India’s capital region has worn many names—Indraprastha of legend, Shahjahanabad under the Mughals, and modern New Delhi. Today it’s a living museum layered with sultans’ tombs, leafy boulevards, bustling bazaars, and a dining scene that spans 500-year-old recipes to third-wave coffee. Two hours away by train, Agra gathers the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and gardens along a bend of the Yamuna like a gallery of stone poetry.

Across seven days, you’ll wander Old Delhi’s spice-scented alleys, admire sandstone and marble geometry, and sit for sunset across from the Taj as the river mirrors pink clouds. The rhythm is intentional: early monuments, leisurely lunches, and evening strolls when monuments glow and the grills come alive.

Practical notes: Winters (Nov–Feb) are cool and atmospheric; summers are hot. Traffic can be lively—use the Airport Express Metro, rideshares, or trusted taxis. If air quality dips (often in winter), check the AQI each morning, carry an N95, and favor green pockets like Lodhi Garden. Most major sights are closed only on specific days (the Taj is closed Fridays), so this plan accounts for timing and crowd patterns.

New Delhi

New Delhi is a collage: Lutyens’ boulevards, Mughal tombs set in charbagh gardens, and the old walled city where bazaars hum from dawn. It’s also India’s culinary classroom—kebabs at Jama Masjid, flaky parathas, homestyle thalis, and contemporary Indian tasting menus that reimagine classics.

Getting in: Most travelers fly into Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). Compare fares and routes on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From the airport, take the Airport Express Metro to New Delhi Station (~20 minutes, very reliable) or a rideshare (45–90 minutes depending on traffic).

Where to stay: Base yourself in leafy central neighborhoods (Lodhi, Connaught Place, or Aerocity for airport convenience) or South Delhi (Hauz Khas, Saket, or Mehrauli) for monuments and dining. Browse stays on VRBO New Delhi or compare hotels on Hotels.com New Delhi.

Day 1: Arrival, Lodhi Garden, and a Welcome Dinner

Morning: Fly into Delhi; rest on the plane and hydrate. If arriving early, grab a light bite at the airport or a quick coffee in Aerocity before heading to your hotel.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs with a stroll through Lodhi Garden—centuries-old tombs, banyan trees, and parakeets offer a calm reset. For a refined late lunch or coffee nearby, try Cafe Lota’s seasonal Indian plates at the Crafts Museum (moringa keema, millet khichdi) or Perch Wine & Coffee in Khan Market for a cold brew and small plates.

Evening: Welcome dinner options: Indian Accent (inventive tasting menu—daulat ki chaat reimagined) for a special first night; Bukhara at ITC Maurya for North-West Frontier grills and the famous dal Bukhara; or the beloved Rajinder Da Dhaba in Safdarjung Enclave for affordable, smoky tikkas. End with an illuminated drive past India Gate and the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Day 2: Old Delhi—Fortresses, Minarets, and Street Food

Morning: Start in Chandni Chowk. Breakfast on bedmi-aloo and jalebi at Shyam Sweets or a plate of chole bhature at Sita Ram Diwan Chand. Tour the Red Fort’s palaces and pavilions, then visit Jama Masjid; climb the minaret for sweeping city views.

Afternoon: Wander Khari Baoli, Asia’s largest spice market—saffron, tea blends, and mango pickle aromas fill the lanes. Lunch at Karim’s (mutton qorma, seekh kebab) or Al Jawahar opposite the mosque for robust Mughlai gravies. Cool off with Kuremal Mohan Lal’s stuffed kulfi (mango in season, or classic pista).

Evening: Take a rickshaw back through the lanes to Paranthe Wali Gali; sample paneer and rabri parathas at one of the legacy shops. If it’s Thursday, catch soulful qawwali at Nizamuddin Dargah around sunset (dress modestly). Otherwise, sip a delicate cocktail at Sidecar (repeatedly ranked among Asia’s best bars) or unwind with a masala chai along the lanes of Khan Market.

Day 3: Qutub Complex, Mehrauli, and Hauz Khas Lakeside

Morning: Coffee and a pastry at Blue Tokai’s roastery (Saket/Malviya Nagar) or eggs on toast at Fig at Malcha. Explore Qutub Minar and the surrounding Mehrauli Archaeological Park—mosques, stepwells, and ruins shaded by neem trees.

Afternoon: Long lunch under the trees at Olive Qutub (Mediterranean plates; book ahead), or go casual with Cafe Dori at Dhan Mill for excellent cold brews and open-faced sandwiches. Continue to Hauz Khas Village: walk the medieval madrasa and reservoir, spot green parakeets, then browse indie boutiques.

Evening: Dinner in Greater Kailash: Yeti for Nepalese/Tibetan momos and thukpa, or Carnatic Cafe for ghee-soaked rava dosa. Nightcap at Perch (Wine & Coffee) or Piano Man for live jazz if schedules align.

Day 4: Gardens, Tombs, and Crafts

Morning: Begin at Humayun’s Tomb, the blueprint for the Taj—arrive early for soft light and quiet colonnades. Stroll the Lodhi Art District nearby for open-air murals adding color to leafy streets.

Afternoon: Browse the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy; lunch at Cafe Lota (don’t miss the sabudana popcorn and coastal fish curry). Shop Dilli Haat INA for regional textiles, ikat, and silver—haggle gently and buy directly from artisans.

Evening: Dinner in Khan Market: SodaBottleOpenerWala-style Parsi classics (berry pulao, salli boti) or Khan Chacha’s juicy kakori rolls. For dessert, Naturals Ice Cream (seasonal fruit flavors) or a kulfi falooda at Bade Miya Ki Kheer in Nizamuddin.

Agra

Agra, the jewel of the Mughal era, frames the Yamuna River with sandstone ramparts and white marble. Beyond the Taj Mahal’s perfect symmetry, you’ll find red-brick forts, Persian-influenced gardens, and workshops where inlay artisans still set semi-precious stones into marble by hand.

Getting there: The fastest hops from Delhi are morning trains—Gatimaan Express (~1h40m) or Shatabdi Express (~2–2.5h). Expect roughly ₹600–1,500 ($8–$20) in AC classes; check schedules and book on Trip.com Trains. Car transfers take ~3.5–4 hours via the expressway.

Where to stay: Choose Taj Ganj (for sunrise proximity) or Cantonment areas for quieter nights. See options on VRBO Agra or compare hotels on Hotels.com Agra.

Day 5: Delhi → Agra, Riverbank Sunset

Morning: Depart New Delhi Station on the Gatimaan Express (~8:10 a.m., ~1h40m). Have a light breakfast before boarding or pick up snacks at the station. On arrival, check in and refresh.

Afternoon: Visit Agra Fort—walk through Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas halls, peek across the river to the Taj. Late lunch at Pinch of Spice (butter chicken, dal makhani) or a vegetarian thali at Shankara Vegis near Taj Ganj.

Evening: Cross to Mehtab Bagh for the classic Taj-at-sunset view as the marble blushes pink. Dinner splurge at Esphahan (The Oberoi Amarvilas; pre-book) for refined Mughal courses, or The Mughal Room (Hotel Clarks Shiraz) for a vintage setting and hearty curries. End with Agra’s famed petha from Panchhi Petha—try kesar or angoori.

Day 6: Taj Mahal Sunrise, Baby Taj, and Fatehpur Sikri

Morning: Enter the Taj Mahal at first light (closed Fridays). Linger on marble inlay details—cornelian and lapis lilies, Quranic calligraphy that appears even in width due to optical tricks. Breakfast after at Deviram Sweets (bedai with aloo sabzi, hot jalebis) or Joney’s Place for a simple eggs-and-paratha plate.

Afternoon: Continue to Itimad-ud-Daulah (“Baby Taj”), a jeweled casket of pietra dura set in a garden by the river. Lunch at Sheroes Hangout—support a courageous survivor-run cafe with good sandwiches, thalis, and coffee. If you’re up for a half-day excursion, drive to Fatehpur Sikri (~1.5 hours each way), Akbar’s red-sandstone capital with palaces, courtyards, and the soaring Buland Darwaza.

Evening: Return to Agra. Light dinner at Good Vibes Cafe (rooftop wraps, curries, and masala chai) or a tandoori spread at Mama Chicken Mama Franky House. Wrap with kulfi or rabri at a local sweet shop in Sadar Bazaar.

Day 7: Agra → Delhi and Departure

Morning: Optional dawn revisit to the riverside behind Mehtab Bagh for peaceful Taj views, or birdwatch at Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake) if you’re an early riser. Board a late-morning express train back to Delhi (~1h40m–2.5h) via Trip.com Trains.

Afternoon: If time allows before your flight, grab a farm-to-table lunch in Aerocity (AnnaMaya-style Indian-European salads, tandoor plates) and a final coffee. Head to the airport; compare last-minute flight changes on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: Departure. If you’re overnighting, consider a relaxed dinner near your hotel: Khan Chacha for kebab rolls, Carnatic Cafe for crisp dosas, or a comforting bowl of dal tadka with jeera rice from a neighborhood dhaba.

Insider Tips and Local Gems

• Best times: Taj Mahal at sunrise; Red Fort and Humayun’s Tomb right at opening; Lodhi Garden at golden hour.
• Food hygiene: Pick busy stalls, ask for fresh-fried, and carry hand sanitizer. Delhi’s contemporary cafes (Perch, Cafe Dori, Blue Tokai) make great pit stops between monuments.
• Transport: The Airport Express Metro is your fastest airport-city link. Rideshare apps are widely used; keep small bills for auto-rickshaws.
• Air quality: In winter months, check AQI each morning; schedule outdoor-heavy sights earlier in the day and slot museums/cafes if haze spikes.
• Etiquette: Modest dress for religious sites; carry a light scarf. Remove shoes where required.

In one week you’ll have traced a thousand years of architecture, tasted Delhi’s kaleidoscope of flavors, and watched the Taj change color with the sky. It’s a route that rewards curiosity—each lane and courtyard holds a story, and the table is always set for one more plate to share.