India · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in India
These are the places worth your time in India, from Delhi's Mughal tombs and Old Delhi street food to the Taj Mahal, Jaipur's forts, the ghats of Varanasi, Fort Kochi's fishing nets and Goa's beaches and churches. Classics sit beside quiet corners few travellers find, so every kind of visitor discovers something to love.
Places to Visit in Delhi
Arts and Culture
- Humayun's Tomb (Nizamuddin)
The red sandstone garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal, glowing in late afternoon light. - Red Fort (Old Delhi)
The Mughal emperors' palace fortress and a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the head of Chandni Chowk. - Jama Masjid (Old Delhi)
One of India's largest mosques, with a minaret climb over the rooftops of the old city. - Qutub Minar (Mehrauli)
A soaring thirteenth century tower surrounded by ruins and an ancient iron pillar. - Nizamuddin Dargah (Nizamuddin)
A Sufi shrine where qawwali singers perform in the courtyard on Thursday evenings. - Akshardham Temple (Pandav Nagar)
A vast carved temple complex with gardens and an evening water show. - National Museum (Janpath)
India's flagship museum, from Harappan seals to Mughal miniatures. - Agrasen ki Baoli (Connaught Place)
A hidden medieval stepwell tucked between office blocks in the city centre. - Lotus Temple (Kalkaji)
A Bahá'í house of worship shaped like a lotus flower, open to people of all faiths. - Mehrauli Archaeological Park (Mehrauli)
Over a hundred scattered monuments in a woodland park few visitors explore. - Sunder Nursery (Nizamuddin)
Restored Mughal gardens and tombs beside Humayun's Tomb, with a weekend market.
Things to Do
- Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (Connaught Place)
A serene Sikh temple whose community kitchen serves free meals to everyone, every day. - Delhi Metro Airport Express (New Delhi station)
The fastest way between the airport and the city centre.
Nature and Outdoors
- Lodhi Garden (Lodhi Road)
Shady lawns and fifteenth century tombs where Delhi comes to walk, jog and picnic. - Sanjay Van (Mehrauli)
A wild urban forest hiding ruined walls of an old Delhi city, perfect for a quiet walk.
Shopping and Markets
- Chandni Chowk (Old Delhi)
The historic bazaar street for spices, silver, wedding wear and endless snacks. - Khari Baoli spice market (Old Delhi)
Asia's great wholesale spice market, where the air itself makes you sneeze. - Dilli Haat (INA)
An open air craft market with stalls from every state and regional food counters. - Khan Market (Khan Market)
A compact upmarket enclave of bookshops, boutiques, cafés and restaurants.
Restaurants
- Karim's (Jama Masjid, Old Delhi)
A legendary Mughlai kitchen near the great mosque, serving kebabs and mutton curries since 1913. - Paranthe Wali Gali (Chandni Chowk)
A lane of old shops frying stuffed parathas with every filling imaginable. - Indian Accent (The Lodhi, Lodhi Road)
Inventive modern Indian cooking that put Delhi on the global dining map. - Bukhara (ITC Maurya, Chanakyapuri)
Famous for its slow cooked dal and tandoori dishes, eaten with your hands. - Natraj Dahi Bhalle Wala (Chandni Chowk)
A tiny stall famous for its lentil dumplings in yoghurt and chutney.
Bars and Nightlife
- Hauz Khas Village (Hauz Khas)
Bars and cafés overlooking a medieval lake and the ruins of a madrasa.
Cafés
- Indian Coffee House (Mohan Singh Place, Connaught Place)
A faded rooftop cooperative café, loved for cheap coffee and old Delhi character.
Events
- Republic Day Parade (Kartavya Path)
The national parade each January, with marching bands, tableaux and flypasts.
Stays
- The Imperial (Janpath)
A grand 1930s hotel filled with colonial era art, in the heart of New Delhi.
Places to Visit in Agra
Arts and Culture
- Taj Mahal (Taj Ganj)
The white marble mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal, best seen at sunrise. - Agra Fort (Rakabganj)
The great red sandstone Mughal fort with views of the Taj from its marble pavilions. - Itimad ud Daulah (Moti Bagh)
The jewel box Baby Taj, with exquisite stone inlay and few crowds. - Fatehpur Sikri (Fatehpur Sikri)
Akbar's short lived red sandstone capital, beautifully preserved outside Agra. - Akbar's Tomb (Sikandra)
A peaceful mausoleum in parkland where deer and monkeys roam. - Chini ka Rauza (Moti Bagh)
A crumbling tomb with rare traces of Persian glazed tilework.
Nature and Outdoors
- Mehtab Bagh (Nagla Devjit)
A riverside garden for a calm sunset view of the Taj from across the Yamuna. - Keetham Lake and Soor Sarovar (Keetham)
A bird sanctuary lake just outside the city, good in winter.
Shopping and Markets
- Kinari Bazaar (Old Agra)
A busy old market lane of fabrics, spices, silver and wedding trimmings.
Restaurants
- Panchhi Petha (Hari Parwat)
The best known name for Agra's translucent ash gourd sweet, petha. - Pinch of Spice (Fatehabad Road)
A popular choice for rich North Indian curries and tandoori dishes. - Peshawri (ITC Mughal, Taj Ganj)
Northwest frontier style kebabs and dal in a grand hotel setting.
Cafés
- Sheroes Hangout (Fatehabad Road)
A café run by survivors of acid attacks, with a moving story and a warm welcome.
Stays
- The Oberoi Amarvilas (Taj East Gate Road)
A palace style hotel where every room looks toward the Taj Mahal.
Events
- Taj Mahotsav (Shilpgram)
A February festival of crafts, music and food near the Taj Mahal.
Things to Do
- Taj night viewing (Taj Ganj)
Limited moonlit visits around the full moon, booked separately through official counters.
Places to Visit in Jaipur
Arts and Culture
- Amber Fort (Amer)
A hilltop palace fortress with a dazzling mirror hall above Maota Lake. - Hawa Mahal (Badi Choupad)
The pink honeycomb facade built so royal women could watch street life unseen. - City Palace (Old City)
A working royal palace with museums, courtyards and painted gateways. - Jantar Mantar (Old City)
A UNESCO listed collection of giant eighteenth century astronomical instruments. - Panna Meena ka Kund (Amer)
A geometric stepwell near Amber Fort with criss crossing staircases. - Albert Hall Museum (Ram Niwas Garden)
Jaipur's oldest museum, beautifully lit at night. - Galtaji Temple (Galta)
The Monkey Temple, a cluster of shrines and pools in a rocky gorge. - Chokhi Dhani (Tonk Road)
A village themed evening of folk dance, puppets and a Rajasthani feast. - Raj Mandir Cinema (Bhagwan Das Road)
An art deco movie palace for a Bollywood film night. - Patrika Gate (Jawahar Circle)
A brightly painted gateway with murals of every corner of Rajasthan.
Nature and Outdoors
- Nahargarh Fort (Aravalli Hills)
A fort on the ridge with the city's best sunset view. - Jhalana Leopard Reserve (Jhalana)
Safaris in a forest on the city edge with resident leopards.
Restaurants
- Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar (Johari Bazaar)
A classic sweet shop and restaurant for Rajasthani thalis and ghevar. - Rawat Mishthan Bhandar (Station Road)
Famous for its onion kachori, a Jaipur breakfast staple. - Bar Palladio (Narain Niwas Palace)
An elegant blue painted bar and Italian restaurant in palace gardens.
Cafés
- Tapri Central (C Scheme)
A rooftop tea house with city views and inventive chai.
Shopping and Markets
- Johari Bazaar (Old City)
The jewellery and textile bazaar of the Pink City. - Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing (Amer)
A restored haveli showing the art of block printing, with live demonstrations.
Events
- Jaipur Literature Festival (Jaipur)
One of the world's largest free literary festivals, held each January.
Stays
- Rambagh Palace (Bhawani Singh Road)
A former royal residence turned palace hotel, with peacocks on the lawns.
Places to Visit in Udaipur
Nature and Outdoors
- Lake Pichola boat ride (Udaipur)
A sunset boat ride past palaces and island pavilions.
Arts and Culture
- City Palace Udaipur (Old City)
A vast lakeside palace complex with courtyards and mirror work. - Bagore ki Haveli dance show (Gangaur Ghat)
An evening show of Rajasthani folk dance in a historic mansion.
Places to Visit in Jodhpur
Arts and Culture
- Mehrangarh Fort (Jodhpur)
A mighty fort above the blue city with one of India's best museums.
Places to Visit in Jaisalmer
Arts and Culture
- Jaisalmer Fort (Jaisalmer)
A golden living fort with homes, temples and shops inside its walls.
Places to Visit in Ranthambore
Nature and Outdoors
- Ranthambore National Park (Sawai Madhopur)
Tiger safaris among old ruins, booked through the official forest department.
Places to Visit in Varanasi
Things to Do
- Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges (Dashashwamedh Ghat)
Drift past temples and bathing pilgrims as the sun rises. - Assi Ghat (Assi)
A relaxed ghat with a morning aarti, music and yoga.
Events
- Ganga Aarti (Dashashwamedh Ghat)
The nightly ceremony of fire, bells and chanting on the river steps. - Dev Deepawali (Ghats)
The November night when every ghat glows with oil lamps.
Arts and Culture
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Vishwanath Gali)
The great Shiva temple, now reached by a wide corridor from the river. - Manikarnika Ghat (Old City)
The main cremation ghat, to be watched quietly and without cameras. - Sarnath (Sarnath)
Where the Buddha gave his first sermon, with a stupa and fine museum. - Bharat Kala Bhavan (Banaras Hindu University)
A university museum of miniatures, textiles and sculpture. - Tulsi Manas Temple (Durgakund)
A marble temple carved with verses of the Ramcharitmanas.
Restaurants
- Blue Lassi (Kachori Gali)
A tiny shop serving thick lassi in clay cups for generations. - Kashi Chat Bhandar (Godowlia)
Famous for its spicy tamatar chaat and golgappe.
Cafés
- Pizzeria Vaatika Cafe (Assi Ghat)
A river view café beloved by travellers for apple pie and pizza.
Shopping and Markets
- Vishwanath Gali (Old City)
A lane of religious souvenirs, bangles and brassware near the temple.
Nature and Outdoors
- Ramnagar Fort (Ramnagar)
An eighteenth century fort and museum on the far bank of the Ganges.
Stays
- BrijRama Palace (Darbhanga Ghat)
A heritage palace hotel right on the ghats.
Places to Visit in Kochi
Arts and Culture
- Chinese fishing nets (Fort Kochi)
Giant cantilevered nets lowered by teams of fishermen, best at sunset. - Paradesi Synagogue (Jew Town, Mattancherry)
A sixteenth century synagogue with hand painted Chinese floor tiles. - Mattancherry Palace (Mattancherry)
The Dutch Palace, home to some of Kerala's finest temple murals. - Kerala Kathakali Centre (Fort Kochi)
Watch dancers apply their elaborate make up, then perform Kathakali. - St Francis Church (Fort Kochi)
India's oldest European church, where Vasco da Gama was first buried. - Santa Cruz Basilica (Fort Kochi)
A soaring white basilica with painted ceilings. - Pepper House (Fort Kochi)
A restored warehouse with a gallery, library and courtyard café.
Restaurants
- Kashi Art Cafe (Burgher Street, Fort Kochi)
A gallery café that sparked Fort Kochi's art scene.
Shopping and Markets
- Jew Town spice and antique shops (Mattancherry)
Old warehouses selling spices, carvings and curios.
Events
- Kochi Muziris Biennale (Fort Kochi)
India's biggest contemporary art festival in heritage warehouses.
Stays
- Brunton Boatyard (Fort Kochi)
A heritage hotel on the harbour built in colonial style.
Things to Do
- Fort Kochi to Ernakulam ferry (Fort Kochi)
A public ferry across the harbour for local life on the water.
Places to Visit in Alappuzha
Things to Do
- Backwater houseboat (Alappuzha)
An overnight stay on a converted rice barge through the backwaters.
Places to Visit in Munnar
Nature and Outdoors
- Eravikulam National Park (Munnar)
Rolling tea country grasslands, home to the rare Nilgiri tahr.
Arts and Culture
- Tata Tea Museum (Nallathanni, Munnar)
See how tea is processed in the heart of tea country.
Places to Visit in Thekkady
Nature and Outdoors
- Periyar Tiger Reserve (Thekkady)
Bamboo rafting and nature walks in a lakeside forest reserve.
Places to Visit in Varkala
Nature and Outdoors
- Varkala Cliff (Varkala)
Red cliffs above the sea lined with cafés for sunset.
Places to Visit in Goa
Arts and Culture
- Basilica of Bom Jesus (Old Goa)
The UNESCO listed baroque church holding St Francis Xavier's remains. - Se Cathedral (Old Goa)
One of Asia's largest churches, built by the Portuguese. - Fontainhas (Panaji)
A colourful Latin quarter of Portuguese era houses and lanes. - Chapora Fort (Vagator)
Ruined fort walls with views over the river and sea. - Braganza House (Chandor)
A grand Portuguese era mansion still owned by its family. - Shri Mangueshi Temple (Mangeshi, Ponda)
A graceful hilltop Hindu temple with a white lamp tower.
Nature and Outdoors
- Palolem Beach (Canacona)
A crescent bay of palms and huts in South Goa. - Butterfly Beach (Canacona)
A small cove reached by boat or a forest walk. - Dudhsagar Falls (Sonaulim)
A towering waterfall on the Karnataka border, best after the monsoon. - Cabo de Rama Fort (Canacona)
A clifftop fort with dramatic sea views.
Shopping and Markets
- Anjuna Flea Market (Anjuna)
The famous Wednesday market of clothes, crafts and music. - Saturday Night Market Arpora (Arpora)
A lively evening market with food stalls and live music.
Restaurants
- Gunpowder (Assagao)
South Indian home cooking in a garden setting. - Ritz Classic (Panaji)
A local favourite for Goan fish curry thalis.
Bars and Nightlife
- Cafe Mambo (Baga)
A beachfront club at the heart of Baga's nightlife.
Things to Do
- Spice plantation tour (Ponda)
Walk through spice gardens and enjoy a Goan lunch.
Events
- Goa Carnival (Panaji)
Floats, music and dancing in the days before Lent.
Places to Visit in Mumbai
Arts and Culture
- Gateway of India (Colaba)
The waterfront arch beside the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. - Elephanta Caves (Elephanta Island)
Rock cut Shiva temples reached by a ferry from Colaba.
Things to Do
- Dhobi Ghat (Mahalaxmi)
The city's giant open air laundry.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- PCO (Vasant Vihar, Delhi)
A speakeasy bar hidden behind an old phone booth door. - Mohabbat the Taj show (Kalakriti, Fatehabad Road, Agra)
A theatrical retelling of the love story behind the Taj. - Brown Bread Bakery (Bengali Tola, Varanasi)
A rooftop café with live classical music most evenings. - Banarasi silk weavers (Madanpura, Varanasi)
See the looms that weave the city's famous silk saris. - Fort House (Fort Kochi, Kochi)
Fresh Kerala seafood on a waterfront terrace. - Dal Roti (Fort Kochi, Kochi)
A small, popular spot for North and South Indian comfort food. - Thalassa (Siolim, Goa)
Greek food on a terrace with sunset views. - Ahilya by the Sea (Nerul, Goa)
A small heritage villa hotel above the water.