The Red Fort at a glance
The Red Fort was the palace fortress of Shahjahanabad, the walled city of Shah Jahan, and it is listed by UNESCO together with the neighbouring Salimgarh Fort. It rises at the eastern end of Old Delhi, a short ride from Chandni Chowk, and its red sandstone walls make it one of the most recognisable sights in the city. Visiting the Red Fort takes some preparation, because the opening days, the ticket prices and the accessible areas have all changed in 2026.
This page collects the figures that are available, with their dates, so you can see which are current and which are historical. For the bazaar next door read the Chandni Chowk page, and for the other big monuments see things to do in Delhi.
Our picks: Red Fort tours
Our take: Both tours visit the fort with a guide. Take the rickshaw version if you want to see the surrounding streets too, and the skip-the-line version if you want the shorter, focused visit.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided Red Fort visit with rickshaw ride
- Professional tour guide
- Rickshaw ride
- All taxes and charges
The entry ticket and hotel pickup apply only with the matching option. Parts of the fort can be closed, so interiors are not guaranteed.
Check availability →
Red Fort guided tour with skip-the-line entry
- Live tour guide
- Skip-the-line entry
- Historical insights
Entry tickets and pickup apply only with the matching option. Parts of the fort can be closed, so access to every interior is not guaranteed.
Check availability →Red Fort tickets and guided tours
Entry tickets with a guide, skip-the-line options and private city tours that pass the Red Fort, with live prices and availability.
Red Fort tickets
What the available listings say.
A travel listing dated 22.10.2026 gives 600 INR in cash or 550 INR online for foreign visitors, and 50 INR cash or 35 INR online for visitors from the SAARC and BIMSTEC countries named there. Children under 15 enter free, and the same listing gives opening from sunrise to 21:00. Treat these as a guide and check the price and the hours at the ticket counter or on the official ASI site on the day.
For Indian visitors the only figure available is a government tariff table of 19.12.2022, which gave 50 INR cash and 35 INR cashless. That is a historical number for 2022 and should not be read as today's price.
Several tours list the entry ticket only as an option. A guided tour with skip-the-line entry includes the guide and, if you pick the option, the tickets and a pickup or drop-off. An entry ticket product with add-ons lists a guide, easy entry and a rickshaw ride, with tickets and hotel pickup again depending on the option. Read closely what your chosen option includes.
Open on Mondays since 2026
An older rule no longer applies.
Older guides say the Red Fort is closed on Mondays, and a government table from 2022 listed Monday as the weekly closing day. PTI reported on 21.02.2026 that the ASI had ordered the fort to stay open on all days of the week, with an order dated 13.02.2026, and the fort was already open on Monday 16.02.2026. Look at the ASI notices if your visit falls on a special day.
The summer closure of 2026
For another reason the fort did close in the summer of 2026. An ASI order of 09.07.2026, reported by PTI, stopped general visits from 15 July to 15 August 2026, until the end of the Independence Day events, and only people with a government pass could enter on the festival day itself. That period is over. It still shows that the fort can close around national events, so it helps to look for notices if you plan a visit near 15 August.
Closed areas inside the fort
A PTI report of 12.09.2026, based on a right to information request, lists six restricted areas: the Hammam, Moti Masjid, Diwan-i-Khas, Khas Mahal, Rang Mahal and Sheesh Mahal. It does not say when each restriction started or ends, and it does not describe the whole fort as closed. In practice you should expect the main grounds to be open, but do not count on going inside every palace building.
The white marble pavilion on this page is the Diwan-i-Khas, one of the six areas on that list, so a photo of it does not mean you can enter. Ask the guide at the gate which buildings are open on the day.
The private full-day Old and New Delhi tour passes the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk without a stop inside, and tickets for the monuments it does visit come only with the entrance fee option. Choose a tour with its own Red Fort entry if you want to walk through the grounds.
Getting there and planning the visit
Link the fort with the old city.
The official metro itinerary links the fort and the old city to the Chandni Chowk station. The Delhi metro page explains fares and lines. Very short restrictions can also happen when official delegations visit monuments, as a press report of 13.09.2026 described for the Red Fort and two other sites. That was a short-term note and not a standing rule, but it is another reason to keep a flexible hour in your plan. For context on who built the fort and why, read the history of Delhi.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Red Fort open on Monday?
Yes since 2026. PTI reported an ASI order of 13.02.2026 that keeps the fort open on all days of the week, and it was open on Monday 16.02.2026. Older guides that list Monday as a closed day are out of date.
How much is a Red Fort ticket for foreigners?
A listing dated 22.10.2026 gives 600 INR in cash or 550 INR online. Check the price at the counter before you queue.
Can I enter all the palace buildings?
Do not plan on it. A PTI report of 12.09.2026 lists six restricted areas, including the Diwan-i-Khas and the Sheesh Mahal.
Was the fort closed in the summer of 2026?
Yes, from 15 July to 15 August 2026 for the Independence Day preparations, according to PTI. That closure has ended.
Is this the official Red Fort website?
No. New-delhi.org is an independent guide and is not run by the ASI, the government of Delhi or any tour operator.