New DelhiThe gateway to India: Old Delhi, Humayun’s Tomb and the Qutub Minar. The first and last stop of the trip. Hotels from US$ 37 a night.
See where to stay →Where to start exploring India
The first trip usually starts with the Golden Triangle: Delhi, the capital; Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal; and Jaipur, the Pink City of Rajasthan, just a few hours apart by train or road. From there you continue to Udaipur, the city of lakes, or to Varanasi, the sacred city on the Ganges. For the coast and the south there are Mumbai, the beaches of Goa and the backwaters and tea plantations of Kerala.
Choosing well where to sleep changes the trip: in Delhi it pays to be near the metro; in Agra, a few steps from a Taj gate so you can get in at dawn; in Jaipur and Udaipur, in a haveli; in Varanasi, close to the river. In each guide we describe the areas honestly and show you hotels with good reviews, real photos and month-by-month prices.
8cities with a guide
56recommended hotels
3Golden Triangle cities
Oct–Marthe best time to go
City guides
New Delhi
AgraThe Taj Mahal at sunrise, the Red Fort and Mehtab Bagh. One night is enough; what matters is sleeping nearby. Hotels from US$ 23 a night.
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JaipurThe Pink City: Amber Fort, the Palace of the Winds and a stay in a courtyard haveli. Hotels from US$ 29 a night.
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UdaipurThe city of lakes: white palaces over the Pichola and terraces for watching the sunset. Hotels from US$ 23 a night.
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VaranasiThe sacred city: the Ganges ghats, the sunrise boat ride and the Ganga Aarti. Hotels from US$ 16 a night.
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MumbaiThe Gateway of India, the colonial architecture of Fort and the modern Mumbai of Bandra. Hotels from US$ 35 a night.
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GoaBeach India: the lively north, the laid-back south of Palolem and the Portuguese quarter of Panjim. Hotels from US$ 20 a night.
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KeralaThe green south: Fort Kochi, the Alleppey backwaters by houseboat and the tea of Munnar. Hotels from US$ 10 a night.
See where to stay →Hotel map of India
See where the cities in this guide are and compare hotels with real prices and availability right on the map.
When to go to India
The best time for almost all of India is October to March: dry, mild days in the north (20-33 °C) and beach season in Goa. December and January are the coolest months, with cold nights in the north. From April to June the heat exceeds 40 °C in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi, and from June to September the monsoon arrives, stronger on the west coast (Mumbai, Goa and Kerala), with the lowest prices of the year.
Jan21°
Feb25°
Mar30°
Apr37°
May40°
Jun39°
Jul36°
Aug35°
Sep34°
Oct33°
Nov28°
Dec23°
High season: ideal weather, more demand
Very good: fewer crowds, warm days
Extreme heat: over 37 °C
Monsoon: rain and lower prices
🌡️ Temperatures: average highs for New Delhi; Agra and Jaipur are very similar (±2 °C)
☀️ In the north, from October to May it hardly rains: between 0 and 3 rainy days per month
🌧️ July and August get most of the rain: around 200 mm a month in Delhi and Agra
🌊 On the west coast the monsoon is much stronger: in July about 1,000 mm falls in Goa and 700 mm in Mumbai
🌴 Kerala: the dry season runs from December to March; from June to November it rains often
🔥 May and June: highs of 40–42 °C in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi
🧥 December and January: lows of 7–9 °C at dawn, so bring a warm layer
📅 The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays: bear this in mind when planning your route
Climate data: climatestotravel.com.
Get the rest of your trip ready
The usual plan is to fly into Delhi, tour the triangle by train or by car with a driver, and continue on domestic flights to Udaipur, Varanasi, Mumbai, Goa or Kerala; many travelers arrive via Delhi and leave from Mumbai. Arranging the airport transfer before you arrive avoids the most chaotic part of the trip.
🚕
Airport taxis and private transfers
Fixed price, door to door, booked before you travel✈️ Flight trackingYour driver tracks your flight and waits up to 45 min if it is delayed.
💵 A clear priceTaxes, tolls and tip included, with no cash to pay.
🤝 Meet & Greet includedYou are met on arrival; free cancellation up to 24 h before.
🛬 Delhi Airport → city centre~45 min
🚐 Delhi → Agra → Jaipur with a driver~3 h 30 + 4 h 30
🚕 Book a transfer
What to do in India
Each city has its must-sees: Old Delhi and Humayun’s Tomb, the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, Amber Fort and the Palace of the Winds in Jaipur. These are the most booked activities in Delhi:
The must-sees in each city
- Old Delhi and Chandni Chowk — the city’s oldest bazaar, best explored by rickshaw.
- Red Fort and Jama Masjid — the Mughal fortress and the largest mosque in India.
- Taj Mahal at sunrise — opens at sunrise; closed on Fridays.
- Agra Fort — the Mughal fortress from where you can see the Taj above the river.
- Amber Fort — the fortified palace on the hills, best visited first thing.
- Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) — the most photographed pink façade in India.
- City Palace — the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, on the lake.
- Sunrise boat ride — the city wakes up on the Ganges.
- Gateway of India — the arch facing the sea, the symbol of the city.
- Churches of Old Goa — the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Cathedral, a World Heritage Site.
- Houseboat in the backwaters — a night or a day sailing along the canals of Alleppey.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the best time to go?
- The best time for almost all of India is October to March: dry, mild days in the north (20-33 °C) and beach season in Goa. December and January are the coolest months, with cold nights in the north. From April to June the heat exceeds 40 °C in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Varanasi, and from June to September the monsoon arrives, stronger on the west coast (Mumbai, Goa and Kerala), with the lowest prices of the year.
- Which Area Is Best to Stay in Delhi?
- In Connaught Place if it is your first trip and you want maximum comfort; in Paharganj if you want the best price and to be next to the railway station; in Aerocity only for the first or last night, because of its proximity to the airport.
- Which day is the Taj Mahal closed?
- On Fridays the Taj Mahal does not open to tourists. Plan your night in Agra so you do not land on a Friday.
- Which Area Is Best to Stay in Jaipur?
- In the Pink City to have everything on foot and experience the old town; in Bani Park to relax in a haveli with a garden; in C Scheme for a happy medium, quiet and very central.
- North or south Goa?
- The north if you want atmosphere, beach shacks and nightlife; the south if you want quiet beaches and seafront huts. Many travelers spend a few days on each side.
Transparency: this is an independent guide; we are not the official site of any hotel. If you book through our links we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices are indicative and updated frequently.