The Best Way to Experience Delhi: A Food Tour Through Old Delhi
Traveling to India’s iconic, loud, busy, and hectic capital city? Looking for a way to dive into the chaos without having to figure everything out on your own? Then joining a food tour of Old Delhi is exactly what you need while in Delhi.
Getting to Delhi is easy since most international flights land here. That makes it a perfect place to spend your first couple of days in India before continuing on to your next destination.
Delhi can feel overwhelming at first, so my tip is to base yourself in South Delhi. This area is a little more comfortable, modern, and calm compared to the rest of the city.
I stayed in New Friends Colony and had zero problems as a solo female traveler. It gave me the best balance. I could enjoy quiet mornings and evenings there and then head out during the day to explore the vibrant chaos of Old Delhi.
If you are looking for a great hostel, I recommend Moustache Hostel Delhi.
Getting Around Delhi
Once you are in the city, it is surprisingly easy to get around. The Delhi Metro is efficient, clean, and very affordable. Auto-rickshaws are everywhere, and while they can feel hectic, they are a fun way to zip around short distances.
You can also use Uber, both cars and bikes. The bikes are especially useful because they can weave through traffic much faster than cars.
Exploring Old Delhi
Old Delhi is the heart of the city. It is chaotic, crowded, and noisy, but it is also overflowing with history, culture, and some of the best food in the country.
This part of Delhi has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, leaving behind layers of history that you can see and feel as you walk through it.
To make the most of my time, I joined a tour with Unveil Delhi Tours, and it was one of the best decisions I made. Our guide Raj was amazing. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and full of energy.
From the moment we left the hostel, he took care of everything including transportation, food, drinks, and making sure we were safe and comfortable.
Our first stop was the Red Fort, one of Delhi’s most iconic landmarks. Raj shared stories about its Mughal history before leading us to a nearby Jain temple where we learned about the religion and its traditions.
From there we walked down Chandni Chowk, the bustling main street of Old Delhi. Every alley seemed to specialize in something different.
We passed a lane filled only with cameras, another lined with chandeliers and lights, and even Asia’s largest electronics market.
We also visited the Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, a Sikh temple with a massive community kitchen. Every day, volunteers cook and serve free vegetarian meals to over 20,000 people, regardless of background, religion, or status.
Watching people roll roti, stir huge pots of dal, and work together so selflessly was inspiring.
The Food Tour
This is where things got delicious. Raj guided us through narrow alleyways, stopping at trusted food stalls where he knew the vendors personally.
He explained why some stalls are safer than others and helped us avoid anything that might upset our stomachs.
We tasted so many incredible dishes. Crispy samosas, spiced aloo chaat which is smashed potato with chutneys and spices, sweet and sticky jalebi, creamy lassi, and fragrant parathas stuffed with vegetables.
We tried fresh chai, buttery naan including the biggest naan in India, flavorful paneer curries, and even some of the best mango ice cream I have ever had.
Between bites, we wandered into the Khari Baoli spice market, where the air was thick with the scent of chili, turmeric, and cardamom.
The mix of food, history, and wandering made the tour feel so balanced. It was not just eating dish after dish, it was learning, exploring, and then sitting down for another delicious bite.
Why It’s the Best Way to See Delhi
By the end of the day, Raj even showed us how to take the metro and brought us back safely to our hostel. He really treated us like friends.
He watched out for us, listened to what we wanted to try, and adjusted the tour to fit our moods and dietary preferences. We never once had to pull out our wallets or haggle with vendors. Everything was seamless.
For me, this tour was the perfect introduction to Delhi. I loved walking through the markets and trying all the food, but as a solo female traveler I would have felt pretty overwhelmed if I had tried to do it all on my own.
Having a guide made the experience stress free, safe, and so much more fun. If you are visiting Delhi, this is without question the best way to explore the city.
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