India’s Golden Triangle—Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur—traces centuries of dynasties and design, from Sultanate-story minarets to Rajput grandeur and Mughal symmetry. In one compact loop, you’ll move from imperial boulevards to hand-printed textiles, tasting the country’s famed diversity along the way.

Delhi’s layers unfold in Old Delhi’s spice markets and New Delhi’s leafy avenues. Agra holds the Taj Mahal—an eternal love story etched in marble—and a formidable fort overlooking the Yamuna. Jaipur, “The Pink City,” dazzles with hilltop forts, gemstone bazaars, and sunset-kissed palaces.

Practical notes: October–March brings the most pleasant weather. Modest attire is appreciated at places of worship; carry a scarf. Use bottled/filtered water, and rely on official taxis, Uber/Ola, and reputable guides. India offers e-Visas for many nationalities; local eSIMs and UPI-friendly payments are widely used.

New Delhi

Where empires stacked their capitals: Sultanate, Mughal, and British Raj. Today, you’ll find UNESCO sites (Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb), bustling bazaars (Chandni Chowk), and a cuisine scene that runs from centuries-old kebab houses to inventive tasting menus.

• Top sights: Jama Masjid, Red Fort (exteriors), Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate and Kartavya Path, Lodhi Gardens, Lotus Temple.
• Eat & drink: Karim’s (Mughlai kebabs and nihari near Jama Masjid), Sita Ram Diwan Chand (legendary chole bhature), Indian Accent (modern Indian tasting menu), Blue Tokai (specialty coffee) and Indian Coffee House (retro CP classic).
• Fun fact: Connaught Place’s circular plan was modeled after the Royal Crescent in Bath; Delhi’s metro is one of Asia’s cleanest and fastest-growing.

Where to stay (Delhi): For an easy browse of options, see VRBO Delhi and Hotels.com Delhi. Editor’s picks: The Leela Palace New Delhi (grand, service-forward), The Imperial, New Delhi (art deco heritage), ITC Maurya (home to Bukhara), and Bloomrooms @ New Delhi Railway Station (bright budget chic).

Getting in & around: Fly into DEL using Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. In-city, use Delhi Metro, Uber/Ola, or hotel cars.

Agra

Poetry in marble meets powerful red sandstone. Agra’s Taj Mahal is as radiant at sunrise as legend claims, while Agra Fort reveals the strategic and aesthetic genius of the Mughals.

• Top sights: Taj Mahal (sunrise), Agra Fort, Itimad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj), Mehtab Bagh (sunset garden across the river).
• Eat & drink: Esphahan (refined Indian at Oberoi), Pinch of Spice (North Indian crowd-pleaser), Sheroes Hangout (social enterprise café), and Panchi Petha for the city’s famous candied pumpkin.
• Fun fact: The Taj changes hue with the daylight—dawn’s blush, noon’s bright white, dusk’s golden-rose.

Where to stay (Agra): Favorites include The Oberoi Amarvilas (iconic Taj views), Courtyard by Marriott Agra (great value), Hotel Taj Resorts, and Hotel Sidhartha (budget near West Gate). Or browse VRBO Agra and Hotels.com Agra.

Getting there: From Delhi, take the Gatimaan Express (1h40, ~$8–20) via Trip.com Trains, or hire a car (3.5–4h) via your hotel.

Jaipur

Jaipur is a painter’s palette: terracotta façades, sapphire skies, and lime-washed courtyards. It’s also India’s design capital—think block-printed textiles, blue pottery, and jewel workshops—anchored by mighty forts and a still-living royal palace.

• Top sights: Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort, Panna Meena ka Kund stepwell.
• Eat & drink: Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar (LMB) for thalis and sweets, Rawat Mishthan Bhandar for pyaz kachori, Anokhi Café for salads and bakes, Tapri Central for tea with a view, Bar Palladio for an elegant evening, and 1135 AD for fort-top dining.
• Fun fact: Jaipur’s 1876 pink paint was a royal welcome for the Prince of Wales; the color stuck and became law in the old city.

Where to stay (Jaipur): Browse VRBO Jaipur and Hotels.com Jaipur, or book: Rambagh Palace (former royal residence), Trident Jaipur (Amber-facing), ITC Rajputana, and Holiday Inn Jaipur City Centre.

Getting there: From Agra, drive (4.5–5h) or train (4–6h) via Trip.com Trains. Jaipur has a well-connected airport (JAI) for onward flights via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Day 1 — Arrive in Delhi: First Flavors and Landmarks

Afternoon: Land in Delhi (assume afternoon arrival). Check in and refresh. Stretch your legs at India Gate and Kartavya Path, where the Raj-era axis frames sunset light and evening strolls.

Evening: Dinner options: Bukhara (frontier-style tandoor classics at ITC Maurya; the dal is legendary) or Indian Accent (clever, refined tasting menu—blue cheese naan and more). Prefer casual? Head to Pandara Road’s Gulati for robust North Indian curries.

Night: Sip coffee at Blue Tokai (Khan Market) or walk Lodhi Art District’s murals. Rest early—tomorrow is full of history.

Day 2 — Old & New Delhi Icons, With Street Food

Morning: Start at Jama Masjid (dress modestly; climb a minaret for views) and dive into Chandni Chowk’s lanes. Taste parathas at Paranthe Wali Gali and sample jalebis hot from the kadhai. Peek at Asia’s largest spice market, Khari Baoli—aromatic, photogenic, and lively.

Afternoon: Cross to New Delhi for Humayun’s Tomb (precursor to the Taj), the lotus-white Bahá’í Temple, and Qutub Minar’s soaring minaret and carved sandstone. Quick coffee at Indian Coffee House in Connaught Place for a dose of nostalgia.

Evening: Join an expert-led Old Delhi food walk to eat where locals do—safely and insightfully. We recommend this tour: The Great Indian Food Tour: Old Delhi Food and Heritage Walk.

Or opt for a curated overview combining Old and New Delhi’s big hitters: Old & New Delhi City Tour – Half or Full Day.

Day 3 — To Agra by Superfast Train; Fort and Sunset Garden

Morning (travel): Depart Delhi early on the Gatimaan Express (approx. 1h40; ~$8–20). Book via Trip.com Trains. Grab breakfast after arrival—try bedai-kachori at Shankar Ji near Raja Ki Mandi.

Afternoon: Explore Agra Fort, the red sandstone stronghold where emperors ruled and where Shah Jahan gazed toward the Taj. Stop for petha at Panchi, then check Mehtab Bagh at golden hour for a riverbank Taj view without crowds.

Evening: Dinner at Pinch of Spice (well-executed North Indian) or splurge at Esphahan (Oberoi Amarvilas; reservations essential). Digest with a quiet walk around Sadar Bazaar for souvenirs.

Day 4 — Taj Mahal at Sunrise; Baby Taj; Transfer to Jaipur

Morning: Enter the Taj Mahal at dawn as the marble warms to first light. To streamline entry and guiding, consider Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with Optional Add-ons.

Continue to the delicate Itimad-ud-Daulah (“Baby Taj”) for inlay work up close.

Afternoon (travel): Brunch at Sheroes Hangout, then depart for Jaipur. Drive via NH21 (4.5–5h; ~$90–140 for a private sedan) or take a mid-day train (4–6h; ~$6–15) via Trip.com Trains.

Evening: Check in, then admire Hawa Mahal’s honeycomb façade glowing at dusk from Wind View Café across the street. Dinner picks: LMB (old-city vegetarian thali and sweets) or Steam at Rambagh Palace (a restored steam engine coach serving wood-fired pizzas and grills).

Day 5 — Amber Fort, Stepwell, City Palace, Astronomical Wonders

Morning: Head to Amber early to wander mirror-studded Sheesh Mahal and rampart views. Down the hill, pause at Panna Meena ka Kund, a photogenic stepwell of zigzagging stairs. Coffee/late breakfast at Anokhi Café back in town—fresh bakes, salads, and great iced coffee.

Afternoon: City Palace’s royal apartments are rich with frescoes and the famed Peacock Gate. Next door, Jantar Mantar’s giant observatory instruments still read the sky with startling precision.

Evening: Shop for textiles and jewelry in Johari and Bapu Bazaars (look for hand-block prints and Kundan work). Dinner at 1135 AD (inside Amber Fort) for regal ambiance, or Spice Court for laal maas (Rajasthani spicy mutton). Cap the night at Bar Palladio—candlelit courtyards and indigo interiors.

Day 6 — Hills, Handicrafts, and a Rajasthani Feast

Morning: Sunrise at Nahargarh Fort for sweeping city views, or cycle the serene lanes around Jal Mahal before traffic builds. Tea-and-toast breakfast at Tapri Central, beloved for its masala chai and city vistas.

Afternoon: Dive into craft heritage: visit the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing or arrange a hands-on block-printing workshop in nearby Bagru to stamp your own textiles. Lunch at Anokhi Café or Surya Mahal for homestyle Rajasthani plates.

Evening: Casual food crawl: Rawat Mishthan Bhandar for pyaz kachori, then kulfi falooda at Bapu Bazaar. For dinner, Spice Court’s Rajasthani thali or Peacock Rooftop Restaurant for tandoori under the stars.

Day 7 — Jaipur Bazaars and Departure

Morning: Final shopping sweep: gemstones in Johari Bazaar, blue pottery and brassware near MI Road, quilts and block prints in Bapu Bazaar. Coffee and a light bite at Curious Life Coffee Roasters (specialty beans roasted in-house).

Afternoon (departure): Fly out of JAI to your next stop (Delhi in 55 minutes; Mumbai, Udaipur, and more often direct). Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. If your long-haul departs Delhi, consider an early Ajmer–Delhi Shatabdi or a short morning flight.

Evening: —

Optional alternatives and add-ons

• Prefer Agra as a day trip from Delhi? Consider the express train option: Delhi to Agra and Taj Mahal Private Day Trip by Express Train.

  

• Want a guide to orchestrate Delhi’s highlights in one go? Book Old & New Delhi City Tour – Half or Full Day (private/customizable).

Trip logistics snapshot:

• Delhi → Agra: Gatimaan Express 1h40 (~$8–20) via Trip.com Trains; private car 3.5–4h.
• Agra → Jaipur: Car 4.5–5h (~$90–140); train 4–6h (~$6–15) via Trip.com Trains.
• Jaipur → onward: Domestic flights via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Seven days through Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur balances headline monuments with markets, meals, and moments between—sunrises, spice-scented alleys, and mirror halls. You’ll leave with a camera full of marble and a suitcase lined with hand-printed cotton—and, most importantly, a feel for North India’s rhythm.