Best Places to Visit in India 2026
Top destinations, hidden gems, costs, and tips for planning your trip
Where
Delhi, Jaipur, and Varanasi are the top three must-visit places in India for 2026. Each city offers a completely different slice of Indian culture, history, and cuisine that you won't find anywhere else.
Best Places to Visit in India: 2026 Guide
Best places to visit in India include Delhi, Jaipur, and Varanasi, which together give you a solid taste of the country’s history, spirituality, and food scene. If you want to plan an unforgettable India travel 2026 adventure, start with these three, but don’t stop there. India’s scale is hard to grasp until you try to build your own India itinerary, just getting from Mumbai to Varanasi is a 2 hour 10 minute flight, or a 22 hour train ride. The cities to visit in India each feel like their own world, so you’ll want to pick a route that fits your interests, appetite, and tolerance for heat (trust me, 108°F in May in Rajasthan isn’t for everyone). For cheap flights, search flights on Travorio and set alerts for deals from airlines like Air India, Emirates, and United, which run direct or one-stop routes from the US and Canada.
India is the kind of place where you can sip chai in a 250-year-old haveli in Jaipur, then eat avocado toast at a hipster café in Bandra, Mumbai, and finish your night at a rooftop bar in Delhi with a view of the Red Fort. The sheer variety in top destinations India has to offer, from snow in Himachal Pradesh to palm-fringed beaches in Goa, means no two trips are alike. This guide covers the best places to visit, hidden gems, the right time to go, how to get around, and exactly how to book everything (even with crypto or pay-later options).
Top Cities and Destinations in India
Delhi is usually where most travelers land, and it’s easy to see why. The city is split into Old Delhi, with its winding alleys, street food like chole bhature at Sitaram Diwan Chand ($2.50 per plate), and the Jama Masjid, and New Delhi, with Lutyens-era avenues, leafy parks, and the National Museum. You can hop on the Delhi Metro’s Airport Express Line from Indira Gandhi International Airport and be in Connaught Place in 23 minutes for less than $1.50.
Jaipur, Rajasthan’s capital, is all pink sandstone, palaces, and photogenic chaos. The Amber Fort, perched above Maota Lake, opens at 8am, and it’s worth the $7 ticket for sunrise views. You’ll find India’s best lassi at Lassiwala on MI Road (about $0.60). Hotel Pearl Palace offers rooms from $47/night, with a rooftop restaurant that does killer thalis. The city’s markets, Bapu Bazaar for textiles, Johari for gems, are best explored by tuk-tuk (expect to pay 150-250 INR per ride).
Varanasi is India’s spiritual heart. Most people come for the sunrise Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, but the trick is to walk the riverside at 5:30am before the crowds. A boat ride at dawn costs about 400 INR ($5) for an hour, and the view as the city wakes up is unreal. Stay at Ganpati Guest House, which has riverside rooms from $35/night. The city’s narrow lanes serve up the best kachori sabzi for less than $1, and you’ll bump into sadhus, pilgrims, and street musicians.
Mumbai feels like a different country compared to North India. It’s the home of Bollywood, the Gateway of India, and some of the best food in the country, try vada pav (spicy potato slider) at Anand Stall near Mithibai College for just $0.25. The Colaba neighborhood is great for budget travelers, with backpacker hostels like Zostel Mumbai starting at $13/night. Don’t miss a sunset walk along Marine Drive, where locals gather after 6pm when the humidity finally drops below 80%.
Hidden Gems in India
Hampi, in Karnataka, is a surreal stone-scape of boulders and ruined temples that barely gets a fraction of Goa’s tourists. The Virupaksha Temple is the focal point, but most people miss the riverside ruins at sunset. You can get there by overnight train from Bangalore (Hampi Express, 10 hours, about $12 for second class sleeper). Budget guesthouses like Gopi Guesthouse offer rooms from $15/night, and local thali lunches go for $1.50.
Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh sits at 10,000 feet and feels more like Bhutan than mainland India. The Tawang Monastery is the largest in India, and every March, the Torgya Festival packs the town with monks, masked dancers, and Tibetan food stalls. Getting here takes work: fly to Tezpur, Assam, then take a shared jeep (12 hours, $18) on winding mountain roads.
Chettinad, in Tamil Nadu, is known for its palatial mansions and fiery cuisine. Karaikudi is the main town, and you’ll want to book a stay at The Bangala (rooms from $80/night, includes breakfast and a cooking demo). Chettinad chicken curry here has about a dozen spices, and dinner at Friends Restaurant costs less than $5. The ornate tilework and deserted mansions make for some of the best photos in South India.
Ziro Valley is the music capital of Northeast India, hosting the Ziro Festival of Music every September. The valley’s Apatani villages have bamboo houses and terraced rice fields, and you can rent a cycle for $3/day to explore. Budget homestays like Siiro Resort offer rooms for $22/night, with homemade millet beer.
Best Time to Visit India
India’s size means the best months to visit depend on your route. November to February is peak season for North India, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Varanasi see highs of 65-75°F (18-24°C) and little rain. March and April bring spring festivals like Holi, but temperatures creep into the high 80s by late April.
May and June are brutally hot in most north and central cities, with Jaipur and Delhi often hitting 105°F (40°C) or more. The Himalayas (Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Uttarakhand) are perfect now, with cool nights and high passes open for trekking. Most travelers time their Goa or Kerala beach trips for November to March, when it’s dry and highs are around 85°F (29°C).
Monsoon hits most of India from late June to September. Mumbai, Goa, and Kerala get drenched, with train delays and flooded streets. The upside is you’ll see everything in lush green, and hill stations like Munnar or Coorg are at their quietest. Rajasthan is drier but still humid. September and October are shoulder season: fewer crowds, lower hotel rates, and festival season starting up (Durga Puja in Kolkata, Diwali across the country).
For the lowest prices, book in July or August, but pack serious rain gear if you’re heading south or west. Northeast India, including Shillong and Ziro, is actually best September to November, after the rain clears.
How to Get Around India
Domestic flights are the fastest way between top destinations India, especially if you’re short on time. IndiGo, Air India, and Vistara serve most major routes, with flights from Delhi to Mumbai taking about 2 hours and costing $65-$110 if booked in advance. Travorio lists all major Indian airlines and lets you filter by Sezzle or crypto payment if you want to split up costs.
Trains are the classic way to travel, with over 68,000 kilometers of track. The Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains are the fastest, like the Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express (8 hours, $23 in AC Chair Car). Sleeper class is the cheapest, but AC 2-tier or 3-tier is worth the upgrade for longer rides. Bookings open 120 days before departure on IRCTC or via travel agents. For short trips, metro systems in Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Mumbai are clean and reliable, Delhi Metro rides start at 10 INR ($0.12).
Buses fill in the gaps, especially for hill stations and smaller towns. Volvo AC buses run Delhi-Manali (13 hours, $18) and Jaipur-Udaipur (8 hours, $11). You can book online via RedBus or at the bus station. In the south, Kerala’s KSRTC buses connect most beach towns and backwater villages for less than $2 per ride.
Car rental is popular for Rajasthan road trips or exploring Goa’s beaches. Self-drive cars start at $25/day with companies like Zoomcar, but traffic rules are loose, and driving in big cities isn’t for beginners. Uber and Ola work in most cities, with airport rides from Delhi’s IGI to Connaught Place costing around 350 INR ($4.60). Ferries run between Mumbai and Mandwa/Alibaug (45 minutes, $5) and in Kerala’s backwaters. For short hops in cities, auto-rickshaws are everywhere, always negotiate the fare or insist on the meter.
How to Book Your India Trip
Travorio makes India travel 2026 planning simple, whether you want to pay in dollars, crypto, or split your trip into manageable chunks with buy now, pay later. You can search flights on Travorio from the US or Canada to India, filtering for airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, or Air India. For hotels, pay later hotels let you lock in deals now and pay over time with Sezzle (US/CA only) or PayPal Pay Later, no interest, no hidden fees.
The platform accepts over 100 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, plus stablecoins for those who want to avoid FX fees. If you use crypto, you’ll get instant confirmation, and rates are usually locked at the time of booking. For flights within India, set fare alerts for cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Goa; domestic flight prices spike around Diwali (October-November) and Holi (March).
Booking trains is easier with an IRCTC account, but foreign cards often get declined. Travorio can connect you with agents who handle this for a $6-$10 fee per ticket. For buses, RedBus takes international cards, but you’ll need an Indian phone number to get SMS confirmation for most local routes.
Most travelers build their India itinerary around the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur), but you can customize routes and book one-way flights or trains between cities to maximize your time. If you’re traveling with family, look for hotels with pool access, Indian summers can be brutal. For solo travelers, hostels and guesthouses are widely available in all major cities.
Top Destinations
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions answered clearly and concisely
Delhi is usually the best starting point for first-timers, as it’s the main international hub and gives you access to history at the Red Fort, food in Old Delhi, and links to Agra and Jaipur. A classic Golden Triangle itinerary covers Delhi, Agra (for the Taj Mahal), and Jaipur in 6-8 days. Direct flights from the US land at Indira Gandhi International Airport, which is connected to the city center by the Airport Express Metro.
Most travelers spend 10-14 days for a first trip, covering 3-4 major cities or regions. For example, a typical India itinerary could be Delhi (2 nights), Agra (1 night), Jaipur (2 nights), Varanasi (2 nights), and ending with 3-4 nights in Goa or Kerala. Trains and flights between cities cut down on travel days, so you can fit more in. If you want to explore the northeast or Himalayas, add at least 4 days.
The cheapest time is during the monsoon (July-September), when hotel rates drop by 30-50% in touristy regions like Goa, Kerala, and Rajasthan. Airfare from the US also dips to around $700-$850 roundtrip in late summer. Just remember, heavy rains can disrupt travel in Mumbai, Goa, and southern states. Hill stations like Shimla or Manali are less affected and pleasant during this time.
Yes, US and Canadian citizens need a visa. The e-Visa process is straightforward: apply online at the Government of India’s official site, pay $25-$40 depending on stay length, and receive approval within 3-5 days. You’ll need a passport valid for 6 months and a digital photo. Print the e-Visa to show on arrival at Indian airports.
India is generally safe for tourists, but common-sense precautions are essential. Pickpocketing can happen in crowded markets or train stations, and scams targeting foreigners exist in major cities. Solo female travelers should dress modestly and avoid walking alone late at night in unfamiliar neighborhoods. Most hotels and guesthouses have 24/7 security and can arrange trusted taxis.
Hindi is the most widely spoken language, but English is common in hotels, airports, restaurants, and tourist hotspots. Each region has its own language, like Bengali in Kolkata or Tamil in Chennai. Most menus and signs in cities are bilingual. Learning a few phrases like 'namaste' (hello) and 'dhanyavaad' (thank you) goes a long way.
Backpackers can get by on $30-$40 per day, covering guesthouses, street food, and local transport. Mid-range travelers should budget $60-$100 for private hotel rooms, restaurant meals, and taxis. Luxury hotels and fine dining can push daily costs to $200 or more. Entrance fees for monuments like the Taj Mahal ($15) and Amber Fort ($7) should be added.
A popular 10-day route is Delhi (2 nights), Agra (1 night), Jaipur (2 nights), Varanasi (2 nights), and Mumbai or Goa (3 nights). This covers major cities to visit, the Taj Mahal, and both cultural and beach experiences. Use overnight trains or short flights to maximize sightseeing and minimize travel time between cities. Book tickets 2-3 months ahead for best prices.
India is very family-friendly, with most attractions, restaurants, and hotels welcoming children. Cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, and Kochi have palaces, boat rides, and animal sanctuaries that kids love. Many hotels offer family rooms or connecting suites, and Indian Railways has lower fares for children under 12. Carry snacks and bottled water for younger kids, as local food can be spicy.
India is a favorite for solo travelers, thanks to its extensive train network, cheap hostels, and social atmosphere. Hostels like Zostel or Moustache have group tours and communal spaces for meeting others. Many solo travelers prefer cities like Rishikesh, Hampi, or Goa, where it’s easy to find other backpackers. Always inform your hotel of your travel plans, especially if arriving late at night.
Ready to Book?
Search flights and hotels with crypto, Sezzle Pay in 4, or PayPal Pay Later.