Start with the Pune Airport to IGI Airport flight this evening — keep it simple and book a pre-arranged cab or rideshare from Indira Gandhi International Airport to Greenside International Hotel in South Delhi. Door-to-door, you’re looking at roughly 2–3 hours including check-in, security, and the airport transfer. Flights into Delhi can be a little bumpy on timing, so I’d aim to leave Pune with enough buffer to land, collect bags, and be on the road before the late-night airport rush builds. Since you’re arriving late, don’t worry about parking or self-drive logistics; a cab is the cleanest option, and the route into South Delhi is usually straightforward once you’re out of the airport zone.
If you have a little energy left, head out for a short walk around Green Park Market — it’s one of those South Delhi neighborhoods that still feels lived-in rather than polished for tourists. In the evening, the lanes are good for a quick reset after travel: tea stalls, casual snack counters, and a neighborhood buzz without being overwhelming. Keep this to about 45 minutes; it’s more about stretching your legs than “doing” anything. From there, walk or take a short cab hop to Sagar Ratna in Green Park for an easy, reliable dinner. It’s a solid choice for a work trip because the food is familiar, fast, and not heavy — idli, dosa, pongal, and filter coffee if you want something light. Budget about ₹400–700 per person, and you’ll usually be in and out in 45–60 minutes.
If you’re still awake and want one calm extra stop before calling it a night, consider a brief cab ride to CAFE Lota near Pragati Maidan and the National Crafts Museum area. It’s one of Delhi’s nicest modern-Indian cafés, with a quieter setting than most city restaurants and a menu that feels a bit more thoughtful than standard hotel food. This is not a place to rush; the point is a relaxed late-evening stop, maybe tea, a light bite, and a change of scene before the workdays begin. Expect around ₹700–1,200 per person, and allow about an hour if traffic is kind. After that, head straight back to Greenside International Hotel by cab — usually 20–30 minutes from central areas in South Delhi depending on traffic, and worth keeping the night short so you can recover properly for tomorrow.
Start early from Greenside International Hotel and head straight to Dilli Haat INA before the day gets busy; it’s an easy cab ride of about 15–25 minutes depending on traffic, and opening time is usually 10:30 AM, which works well if you want to beat the heat and crowds. This is the best low-effort Delhi stop for a work trip: compact, outdoorsy, and full of state craft stalls, textiles, and small regional food counters. You can do a quick loop in about an hour, grab a snack or tea, and keep moving without feeling rushed. From there, walk or take a short auto to Saravana Bhavan nearby for a clean, filling South Indian breakfast-brunch — think dosa, idli, filter coffee — usually around ₹300–600 per person, and it’s practical because service is fast even when the place is busy.
After breakfast, continue to Qutub Minar in Mehrauli; it’s roughly 20–30 minutes from INA by cab if traffic is kind. The monument generally opens around 7 AM, so by mid-morning you’ll still have enough time to see it comfortably before work commitments pull you back. Keep this one efficient: the main tower, the surrounding ruins, and a short walk in the complex are enough for a meaningful visit in 1–1.5 hours. Then head to The Big Chill Cafe in Khan Market for lunch, which is about 20–30 minutes away. This is one of those dependable Delhi lunch places where a work trip feels a little less like a work trip; expect classic pastas, sandwiches, desserts, and a relaxed atmosphere, with a bill around ₹900–1,500 per person. Khan Market itself is also good for a quick coffee or a short browse if you have 10 spare minutes.
After work, make your way to Hauz Khas Village lake side for a reset rather than more sightseeing; it’s usually a 20–30 minute cab ride from central South Delhi, and the best time here is just before sunset or early evening when the light softens and the temperature drops a bit. Stick to the lake edge and the quieter walking stretches rather than trying to overdo the nightlife side of Hauz Khas Village — this part of the day should feel unhurried, almost like a decompression walk. For dinner, book Bukhara (ITC Maurya) in Chanakyapuri well ahead if you can, because this is the one meal on the day that deserves planning; it’s about 20–30 minutes from Hauz Khas, and tables can be tight. Budget roughly ₹2,500–4,000 per person, order the classics, and give yourself 1.5 hours so the meal doesn’t feel cramped.
If you’re returning to Greenside International Hotel after dinner, Chanakyapuri back to South Delhi is usually an easy cab ride of 20–35 minutes, but leave a little buffer if you’re heading back closer to peak evening traffic. If you’re too full to do anything else, just call it a night — this is already a well-balanced Delhi day for someone working full-time, with enough local flavor to make the trip feel worthwhile without turning it into a marathon.
Since you’re based at Greenside International Hotel, start early and keep the first stretch easy: Lodhi Garden is one of the best low-effort, high-value resets in Delhi, especially before a workday gets going. From South Delhi, it’s usually a 10–20 minute cab ride depending on traffic, and if you enter from the Lodhi Road side you’ll avoid unnecessary wandering. Aim for 45–60 minutes here; the paths, tombs, and tree cover make it feel cooler than the rest of the city, and morning is when joggers, walkers, and a few quiet office-goers give it that calm, lived-in Delhi feel. After that, head a few minutes up the road to India Habitat Centre on Lodhi Road — it’s the easiest place nearby for a coffee, a short sit-down meeting, or just a civilized breather in the middle of the city. The cafés and common areas are business-friendly, and you can usually get in and out in under an hour without feeling rushed.
For lunch, go to Elma’s Bakery, Bar & Kitchen in Khan Market — it’s close enough to keep the day efficient, and it’s a good choice if you want something predictable and comfortable: sandwiches, salads, pasta, cakes, and decent coffee. Budget around ₹700–1,200 per person, and if you’re short on time, this is one of those places where ordering quickly actually works because the menu is straightforward. After lunch, make your way to the National Gallery of Modern Art near India Gate / Jaipur House. From Khan Market, it’s an easy cab ride of about 10–15 minutes, though it can stretch a bit in the afternoon. Give yourself around 1.5 hours here — the collection isn’t overwhelming, so it’s ideal for a compact cultural stop rather than a full museum day. If you have a little extra energy afterward, the surroundings near India Gate are pleasant for a quick drive-by or a short pause before the last leg of the day.
Wrap up with Select Citywalk in Saket, which is the most practical final stop if you want to shop, grab dinner, or just decompress before your flight back to Pune. From the India Gate area, plan on roughly 25–40 minutes by cab depending on traffic; it’s worth leaving enough cushion because Delhi evenings can back up quickly, especially on the Ring Road. Select Citywalk gives you plenty of options without any hassle — clean restrooms, easy parking, familiar brands, and multiple dinner choices if you want something simple before heading out. Once you’re done, head back to Greenside International Hotel just long enough to collect your bags and leave for IGI Airport. For a same-evening departure, I’d leave South Delhi at least 2.5–3 hours before your flight, especially if you’re checking luggage; the route to the airport is usually straightforward via NH 48 / Ring Road depending on where you are, but traffic can change fast.