Delhi vs Mumbai — which India city first?
Two megacities, two entry points. The wrong first stop can sour a whole trip.
| Delhi | Mumbai | |
|---|---|---|
| First-timer friendliness | Overwhelming — layered, dispersed, hot | Kinder — walkable Colaba/Fort area |
| Sights per day | 3–4 headline monuments | 1–2 walking-scale neighbourhoods |
| Food density | Chandni Chowk + Khan Market + Hauz Khas | Parsi cafés + Bandra + Mohammed Ali Road |
| Airport transfer | 45 mins to centre + metro | 60 mins in traffic |
| Best 2-day plan | Old Delhi + Mughal stack | Colaba walking + Elephanta half-day |
| Worst season | May-June (biblical heat) | Jun-Sep (floods) |
Verdict
For a first India trip, land in Mumbai — the human scale and Portuguese-era grid ease you in. Save Delhi for a return; the monuments reward a second pass.
One dispatch a month