Per-person costs for a 2-day Shimla trip from Delhi NCR in 2026: budget ₹3,000-4,500, mid-range ₹6,500-10,500 and premium ₹17,500-30,000, with itemised tables.
Quick summary
A 2-day Shimla trip from Delhi NCR costs roughly ₹3,000 to ₹4,500 per person on a tight budget, ₹6,500 to ₹10,500 mid-range (a typical trip lands around ₹8,500) and ₹17,500 to ₹30,000 for a premium trip. The biggest variables are how you travel up and where you sleep. The tables below break each band into line items that add up to the totals.
Assumptions
- All figures are per person in 2026 rupees, for 2 days and 1 night in Shimla, starting and ending in Delhi NCR.
- Two people share a room; room rates are divided by two.
- Prices are estimates for an ordinary weekend outside peak dates. Room rates can rise sharply in May–June, at Christmas and New Year, on long weekends and when snow is forecast.
- Verified fixed fees used here: Viceregal Lodge entry ₹100 for Indian adults; Himachal entry tax ₹170 for non-Himachal private cars (from 1 April 2026). Everything else is an estimate; check current fares on IRCTC and the HRTC website before booking.
The plan behind these numbers is the 2-day Shimla itinerary: the Ridge, Mall Road, Jakhu Temple and the Viceregal Lodge, with travel up on Day 1 and back on Day 2.
Budget plan: ₹3,000–4,500 per person
HRTC ordinary buses both ways, a hostel bed or shared budget room near Lakkar Bazaar or the bus stand, bazaar food, and walking.
| Item | Low (₹) | High (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| HRTC ordinary bus, Delhi–Shimla–Delhi | 1,100 | 1,300 |
| 1 night: hostel bed or half a budget double room | 800 | 1,500 |
| Food for 2 days (bazaar eateries, chana bhatura, thalis) | 700 | 1,000 |
| Local buses, the Lift, a shared taxi | 200 | 400 |
| Entries (Viceregal Lodge ₹100; Jakhu on foot is free) | 200 | 300 |
| Total | 3,000 | 4,500 |
Mid-range plan: ₹6,500–10,500 per person
Kalka Shatabdi and a reserved toy train seat up, HRTC AC Volvo down, a mid-range hotel near the Mall or in Chhota Shimla, restaurant meals and a couple of taxis. A typical trip at this level comes to about ₹8,500.
| Item | Low (₹) | High (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Travel: Shatabdi chair car + reserved toy train up, HRTC Volvo down | 2,300 | 3,200 |
| 1 night: half of a ₹4,000–7,000 double room | 2,000 | 3,500 |
| Food for 2 days | 1,100 | 1,800 |
| Local taxis, the Lift, a porter for bags | 500 | 1,000 |
| Entries and tours (Viceregal Lodge, Gaiety, ropeway if running) | 300 | 600 |
| Snacks, tips and small purchases | 300 | 400 |
| Total | 6,500 | 10,500 |
If you drive: car cost per vehicle
For a round trip of about 760 km (Delhi–Shimla–Delhi plus local driving), with petrol at about ₹102 a litre in Delhi (October 2026) and a car averaging 14–16 km per litre:
| Item (per car) | Low (₹) | High (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol, about 48–54 litres | 4,850 | 5,550 |
| Highway tolls, round trip (estimate) | 700 | 900 |
| Himachal entry tax (non-HP private car) | 170 | 170 |
| Parking in Shimla, 2 days (estimate) | 300 | 600 |
| Total per car | 6,020 | 7,220 |
Split four ways, that is about ₹1,500–1,800 each; split two ways, about ₹3,000–3,600 each. Swap it in for the travel line in any band above. Run your own numbers in the fuel calculator.
Ticket and fee notes
- Viceregal Lodge: ₹100 for Indian adults, ₹50 for children aged 5–12 and seniors, ₹500 for foreign nationals; lawns-only tickets are cheaper. Closed on Mondays and national holidays.
- Toy trains: fares vary by train and class. The Him Darshan vistadome launched at ₹630 one way in 2019; check the current fare on IRCTC.
- HRTC buses: ordinary and AC Volvo or Scania coaches run from Kashmere Gate ISBT; recent listings show around ₹530 for ordinary and around ₹900 for the AC Himsuta service one way. Book on the HRTC website.
- Kufri horse rides: rates vary by season; agree the fare with a registered operator before you mount.
Costs people forget
- Porters to carry bags from the Cart Road to hotels near the Mall.
- Parking for a car while you stay in town, since vehicles cannot go up to the Mall.
- Heating charges in winter at some hotels.
- Taxi rates set by the local union, which are not usually negotiable.
- Higher room prices during snowfall and holiday weekends.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Travel in March–April or October–November and avoid long weekends. See the best time to visit Shimla.
- Take the bus one way and the toy train the other.
- Walk to Jakhu Temple instead of taking a taxi or the ropeway.
- Eat in Lakkar Bazaar and Lower Bazaar rather than on the Mall.
- Choose places that are free or cheap: the Ridge, Mall Road and the walk up to Jakhu. The best places to visit in Shimla guide shows which are in town.
Adding a third day for Kufri, Chail or Mashobra and Naldehra adds a second night's room plus a taxi day. Plan your own version with the trip budget calculator, and see the Shimla destination guide for transport and season details.