The best free things to do in Delhi

Lodhi Art District’s a great neighbourhood, yes, but it’s also an entire outdoor gallery you can wander around anytime, night or day. In 2015, the St+art India foundation partnered with local authorities to transform a pocket of one of the poshest, quietest parts of Delhi into a public art space, and today, the walls bear over 50 murals painted by local and global artists from over 25 countries. Since the area’s so unruffled and calm, it’s a joy to walk down the lanes and bang into a massive painting of a giant goddess staring down traffic or spot clever little references to gender and climate. Just wear comfy shoes and show up – there’s plenty else to do in this neighbourhood once you’ve given the art a crawl. 

Time Out tip: Juneja’s Eating Plaza in Meharchand Market inside the colony does a life-changing butter chicken roll you can snack on while strolling.

Timings: Daily. Open 24 Hours.

Address: 261, Block 15, Lodi Colony, 110003

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Every Thursday night, devotional music takes over the courtyard at Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah in a rare show of centuries-old traditions still performed today. The shrine’s home to Nizamuddin Auliya, a 13th-century Sufi saint, and the qawwals, or musicians, perform devotional music written by Amir Khusrau, the man often credited with inventing qawwali. It’s free to attend, but get there early if you want a decent spot – the closer you are to the musicians, the better. The songs themselves are a sort of dialogue across time, with most of the compositions having been written in the 1200s, and they’re performed inside the dargah, which was built in the 1300s. It’s an experience like no other because the energy is infectious; you’ll feel it even if you don’t understand the words.

Time Out tip: It’s best to dress modestly and cover your head. Carry a separate bag for your footwear, since you’ll have to remove your shoes before entering the dargah, and watch out for errant shopkeepers who may ask you to pay them an exorbitant amount of money for safeguarding your shoes. 

Timings: Daily. 5.30am-10pm.

Address: Boali Gate Rd, Nizamuddin West, 110013

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Lodhi Garden’s arguably one of the most famous and well-loved green areas in Delhi, making it a prime hub of morning activity. The garden’s buzzing long before the rest of the city wakes up – mostly full of folks doing yoga against the backdrop of historic tombs or chaps on their morning run, circling the 2.5-kilometre-long jogging track. It’s one of the best places to get in a moment of calm in a lush, green spot, and the yoga sessions, particularly, are very welcoming. Several are instructor-led but many are happy to have you join in, and outdoor yoga’s refreshing in a way no indoor class can match. The track’s similarly exciting, well-spaced, and offers an unbeatable view of the entire garden – tombs, lake, and all. Lodhi Garden is pet-friendly, has plenty of public amenities like clean loos and water fountains, and several entrances for easy entry and exit. All pluses in our book. 

Time Out tip: The vendors inside the garden come up to you to sell decently priced cups of tea, coffee, and freshly squeezed juice. It’s awfully convenient. 

Timings: Daily. 6am-8pm.

Address: Lodhi Rd, Lodhi Gardens, Lodhi Estate, 110003

Mandi House is Delhi’s theatrical playground – the area’s packed with institutions like the National School of Drama and the Shri Ram Centre, where student and experimental productions happen all year. The best part is that some of these shows are free – especially smaller student performances or weekday rehearsals, and that’s what makes it interesting, because you never know if you’ll walk in on a classic Hindi or English drama or an experimental play. When they’re not putting on plays, the actors are all over the neighbourhood practicing their lines, discussing scripts over tea, or lounging about in costume. 

Time Out tip: Instagram pages Delhi Theatre Guide and Delhi Theatre Updates are regular with updates on what play’s happening where.

Timings: As Per Performances.

Address: Mandi House, Sikandra Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi, 110001

The Japan Foundation Library in Green Park’s not too well known in Delhi, but it’s easily the best repository of non-Delhi culture in the city. They’ve got thousands of manga volumes in Japanese and English, books on Japanese art, culture, and history, translation texts, books on how to learn Japanese, and even CDs and films if you’re after an audiovisual experience. Membership is optional: you need it to borrow books, but honestly, you’re free to spend hours reading there without spending a dime. The staff are friendly, and will help you track down titles or give recommendations if you ask. It is, of course, a huge win if you’re into Japanese culture and media, but even if you’re just a curious visitor, the library’s a great chance to find a moment of peace and flick through comics. 

Time Out tip: The library also features an art gallery that shuffles exhibits regularly – definitely check it out.

Timings: Mon-Fri. 9.30am-5.30pm. 

Address: A-13, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Green Park Main, Block A, Green Park Extension, Green Park, New Delhi,110016

There are several free cycling clubs in Delhi – the most popular of all being the Delhi Cycling Club, which meets on Saturday and Sunday mornings – bright and early! The free clubs are chilled out, not competitive, and very beginner-friendly. If you don’t have a bike, they’re happy to point you to rentals, or lend one. Most routes take you through quieter roads, greener parts of the city, or near some of Delhi’s several monuments, so it’s a chance to admire the nicer side of Delhi while you cycle. The groups often stop for tea or a small snack, and it ends up feeling like a proper outing – a chance to make friends, chat with strangers, see the city, AND keep fit.

Time Out tip:Instagram pages Delhi Cyclists and Delhi Randonneurs update regularly on weekly rides, timings, venues, and other details. 

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Sanjay Van is another one of Delhi’s many green spaces, but it’s one that doesn’t get too much attention. The topography of the urban forest makes for a distinct walk – the path stretches past a lake, through a boggy marsh, and up onto a terrain you could quite truthfully call a hill. Entering the forest blocks out the chaos of the city immediately, and it isn’t touristy at all, which means there’s real peace and quiet to be had here. Come by if you like to walk, get in a bit of a hike, or sit under the trees. On hot summer days, kids leap into the lake for a swim. I have to admit I’ve been tempted too.

Time Out tip: It’s an urban forest, yes, but the terrain can get slightly tricky, so wear tough shoes and bring along insect repellant. 

Timings: Daily. 5am-7pm

Address: G5MJ+4GR, Internal Path, Seth Sarai, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi,110030

There’s…a lot to do in Old Delhi. That’s putting it gently. But in all seriousness, it’s miraculous how Mirza Ghalib’s house has remained free for visitors. Ghalib was (is!) one of the most famous poets of Delhi, and his verses, written in the early 1800s, have endured with a zealous passion. Walking into his home invokes the full force of his legacy: modest courtyards, Mughal-style bedrooms, as well as a small museum where replicas of his everyday objects are on display. The attention to detail is laudable: each board lovingly traces everything in his life, from friendships, to correspondence, to the food he loved most. But the most special bit’s reading his couplets and ghazals, which are inscribed on the walls. The haveli sometimes hosts free poetry readings too. If you’re lucky, you just might catch one. 

Time Out tip: You can’t cab it or drive here – the lanes are far too narrow, and you’d have to park a fair distance away and walk the rest. Take the metro to Chandni Chowk or Chawri Bazar, both a short walk away, and hop on a rickshaw for the rest of the way.

Timings: Tue-Sun. 11am-6pm. Closed Monday.

Address: 2469, Gali Captain, Balli Maran, Baradari, Chandni Chowk, Delhi, 110006