Where to Stay in Delhi For Tourists! BEST Areas, Hotels & Hostels in Delhi!

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Where to stay in Delhi is an important question when planning your trip to Delhi, especially if Delhi is your first stop on your India trip!

Finding the right accommodation in Delhi and staying in the right area of Delhi will pretty much determine how much you like and enjoy your stay in India’s capital city because as a foreigner to India and to Delhi, this city can be overwhelming, chaotic, loud and hot! I talk from experience.

Having an accommodation in Delhi where you feel safe, comfortable and relaxed is so important so here is my biggest Delhi travel tip. There are some areas of Delhi that are super cool and hip and might surprise you, which is what I want to tell you about in this Delhi travel blog, along with the best hotels in Delhi and the best hostels in Delhi!

Best Place to Stay in Delhi For Tourists

In this Delhi Travel Blog and Delhi Accommodation Guide, I’m going to share with you, where to stay in Delhi, where to stay in Delhi on your first visit, where to stay in Delhi on a budget, the best area to stay in Delhi, the best hotels in Delhi and budget hotels in Delhi that I recommend you stay in based on their good location in Delhi, price and overall comfort, but first let’s see what’s the best time to visit India.

Best time to visit India

Before we get into this India travel blog, it’s worth thinking about the best time to visit India as the country get’s very hot and wet in the middle of the year. November to March are the best times to visit both North & South India.

South India will be warmer than North India in the winter months of December and January, Delhi and further North actually get cold in these months but are still enjoyable to visit with the right clothing.

Outside these months, you can still visit but you’ll find that the heat and humidity will be much higher, especially as you go further South

Where to stay in Delhi?

The WORSE area of Delhi to stay in – Paharganj & Old Delhi

Let’s start by talking about the area of Delhi you SHOULD NOT stay in – Paharganj!

Paharganj is known as the backpacker area of Delhi and the main bazaar in Delhi, which in most cities is a good and fun part of a city to stay in, but not in Delhi! Paharganj is busy, it’s dirty and there’s a lot of hassle from locals because it’s such a tourist-heavy area. If you’re thinking about where to stay in Delhi your first time, this is not it!

It’s easy to get caught out as when looking at accommodation in Delhi on Booking.com most of the accommodation is concentrated in this area but I really recommend you don’t stay here.

The only good thing about Paharganj is that it is where New Delhi Train Station is so unless you are visiting Delhi for one night and want to be within walking distance to the station to catch an early train for example (and if you do, I have recommendations on good hotels in Paharganj below) then avoid this area if you want a good experience in Delhi!

The other area of Delhi I suggest that you don’t stay in is Old Delhi! Yes, Old Delhi is a must-visit area in Delhi but it is not a good place to stay. It’s the most crowded and chaotic part of the city and only gets busier as the night goes on. It’s dusty, noisy and well, very old!

To find out how to see Old Delhi the best way, have a read of this blog post of mine with my Delhi Travel Tips.

The BEST areas of Delhi to stay in – Central New Delhi and South New Delhi

Before we get into exact hotels and hostels, the areas of New Delhi you should be looking for accommodation in are Central New Delhi and South New Delhi.

Central Delhi is centred around Connaught Place which you can easily see on a map. This is a fairly modern and built-up area of Delhi with lots of shops and restaurants, and it is close to many of the popular places to visit in Delhi like India Gate, the Jantar Mantar and Old Delhi, and it’s the best area to stay in Delhi for nightlife.

South Delhi is more residential but it’s also very close to many Delhi Monuments like the Lotus Temple and Qutub Minar. Don’t get me wrong, this part of Delhi is still busy, all of Delhi is busy, but it’s more manageable than the above places I have noted. In terms of the best neighbourhood in Delhi for families, South Delhi is the answer!

The Delhi Metro is so easy and good to use too, so my recommendation when looking for the best place to stay in Delhi is to look for an accommodation close to a metro station and then you can get around the city quickly, easily and cheaply.

The BEST Hotels in Delhi

-Bloom Rooms Hotel Janpath – $$$

Janpath is in Central Delhi and is walking distance from Connaught Place which makes Bloom Rooms Janpath a good hotel to stay in Delhi location wise. However, it’s also an incredibly comfy and welcoming hotel in Delhi and my 3 nights there made me enjoy Delhi so much more.

The staff are welcoming, they have an onsite cafe which is great if you don’t want to go out and get food. They have plenty of seating areas so you don’t have to stay in your room and provide free tea, coffee, water and even snacks!

I stayed in a Standard King room which was perfect for 1 person and would be great for 2 people as well. I love that all rooms have a desk in them and the wifi was great meaning I could catch up on work here. In fact, Bloom Rooms Hotel Janpath is a great place if you’re a digital nomad or need to work online in Delhi!

-Shangri-La’s Eros Hotel – $$$$$

For 5 star hotels in Delhi, the Shangri-La’s Ero Hotel in New Delhi as to be the answer! Located in Janpath in Central Delhi close to India Gate, this luxury hotel in Delhi offers an outdoor swimming pool to cool off in, 5 dining options, a spa and a choice of rooms from suites, king and twin rooms.

The staff that work at the Shangri-La in Delhi are friendly and helpful say past visitors and visitors even say that it should be higher than one of the five-star hotels in Delhi, more like a 7-star hotel in Delhi!

For total luxury after a long day of exploring Delhi, make this your Delhi hotel booking here!

-Prakash Kutir B&B – $$

If you want a home away from home in Delhi, book yourself into Prakash Kutir B&B. The family that runs this B&B in Delhi are so lovely and you will be welcomed into the family.

It is located on a quiet street in the neighbourhood of Hauz Kauz which is a really cool area of Delhi, and it has a metro station.

They have a range of bedrooms and if you want their best bedroom try to get the Family Room which is a huge twin room with a balcony, or the Double Room with Terrace. However, if you can’t get this, they have a rooftop and a downstairs garden area so you can still sit outside and relax when staying there. Breakfast is served in the family dining room with real personal touch.

This homestay in Delhi is perfect for solo travellers especially or slightly older travellers who want to relax out of the busy city between sightseeing. It’s also the Delhi hotel I’m using for my 2 week India tours because I love it that much!

-Aloft New Delhi Aerocity Hotel – $$$$

If you’re looking for hotels near Delhi Airport because you have a layover or just a short stay in Delhi, Aloft Aerocity which is part of the Marriott brand is the best Delhi Airport Hotel!

It’s located in the Airport district just 2km from Delhi Airport but is only 12km from Central Delhi and less than one hour by taxi so it is possible to reach Delhi to see some of the tourist places in Delhi very easily.

Aloft New Delhi Hotel is modern with a garden and swimming pool, perfect if you are coming off of a long flight and offers an amazing breakfast spread! This hotel is also good if you are staying in Delhi for business and attending conferences near Delhi Airport as it is known as the new, hip, business hotel in Delhi!

-Bloom Rooms New Delhi Railway – $$$

If you want to and need to stay close to New Delhi Train Station, especially if you’re getting into Delhi one day and leaving the next, the best hotel to stay in next to New Delhi Station is Bloom Rooms New Delhi Railway Station.

As mentioned with their Janpath property, the offer really good value accommodation that is comfortable, clean and welcoming and their branding is consistent throughout their properties.

Their New Delhi Hotel offers ‘Value Single’ Rooms perfect for solo travellers. I stayed in a value single room in one of their Bangalore Hotels and it was perfect for me with a single bed, desk and still offered plenty of room while being at a lower price point than a double room.

If you are travelling as 2 people, they also offer Queen and Twin Rooms.

-The Imperial New Delhi – $$$$

Another one for your 5-star hotels in Delhi list is The Imperial New Delhi. This luxury Delhi Hotel is located in Janpath Central Delhi close to the cool and modern area of Connaught Place.

It features a huge outdoor swimming pool and huge beautifully furnished bedrooms.

Guests that have stayed at The Imperial Hotel Delhi like that the hotel is modern but it also has a colonial charm. To get even more colonial, you can even have Afternoon Tea at The Imperial New Delhi. If you want the best hotel in Delhi, I think staying somewhere with this colonial charm will give you what you’re looking for.

The BEST Hostels in Delhi

-Moustache Hostel Delhi – $

This is the hostel I recommend you stay in Delhi if you’re wondering where to stay in Delhi on a budget! Moustache Hostel is a good chain of hostels in India offering good dorm rooms with a lot of comfort as well as private rooms and the chance to meet other travellers in the social areas.

Moustache Hostel New Delhi is well located close a major train station in Delhi of making it convenient if you’re getting a train out of Delhi (just be sure to check which Delhi station it leaves from).

It’s located in South Delhi which links in well with why I tell you that that best area of Delhi to stay in is South Delhi!

The hostel has a common area in reception where they play films, there’s also a kitchen and a table which is great for using your laptop on and the wifi is good. They offer nightly dinners for a great price, breakfast and free chai in the evenings along with daily tours of Delhi.

This is a hub for foreign travellers and you’ll be sure to meet a few people to chat with here and maybe even continue your travels with!

-Zostel Delhi – $

Zostel Delhi is located within walking distance from New Delhi Train Station and in the area of Paharganj. The hostel isn’t the newest and it is like a budget hotel in Delhi but it’s cheap and close to the station so if you are staying in Delhi for 1 night only and need to be close to New Delhi Train Station as I did last year when I was arriving from one city before getting the train to another the next day. I would recommend staying here for a cheap and convenient stay.

The staff were good as they tend to be in all Zostel Hostels around India. They do tours and activities which you can join to help you see the city too.

-Madpackers New Delhi Hostel – $

For another well-located New Delhi Hostel in South Delhi. Madpackers New Delhi is the answer! Madpackers are another hostel chain in India and their Youth Hostel Delhi is in a great location in Hauz Khas.

This will give you a unique look at Delhi because Hauz Khas is a cool and hip area with lots of cafes and shops, but it’s also really easy to reach many of the best places to see in Delhi on the metro.

Madpackers New Delhi Hostel offers a range of dorm rooms including female dorms for a Girls Hostel in Delhi feel. They also have private rooms which are perfect if you want your own space but want to get involved in hostel activities and meet people in the common areas and Madpackers Delhi does have great common areas looking at the reviews from fellow travellers!