DEL · Delhi
Arriving at Delhi
Indira 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
Terminal 3 handles all international arrivals. Exit the customs hall, follow signs to the forecourt. Domestic arrivals at T1 and T2 are connected to T3 by the inter-terminal shuttle (free, every 20 minutes).
Prepaid taxi counter
Delhi Traffic Police runs a prepaid taxi kiosk immediately outside the arrivals exit — it is the official one, it is open 24×7, and the rate sheet is printed on the wall. Typical fare to Connaught Place / Paharganj is ₹600–700; to South Delhi (Hauz Khas, Saket) ₹800–1,000. Insist on the printed receipt.
Uber / Ola pickup
Uber and Ola have dedicated pickup zones on the forecourt at Gate 4 and Gate 5. Expect ₹500–800 to Central Delhi (UberGo / Ola Mini), ₹1,200+ for Uber Premier. Surge pricing is normal between 22:00 and 02:00 when flights cluster.
Metro / rail / bus
Airport Express Metro line runs T3 to New Delhi Railway Station in 20 minutes, ₹60 flat fare. Runs 04:45–23:30. The station is underneath the terminal, well-signed.
SIM activation
Airtel, Jio, and Vi counters are in the arrivals hall near baggage claim. A passport + arrival stamp is enough for a tourist SIM (no Indian address required). Activation takes 30 minutes to 2 hours. Cost ~₹500 for a visitor SIM with 2GB/day.
ATM / forex
SBI, HDFC, and Axis ATMs are on the forecourt. All accept Visa/Mastercard international cards. Withdrawal cap is ₹10,000–20,000 per transaction. SBI is the cheapest for international fee.
The scam to watch for
The oldest Delhi arrival scam: a stranger in the arrivals hall or car park says your hotel 'has burned down' / 'is overbooked' and offers to call the owner, who then confirms. Never let a stranger make calls on your behalf. Use your own phone, or the prepaid counter.
After midnight
Prepaid counter runs 24×7. Airport Express metro shuts at 23:30 and restarts at 04:45 — if your flight lands between those hours and you want the metro, wait in the airside lounges or the 24-hour Costa Coffee on the departures level.