Cheap Flights to New Delhi (DEL)

New Delhi is India's capital and it's one of the world's fastest growing cities. And it's not just the local population who are discovering its appeal, with more cheap flights to New Delhi available and high profile sporting events like the Commonwealth Games and the Indian Grand Prix held here, tourists are increasing in number too. Numbers of visitors are set to increase in 2013 over previous years, and the trends looks like it will continue into 2014. What are you waiting for? Come and join the throng!

You will experience a bustling city with a dynamic culture, thanks in no small part to the 21 million people who call this city their home. A great mix of arts, fashion, entertainment and sights such as the UNESCO World Heritage Humayun's Tomb and the stunning Lotus Temple all add to the appeal. As you can imagine in one of the world's oldest cities, you will find plenty of historical places to visit!

Watch out for huge annual events like the World Book Fair , the Republic Day Parade and the musical extravaganza that is Swar Utsav. These and other events can swell the tourist numbers and push prices up. There are plenty of great cheap New Delhi hotels to be had, so bag yourself a bargain after you book your flight to New Delhi by booking early.

Flights to New Delhi

New Delhi flights land at Indira Gandhi International Airport, which is a vast hub serving more than 24 million passengers a year. There are plenty of direct Delhi flights from the UK, with travelling times of just over eight hours. If you're after a cheap flight to New Delhi it's also worth looking at indirect flights, but savings can often be minimal whilst journey times are increased by four hours or more. Make sure you check your travel itinerary carefully!

When it comes to onward travel from your New Delhi flight there are a choice of ways to get to your hotel. Many hotels actually offer a free transfer service, so it's certainly worth checking if yours does before you look into other possibilities! These are:

Metro - taking 20 minutes this is a good, fairly cheap, way of getting into the city. The airport is on its own metro line, so transferring to other metro lines at New Delhi Metro Station is a bit of a trek but should be ok unless you have huge bags!

Local Bus - there are a choice of two bus companies running eight lines to different destinations in the city, so it's best to book with the bus desk in the arrivals lounge to make sure you get the right one! Journey times are around 50 minutes, and you can expect to pay a little extra for big bags.

Taxi - use the prepaid booth and keep your receipt until you arrive, then once you're out of the taxi hand the receipt over. Private taxi operators will be mor expensive because they are usually air conditioned, but make sure you book at their booths and do not accept touting.

Car hire - getting car hire from New Delhi Airport is certainly not for the faint of heart! It's probably only really an option if you're heading away from New Delhi into more rural destinations, as a city with 21 million occupants is bound to have busy traffic day and night!

Getting around New Delhi

The first thing that will help you to navigate around New Delhi is to book a hotel as centrally located as you can! Roads are heavily congested so head underground and get the metro whenever possible, and you will minimise your journey time. Getting a smart card will minimise queuing time for tickets too and leave you feeling in-the-know!

On ground level you will find buses, as well as taxis and rickshaws, both of which will easily identify you as a tourist and charge exorbitant rates so remember to haggle and agree a price before you set off. With a large population, traffic features heavily, with queues likely at all hours. A good compromise to the confusing bus network is the tourist hop-on-hop-off bus, and at least you'll be getting a good look at things along the way!

Don't discount how pedestrian-friendly the city can be either, with plenty to discover along the way too!

What to see in New Delhi

The old part of New Delhi is famous for its wide boulevards, historic temples and grandiose architecture which is the legacy of the Mughal Empire. There are plenty of things to see including the Red Fort, which is surely a must-see on anyone's itinerary after booking New Delhi flights. Humayun's Tomb and the Qutub Complex make up the triplet of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are the other top attractions here, along with the modern Lotus Temple. India Gate is a great spot for people-watching and impromptu outdoor entertainment whilst the Mughal Garden is great if it's open - alternatively try Lodhi Garden. For more check out our handy guide.