How Do I Get From Delhi Airport to the City?
Entry fees, opening times and fares in India change often. Please check before you travel.
New Planning with ChatGPT or Gemini? Paste the plan and we'll price it with real hotels and a car. Price my itinerary Delhi is the first of three stops on The Boutique Golden Triangle 5 nights · with Agra and Jaipur · from £430 per person See it →The Airport Express Metro is the fastest and cheapest option: about ₹65 and 20 minutes to New Delhi station. Uber and Ola take 30-60 minutes depending on traffic. Prepaid taxis are the simplest door-to-door choice. Here's how each option works so you can pick the right one for your situation.
Option 1: Airport Express Metro (Recommended)
The Orange Line Airport Express connects Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport directly to New Delhi metro station, where you change to the Yellow Line (the Blue Line is one Yellow Line stop away at Rajiv Chowk). The line continues beyond the airport to Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25. This is the fastest route into the city, completely immune to Delhi's traffic.
How to find it: From Terminal 3 arrivals, follow signs for "Metro" or "Airport Express Line." It's a 5-minute walk through a covered corridor. Terminal 1 is not on the Airport Express: it has its own station on the Magenta Line (since 2018), which connects to the Yellow Line at Hauz Khas.
Fare: About ₹65 to New Delhi station. Buy a ticket at the counter or use a contactless card.
Schedule: Trains run from roughly 5 AM to 11:40 PM, every 10-15 minutes. The journey takes 20 minutes with stops at Delhi Aerocity, Dhaula Kuan, and Shivaji Stadium.
From New Delhi station: Switch to the Yellow Line (north to Chandni Chowk for Old Delhi, south to Hauz Khas for South Delhi). For the Blue Line (west to Karol Bagh, east to Supreme Court station for Pragati Maidan), go one stop south to Rajiv Chowk. Read our Delhi Metro guide for route planning.
Best for: Anyone arriving between roughly 5 AM and 11 PM who's heading to central Delhi, CP, or anywhere on the Yellow/Blue lines. Especially good during rush hours (8-10 AM, 5-8 PM) when road traffic is gridlocked.
Not ideal for: Travellers with heavy luggage (there are no porters and you'll navigate stairs and escalators), late-night arrivals, or those heading directly to South Delhi locations far from a metro station.
Option 2: Uber or Ola
Both apps work from Delhi airport. The pickup point is at the designated cab area outside the arrivals hall; follow signs for "App-Based Cabs."
Fares: A ride to Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Paharganj, Old Delhi or South Delhi costs a few hundred rupees, more under surge pricing or late at night.
Travel time: 30-45 minutes without traffic, 60-90 minutes during rush hours. Late night (11 PM - 5 AM) is the fastest, 25-35 minutes to CP.
Important: Uber works with your home account and a foreign number, but drivers cannot call you on it, so wait at the exact pickup point shown in the app and use the in-app chat. An Indian SIM makes the whole process smoother: Airtel and Jio have counters in the Terminal 3 arrivals hall (see our guide to SIM cards at the airport).
Best for: Groups (split the fare), travellers with lots of luggage, late-night arrivals, anyone going directly to a specific hotel.
Option 3: Prepaid Taxi
The Delhi Traffic Police Prepaid Taxi Counter is inside the arrivals hall, before you exit to the main area. You pay a fixed fare at the counter, get a receipt, and hand it to the driver at the taxi stand outside. This eliminates haggling.
Fares: Fixed by destination and printed on your receipt. Expect a few hundred rupees to central or South Delhi, with a surcharge late at night.
How it works: Pay at the counter, get a receipt showing destination and fare. Walk to the taxi stand. A coordinator assigns you a car. Hand the receipt to the driver at your destination; you've already paid. Tip ₹50-100 if they handle luggage.
Best for: Anyone who'd rather not deal with an app on arrival, first-time visitors who want a simple door-to-door option, late arrivals when the metro is closed.
Watch out for: Drivers sometimes claim the prepaid fare doesn't cover your exact destination and ask for extra money. It does. Show them the receipt and be firm. Also ignore anyone inside the terminal who approaches you offering taxi services; use only the official counter.
What to Do Immediately at the Airport
Get a SIM card. Head to the Airtel or Jio counter in Terminal 3 arrivals. Tourist plans with data and calls cost a few hundred rupees. You need your passport. Activation can take 15-60 minutes; some activate instantly via eKYC.
Withdraw cash. ATMs in the arrivals hall accept international cards. Withdraw ₹5,000-10,000 to cover initial expenses; many street vendors and autos don't take cards.
Pick your transport. If it's between roughly 5 AM and 11 PM, take the metro. If it's late at night, use the prepaid taxi or book an Uber or Ola.
What NOT to Do
Don't take an unmetered taxi from the arrivals exit. Drivers outside the terminal who approach you directly are unlicensed or charge 3-5x the normal rate. Walk past them.
Don't exchange currency at the airport counters. The rates are terrible. Use ATMs instead, or wait until you reach your hotel or a licensed money changer in the city.
Don't book a hotel through anyone at the airport claiming your booking was cancelled. This is an old scam. Your booking is fine. Call the hotel directly if you're worried.
How Much Does an Uber Cost From Delhi Airport?
An Uber from Indira Gandhi International Airport to central Delhi (Connaught Place area) or South Delhi (Hauz Khas, Defence Colony) costs a few hundred rupees depending on time of day and surge pricing; late-night rides after midnight cost more. Ola typically matches Uber's pricing. Your home Uber account and foreign number work here, but drivers can't call you, so wait at the exact pickup point and use the in-app chat.
Does the Delhi Airport Express Metro Run 24 Hours?
No. The Airport Express Metro (Orange Line) runs from roughly 5 AM to 11:40 PM. Trains depart every 10-15 minutes. If you arrive outside these hours, Uber, Ola, or the prepaid taxi counter at arrivals are your options. The ride to New Delhi metro station takes 20 minutes with stops at Delhi Aerocity, Dhaula Kuan, and Shivaji Stadium.
Should I Get a SIM Card at Delhi Airport?
Yes, get one immediately at arrivals. Airtel and Jio have counters in the arrivals hall of Terminal 3. A tourist SIM with 1-2 GB daily data and calling for 28 days costs a few hundred rupees. You need your passport and a passport-size photo (some counters take a digital photo). Activation takes 15-60 minutes. Having a working SIM means Uber and Ola drivers can call you, Google Maps works, and you're connected from day one.