Delhi is India's capital territory and the country's political and cultural centre, a sprawling city on the Yamuna River where three UNESCO World Heritage monuments, seven historic capitals, and one of Asia's largest street-food cultures sit side by side. Old Delhi's Mughal lanes around the Red Fort and Jama Masjid contrast with the colonial avenues of Lutyens' New Delhi and the bars, boutiques, and design studios of South Delhi.
Delhi has a humid subtropical climate with extreme seasonal swings. Winters (December-January) are cool and often foggy, with lows near 7°C and highs around 20°C. Spring warms quickly, and by May and June daytime highs regularly exceed 40°C, with pre-monsoon heatwaves pushing past 45°C. The southwest monsoon arrives around late June and runs to September, bringing roughly 650-800 mm of the annual rainfall in humid bursts. October is warm and clear, but from late October through December crop stubble burning in neighbouring states combines with cool stagnant air to produce severe smog, with the air quality index frequently reaching hazardous levels.
Best time to visit
Overall Best: February to March, and the first half of October
Reasons:
- Daytime highs of 24-32°C are comfortable for full days of monument walking
- Air quality is at its best of the year in February and March, well clear of the winter smog season
- Holi in March and Dussehra in October give visitors a major festival to witness
- The Delhi gardens, including Lodhi Garden and Sunder Nursery, are at their peak
- Day trips to Agra and Jaipur are pleasant rather than exhausting at these temperatures
Avoid: May and June for extreme heat above 40°C, and the November-December smog peak for anyone with respiratory sensitivity
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
14°C/57°F
Coldest month; dense morning fog, flight and train delays, high pollution, but quiet monuments and low rates
February
18°C/64°F
Mild, clearer, and comfortable for walking; one of the two best months of the year
March
24°C/75°F
Warm and bright with clean air and Holi celebrations; the strongest month overall for a first visit
April
30°C/86°F
Heat builds quickly toward 38-40°C by month's end; early mornings are still workable
May
34°C/93°F
Extreme dry heat with highs of 40-45°C and dust-laden loo winds; outdoor sightseeing is punishing
June
34°C/93°F
Hottest and most humid pre-monsoon weeks until the rains break around the end of the month
July
31°C/88°F
Peak monsoon; heavy downpours, high humidity, waterlogged roads, but green parks and cheaper rooms
August
30°C/86°F
Continued monsoon with humid days and Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on 15 August
September
30°C/86°F
Monsoon retreats through the month; humid early on, pleasant and green by late September
October
27°C/81°F
Warm, dry, and clear in the first half; Durga Puja and Dussehra festivities; air quality declines late in the month
November
20°C/68°F
Pleasantly cool temperatures undermined by the worst smog of the year, especially around Diwali
December
15°C/59°F
Cool and foggy with high pollution; festive atmosphere, uncrowded sites, and a New Year price spike
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Spring
Months: Feb-Mar
The most comfortable stretch of the year, with highs of 24-32°C, clear skies after the winter smog lifts, and flowering trees across Lutyens' Delhi. Holi falls in this window and the Garden Tourism Festival opens the city's parks.
Summer
Months: Apr-Jun
Intensely hot and dry, with highs climbing from 36°C in April to 40-45°C in May and June. Dust-laden loo winds blow through the afternoons and outdoor sightseeing becomes genuinely uncomfortable after 10am.
Monsoon
Months: Jul-Sep
Humid and stormy, with heavy but intermittent downpours that cool the city to highs around 33-35°C. Waterlogging snarls traffic and the Yamuna can flood low-lying areas, but greenery returns and hotel rates soften.
Autumn
Months: Oct-Nov
October is warm, dry, and pleasant at 25-33°C and is one of the best months to visit. From late October air quality deteriorates sharply as stubble burning smoke settles over the city, and by November smog can reduce visibility to a few hundred metres.
Winter
Months: Dec-Jan
Cool and often foggy, with highs of 18-21°C and lows of 6-8°C. Dense morning fog delays flights and trains through late December and January, and pollution remains high, but monuments are uncrowded and hotel rates dip outside the New Year peak.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- October to March, peaking around Christmas and New Year and again over Holi
- Shoulder Season
- April and September, when heat or humidity thins visitor numbers but sightseeing is still viable
- Low Season
- May to August, with the lowest hotel rates of the year during the monsoon
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Republic Day Parade
India's largest ceremonial parade proceeds along Kartavya Path from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, with military contingents, state tableaux, and a flypast. Ticketed seating sells out weeks ahead and central Delhi sees heavy road closures and security for several days either side.
Surajkund International Crafts Mela
A two-week crafts fair on Delhi's southern edge in Faridabad, gathering artisans, folk performers, and regional food stalls from across India and partner countries.
Holi
The spring festival of colours, celebrated across Delhi with coloured powder, water, and music. Holi falls on 3 March in 2026 and 23 March in 2027. Most shops and offices close, and many hotels and venues run organised Holi parties for visitors.
Independence Day
The prime minister addresses the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Central Delhi is closed to traffic and the fort itself is shut to visitors for several days around the event.
Durga Puja and Dussehra
Elaborate Durga pandals appear across Chittaranjan Park and other Bengali neighbourhoods, culminating in Dussehra with the burning of giant Ravana effigies at Ramlila grounds around the city.
Diwali
The five-day festival of lights, with markets such as Chandni Chowk and Sarojini Nagar at their busiest. Fireworks push air pollution to its annual peak, and the days immediately after Diwali are the worst of the year for air quality.
Qutub Festival
Classical Indian music and dance performances staged against the illuminated Qutub Minar complex over three evenings.
India International Trade Fair
A two-week trade and consumer fair at Pragati Maidan drawing millions of visitors, with the first days reserved for business and the later days open to the public.
Delhi Garden Tourism Festival
A horticultural festival in the city's parks showcasing bonsai, rose, and flower displays alongside food and craft stalls as the winter blooms peak.