Neighborhoods to avoid in Delhi and the best places to stay in New Delhi

Whether you are a tourist visiting India, on a business trip or looking for an apartment to rent, you want to know the areas to avoid in Delhi and the best places to stay in New Delhi.

Indeed, Delhi is a dynamic and lively city, which attracts many tourists and visitors from all over the world. However, as with many capitals, it has its share of dangerous neighborhoods that should be avoided. It is therefore more prudent to find out in advance about the neighborhoods to avoid in Delhi before choosing your accommodation.

To help you, here is a guide to Delhi with a map to better identify the neighborhoods to avoid and the best areas to stay. And at the end of the article, you will find a hotel recommendation in a safe area of Delhi.

This article is written by bringing together the most recent information on the safety of Delhi's neighborhoods (press articles, traveler forums, rankings and statistics). it is a simple synthesis of data which contains neither judgment nor discriminatory remarks.

Is Delhi in India a safe city in 2024?

To assess whether Delhi is a safe or dangerous city, I compared its crime level with other major cities around the world.

To do this, I consulted Numbeo.com , which publishes a ranking of 423 cities worldwide based on their crime index. In 2024, Delhi was ranked 89th, placing it in the upper range of the world's most crime-ridden cities.

With a crime index of almost 60, Delhi can therefore be said not to be a safe city, unlike cities such as Dubai , Prague , Vienna , Munich , Copenhagen or Montreal.

New Delhi dangerous city worldwide — Map published on the site Numbeo.com

To compare Delhi's crime rate globally, I supplemented my research with other sites like statista.com and populationu.com, which only rank the world's most dangerous cities. However, these sites list cities in Mexico , South America, and the USA at the top, and don't mention Delhi in India!

So, let's put it into perspective by considering that Delhi is not a safe city in 2024 but that it is not one of the most dangerous cities in the world either.

It should be noted, however, that violent crime has been on the rise in recent years (see articles on outlookindia.com or indiatimes.com ). See for yourself on the official Delhi Police website.

Delhi dangerous city for tourists?

While not a dangerous city like Johannesburg , Mexico City or Fortaleza , Delhi is still a city where tourists, especially women, must exercise great caution.

Indeed, here is what the Government of Canada recommends on its official website : “Crimes against women are common in India. Foreign women are often the target of unwanted attention. Staring, verbal abuse, groping, and other forms of sexual harassment can occur anywhere, including in tourist sites and areas. Attackers sometimes act in groups. Reports of rape and assault against foreign women have increased. You should be especially vigilant: In Goa, Delhi, on all public transportation, in yoga centers, ashrams, and other spiritual retreats.”

There have also been cases of theft and scams in Delhi, as reported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs : “It is recommended to avoid travel agency touts who operate particularly upon arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport and at the New Delhi railway station. Sometimes acting in collusion with taxi or rickshaw drivers, they claim that the hotels with which tourists have made reservations are closed or inaccessible. Taxi drivers may also take tourists to isolated locations, stop, and pick up other passengers complicit in the scam to intimidate the traveler and force them to pay more for the ride. It is therefore strongly advised to use the government-provided prepaid taxis available at airport exits.”

Is it safe to visit Delhi?

Although Delhi has its share of security challenges, it remains a must-visit destination for anyone wanting to experience the beauty and vibrancy of India.

As long as tourists exercise caution and avoid certain areas, they can have a safe and enjoyable trip to Delhi. For this, it is recommended to avoid walking alone at night, to hide valuables and to use trusted transport services.

And of course, tourists should avoid the dangerous areas of Delhi which you will discover in more detail below.

Map of Delhi neighborhoods

With its 31 million inhabitants, the capital of India is very large. It has 11 main districts:

Central Delhi
East Delhi
New Delhi
North Delhi
North East Delhi
North West Delhi
Shahdara
south delhi
South East Delhi
South West Delhi
West Delhi

Each district comprises numerous neighborhoods, a complete list of which can be found on Wikipedia: Delhi neighborhoods list

To identify neighborhoods to avoid in Delhi, you can zoom in on the following map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kxFQ423tXk2jqwNq5

Dangerous neighborhoods in Delhi

According to government sites and travel forums, the 3 most dangerous areas of Delhi are the neighborhoods:

byOld Delhi. especially the crowded streets around Jama Masjid,
de Nabi Karim,
de paharganj especially all around New Delhi station.

Indeed, these 3 neighborhoods are infamous for their crowded and chaotic streets, which can be stressful for tourists. Moreover, these neighborhoods are also known for their high incidence of crimes such as thefts, scams, and assaults.

"Avoid the small hotels in Paharganj and Nabi Karim, central districts of New Delhi, which have become dangerous (crime)." Source: France Diplomacy

Neighborhoods to avoid in Delhi

In addition to these 3 dangerous neighborhoods, here are the other neighborhoods to avoid in Delhi (according to forums, blogs and press articles) especially at night:

South Delhi is considered one of the safest areas in the city, but it also has some neighborhoods to avoid. One of these is the INA market area , known for its security problems. This area is particularly dangerous for women and travelers, and it is advisable to avoid it altogether.

Area to avoid in central Delhi

Tourists should also avoid the area around GB Road ( Garstin Bastion Road ). This is Delhi's red-light district, known for its illegal activities, including human trafficking, prostitution, and drug trafficking.

Neighborhoods to stay in Delhi

Apart from the few dangerous or avoidable neighborhoods mentioned above, there are very pleasant areas in Delhi where visitors can stay in the capital. It's difficult to say which are the most beautiful or best areas to stay in because it depends on your tastes, the type of stay you are going to spend in Delhi and your budget.

However, according to real estate agencies and various forums or blogs, the best areas to stay are mainly in the south and central Delhi:

Vasant Kunj
golf links
Greater kailash
Shanti Niketan
Hauz Khas
Saket
Chanakyapuri
Connaught Place
chandni chowk
Defense Colony
Aerocity

Find out now what are the favorite neighborhoods of tourists and where are they located?

Where to stay in New Delhi for tourists?

Delhi has magnificent monuments such as the Red Fort, the Qutub Minar, the Lotus Temple, the India Gate, the Jantar Mantar or Old Delhi that every traveler must visit. But sometimes, it is better to move away from the tourist sites to stay in a quiet area.

For tourists coming to visit Delhi, here are the two best areas to stay:

Connaught Place in the district of New Delhi (closer to monuments and the best tourist attractions),
the neighborhoods of South of New Delhi (more modern and more residential).

Connaught Place best area to stay

Connaught Place is the best area to stay for tourists. Indeed, it is one of the liveliest districts of New Delhi with many bars, restaurants and beautiful shops. With its Rajiv Chowk metro station, staying in this area is ideal for visiting the whole city!

Which hotel in New Delhi?

The Connaught New Delhi-IHCL hotel is a large, modern, well-equipped hotel whose location in the heart of Connaught Place is perfect for a tourist stay.

Hotel in the center of New Delhi