Delhi Airport (DEL) Guide

Delhi Airport (DEL) at a glance

DEL is India's busiest airport and well organised once you know your terminal. T3 handles all international flights plus full-service domestic (Air India, Vistara-era, IndiGo's premium ops); T1 is low-cost domestic; T2 absorbs domestic overflow. A free shuttle connects T3 and T1, and the Airport Metro Express whisks you from T3 to the centre. Travelling onward in India? See our India travel guide, and estimate fares with the airport transfer estimator.

Getting from DEL to the city

• Airport Metro Express (Orange Line): T3 → New Delhi railway station in ~20 minutes — the fastest, cheapest option.
• Prepaid/app taxi: ~₹400–700 to central Delhi, 30–60 minutes depending on traffic.
• App cabs (Ola/Uber): from designated bays; cheaper off-peak.
• Hotel transfer: easiest for late or early flights.

Metro details: the Airport Express (Orange Line) runs roughly 04:45–23:30 with trains every 10–15 minutes; a Delhi Metro QR ticket or smart card covers it, with interchange to the wider network at New Delhi and Dwarka. Radio-taxi and app-cab pickups are clearly signed outside arrivals — ignore anyone offering a ride inside the hall.

Connections, DigiYatra & facilities

For a T3↔T1 self-connection, use the free inter-terminal shuttle and allow at least three hours. Domestic flyers can speed through with DigiYatra (face-based, paperless entry). All terminals offer lounges, dining, SIM and forex counters and rest areas; T3 has extensive premium lounges for long layovers.

Terminal-by-terminal: where to go

• Terminal 3 (T3): all international arrivals/departures plus full-service and most major domestic carriers (Air India and the bigger IndiGo operations). It's the largest, most modern terminal, with immigration, the metro station and the widest food and lounge choice.
• Terminal 1 (T1): low-cost domestic flights (much of IndiGo and Akasa, depending on route). Recently expanded, but a separate building from T3.
• Terminal 2 (T2): used as domestic overflow when T1 is at capacity — always check your boarding pass, as the terminal can change.

Always confirm your terminal on your ticket the day you fly — airlines occasionally shift operations between T1 and T2.

Lounges & long layovers

T3 has the widest lounge network, with options you can enter via Priority Pass, eligible credit/debit cards, DreamFolks membership, or simple pay-per-use (typically from ~₹1,500–2,500 for a few hours, including food and Wi-Fi). Several Indian travel and premium cards bundle a set number of free domestic/international lounge visits per quarter — check your card's benefits before paying. For long international layovers, T3 offers paid rest/sleep zones and nearby transit-friendly hotels; for overnight waits, an airport-area hotel is often more comfortable than the terminal.

Baggage, SIM, forex & assistance

Left luggage / cloakroom facilities let you store bags if you have a long gap or a day in the city. Pick up a prepaid SIM and use forex counters/ATMs in the arrivals hall (rates are better in the city, so change only what you need at the airport — compare in our currency exchange guide). Wheelchair and special-assistance services are free — request them with your airline in advance. Plan your packing with the packing checklist.

Practical tips: DigiYatra enrolment takes a few minutes in the app (passport + boarding pass + a selfie) and then lets domestic flyers walk through dedicated face-scan e-gates. Left-luggage at T3 is charged per bag per 24 hours. Arrivals SIM counters (Airtel/Jio) need a passport, visa and photo; activation can take a few hours, so buy before you leave the terminal if you need data immediately.

First-time international arrival, step by step

Landing at Delhi for the first time? The flow is simple: 1) follow signs to immigration and have your passport and any documents ready; 2) collect baggage from the belt for your flight; 3) if you need data now, buy a prepaid SIM or activate an eSIM before leaving the hall; 4) change only a little money at the airport (city rates are better); 5) walk past the touts to the official transfer — the Airport Metro, a prepaid taxi or an app cab. Keep your boarding pass until you exit, and screenshot your hotel address and a map offline in case you lose signal.

Long layover playbook

For a multi-hour wait, your options ranked: airline or pay-per-use lounge (food, Wi-Fi, showers, from ~₹1,500), quiet rest zones and recliners in the terminal, an airport-area transit hotel for overnight stops, or — if you have the hours, a valid onward booking and any required visa — stepping out to see the city. Confirm whether your two flights are in the same terminal before planning a city trip, leave a generous buffer for re-entry security, and don't cut a self-transfer between separate terminals too fine.

From landing to the city

1. Confirm your terminal: international = T3; low-cost domestic = T1; some domestic = T2.
2. For a T3↔T1 connection, use the free shuttle and allow 3+ hours.
3. Enrol in DigiYatra for faster domestic entry if eligible.
4. Collect baggage and pick up SIM/forex if arriving internationally.
5. Choose your transfer: Airport Metro (T3, fastest/cheapest), prepaid taxi or app cab.
6. Allow extra time in Delhi's peak-hour traffic.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Going to the wrong terminal — T1 (low-cost) and T3 are separate; always confirm.
• Booking a tight T3↔T1 self-connection (under 3 hours).
• Skipping the Airport Metro, which beats road traffic to the centre.
• Hailing random taxis instead of prepaid counters or app cabs.
• Not enrolling in DigiYatra for faster domestic entry.
• Underestimating Delhi's peak-hour traffic.

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