Qutub Minar 2026: Tickets, Timings, Metro & Cafes Nearby
Qutub Minar is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Ticket prices, the nearest metro and how to get there, what to see inside and cafes with a view nearby.
Qutub Minar is open every day from sunrise to sunset. Tickets are ₹35 online for Indian, SAARC and BIMSTEC visitors and ₹550 online for other foreign visitors (₹40 and ₹600 at the counter in most listings), and children under 15 go free. The nearest metro is Qutab Minar on the Yellow Line, about 1.5–2 km away, so take an auto or e-rickshaw for the last stretch. Plan 60–90 minutes for the complex.
The 72.5-metre minaret was begun around 1199 by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Sultan of Delhi, and finished by his successor Iltutmish. Together with the ruins around it, it forms the Qutb complex, one of Delhi's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites (inscribed in 1993). You cannot climb the tower: the interior has been closed to the public since 1981.
Qutub Minar tickets and timings
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Open days | Every day |
| Hours | Sunrise to sunset (often listed as about 7:00 AM–5:00 PM in winter and later in summer) |
| Indian, SAARC and BIMSTEC visitors | ₹35 online / about ₹40 at the counter |
| Other foreign visitors | ₹550 online / about ₹600 at the counter |
| Children under 15 | Free |
| Evening | The minaret is lit up after dark; check at the gate whether evening entry is running on your date |
| Nearest metro | Qutab Minar (Yellow Line), Gates No. 1 and 2 on Anuvrat Marg |
| Time needed | 60–90 minutes |
Book on the ASI e-ticket portal for the online price and a QR ticket. Several websites still show older prices (₹30 or ₹50); the ₹35/₹550 online rates are the ones used across ASI's top monuments in 2026.
How to get to Qutub Minar
- By metro: take the Yellow Line to Qutab Minar station. Both exits in DMRC's gate list open onto Anuvrat Marg. The monument is roughly 1.5–2 km away, so most visitors take a shared auto or e-rickshaw from outside the station. Agree the fare first or use an app.
- From Saket: Saket on the same line is an option if you are coming from the malls; the ride to the monument is a little longer.
- By cab: set the drop-off as "Qutub Minar main entrance, Mehrauli". From Connaught Place it usually takes 35–60 minutes depending on traffic; see Delhi peak traffic hours.
What to see inside the Qutb complex
- Qutub Minar – the fluted red and buff sandstone tower, with five storeys separated by projecting balconies and bands of carved inscriptions. The best photos are from the lawns on its south side.
- Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque – begun in 1192, it is one of the earliest surviving mosques in northern India. The colonnades reuse carved pillars from older temples, which is why Hindu and Jain motifs appear inside a mosque.
- The Iron Pillar – a 4th-century pillar from the Gupta period, famous for barely rusting in more than 1,600 years. It is fenced off, so you can no longer try the old "hug the pillar" tradition.
- Alai Darwaza – the gateway built by Alauddin Khalji in 1311, with its horseshoe arches and fine marble inlay. It is often described as the first building in India with a true dome built on Islamic principles.
- Alai Minar – the unfinished stump of the tower Alauddin Khalji planned to be twice the height of Qutub Minar. Work stopped after his death in 1316.
- Tomb of Iltutmish – a small, roofless tomb from the 1230s with some of the most detailed carving in the complex.
Cafes and restaurants near Qutub Minar
Mehrauli, the old village around the Qutub, has some of Delhi's best restaurants with a view of the minaret. Most are in the lanes and rooftops a short walk from the entrance. Prices are mid-range to expensive, and reservations help for sunset tables.
| Place | Type | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Bar & Kitchen | Mediterranean, courtyard and terrace | Long-running Mehrauli favourite a few minutes' walk from the monument |
| Dramz | Rooftop bar and grill | One of the best-known Qutub views, best at dusk |
| QLA | Fine dining | Quieter setting with views towards the minaret |
| Bo Tai | Thai-inspired, rooftop | Rooftop overlooking the Qutub Minar |
| The Grammar Room | All-day cafe | Popular for breakfast and brunch |
| Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters | Coffee | A few hundred metres from the monument for a quick coffee |
Opening hours and menus change often, so check each place before you go. On a tight budget, the food stalls on Mehrauli's main road and the cafes in Saket and Hauz Khas are cheaper alternatives.
Combine Qutub Minar with nearby sights
- Mehrauli Archaeological Park – free to enter and right next door, with Jamali Kamali, Rajon ki Baoli and Balban's tomb. Add 60–90 minutes.
- Hauz Khas village and lake – about 20 minutes by cab for an evening walk.
- Lotus Temple – about 30 minutes by cab; it is closed on Mondays.
On a one-day Delhi itinerary, Qutub Minar pulls you far south, so many first-time visitors choose Humayun's Tomb instead. With two or three days, it is well worth the trip; see which Delhi attractions are worth paying for.
“I have a free afternoon tomorrow. How do I get from Connaught Place to Qutub Minar by metro, and where can I have dinner with a view afterwards?”
FAQ
What are Qutub Minar timings?
Qutub Minar is open every day from sunrise to sunset, usually listed as about 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM in winter, with later closing in summer. It is not closed on Mondays.
What is the Qutub Minar ticket price in 2026?
Indian, SAARC and BIMSTEC visitors pay ₹35 online (about ₹40 at the counter). Other foreign visitors pay ₹550 online (about ₹600 at the counter). Children under 15 are free.
Which metro station is nearest to Qutub Minar?
Qutab Minar station on the Yellow Line. The monument is about 1.5–2 km away, so take an auto or e-rickshaw from Anuvrat Marg outside the station.
Can you climb Qutub Minar?
No. The staircase inside the tower has been closed to the public since 1981. You can walk around the base and the rest of the complex.
Are there cafes near Qutub Minar?
Yes. Mehrauli has many, including Olive Bar & Kitchen, Dramz and QLA with views of the minaret, plus coffee shops like Blue Tokai a short walk away.
Sources and verification
Checked on 26 October 2026.
- UNESCO World Heritage listing: Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi – inscribed 1993
- World Monuments Fund: A walk around the Qutb complex – mosque, Alai Darwaza and Alai Minar dates
- Delhi Tourism: Qutub Minar – timings
- Qutub Minar ticket price 2026 (ticketpricepro.com) – online vs counter fees
- So.City: restaurants with a view of the Qutub, 2026 and Tripadvisor: restaurants in Mehrauli/Qutub Minar – cafes and restaurants
- DMRC station and gate locations workbook (dated 23 August 2026) – Qutab Minar Gates No. 1 and 2
Ticket prices and evening access can change. Check the ASI e-ticket portal before you travel.