ARRIVAL PLAYBOOK · AMD · GUJARAT · REVIEWED JUN 2026
Arriving at Ahmedabad.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Here is what happens in the 30 minutes between you clearing immigration and being in the city — counters, fares, the one scam to avoid, and what to do if you land at 2am.
Official airport site →Arrival hall
Terminal 2 handles all international arrivals. Terminal 1 is domestic. The two are adjacent but not connected airside; allow 30 minutes for an inter-terminal transfer with baggage.
Prepaid taxi counter
Prepaid taxi counter on the forecourt. Fare to central Ahmedabad (Ashram Road, CG Road) ₹350–450; to Gandhinagar ₹700–900. Ahmedabad is a compact city — most rides are short.
Uber / Ola pickup
Uber and Ola pickup zones. Fares ₹300–450 to central Ahmedabad. Auto-rickshaws are also widely available and metered.
Metro / rail / bus
Ahmedabad BRTS does not directly connect to the airport. Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2 is extending to the airport (opening late 2026). For now, a prepaid taxi to Sabarmati BRTS or Kalupur Railway Station is the most efficient public link.
SIM activation
Airtel and Jio. Activation reliable.
ATM / forex
SBI, HDFC, ICICI. All reliable for international cards.
The scam to watch for
Ahmedabad is relatively low on airport scams — the main thing to watch for is the prepaid counter being bypassed by touts who claim the counter is closed. The counter is open 24×7; walk to it directly.
After midnight
Prepaid and app cabs run 24×7. Very few flights land between 02:00 and 05:00 so the terminal can feel empty at those hours.
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