After landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport around 9 a.m., book a hotel car or a large app cab that can fit all five of you and your luggage; allow roughly 45–90 minutes to reach Connaught Place, depending on traffic. If your room isn’t ready, ask the hotel to store your bags so you can freshen up and head out. Connaught Place is a practical first-night base, with plenty of people around and easy cab access; Aerocity is another comfortable option, though you’ll need a ride into central Delhi. Have a relaxed lunch at Saravana Bhavan in Connaught Place—a welcome taste of South Indian comfort food after the flight. Budget about ₹300–₹600 per person.
Visit Jantar Mantar, a short ride or walk from the centre of Connaught Place; allow about an hour. It’s generally open during daylight hours, but check the current timings before you go, and expect a modest entry fee for Indian visitors. Next, take a cab to Agrasen ki Baoli on Hailey Road. This atmospheric stepwell is best seen before dusk; allow around 45 minutes, and check the day’s closing time as it can vary. For dinner, settle in at United Coffee House in Connaught Place—a lovely old-Delhi-restaurant feel without the bustle of a street-food crawl. Budget around ₹1,000–₹1,800 per person. For comfort on your first day, use app-based or hotel-arranged rides between stops and back to your hotel, and keep together after dark.
Start early at Jama Masjid—aim for around 8:00 a.m., when it’s cooler and the lanes are less crowded. Allow about an hour; dress modestly, follow the mosque’s current visitor rules, and ask about any entry or camera charges at the gate. From there, explore Chandni Chowk for about 90 minutes: walk together through the busy lanes or hire a cycle-rickshaw for the longer stretches. Keep phones and bags secure, agree on a meeting point, and expect some congestion. A pre-booked cab can drop you near the mosque, but the driver may need to leave you at the edge of the lanes; walking and rickshaws are more practical in this part of Old Delhi.
Have lunch at Karim’s, near the mosque, and try its Mughlai curries and kebabs; budget roughly ₹500–₹900 per person. After lunch, head to Red Fort—it’s a short drive or rickshaw ride, though traffic can make it slow—and set aside 1.5–2 hours for the fort and grounds. Check the current visiting hours and ticket prices before setting out; carry water, and wear comfortable shoes for the uneven paths.
For dinner, Indian Accent at The Lodhi is a lovely special-occasion finish; reserve well ahead and budget around ₹3,000–₹5,000 per person. Take a pre-booked car from Old Delhi rather than trying to hail one amid the crowds, and arrange the return ride with your hotel or through a trusted app.
After reaching Agra, head straight to the Taj Mahal; allow 2–3 hours for security, the gardens and the mausoleum. October is usually more comfortable than the summer months, but the midday sun can still feel strong, so carry water and wear comfortable shoes. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays; check the current opening time, ticket rules and entry arrangements before you travel, and buy tickets through the official Archaeological Survey of India portal rather than touts. Expect foreign-visitor admission to be several thousand rupees, with any mausoleum-access add-on charged separately.
A short cab ride brings you to Pinch of Spice on Fatehabad Road, a comfortable stop after the monument. Set aside around ₹700–₹1,200 per person; it’s a good place for North Indian favourites and a relaxed meal before the afternoon. Ask your driver to wait or book your next ride through a reputable app or your hotel rather than accepting unsolicited offers outside the sights.
Continue to Agra Fort, allowing 1.5–2 hours to wander its courtyards, halls and river-facing viewpoints. The fort is best explored at an unhurried pace; wear shoes that can handle uneven stone and keep an eye on the time if you’re visiting in the heat. For the evening, take a pre-arranged car to Peshawri at ITC Mughal for dinner—budget roughly ₹1,500–₹2,500 per person. Arrange your ride back to your hotel near Taj Ganj or Fatehabad Road with the hotel or a trusted cab service, especially if you’ll be returning after dark.
The Agra-to-Amritsar transfer can take much of the day, so keep this a light arrival day rather than trying to fit in sightseeing before you’ve reached the city. Check in near Ranjit Avenue for comfortable dining and easy cab access, or near the Golden Temple if you’d rather be within walking distance of the old city. For five of you with luggage, arrange the hotel transfer in advance and confirm your rooms and late-arrival arrangements. If a direct flight from Delhi doesn’t line up with your plans, expect the alternative via Delhi to take most of the day.
If you arrive in time, have a relaxed Punjabi vegetarian meal at Bharawan Da Dhaba in the Town Hall area; budget around ₹300–₹600 per person. Then take a cab to Gobindgarh Fort for its historic buildings and cultural attractions—allow about two hours, and check the day’s programme and last entry before setting out, as timings can vary. If your transfer runs late, don’t rush lunch or the fort: enjoy whichever fits comfortably, and ask the hotel to confirm the fort’s closing time.
For dinner, Kesar Da Dhaba in Chowk Passian is a much-loved stop for traditional Punjabi food; allow roughly ₹400–₹700 per person. The old-city lanes can be busy, so take a pre-booked cab back rather than walking late, and have the driver agree on a clear pickup point before you go in.
Go early, around 7:00 a.m., when the complex is calmer and the light over the sacred pool is lovely. Allow 2–3 hours to walk around, visit the shrine and take in the atmosphere. Cover your head, remove your shoes and follow the signs for the shoe-deposit and washing areas. Keep valuables close in the crowds, and use a pre-booked hotel car or a trusted app cab to reach the Old City; the last stretch may be easier on foot if traffic is restricted.
Have lunch at Guru Ram Das Langar Hall, where meals are served free to visitors throughout the day; a voluntary donation is welcome. It’s a simple, nourishing meal and a meaningful part of the visit—follow the volunteers’ instructions and leave extra time if it’s busy. Afterwards, walk a few minutes to Jallianwala Bagh. Allow about an hour for the memorial and its historical displays; give yourself a quiet moment there before moving on.
Take a cab to Ranjit Avenue for an early meal at Amritsari Kulcha Land—budget roughly ₹200–₹400 per person. To fit in the museum before closing, aim to eat around 3:00–3:30 p.m., then take a cab to the Partition Museum at Town Hall; allow 1.5–2 hours and check its current hours before setting out (it is generally open on Wednesdays, but timings can change). The museum can be emotionally heavy, so there’s no need to rush through it. Book a cab back to your hotel afterwards, rather than walking through unfamiliar lanes after dark.
Start around 8:30 a.m. at Hall Bazaar while the Old City is still relatively manageable. Give yourselves 1–1½ hours to browse textiles, juttis and local goods; stick together, agree prices before buying, and keep valuables tucked away in a cross-body bag. Then walk to Ahuja Milk Bhandar nearby for lassi and a light breakfast—budget about ₹100–₹250 per person. Confirm the shop’s opening time locally, as morning hours can vary.
Take a pre-booked cab to Sadda Pind on the outskirts of Amritsar; allow roughly 20–30 minutes each way, depending on traffic, and check its current opening hours and ticket arrangements before setting out. Plan around 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. there, but be aware that this is a shortened visit: the full village experience, especially performances, can take 3–4 hours. Leave by about 1:30–2:00 p.m. for Wagah–Attari Border; the drive is commonly around 45–60 minutes each way, but queues and security checks add time. The ceremony is typically in the late afternoon, with timing changing by season—confirm locally that day, arrive well ahead of the stated start, and follow current entry and ID rules. This is a very full afternoon, so have your cab wait or arrange a clear pickup point rather than relying on finding a ride afterward.
After the ceremony, return to Beera Chicken House on Majitha Road for dinner; allow roughly 45–75 minutes from the border depending on traffic, and budget about ₹500–₹900 per person. It may be a late meal after the long outing, so call ahead about closing time and use a pre-booked cab back to your hotel.
For a useful afternoon in Delhi, choose a morning direct flight from Amritsar; after airport transfers and check-in, aim to reach your hotel around lunchtime. A flight takes about 1½ hours in the air, but allow roughly 4–5 hours door to door. If you take the Shane Punjab Express, it usually takes 6–7 hours and may not leave enough time for today’s plans—check the date-specific timetable before booking. Check into a staffed hotel around Connaught Place for easier access to central Delhi, or Aerocity for a quieter airport-side base; arrange your pickup through the hotel and keep the afternoon relaxed.
Take a cab to Khan Market for an easy browse through its boutiques and bookshops, then settle in for a leisurely 1½ hours. From there, it’s a short cab ride to The Big Chill in Khan Market for dinner; budget around ₹800–₹1,400 per person, and consider booking or arriving early as it can get busy. To fit in the garden before dusk, make this an early dinner.
Head by cab to Lodhi Garden for a gentle walk among the lawns and historic tombs—give yourselves about an hour and check the day’s closing time, as access ends around sunset. Go together, keep bags close, and arrange a cab back to your hotel rather than walking to a quieter road after dark.
Start around 10 a.m. in Karol Bagh, where you’ll find bridal-wear shops and accessories along Ajmal Khan Road and nearby market lanes. Allow 2–3 hours, and shop as a group: set a budget before you start, ask clearly whether the quoted price includes stitching, and get alteration deadlines and delivery details in writing—especially if you’re buying close to your wedding date. Keep receipts and take photos of each outfit and the shop’s name. A cab from central Delhi usually takes about 20–40 minutes, depending on traffic.
Take a casual lunch break at Roshan Di Kulfi in Karol Bagh; budget roughly ₹200–₹400 per person, including a kulfi for dessert. Then book an app cab to Shahpur Jat—allow around 35–60 minutes in traffic—and spend 2–3 hours browsing its independent designer boutiques and occasionwear. It’s a good place to compare distinctive pieces after the bigger-market browse; check store hours before heading over, as individual boutiques may keep different schedules. Keep purchases together and avoid leaving bags unattended in the car.
Reserve a table at Olive Bar & Kitchen in Mehrauli for a calmer dinner after shopping; plan on about ₹1,500–₹2,500 per person. From Shahpur Jat, the cab ride is usually about 25–45 minutes, but evening traffic can add time. Ask the restaurant or your hotel to arrange a pre-booked cab back, leave together, and keep shopping bags out of sight rather than carrying them openly.
If you’d like AMA Café in Majnu-ka-Tilla, make it an optional early breakfast stop—allow about ₹400–₹800 per person and roughly 30–45 minutes each way from central or South Delhi, depending on traffic. It’s a detour, so skip it if you’re not already nearby; with a 5 p.m. flight, airport timing matters more than squeezing in one last café.
Head to South Extension Market for the wedding gowns, designer outfits and final accessories. Many shops open around 11 a.m.; allow about two hours, keep together, confirm alteration deadlines before paying, and save receipts. For a quick meal, Haldiram’s, South Extension has familiar North Indian options and sweets, typically ₹250–₹500 per person. Then continue to Select CITYWALK in Saket for any remaining purchases. Realistically, with the airport transfer ahead, you may have time for only a brief stop there—don’t count on a full 1.5–2 hours of shopping.
For a 5 p.m. flight, aim to reach IGI Airport by about 2 p.m. and leave South Delhi around 12:30–1 p.m.; traffic can be unpredictable, and you’ll need extra time with five people and shopping bags. Pre-book a roomy vehicle through your hotel or a reputable cab service, and confirm it can fit everyone’s luggage. If you need a proper meal after security, eat at the airport rather than adding another stop in the city.
No packing list attached yet.