Introduction
If you have 2 days to spend in Gurgaon, this is another addition to Urban India, Nothing but a city of glass. Spend a weekend here with the right plan, and you will quickly realize this city has more than meets the eye. There is plenty to do in Gurugram, and you will not be bored. From the famous food streets, the exquisite and massive malls, and secret heritage sights, to the always pleasurable rooftop bars with a great view, Gurugram will not bore you.
Whether you are a business traveler with a free weekend or if you are passing through, this 2-day Gurgaon itinerary is perfect for you.
Day 1: Food, History, and Shopping. Gurgaon Has It All.
Start of the first day at the Sheetla Mata Mandir and the Leisure Valley Park.
Gurgaon’s history is a fascinating and important part of its identity, and it’s one that most visitors completely overlook. Avoid making this mistake. Start your day at the Sheetla Mata Mandir, one of the most important temples in the area. It opens early at 5 AM and attracts many devotees and many curious tourists. You have to witness this energy for yourself.
Immediately next to this is the Leisure Valley Park, which offers a large green space that runs the length of the city. It is the perfect place for a morning walk before the heat of Gurgaon drives you indoors. This is a nice place to jog and do some yoga, or just a great place to catch up with friends over some chai, and it is a wonderful view into the life of Grugram.
Visit the temple before 8 am. Crowds build as the day and week go on. Weekends see more visitors than weekdays.
Afternoon: Kingdom of Dreams and DLF Cyber Hub
Breakfast is at a local dhaba near the old bus stand. The chole bhature is excellent, and after breakfast, head to the Kingdom of Dreams in Sector 29. Since it is India’s original live entertainment and leisure destination, it is worth seeing even if you do not see a show. The Culture Gully is inside, and it is worth walking through. The experience is like walking through a street themed for a different era.
After that, you go to DLF Cyber Hub, which is the center of Gurgaon’s food and social scene. It is a designed space filled with places to eat, from fast food to casual dining. You can eat at either Social or Farzi Cafe. Farzi Cafe is particularly impressive for reimagining Indian street food.
Gurgaon must try food outlets:
- Farzi Cafe (molecular gastronomy with Indian flavors)
- Pind Balluchi (for traditional Punjabi thali)
- Sanjha Chulha (Old Gurgaon, excellent dal makhani)
Evening: MG Road and Ambience Mall
In the late afternoon, head to MG Road. It is the commercial center of the city and has showrooms, lots of vendors on the side of the street, and a metro station. It is lively. You can take a break and grab a lassi from one of the small stalls.
Head to the nearest Sunset Ambience Mall. It’s one of the biggest malls in the entire country. Even if you don’t want to shop, you can explore the massive space. There’s also the PVR for movie going breaks. The food court has a bunch of dependable dinner options.
Night: Rooftop Bars and Gurgaon Nightlife
Don’t underestimate Gurgaon’s Nightlife. The Sector 29 and Golf Course Road areas will have drinks. Privee at Shangri-La, Warehouse Cafe, and The Sky High are all good for city views and vibes. Gurgaon’s rooftop bars are better than South Delhi’s and the crowd will be chill.
Nightlife Tip: Bars in Gurgaon must follow Haryana’s liquor laws, which will usually mean closing by 12 or 1 am.
Day 2: Hidden Gems, Local Markets & Relaxing Spots
Morning: Sultanpur National Park
It’s time to take a more relaxed approach. Day 2 is about finding the hidden sides of Gurugram. First, head to Sultanpur National Park, about 15 km from the city center. It’s a bird sanctuary, and you can see both migratory and resident birds, of which there are over 250 species. From November to March, the sanctuary has flamingos, pelicans and painted storks.
The walking trails and wetlands are also equally beautiful and calm during all the other months. It’s a rare slice of nature right at the edge of one of India’s fastest growing cities.
Best Time to Visit the Park
Your best chances of getting early access to the park would be to arrive there between the hours of 6 AM and 9 AM to avoid long queues. With low entrance fees, parking would also likely be hassle-free.
After 12:00, markets offer potential to be greatly explored.
If you would like to see the more touristic side of Gurgaon, avoid the shopping malls on Day 2. Opt for going to Galleria Market located in DLF Phase 4. It’s an open-air market with a more relaxed atmosphere and has closed several boutique shops, open cafes, and restaurants. One of the most popular local venues is Unplugged Courtyard, open with outdoor seating and many live performances on weekends.
For going to a market, you may try the Sector 14 market located near Gurugram University for a more real Gurugram experience. You will come across several stalls of cheap clothing, fresh fruits, and vegetables, with street vendors. Do not miss out on golgappas and aloo tikki from the vendors that are set at the crossroads.
Gurgaon has a few hidden treasures, for example: Aravalli Biodiversity Park (ideal for a short nature walk), Damdama Lake (about 24 km away, great for boating and a countryside escape), and Old Gurgaon bazaars near the Iffco Chowk area (real local flavor)
Late Afternoon: Aravalli Biodiversity Park
Aravalli Biodiversity Park is located near Sector 35 and is one of the most relaxed places to go to in Gurugram. The park is situated on top of the ancient Aravalli hills and spans many hundreds of acres. The area has many walking and cycling tracks and has a great deal of native plant species. The stillness in this park is something that is hard to find in the rest of Gurugram.
You can enter the park freely and it is most of the time not busy. Strolling through the park is nice and don’t forget to take some water and relax. After 2 days of staying in the city and the noises everywhere, it is the kind of calming experience ENDING you want after traveling.
Dinner + One LAST DRINK
Your last meal should be at Sector 50 or Sector 56 because there are lots of nice eating places that are more for the locals than for the tourists. There are good options like Chaayos for chai + snacks, and then Street (in Westin Gurgaon) for more of a sit-down. Street even has a buffet and live cooking stations which is crazy good.
Travel PREP for 2 days in Gurgaon
Gurgaon is quick to travel to, but it gets tricky to plan. Gurgaon locals recommend the following tips to make the most of the trip.
- Getting around- Auto rickshaws are known to exploit for fees so be careful using them. Use Ola and Uber as they are cheaper, you just pay for the ride, and you can use them because they are everywhere. To top it off, they are fully registered. The rapid metro and the Sikanderpur station have the metro for Delhi so you can use the rapid metro to travel through all the parts of the city.
- The best time to visit Gurgaon is between October to March. April to June has the summer heat which is unbearable and it is July to September that you have the monsoon, so it gets flooded everywhere.
- If you want to know where to stay for the trip, and if you want a budget-friendly option, then stay around Sohna Road or Sector 49. You can find mid-range hotels clustered around Golf course road. The best options if you are looking for luxury are The Leela Ambience, Hyatt Regency, and Oberoi. These are the top hotels.
- Payment Methods. Almost all cab services, restaurants, shops, and businesses in Gurgaon take online payments through UPI and cards. However, it’s a good idea to keep cash on hand to be able to pay for local markets, auto rickshaws, and park entry fees.
- What languages are spoken in Gurgaon? When paying for services in Gurgaon, most people use Hindi, and some people who work in most malls, hotels, and restaurants. So, there won’t be a language barrier for you.
- Concern for Traveler Safety/ Suggestion. In most areas of Gurgaon travelers are safe. However, in areas where there are not many people, be careful and use your usual urban caution.
Is Two Days Enough to Really Experience Gurgaon?
With some good planning it should be possible to get a good feeling of what the city is like in just two days. Your stay won’t lack experiences in contrast to the many other tourists who come through and leave without any idea of what the city is like. The cuisine, the mix of the new and the old, the great little parks in the city, and the vibe and buzz of Gurgaon all create a unique experience.
The city is still very new and developing and is a cool place to visit.
Being a little adventurous will lead to a better experience. Try to travel as the locals do and stop to eat where the locals eat. Carrying only the essentials and starting your adventure as early as possible will help to experience the city and all it has to offer.
The city is still very new and developing and is a really cool place to visit. Keep your mind open to new experiences and your time in Gurgaon will be very enjoyable.
