ARRIVAL PLAYBOOK · HYD · TELANGANA · REVIEWED JUN 2026
Arriving at Hyderabad.
Rajiv Gandhi 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
Single integrated terminal, handling both international and domestic. International arrivals exit on the left; domestic on the right. Signage is bilingual (Telugu + English) and clear.
Prepaid taxi counter
Meru and Mega Cabs run prepaid counters on the forecourt. Fare to Central Hyderabad (Banjara Hills / Secunderabad) is ₹700–900; to HITEC City ₹1,100–1,400 (the airport is 25km from HITEC). Mega Cabs has English-speaking drivers by default.
Uber / Ola pickup
Uber and Ola have forecourt pickup zones. Fares ₹650–950 to Banjara Hills. Rapido is allowed.
Metro / rail / bus
Pushpak airport liner buses run 24×7 to Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS), Jubilee Bus Station (JBS), and HITEC City. Fares ₹150–250. Hyderabad Metro does not directly connect to the airport.
SIM activation
Airtel, Jio, BSNL. Activation reliable in Hyderabad, usually under 2 hours.
ATM / forex
SBI, HDFC, ICICI on the forecourt. All accept international cards.
The scam to watch for
Fake 'hotel touts' offering cheap accommodation are the most frequent hassle. Hyderabad airport police are active and responsive — if someone is persistent, ask for a police officer.
After midnight
Pushpak buses and app cabs run 24×7. Prepaid counters close briefly 02:00–04:00 at some times of year — app cabs are the safer late-night bet.
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