The best Airbnbs in Delhi

This stay’s slightly on the outskirts of the main city, so it’s a great pick if you’re after some peace or quiet, or (in a total shift in direction) a wild party with a big guest list. The actual stay is a tiny house built smack dab in the centre of a green space spread across an acre and a half, full of – you guessed it – hundreds of eucalyptus trees. It comes with a tastefully done up bedroom, a semi-outdoor kitchenette-cum-living room, and a massive garden by the pool. The patio’s open on three sides, and every inch of the property gets massive amounts of sunlight, but cools down by evening. 

It’s also one of the few Airbnbs in Delhi totally cool with a party, and can accommodate up to one hundred people – the owners only ask that you leave the house in a decent condition. They’re also absolutely okay with loud music, and even rent out a music system if you want to go full blast. Other amenities on offer (some free, some paid) are barbecues, bonfires, and outdoor furniture. It’s also a mere 30-minute drive from Sultanpur National Park. 

Price: About ₹15,000 per night

Occupancy: The listed pricing’s for three guests, with an additional charge for any extra overnight guests. 

Address: Bijwasan, South West Delhi

Dubbed the ‘shipping container’ for its shape and style, this cottage sits on a narrow patch of land sandwiched between loads of lush trees in a neighbourhood called Dera Mandi, which is located slightly beyond Chhatarpur – and is its quieter, smaller cousin, with only about 50 farmhouses in total. 

Inside, you’ve got a living room that overlooks the lawn, complete with a massive television, comfy furniture and a pull-out couch, plus a fully-stocked kitchenette. A door leads to the first bedroom, and stairs lead up to a second loft-style bedroom. Both have attached bathrooms. Right outside the house, you’ve got a smallish, but very clean pool – perfect for downing wine on a floatie (there’s a liquor shop just a couple kilometres away). The neighbourhood’s extremely quiet, so you’ll hear lots of birds. 

The lawn’s what makes the stay feel really nice and private – it’s not massive, but it’s not tiny either – large enough to chuck a frisbee around or even manage a game of cricket if you’re coming in a group. The caretaker at the property can arrange an outdoor movie screening for you at an additional cost too. 

Price: About ₹16,000 per night

Occupancy: 2-8 guests 

Address: Dera Mandi, South Delhi

This is easily one of the best all-rounders on the list. Not insanely pricey; really well decorated; large enough for more than two guests but not impersonally massive; and located in one of the most happening areas in Delhi, but still situated in a quiet enough spot for the hustle bustle to not feel overwhelming. 

Since the stay (on the second-floor, no lift, alas) overlooks the wonderful Deer Park in Hauz Khas, all you’ll see are trees from the windows. It comes with two bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a dining area, a living room, a picturesque balcony, and a full-sized kitchen. In a way, the apartment feels overwhelmingly fit for an author on the down low writing their next novel – lovely workstation overlooking the forest, loads of peace and quiet, and an actual functioning typewriter.

A note on the location: it’s hard to get bored in Hauz Khas. The neighbourhood’s home to the iconic Hauz Khas Village – an area offering, in a small circumference, a massive 13th century fort, a lake, bylanes full of vintage stores and tattoo shops, great cafés and restaurants, and the aforementioned deer park, which is home to deer (obviously) as well as ducks, peacocks, and several species of birds. It’s also close to Aurobindo Marg, where you’ll find some great bars and clubs open late into the night.

Price: About ₹10,000 per night

Occupancy: 1-4 guests 

Address: Hauz Khas, South Delhi

Located on a half-acre farm in Chhatarpur, an area known for sprawling farmhouses, these three double-occupancy cottages feel very rustic, Spanish cowboy-esque. Look out of the cottage and you’ll see why – a barn, home to actual white horses you can ride! They’re gentle, so you can request a ride even if you’re a beginner. 

For those not totally obsessed with horses, the cottages also come with a honking great lawn, a pool overlooking the barn, and a bonfire on request in winter. In fact, while they make for a great summer stay, the cottages feel infinitely more charming in winter. Most of the interiors are done up with wood and stone, completing the cowboy aesthetic, and the folks at the farm are happy to set up a candlelit dinner if you’re keen. They each come with a kitchenette and a dedicated workspace, making this a good choice for a staycation, too. 

Price: About ₹6,000 per night

Occupancy: Two guests per cottage

Address: Chhatarpur, South Delhi

This three-bedroom apartment’s located in Lajpat Nagar, a busy neighbourhood in the heart of south Delhi. It isn’t half as secluded as the other stays on this list, but the location’s seriously convenient – a three-minute walk to the metro station, plus very close to the Lajpat Nagar market, which has some of the best street food and boutique shopping in Delhi. It’s also very close to other great neighbourhoods – Defence Colony, Kailash Colony, Greater Kailash I (M and N blocks) and Greater Kailash II – areas with some of the best restaurants and bars in the city. 

The apartment itself is done up very nicely, in an Indian-ish craft style. Lots of blockprint and nice woodwork everywhere. Be warned that it’s on the second floor, and the building doesn’t have a lift. The property does, however, offer an inexpensive porter service to lug your bags up and down the stairs. The apartment comes with a kitchen, fast WiFi, and regular cleaning services. There’s also a cook on call at an additional charge.

Price: About ₹8,000 per night

Occupancy: 1-6 guests 

Address: Lajpat Nagar, South Delhi

a private bathroom, plus access to shared spaces. It’s a great chance to immerse yourself in real-life Indian residential culture – the entire apartment’s done up in typically South Asian style, with embroidered cushions, wood-embellished sofas, brass pieces everywhere, and balconies full of plants. It’s opulent but still comfortable; you can tell the host’s heart and soul’s gone into it.

What you trade in absolute privacy you get back in the form of a superbly stocked kitchen, with every Indian masala or cooking ingredient you can think of, plus a free South Indian or continental breakfast on offer. Home-cooked lunch and dinner are also available upon request at extremely nominal rates. It’s got every other basic amenity you’d need, including parking space, a television, an outdoor space, plus even yoga classes. The host, Shobha, prefers long-term rentals, and is open to a chit-chat to discuss rates. 

Price: About ₹5,000 per night

Occupancy: 2 guests

Address: Kalindi Colony, South East Delhi

his two-bedroom Bohemian-style apartment’s located in Prashant Vihar, a quiet residential area in North East Delhi - so admittedly a little further away from the most happening spots in town, but close enough to plenty of decent bars, restaurants, shops, and a cinema hall. The space is done up mostly in wood-accented decor and neutral furnishings, with a great third-floor view of the lush community garden below. The bedrooms, in particular, are very cosy, and kept very clean. 

It’s most definitely an apartment that calls for a party – a fact best witnessed by the ‘events’ room, which is stocked with a fancy wine and whiskey glass collection and a bar (unstocked by booze, obviously) with bar stools. 

Price: About ₹8,000 per night

Occupancy: 1-6 guests

Address: Prashant Vihar, North East Delhi