Indira Gandhi International Airport - Flight Information and Guide (DEL)

How to get to Indira Gandhi International Airport

Delhi city centre is approximately 16 km from the airport: the transfer takes approximately 20 minutes by metro (Airport Express), 30-50 minutes by taxi depending on traffic.

By Car

By car, you reach the city centre of Delhi in approximately 30-50 minutes, depending on traffic.

By Train

The Airport Express metro connects Terminal 3 directly to New Delhi station in about 20 minutes, with departures every 10-15 minutes from 4:45 to 23:30; ticket roughly 60-70 rupees.

By Bus

Various buses (including DTC and Cluster) connect the airport to different areas of Delhi; ticket roughly 25-100 rupees depending on service type and distance.

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Tips Airport Express is generally the fastest and most predictable way to reach the city center, unaffected by traffic. Use only prepaid taxis from the official counter in the airport or apps like Uber/Ola, avoiding taxi drivers who solicit informally outside the terminal.

Average travel time to DEL

Train20 minutes (Airport Express)

Shuttle busNot a dedicated service

Taxi / Private hire30-50 minutes

Parking near Indira Gandhi International Airport

Official multi-story parking facilities are located at each terminal.

They are monitored by video; rates are generally moderate by international standards, with additional charges for extended stays.

How to get to New Delhi from DEL

By Train

The Airport Express connects Terminal 3 to New Delhi station in approximately 20 minutes; ticket approximately 60–70 rupees, operating from 4:45 to 23:30.

By Bus

Various buses connect the airport to different areas of Delhi; approximately 25–100 rupees depending on the service.

By Taxi

Pre-paid taxis from the official counter cost approximately 500–700 rupees to Connaught Place/city center (already including the 25% surcharge for night hours 23:00–5:00, when applicable); Uber/Ola apps approximately 250–400 rupees outside peak hours, higher during peak hours with surge pricing.

Airport transfers you can book in advance

Shuttles and private transfers you can book online, picked from the best rated by travelers.

From DEL to the most sought-after destinations

If you want to...	Choose	Estimated cost
Spend the minimum	Local bus	~25-100 rupees
Arrive as quickly as possible downtown	Airport Express	~60-70 rupees
Continue immediately with a long-distance train or reach Connaught Place	Airport Express + transfer to Yellow Line at New Delhi	~70-90 rupees total
Heavy luggage or destination outside the center (e.g. Gurugram)	Pre-paid taxi or Uber/Ola	250-700 rupees

New Delhi → New Delhi Railway Station

It's the natural terminus of Airport Express for those who need to continue on a long-distance train (Rajdhani, Shatabdi and other intercity connections): it's worth arriving well in advance, because the station is huge and departure platforms can be far from the metro entrance.

New Delhi → Dwarka Sector 21

Few know it, but Dwarka Sector 21 is the other terminus of the same Airport Express line that goes through Terminal 3: for those staying in this residential and business sub-city in southwest Delhi, the connection is therefore faster and cheaper than to the center, with just a few minutes of travel.

New Delhi → Connaught Place

From the New Delhi Station of Airport Express, you transfer to the Yellow Line (interchange just a few steps away) for one stop to Rajiv Chowk, the name of the station that directly serves Connaught Place, the large commercial and office ring in the heart of the city; alternatively, 10-15 minutes on foot or a short ride in a motorized auto-rickshaw will suffice.

New Delhi → Gurugram (Cyber City)

For the business and technology hub south of the capital, the metro requires a line change at New Delhi station and a total journey that can exceed an hour; by road, with taxi or ride-hailing apps, the distance of about 25-30 km is covered in 45-60 minutes depending on traffic on the NH48, the preferred solution for business travelers with tight schedules.

Car rental at Indira Gandhi International Airport

The car rental desks of major companies are located in the arrivals area.

Bring your driver's license, passport and credit card; an International Driving Permit (IDP) is also generally required. Many visitors prefer hiring a driver given the heavy traffic and local driving habits.

Hotels near Indira Gandhi International Airport

Delhi is a metropolis with unpredictable traffic: the 16 km to the centre take 20 minutes by metro and 30-50 by taxi, depending on the hour. Anyone with a morning or dawn flight, or a tight connection, does well to sleep in Aerocity, the hotel district built next to the terminals and served by the same Airport Express. To see the capital, Connaught Place is the better choice, with the metro arriving after a single change. Gurugram is of interest almost only to business travellers. With an international flight the ideal is to arrive well in advance, so the evening before it is best not to go far.

Airport area

Aerocity

Aerocity has a stop on the Airport Express, the same line as Terminal 3; by taxi or the hotel shuttle the terminal is about 10 minutes away.

Best for: Night or dawn international departures and overnight connections, with metro and taxis a few minutes away.

Pros

Airport Express metro 2-10 minutes on foot, depending on the hotel
Taxis and shuttles take about 10 minutes, even when Delhi traffic is heavy

Cons

A district of offices, hotels and shopping centres, with little local life
The old city is 20 minutes away by metro, plus the change for Connaught Place

Recommended hotels

See more hotels in this area

Airport area

Mahipalpur, on the NH48

From the NH48 the hotel offers a free shuttle in the area; by taxi the terminal is a few minutes away, but with no metro within reach.

Best for: Those who want a cheaper option than Aerocity and get around by car or the hotel shuttle.

Pros

Hotel overlooking the NH48, with taxis always available
Free shuttle in the area offered directly by the hotel

Cons

To reach the centre you need a taxi or a long metro journey
On either side of the highway the traffic and noise are constant

Recommended hotels

Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport Near Mahipalpur Extension on the NH8, with a free shuttle in the area and a wide choice of rooms for those landing late. View availability

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City centre

Connaught Place

Airport Express to New Delhi in about 20 minutes, then the Yellow Line for a single stop to Rajiv Chowk; by taxi it takes 30-50 minutes.

Best for: One or more nights to see Delhi, with the metro, restaurants and monuments nearby.

Pros

Restaurants, shops and Janpath on foot, without depending on traffic
Rajiv Chowk is a metro hub for the whole city

Cons

The Airport Express stops at 23:30: with a later arrival you have to take a taxi
Crowded streets and insistent street vendors

Recommended hotels

See more hotels in this area

Nearby town

Gurugram

To Cyber City the metro requires a change at New Delhi and can take over an hour; by road it takes 45-60 minutes for about 25-30 km on the NH48.

Best for: Business trips to the Cyber City offices, with meetings right outside the hotel.

Pros

Offices and company headquarters nearby, handy for morning meetings
Direct road from the airport, without passing through central Delhi

Cons

The journey varies greatly with traffic on the NH48
Little to see for a tourist: Delhi remains far away

Recommended hotels

Hyatt Regency Gurgaon A business hotel on the NH48, in Sector 83, about 30 minutes from the airport and 15 from central Gurgaon, with event halls for up to 3,000 people. View availability

See more hotels in this area

Airport services

The airport is India's primary hub, one of South Asia's busiest.

Shopping & Duty Free

The duty-free area is extensive, offering a selection of Indian tea, spices, and traditional handicrafts including textiles and jewelry.

Lounges & relaxation

Delhi concentrates most of its lounges at Terminal 3, with separate lounges for domestic departures, international departures and also for those arriving. The most present brand is Encalm, whose standard lounges open with Priority Pass, DragonPass or by paying, while the Privé version is paid for at the door. On the international side there are also the Plaza Premium lounges and the Air India Maharaja Lounge, reserved for premium tickets and status. At Terminal 1 the lounges serve domestic flights; the one at Terminal 2 is temporarily closed.

lounges: 11
with Priority Pass: 5
paid entry: from 2,550 INR
open 24 hours: 7

Which lounge to choose: full comparison

Connectivity & Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal area. Mobile operators Airtel, Jio, and Vi have SIM card stands at the airport.

Families & Children

Passengers with children find both play spaces and basic family assistance.

Terminal guide

Terminal 3, the main hub for international flights, is spacious and modern; Terminals 1 and 2 primarily serve domestic flights. Always verify which terminal your flight departs from.

Customs clearance times are variable: for international flights, it is wise to arrive at least 3 hours in advance.

Map of Indira Gandhi International Airport

Frequently asked questions

Q. How do you get to central Delhi from the airport?

By the Airport Express metro, which connects Terminal 3 directly to New Delhi Station in about 20 minutes, the fastest and most predictable option.

Q. How much does the visa for India cost?

The tourist e-visa costs roughly 10-25 USD for 30 days depending on the season, or 40 USD for the one-year version, obtainable online before departure.

Q. What is the Golden Triangle?

Northern India's classic tourist itinerary, connecting Delhi, Agra (with the Taj Mahal) and Jaipur, all reachable within a trip of just a few days.

Q. Is it worth using informal taxis outside the Delhi terminal?

No, it's not advisable: only use the prepaid taxis at the official airport counter or apps like Uber/Ola, which are safer and more transparent about pricing.

Q. Which lounges accept Priority Pass?

Encalm Lounge (T1), Encalm Lounge (T3, Domestic departures), Encalm Lounge (T3, International departures), Encalm Lounge (Arrivi) (T3) and Plaza Premium Lounge (Lounge B) (T3).

Q. How much does lounge access cost without a business class ticket?

The lowest entry price is 2,550 INR, at Encalm Lounge (Arrivi) (T3).

Q. Are any lounges open 24 hours?

Yes, 7, including Encalm Lounge (T1), Encalm Lounge (T3, Domestic departures), Encalm Lounge (T3, International departures), Encalm Lounge (Arrivi) (T3), Encalm Privé Lounge (T3) and Air India Maharaja Lounge (T3).