Is Delhi Safe? A Solo Female Traveller's Perspective (2024) - Laure Wanders (2024)

Let’s be honest, Delhi, India’s bustling capital, doesn’t have the reputation of being the safest city in the world. The Delhi gang rape made headlines in 2012, and the city is often described as the most dangerous one in India. So if you’re planning on visiting this city during your next trip, you might ask yourself the question “Is Delhi safe?”.

I visited Delhi a couple of times and am heading back there regularly. After all, this city is an inevitable stop when you’re travelling in the north of India.

You will find my honest opinion about safety in Delhi in this post and my personal experiences travelling here as a solo female.

Is Delhi Safe?

Delhi is famous for its huge population and crime and sexual harassment do occur here. However, this is the case in many cities, and in my experience, Delhi is as safe as any other metropolitan city. I was harassed more times in Brussels, where I’m from, than in Delhi, for example. But then again, I also spent more time in Brussels.

As long as you use your common sense, dress modestly and take some precautions (you can read more about this later), you should be fine (keeping in mind that something bad could happen anywhere).

I won’t lie though – Delhi isn’t a city for everyone. Although it is home to some spectacular historical landmarks and there are many friendly people here, Delhi is also home to plenty of creeps and people who are looking to scam you.

Solo female travel in Delhi

I visited Delhi a couple of times by myself and stayed in Paharganj – the not-so-nice neighbourhood – each time, used public transportation to get around and walked for kilometres alone in multiple areas.

Although I came across some situations that weren’t very pleasant, I never felt unsafe in Delhi.

Most unpleasant situations were linked to people trying to scam me. When I wanted to walk from the railway station to Paharganj, for example, a security guard stopped me and told me I couldn’t walk that way because the street was closed. I ended up taking an auto-rickshaw that brought me to a fake travel agency. I’m not interested in tours, so I didn’t buy anything, but it ended up being a total waste of time.

On another occasion, I found a guy banging his head against the wall right in front of the door of my hotel room in Paharganj. He ignored me when I passed by, but things like this are not uncommon if you stay in this area. So, I would recommend staying in a nicer area, like South Delhi, for a more pleasant visit (this is what I will do too from now on).

Delhi is not my favourite city, not because of the city itself but due to the scams and bad accommodation, but you will read more about this later.

Keeping the negatives aside, I think Delhi is worth visiting! It’s home to some of India’s most famous landmarks, like Humayun’s Tomb, the Red Fort and the Lotus Temple, after all.

Overall, as long as you use your common sense and stick to some rules, I think Delhi is safe for solo female travellers.

>> Read: 17 Things NOT to Do in India

Scams in Delhi

There aren’t many places in the world where people tried to scam me as much as they did in Delhi.

Apart from auto-rickshaw drivers trying to charge me ten times the local price (which is normal in India), they would also try to drop me off at shops or fake travel agencies where they “don’t receive a commission”.

It’s good to know that there are plenty of fake offices selling train and bus tickets, fake travel agencies, etc in this city. Oh, and you can’t trust security guards or the police, as they’re all in it or simply don’t care!

Another common scam is where your taxi or rickshaw driver either tells you that your hotel doesn’t exist or that he can bring you to a better one that’s cheaper (and where he will get a commission).

So make sure to research the most common scams in Delhi before heading there, I’ve written an entire post about them. Although I was aware of many scams, weird things still happened to me in this city.

Accommodation

And then there’s the accommodation… This is my least favourite thing about Delhi.

Reviews on Booking, Agoda and other websites are often fake when it comes to budget hotels, and so are the pictures.

One of the hotels I stayed at in Delhi took my phone to “look at the booking reference” and wrote a fake review. Luckily though, you can adapt reviews later, hah!

So far, I stayed in five different hotels in Delhi, and they were all equally horrible. From dirty, mouldy bathrooms and dirty bedsheets to bedroom doors without a lock and windows that were taped together and falling apart, the accommodation in Delhi is worse than in any other city I’ve ever visited. This includes Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, where it was surprisingly nice.

If you can afford it, then Delhi is a place where you will want to spend more money on accommodation if you want to stay in a clean place. I paid between 800 and 1400 INR during my stay in Delhi.

Tip: Read the worst reviews before booking a hotel in Delhi (or anywhere else in India), these are usually the real ones when you’re staying at budget accommodation.

Taxis and rickshaws in Delhi

When it comes to taking taxis or rickshaws in Delhi, I never experienced any serious problems, although most of them did try to scam or cheat me.

I would recommend using the Ola app when you’re travelling in India. It works just like Uber and will allow you to book an auto-rickshaw, bike or taxi for a fair price. This way, you won’t need to haggle and it will be less likely that the driver will try to scam you.

If you need to take a rickshaw at night, it’s also safer to book one with the Ola app.

Tips to Stay Safe in Delhi

It’s important to use your common sense, especially if you’re travelling in India solo (or anywhere else for that matter).

You will find some of my best tips on how to stay safe in Delhi below.

Don’t trust strangers

As I mentioned in the “Scams in Delhi” section, people will try to convince you that your hotel does not exist, that you can’t book bus tickets yourself and a million other things. Don’t trust just anyone and research things online if you want to be sure.

Don’t tell anyone where you’re staying either. You don’t want them showing up at your hotel or stalking you (this happened to me in Yangon, Myanmar).

Another thing I was told multiple times is not to accept food from strangers. I can’t find anything about it online (and I don’t know if it’s true), but according to a story, some men offered a tourist a drug-injected banana on the train and robbed him once he was out.

This being said, there are plenty of nice people in Delhi too, and chances are they will want to take many, many selfies with you.

Be aware of your surroundings

Stay alert, be aware of the people around you and keep an eye on your belongings at any time. There is petty crime in Delhi, and you don’t want to be the victim of pickpockets, for example.

It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the water bottles that you buy. There have been reports of people selling water bottles filled with tap water in cities like Delhi and Bombay.

If you feel uncomfortable or if something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and leave. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Act confident

People will be less likely to scam or bother you if you act confident. Walk as if you know exactly where you’re going, even if you haven’t got a clue, for example.

If someone is bothering you, firmly say “no” or tell them that you’re not interested and ask them to leave. I usually do this two times, then ignore them. People can be very, very pushy in India, and being polite does not do the trick here.

>> Read: Groping in India: How Common Is It?

The pictures above were not taken in Delhi (obviously) but at the Taj Mahal and Patrika Gate in Jaipur. The outfit that I’m wearing, however, is something I would typically wear in Delhi too.

Dress appropriately

Although Delhi is one of the few places in India where you will see some women wearing shorts and spaghetti tops, I personally cover my shoulders and legs (especially in Old Delhi).

When you’re travelling in India, you will already stand out. I can’t recall the number of times that I was surrounded by dozens of men asking for a selfie. If you’re wearing revealing clothes, you will only attract even more (unwanted) attention.

On top of that, you will have to pack a more conservative wardrobe if you’re planning on visiting the rest of India, and you will also have to cover up if you want to visit temples and other religious sites.

So, if you’re asking me, in Delhi, maxi skirts, maxi dresses, loose pants, t-shirts and scarves are your best friend.

>> Read: What to Wear in India: 5 Tips + Outfit Ideas

Buy a local SIM card

Having a local sim and being able to access the internet is so handy when you’re travelling.

A local sim won’t only allow you to research things online and stay in touch with friends and family, but it will also allow you to call for help if necessary.

You can buy local sims at the Indira Gandhi International Airport or the provider’s shops. Airtel, Jio and Vi (Vodafone) are the most popular ones. However (if what they told me is true), Jio doesn’t sell SIM cards to foreigners anymore.

Don’t walk around dodgy areas at night

I think this one speaks for itself. Walking around dodgy areas at night is not a good idea in any city, let alone in a metropolis like Delhi.

This doesn’t mean you can’t go outside in the evening, though. Just be extra careful and stick to well-lit places with people around.

If you need to take a rickshaw later in the evening, I would order one via Ola.

Prepare yourself for culture shock

If it’s your first time in India, you might experience culture shock. The best way to handle this is to have an open mind and accept that things will be different as they are back home.

I love India, but I’m the first to admit that this is not a country for everyone. India can be overwhelming at times, it is dirty, overpopulation is a problem and travelling here can be uncomfortable.

On top of that, it’s not uncommon to be surrounded by dozens of men asking for a selfie. Most people are sweet and respectful, though, but not everyone.

This being said, India is also famous for being steeped in culture and tradition, and it’s incredibly varied too. Not many countries have beaches, mountains and deserts, after all!

Is Delhi safe? Final Thoughts

All in all, I think Delhi is as safe as any big capital. However, overall, more people will try to scam you here.

Therefore, it’s important to come prepared. Research the most common scams in Delhi, use your common sense, dress modestly and trust your gut. It might be useful to learn some basic Hindi too.

Don’t let any of this stop you from visiting India’s bustling capital, though. Delhi has a lot to offer, from spectacular landmarks to delicious food (do make sure to read my tips on how to avoid Delhi belly)!

I know I focussed a lot on scams and not-so-nice experiences in his post, but sadly, this is part of the “Delhi experience”. There are many friendly and helpful people in this city too, though!

Read more about Delhi:
🛕 1 Day in Delhi Itinerary: The Highlights
❗️Tourist Scams in Delhi to Avoid
🌟 What is Delhi Famous for? 20 Interesting Facts
❓Is Delhi Worth Visiting? 9 Reasons to Visit Delhi + 3 Not To

Must-reads before heading to India:
🥗 How to AVOID Getting Sick in India
👚 What to Wear in India: Tips + Outfit Ideas
💰 The Cost of Travel in India
🚫 17 Things NOT to Do in India

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