Delhi City Guide: A Newcomer's Handbook

Delhi is several cities at once: the Mughal lanes of Old Delhi, the wide avenues of Lutyens' Delhi, the markets of South Delhi and the towers of Gurugram and Noida. This guide covers where to live, how to get around, the seasons, what to eat and how to settle in.

Why People Move to Delhi

Delhi NCR is India's capital region and one of its biggest job markets: government, policy and media in Delhi, corporate offices and startups in Gurugram, and IT and media companies in Noida. It has some of the country's leading universities, hospitals and cultural institutions, and a food scene to match. The trade-offs are extreme weather and seasonal air pollution.

Neighbourhoods

The region is huge, so start from your commute. A quick orientation:

• South Delhi (Hauz Khas, Greater Kailash, Saket, Malviya Nagar): green, well connected and full of markets, cafés and restaurants. Popular with young professionals and families, and rents can be steep.
• Central Delhi (Connaught Place, Lodhi Road, Jor Bagh): the historic heart and the leafy Lutyens' zone. Beautiful and central, with limited and expensive housing.
• North Campus (Kamla Nagar, Vijay Nagar): around Delhi University, lively and affordable, and mostly students.
• West Delhi (Rajouri Garden, Janakpuri, Punjabi Bagh): residential, family-oriented and famous for its food.
• Dwarka: a planned sub-city near the airport with wide roads and metro access, good value for space.
• Gurugram (Cyber City, Golf Course Road, Sohna Road): corporate offices, high-rises and gated communities. Check water supply and power backup when you rent.
• Noida (Sectors 18, 62, 137): planned and spacious, with IT parks and metro links to Delhi.

Getting Around

The Delhi Metro is the backbone of the region: one of the largest metro networks in the world, with colour-coded lines reaching Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad, and an Airport Express line from New Delhi station to the airport. More Phase 4 corridors are opening through 2026. Trains are clean and air-conditioned, and the first coach in the direction of travel is reserved for women. Buy QR tickets on the official DMRC app or use a smart card to skip the queue.

DTC and cluster buses cover the rest of the city, autos are meant to run on the meter (in practice, agree the fare before you start), and app cabs and bike taxis are everywhere. Distances are large: crossing from Noida to Gurugram by road can take well over an hour at peak time, so live near your office or a metro line.

Weather and Air Quality

Delhi has proper seasons. Summers, from April to June, are very hot and dry, often above 40°C, followed by the monsoon from July to September. October to March is the best time to be outdoors, with crisp winters, though December and January bring fog and cold mornings.

Air quality is a serious issue from late October to January, when pollution often reaches unhealthy levels. Check a daily AQI app, keep N95 masks at home, and consider an air purifier for your bedroom.

Food

Delhi eats big: stuffed paranthas and kachori for breakfast, chaat in the afternoon, chole bhature at any hour, kebabs and nihari around Jama Masjid, and butter chicken in the restaurants that made it famous. State bhawan canteens serve regional food from across India, and Majnu ka Tilla has the city's Tibetan cafés. Khana, our Delhi food guide, lists where to go and what to order.

The Language

Hindi is the everyday language, mixed freely with English and Punjabi. English is enough in offices and malls, but markets, autos and neighbourhood shops run on Hindi. Our everyday Hindi phrases cover what you need first.

Things to Do

• Walk Old Delhi: the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, the spice market of Khari Baoli and the lanes of Chandni Chowk. Go by metro.
• See Humayun's Tomb and the restored gardens of Sunder Nursery next door.
• Spend a morning in Lodhi Garden among its 15th and 16th-century tombs, then browse Khan Market.
• Visit the Qutub Minar and wander the Mehrauli Archaeological Park nearby.
• Walk Kartavya Path to India Gate in the evening.
• Explore Hauz Khas Village, its lake and its medieval ruins.
• Shop for crafts and regional food at Dilli Haat, and catch a play or concert around Mandi House or the India Habitat Centre.

Settling In

Choose your neighbourhood by your commute and the metro map. Rentals usually involve a security deposit and a broker's fee, so budget for both. Keep a mask for winter and a water bottle for summer, and find your local market: in Delhi, the market is the neighbourhood. To find out what is on, check Ooru's Delhi events page every week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Delhi a good place to live?

Delhi NCR offers a huge job market, great food, culture, universities and hospitals, and a good metro. The main downsides are extreme summer heat, winter air pollution and long commutes across the region.

Which area is best to live in Delhi?

South Delhi suits people who want markets, green spaces and central access; Gurugram suits corporate jobs there; Noida offers space and value with metro links; and Dwarka is good value near the airport. Living close to a metro line makes the biggest difference.

When is the best time to visit Delhi?

October to March, when the weather is pleasant for walking. February and March are ideal, while November to January can bring smog and fog.

Do I need Hindi in Delhi?

Not at work or in malls, where English is common, but Hindi helps a lot in markets, autos and daily errands.