Thinking about planning your very first time in India? It is beautiful, chaotic, and can feel a bit intimidating when you’re looking at a map of this massive subcontinent trying to decide where to start. But once you arrive it is a whole new level of energy and travel adventure – in a good way!
To date, we have been a total of seven times to India! My love affair with this chaotic vibrant nation began years ago as a young backpacker exploring the rails with my sister. Since then, Gavin, Harry, Oscar, and I have been back a further six times traveling together as a family, alongside running our custom Group Trips in India.
It is no secret that we love India!
Planning Your First Time in India
With plenty of trips under our belts now, we are often asked:
“Where on earth do we start for a first-time trip?”
There are thousands of incredible destinations across this vast country, but we always point first-timers toward a classic route packed with history, colour, and reliable warmth and hospitality.
5 Places To Visit For Your First Time in India
Here are the five best places we recommend for your very first trip to India, including our personal highlights, guides and drivers we recommend and where we stay.
1. Delhi
Most travellers kick off their Indian adventure in Delhi. It is an intense, high-energy introduction to the country, especially for your first time in India, blending ancient history with chaotic modernity.
It can be overwhelming on a first time, but it is an absolutely loveable city with so much to see every time you step out.
To take the stress out of navigating Delhi’s sprawling streets and haggling with a new person every time you step out, we highly recommend hiring a driver for the day. Having a reliable, air-conditioned vehicle makes conquering the capital a breeze. Not to mention a local to talk with and to explain some of what is happening out there!
We always recommend our dear friend Sunny and his brother Vinny. They stay in Paharganj, right in the action. But Sunny can organise a rickshaw or taxi for you anywhere in Delhi or to Jaipur and Agra.
Contact Sunny
- Sunny in Delhi: +91 95997 59259
Top Things to Do in Delhi
- Explore the Main Bazaar: Dive straight into the vibrant, sensory overload of Pahar Ganj’s bustling market lanes. It’s colourful, busy, and exciting. (Though possibly don’t stay here on your first time!).
- The Gandhi Museum: Spend a moving, reflective morning walking through the peaceful grounds dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi’s life and legacy.
- India Gate: Take a stroll down the grand Rajpath to view the iconic, monumental stone memorial arch.
- Lodi Gardens: The gardens are the surrounding to a series of Lodi-era tombs that predate the Mughal empire in India with tombs dating back to the 15th century.
- Agresen ki Baoli Stepwell: A ‘Baoli’ is a stepwell in India historically used for preserving water. This is one of the (surprisingly) peaceful things to do in Delhi and is easy to get to near Connaught Place.
Where to Stay in Delhi
If it is your first time in India and especially if it is your first time in Delhi, where you stay does make a difference.
These are the accommodation places in Delhi that we recommend in Old Delhi, New Delhi, South Delhi or near the airport:
- Mahipalpur (Airport) – Mid-Range
Taurus Sarovar Portico
Only a few km’s from airport, great first stop arriving in India with buffet breakfast included and restaurant onsite. - South Delhi – Mid-Range
Haveli Hauz Khas
A homestay style Haveli in the popular Hauz Khas area of South Delhi. - Connaught Place – Mid-Range-Luxury
Shangri La’s Eros Hotel
The hotel has a few in-house restaurants, a gym, an outdoor pool and a spa. - Paharganj – Budget: Smyle Inn
Basic hotel in small back alley but with friendly, helpful staff and simple breakfast included. Just off Main Bazaar.
2. Jaisalmer: The Golden City
Jaisalmer is our absolute favourite place in the entire country. It is much smaller and quieter than the megacities like Delhi and Jaipur. But it is incredibly historic and different too, being out in the Thar Desert to the far west of India.
We reckon for your first time in India it is a good plan to land in Delhi, spend one night and then fly to Jaisalmer. From there you can do a Camel Safari, explore the Jaisalmer Fort and make your way back across Rajasthan to Jaipur and onwards to Agra. That way you can end in Delhi once you are more “India-savvy!”
Top Things to Do in Jaisalmer
- Take a Wanderlust Camel Safari: Trek out on camels into the sand dunes to watch the sunset and sleep out under a blanket of stars.
- Explore Jaisalmer Fort: Get lost inside one of the world’s last remaining “living forts,” where locals still live, work, and run shops inside the ancient sandstone walls.
- Share Lunch with a Local Family: Connect with Phoenix and his family for a traditional, home-cooked lunch inside their family home – a humbling, unforgettable cultural exchange.
- Stroll Around Gadisar Lake: Wake up early to walk around this scenic, historic water reservoir and dedicated shrines.
Where to Stay in Jaisalmer
- Wanderlust Guesthouse: Hands down our favourite accommodation in India. We stay here every single visit, and we love it so much we even brought both of our Mums here! The host, Padam, is an absolute legend who treats you like family and seamlessly arranges your camel safaris and transport.
3. Jaipur: The Pink City
As the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is has the royal architecture, chaotic bazaars, and brilliant pink-washed buildings you have seen in pictures.
But it is a busy city. (Busier than Jaisalmer!). For a smooth, hassle-free experience zipping between palaces, we highly recommend hiring our preferred local driver, Raja, to show you around Jaipur and guide you through the traffic.
Top Things to Do in Jaipur
- Hawa Mahal: Admire the iconic, honeycombed “Palace of the Winds” with its intricate pink windows designed for royal women to observe the streets below.
- Amber Fort: Head just outside the city to wander through the massive, opulent hilltop fort complex and its Mirror Palace.
- Shop the Vibrant Bazaars: Search for world-famous block-printed textiles, blue pottery, and glittering gemstones in the historic markets.
Where to Stay in Jaipur
- Jaipur Haveli: We always stay here in Jaipur. A stunningly restored, centuries-old traditional heritage mansion. Staying here gives you a peaceful, atmospheric sanctuary right inside the walled old city.
4. Udaipur: The City of Lakes
Udaipur is a breath of fresh air for first-time visitors. It has all the iconic history and the beautiful setting like Jaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan. But it isn’t as chaotic and busy as the bigger cities.
Top Things to Do in Udaipur
- Take a Boat Cruise on Lake Pichola: See the iconic, white marble Lake Palace from the water.
- Tour the City Palace: This is Rajasthan’s largest palace complex, packed with intricate mosaic peacocks, colourful glasswork, and royal courtyards.
- Walk the Ghats: There aren’t as many Ghats as at Pushkar’s Holy Lake. But Lake Pichola has numerous Ghats spread around the cityside of the waterline.
Where to Stay in Udaipur
- Luxury: Taj Lake Palace is legendary. It sits right in the middle of the lake and is accessible only by boat.
- Mid-Range-Heritage: Jagat Niwas Palace Hotel is a Haveli and the kind of accommodation Udaipur is famous for.
- Budget: Hotel Lake Star is where we stayed. It is a small family-run hotel with breakfast included and great views from the simple, but spacious rooftop restaurant.
5. Agra: The Home of the Taj Mahal
No first trip to India is complete without a stop in Agra. While it is a bustling, chaotic city, it is home to the architectural crown jewel of the subcontinent; the Taj Mahal. Which, like the other iconic Mughal sites, this connects all the dots of India’s royal history.
Top Things to Do in Agra
- Visit the Taj Mahal at Sunrise: Seeing this beauty in the morning light is an incredible experience. It is every bit as breathtaking as you’ve dreamed.
- Explore Agra Fort: Walk through the massive red sandstone walled city that served as the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty.
- View the Taj from Mehtab Bagh: Head across the river to these moonlight gardens for a peaceful, crowd-free view of the monument at sunset.
Where to Stay in Agra
Choosing where to stay in Agra can impact your experience, especially if you want to be close to the Taj for that early sunrise start.
- Budget-Mid: Aman Homestay
This is a very friendly, family-run homestay with rooftop views of the Taj Mahal and incredible home-cooked meals. - Budget-Mid: The Coral House Homestay
Just 700 meters from the Taj, this spot has a relaxing garden atmosphere and comfortable common areas. It feels like a quiet retreat from the busy city streets. - Mid-Luxury: Hotel Taj Resorts
If you’re looking for a bit more luxury, this resort is only 600 meters from the Taj with an on-site restaurant and a swimming pool.
Plan Your Trip!
India can be intimidating, but by sticking to these five iconic hubs, securing trusted drivers, and planting your roots at welcoming spots like Wanderlust, you will experience the absolute best of this magical country.
If you are looking for our absolute best recommendations for Delhi, check out our driver Sunny (and his brother Vinny). They run a fantastic family transport business, speak excellent English, and can even drive you onwards to Jaipur or Agra by road to complete the Golden Triangle! You can shoot him a message on WhatsApp at +91 95997 59259 to book your transport for the day or for longer trips.
Lean into the rhythm, embrace the flow, and prepare for the journey of a lifetime! 🙂
Questions answered and ready to plan your adventure? Check out our Ultimate Golden Triangle Itinerary to see how to link Jaisalmer with Jaipur and Agra!
Do you want a good driver for your first time in Delhi? Let us know in the comments if you connect with Sunny!
Safe travels, adventurers!
Read More India Inspiration
- Our Detailed & Easy 2-Day Itinerary Of Jaipur.
- Train Travel In India.
- India Tourist e-Visa: Our Step-By-Step Guide.
- 10 Things To Do In Mumbai.
- 10 Things To Do In Kochi & Kerala.
- Best Tourist SIM Card For India.
- What To Wear In India.
- 4-Day Kochi & Kerala Itinerary.
- Travelling India By Bus: Intercity, Tourist & Sleeper Buses.
Travel Planning for India & Beyond
These are the companies we use while traveling and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. It’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia through 12Go.
- Skyscanner – Our favourite flight search engine. They can search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide – A huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for short or longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Especially for your first time in India!
Hi! I’m Sarah. I am the self-confessed dreamer, travel-schemer and the main editor behind this blog. I love to write, and it is a dream come true to share so many experiences together and inspire others in our stories.
