Old Delhi's extraordinary bazaars and mosques, the Qutb Minar (world's tallest brick minaret) and a 1,600-year-old iron pillar that still hasn't rusted, and Lutyens' sweeping imperial capital built for an empire that lasted 16 more years.
Air India and United fly nonstop from multiple US cities. India e-Visa is simple to obtain online ($80 USD, 72-96 hours). October–March is ideal. FareOptic finds the best fares to DEL.
Cheap Flight Deals to Delhi
*All above fares are one way/round trip. Fares incl. all fuel surcharges, taxes & fees and our service fees. Displayed fares are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed at the time of booking. See all booking terms and conditions.
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Why Visit Delhi, India?
From the world's most photographed building (the Taj Mahal, 200 km by fast train) to the most intense medieval bazaar in Asia (Chandni Chowk at dawn), a 1,600-year-old iron pillar that has never rusted, and the sweeping Lutyens boulevards of a British imperial capital that outlasted the empire by 84 years, Delhi rewards in layers.
Taj Mahal — Agra, 200 km from Delhi
The World's Most Perfect Building — Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, 1653 ADThe Taj Mahal (Agra, 200 km / 3-4 hrs from Delhi by train or car) — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World — is the most celebrated building in the world: a mausoleum built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658) for his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631. Built from translucent white Makrana marble, inlaid with semi-precious stones in pietra dura floral patterns, the structure shifts colour through the day — blue-grey before dawn, ivory white in morning sun, and gold at sunset.
Architectural Perfection
The Taj Mahal's visual perfection derives from extraordinary proportional relationships: the central dome (73m) and four minarets (41m, each leaning 3° outward — to fall away from the tomb in case of earthquake) are arranged in perfect bilateral symmetry on a 180m × 300m platform above the Yamuna River. The reflecting pool (the Hauz-i-Kausar, 'tank of abundance') doubles the visual mass of the complex. Every element — the geometric garden layout, the calligraphy, the stone inlay — was calculated to reinforce the single central dome. The best time to visit: 30 minutes before sunrise (daily entry from one hour before sunrise).
Old Delhi — Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, Red Fort
Mughal Delhi — the 17th-Century Imperial CapitalOld Delhi (Shahjahanabad — built by Emperor Shah Jahan, 1639-1648) is one of the world's most intense and historically concentrated urban environments: the Red Fort (Lal Qila, 1648 — UNESCO World Heritage, the Mughal Imperial Palace complex); Jama Masjid (1656 — India's largest mosque, 25,000 worshippers simultaneously); Chandni Chowk (the main bazaar street, 1650 — a continuous festival of spice vendors, silver smiths, textile merchants, and food stalls); and the narrow lanes of Khari Baoli (Asia's largest spice market) and Dariba Kalan (Delhi's silver market).
Chandni Chowk at Dawn
Chandni Chowk (Moonlight Square) — Old Delhi's main commercial street, commissioned by Shah Jahan's daughter Jahanara Begum in 1650 — is best experienced at dawn: the Old Delhi Railway Station paratha-wallah breakfast stalls (Paranthe Wali Gali, Paratha Lane — a tiny alley of legendary breakfast shops operating since 1875), the wholesale flower market at the Fatehpuri Mosque end, the empty bicycle rickshaws, and the first light on the Red Fort's sandstone battlements. By 9am it becomes impassable with traffic; arrive before 7:30am.
Qutb Minar and the Iron Pillar
The World's Tallest Brick Minaret — and a 1,600-Year-Old Rust-Free Iron PillarThe Qutb Minar complex (UNESCO World Heritage) — in southern Delhi — is the oldest surviving Islamic building complex in India: the Qutb Minar (1193 AD — 72.5m tall, the world's tallest brick minaret), the Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque (the first mosque built in India after the Islamic conquest of Delhi, 1193), and the extraordinary Iron Pillar of Delhi.
The Iron Pillar — 4th-century Corrosion-Free Iron
The Iron Pillar of Delhi — a 7.21-metre solid iron pillar standing in the courtyard of the Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque — was forged approximately 375-415 AD (Gupta Dynasty period) and has stood exposed to Delhi's monsoon humidity for 1,600 years without rusting. The pillar's corrosion resistance (discovered by modern metallurgists in the 20th century) results from a unique phosphoric iron alloy used in ancient Indian metalworking — a protective misawite (iron hydrogen phosphate hydrate) film forms on the surface and prevents further oxidation. The Sanskrit inscription identifies it as a pillar erected in honour of Vishnu and a king named Chandra (believed to be Chandragupta II, 380-415 AD).
Humayun's Tomb and the Lodi Garden
The Mughal Prototype for the Taj Mahal — UNESCO, 1572 ADHumayun's Tomb (UNESCO World Heritage, 1572 AD) — Delhi's most graceful Mughal monument — is the tomb of the second Mughal Emperor Humayun (died 1556), built by his Persian widow Haji Begum and designed by the Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas. The double-domed white marble and red sandstone structure — the first garden-tomb in India — was the direct architectural prototype for the Taj Mahal (built 77 years later). The adjacent Lodi Garden contains the 15th-century tombs of the Lodi and Sayyid dynasties in an extraordinary urban park.
Isa Khan's Tomb — the Octagonal Garden
Within the Humayun's Tomb complex, the Isa Khan Niyazi tomb enclosure (1547 AD — the tomb of Isa Khan, a noble of the Sur Dynasty and Humayun's contemporary and occasional adversary) is a beautiful octagonal garden-tomb: smaller than Humayun's monument, it illustrates the immediate predecessor garden-tomb form. The combination of red sandstone, blue-glazed Qoranic inscription tiles, and the central octagonal tomb chamber is exquisite.
New Delhi — Lutyens' Imperial Capital
Edwin Lutyens' 1911-1931 British Imperial CityNew Delhi — the British Imperial capital designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker (commissioned 1911, inaugurated 1931) — is one of the most ambitious planned cities of the 20th century: a ceremonial boulevard (Rajpath, now Kartavya Path) 3 km long connecting the India Gate (1931 WWI memorial arch, 42m) to Rashtrapati Bhavan (the Presidential Palace, 340 rooms — Lutyens' masterpiece of Indo-Saracenic classicism, 1929), flanked by the Secretariat Buildings, and surrounded by 2km-wide hexagonal radial roads. The ensemble was designed to project British imperial permanence; India became independent 16 years after its inauguration.
The India Gate
The India Gate (All India War Memorial, 1931) — a 42-metre basalt arch at the eastern end of Kartavya Path — commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in World War I and the Afghan Wars. The names of 13,300 soldiers are inscribed on its surface. The Amar Jawan Jyoti (Eternal Flame, 1972) burns at its base in memory of soldiers who died in the 1971 India-Pakistan War. The India Gate on Rajpath at dusk — lit and surrounded by garden picnickers — is one of Delhi's most beloved public spaces.
How to Find Cheap Flights to Delhi
Book Air India or United Nonstop — Direct US–Delhi Flights Are Competitive
Air India and United offer nonstop US–Delhi flights that are price-competitive with one-stop Gulf carrier options. Nonstop removes the 3-5 hour layover penalty; the total journey is 14-15 hours versus 17-21 hours one-stop. Book 3-4 months ahead for best prices.
India E-Visa Is Easy — Apply Online 4-7 Days Before
US citizens can apply for an India e-Visa online at indianvisaonline.gov.in (fee approximately $80 USD). The e-Tourist Visa is typically approved within 72-96 hours and is valid for 180 days (multiple entry). Apply at least 4-7 days before departure to allow time for processing. The e-Visa is presented on arrival at Delhi Airport.
October–March Is the Ideal Season — Avoid May–August Heat and Monsoon
Delhi's climate has extreme seasonal variation. October–November (25-30°C, clear, post-monsoon) and February–March (20-28°C, moderate heat) are ideal. December–January is cold (5-20°C) but clear — excellent for Taj Mahal visits. Avoid May–June (40-45°C — one of the hottest cities on Earth) and July–September (monsoon — flooding and humidity).
Agra Day Trip: Take the Gatimaan Express — 100 minutes from Delhi
The Gatimaan Express (New Delhi to Agra Cantonment, 1 hr 40 min, 160 km/h — India's fastest train) is the best Taj Mahal day-trip option. Departs New Delhi at 8:10am, arrives Agra 9:50am — enough time to walk the Taj, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri before the return train. Book well in advance at irctc.co.in.
Airlines Flying to Delhi (DEL)
Air India
India's National Carrier — Multiple US Nonstop Routes to Delhi DELAir India (now owned by the Tata Group since 2022) operates nonstop service to Delhi (DEL) from New York JFK, Chicago ORD, San Francisco SFO, and Washington Dulles (IAD) — making it the dominant carrier for direct US–Delhi travel. Air India's fleet has been modernized following the Tata acquisition. The New York–Delhi nonstop is approximately 14-15 hours (eastbound).
Key Routes
Air India nonstop from New York JFK to Delhi DEL (14-15 hrs); Air India nonstop from Chicago ORD to Delhi DEL; Air India nonstop from San Francisco SFO to Delhi DEL; Air India nonstop from Washington Dulles IAD to Delhi DEL
United Airlines
Star Alliance — Nonstop Newark EWR and San Francisco SFO to DELUnited Airlines operates nonstop service from Newark (EWR) and San Francisco (SFO) to Delhi DEL. United's Star Alliance partnership with Air India allows seamless booking across both networks. United's Boeing 787 Dreamliner service provides a comfortable cabin on the 14-15 hour flight.
Key Routes
United Airlines nonstop from Newark EWR to Delhi DEL (14 hrs, approximately); United Airlines nonstop from San Francisco SFO to Delhi DEL; United connections from Chicago ORD, Los Angeles LAX, Houston IAH, Washington IAD, and other US cities via EWR or SFO hubs to DEL
Emirates, Qatar Airways & Turkish Airlines
One-Stop Middle East and Istanbul Hub ConnectionsEmirates (Dubai DXB), Qatar Airways (Doha DOH), and Turkish Airlines (Istanbul IST) all provide competitive one-stop connections from US cities to Delhi via their Gulf and Istanbul hubs. Dubai-Delhi is approximately 3 hours; Doha-Delhi is 3 hours; Istanbul-Delhi is 7 hours. These carriers often undercut direct US–Delhi fares.
Key Routes
Emirates from multiple US cities via Dubai DXB to Delhi DEL (3 hrs from DXB); Qatar Airways from multiple US cities via Doha DOH to Delhi DEL; Turkish Airlines from multiple US cities via Istanbul IST to Delhi DEL; Etihad via Abu Dhabi AUH to Delhi DEL
Things to Do in Delhi and the Golden Triangle
Important Information Before You Fly to Delhi
Currency
Indian Rupee (INR, ₹) — UPI mobile payment widespread; cards accepted in city
Language
Hindi and English (both official in Delhi) — English universally spoken in tourist areas
Time Zone
IST — UTC+5:30 (India uses a single half-hour offset zone nationwide)
Country Code
+91 (India)
Airport Code
DEL — Indira Gandhi International Airport (16 km SW; Metro Orange Line to centre)
US Visa Required
Yes — India e-Visa (~$80 USD, apply online at indianvisaonline.gov.in, 72-96 hrs)
Power Plugs
Type C/D/M — 230V / 50Hz; adapter required (Type D/M unique to India)
Emergency Number
112 (National emergency) / 100 (Police) / 108 (Ambulance)
Most Popular Airlines
Best Airlines for Domestic & International Routes
Frequently Asked Questions on Travel to Delhi
Everything you need to know about booking cheap flights to Delhi, India
What airport serves Delhi?
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IATA: DEL) is located 16 km southwest of Delhi city centre. DEL is India's busiest airport and a major regional hub. The Delhi Metro Airport Express Line (Orange Line) connects Terminal 3 to New Delhi Railway Station and Dwarka in approximately 20-25 minutes. DEL has 3 terminals; most international flights use Terminal 3 (T3).
Do US citizens need a visa for India?
US citizens need a visa for India. The easiest option is the India e-Visa (e-Tourist Visa), applied online at indianvisaonline.gov.in. The fee is approximately $80 USD; typical processing time 72-96 hours; valid for 180 days with multiple entry. Apply at least 4-7 days before departure. On arrival, present the e-Visa confirmation and your passport at the e-Visa counter in Terminal 3.
How far is the Taj Mahal from Delhi?
The Taj Mahal is in Agra, approximately 200 km from Delhi. Travel options: (1) Gatimaan Express train from New Delhi Station to Agra Cantonment (1 hr 40 min, 8:10am departure — recommended); (2) Shatabdi Express (2 hrs, multiple daily, New Delhi to Agra Cantonment); (3) Drive via Yamuna Expressway (3-3.5 hrs depending on traffic); (4) Taj Express Highway (similar). The train is the most reliable option.
What is the best time to see the Taj Mahal?
Sunrise: the Taj Mahal opens one hour before sunrise — arriving for the first light produces the most photographically spectacular conditions (the marble glows pale pink-orange). The first entry slot (30 min before official opening) can be reserved. Avoid Friday (the Taj is closed to non-worshippers during Friday noon prayer); avoid midday in summer (extreme heat on the marble terrace). Full moon nights: the Archaeological Survey of India permits limited ticket sales for moonlit viewing sessions.
What is Old Delhi?
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad) is the walled city built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1639 and 1648. It contains the Red Fort (the Imperial Palace, UNESCO), Jama Masjid (India's largest mosque), Chandni Chowk (the main 17th-century bazaar), Khari Baoli (Asia's largest spice market, operating since 1650), Dariba Kalan (Delhi's silver market), and Paranthe Wali Gali (a legendary breakfast alley operating since 1875). Old Delhi is one of the most densely inhabited and historically layered urban areas in the world.
What currency is used in India?
Indian Rupee (INR, ₹). Cash is widely used in India alongside cards. The 2016 demonetization of large-denomination notes disrupted cash use; since then, UPI digital payment (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm) has grown explosively. Most shops accept cards in Delhi; rural areas and markets may be cash-preferred. ATMs are plentiful in Delhi. US credit cards work but notify your bank before travel.
Is Delhi safe for tourists?
Delhi is generally safe for tourists in tourist areas (Connaught Place, Old Delhi monument circuit, South Delhi). Standard urban precautions apply: use pre-paid taxis or Ola/Uber from the airport, avoid unofficial taxi touts, keep valuables secure in crowds. Women travelers should take standard safety precautions: dress modestly, use hotel-arranged transport after dark, and travel with a companion when possible. Delhi's tourist police and airport security are reliable.
What is the Golden Triangle tourist circuit?
The Golden Triangle is India's most popular tourist circuit: Delhi → Agra (200 km, Taj Mahal) → Jaipur (230 km from Agra, 265 km from Delhi, Rajasthan's 'Pink City') → Delhi. The circuit can be done in 4-7 days; most tours include: Red Fort and Qutb Minar (Delhi), Taj Mahal and Agra Fort (Agra), and Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, and City Palace (Jaipur). The most practical route travels the triangle by train or car, returning to Delhi for the international flight.
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