Delhi hotels: choosing an area first
Where to stay in Delhi is mostly a question of area, because the city is large and the sights are spread out. The same applies if you search for where to stay in new delhi: Delhi hotels sit in clusters, and each cluster has a different link to the metro, the railway station or the airport. This page describes the areas and does not name hotels, quote room prices or rank neighbourhoods.
Pick the area that matches your first and last day. If you arrive by air and leave early, a base near the airport saves effort. If you want to reach many sights by metro, a base on a station with several lines is useful. If you want to start in Old Delhi, stay close to its lanes and accept the traffic limits there.
Our pick: private Old Delhi tour
Our take: This private tour includes hotel pickup and return, which helps if your stay is outside the old city.
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.
Old Delhi private tour with hotel pickup
A private Old Delhi tour with hotel pickup and drop-off, a private guide, a tuk-tuk or rickshaw ride and bottled water. Entrance fees, meals and drinks are not included. Other city tours are listed with live prices and availability.
Connaught Place
The business and shopping centre of New Delhi.
Connaught Place is a commercial heart of the city, and its practical advantage is Rajiv Chowk metro station, where the Blue Line and the Yellow Line meet. That interchange lets you reach many parts of Delhi without a car. Whether it suits you depends on how you like to travel: it is central and busy rather than quiet. For the lines and how to use them, see Delhi Metro.
Paharganj
Paharganj is the area around the Main Bazaar, which begins opposite New Delhi Railway Station. It suits travellers who arrive or leave by train and want to be next to the station. The official accommodation list includes many budget and economy addresses here. That tells you which type of stay is common, not what any room is like, so read recent guest reviews and the room terms before you book.
Aerocity
Aerocity is the district next to Indira Gandhi International Airport. The Delhi Aerocity station is on the Airport Express line, and by road the area connects to the NH-48 and the Delhi to Gurugram Expressway. It suits a late arrival or an early flight. Do not rely on advertised minutes to the terminals, and read the Delhi airport page for the transfer options.
Old Delhi and South Delhi
Old Delhi
The official accommodation list shows a few stays around Chandni Chowk and Fatehpuri. Motor vehicles face restrictions on the main road in the daytime, so a taxi may not reach the door and you may need to walk the last part. See Chandni Chowk for the market and its streets.
South Delhi
An older tourism study named Lajpat Nagar and Nehru Place as areas to stay near the southern monuments. That study dates from before 2010, so use it only as a starting point and check what is on offer today. The Qutb complex lies in Mehrauli, see Qutub Minar.
Linking stay and sights
Choose by transport first. The things to do in Delhi page groups the sights by area so you can see which base is closest to the places you care about.
On arrival: touts and overpriced rooms
Government travel advice for India warns of touts at airports, railway stations and tourist sites. The advice lists expensive detours, unwanted tours and purchases, overpriced rooms and demands for money. If a stranger tells you that your hotel is closed or has moved, do not let them change your booking. Phone or message the property you booked, or ask at the official counter of the station or airport, before you follow anyone.
Keep your booking confirmation handy, agree the route with a driver before you get in and arrive with the address saved offline. These are simple precautions for any large city and not a judgement on any area.
Where to stay in Delhi: frequently asked questions
Which area is practical for sightseeing by metro?
Connaught Place has Rajiv Chowk station, where the Blue Line and the Yellow Line meet, which makes it a convenient hub for many sights.
Where should I stay if I arrive by train?
Paharganj lies by New Delhi Railway Station. The Main Bazaar starts opposite the station, which is handy for an arrival or an early departure.
Is Aerocity close to the airport?
Yes, it is the district next to the airport, with a station on the Airport Express. Check the current transfer options on the airport page rather than relying on advertised minutes.
Can a taxi take me to the door in Old Delhi?
Do not count on it. Motor vehicles face daytime restrictions on the main road in Chandni Chowk, so you may need to walk the last stretch.
Does this page recommend hotels?
No. It describes areas, not hotels, and it gives no room prices. Compare current offers and recent reviews for the area you choose.
Is this an official accommodation website?
No. This is an independent guide and not the website of the Delhi government, the railways or the airport.