Delhi Airport to the City

Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is about 16 km south-west of Connaught Place, and the choice of transport into the city depends on the terminal and the hour. The Airport Express Line takes about 20 minutes from Terminal 3 to New Delhi railway station for ₹60, a prepaid taxi costs around ₹400 to ₹600 and takes 30 to 60 minutes by road, and the app cab fares fall between the two. This guide covers the metro from each terminal, the prepaid and app taxis, the buses and the arrangements after the last train, as of September 2026.

The Airport Express Line from Terminal 3

The Airport Express Line, the Orange Line of Delhi Metro, has its airport station on the lower level of Terminal 3, reached by lifts and escalators from the arrivals hall; Terminal 2 passengers walk a few hundred metres to the same station. Trains run from 4:45 am to about 11:30 pm every 10 to 15 minutes, calling at Delhi Aerocity (the hotel district), Dhaula Kuan, Shivaji Stadium and New Delhi railway station in about 20 minutes, where the Yellow Line and the trains to Agra and the rest of the country connect. In the other direction the line runs to Dwarka Sector 21, for the Blue Line, and Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25, the convention centre. Fares are ₹10 to ₹60 depending on distance, paid by smart card, QR code from the ticket machines in the T3 and T2 arrivals halls, or an ordinary bank card at the gates. The trains carry luggage racks and the platforms have lifts, so the line works with suitcases.

The Magenta Line from Terminal 1

Terminal 1, the domestic terminal for IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa, has its own station, Terminal 1-IGI Airport on the Magenta Line, joined to the terminal by a covered 300 to 400 m walkway with travelators. Trains run from about 5:30 am to 11:30 pm every 5 minutes between Janakpuri West and Botanical Garden, with interchanges to the Yellow Line at Hauz Khas for Connaught Place and to the Blue Line at Janakpuri West and Botanical Garden. The Magenta Line does not reach Terminal 3; the terminal guide covers the free inter-terminal shuttle and the road transfer.

Prepaid and app taxis

Every terminal has prepaid taxi counters in the arrivals hall, run by the Delhi Police and by private operators; pay the fixed fare at the counter, keep the slip and hand it to the driver at the destination. Expect roughly ₹400 to ₹600 to Connaught Place and more at night, in a white-and-blue or black-and-yellow taxi or an air-conditioned car. Uber and Ola have marked pickup points: at Terminal 3 in the Multi-Level Car Park at Level 0, reached by a short walk from arrivals, and at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 outside the arrivals halls; Rapido is licensed at Terminal 1 and Evera runs electric taxis from Terminal 3. Fares are similar to the prepaid counters with surge pricing at peak hours. The road journey takes 30 minutes at night and up to an hour in the evening rush.

Buses

Delhi Transport Corporation air-conditioned buses run from Terminal 3 and Terminal 1 to the Inter State Bus Terminal at Kashmere Gate via Connaught Place, and to other city termini, for about ₹50 to ₹100; they are the cheapest option but slow, and they stop at the terminals rather than in the terminals, so ask at the information desk for the current stand.

After the last train

Between 11:30 pm and 4:45 am the only ways into the city are the prepaid counters and the app cabs, which run all night. Passengers landing late and flying early often stay in Aerocity instead: the JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity, the ibis New Delhi Aerocity and nine other hotels are one metro stop or a 5 to 10 minute cab ride from Terminal 3, and the Holiday Inn Express New Delhi International Airport T3 is inside the terminal for passengers departing from T3 within 24 hours. The hotel transfers guide explains how to reach each of them, and the Gurugram guide covers the business district south of the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way from Delhi Airport to the city centre?

The Airport Express Line (Orange Line) from Terminal 3 reaches New Delhi railway station in about 20 minutes for ₹60, with trains every 10 to 15 minutes from 4:45 am to about 11:30 pm. From Terminal 1, the Magenta Line station is joined to the terminal by a covered walkway.

How much is a taxi from Delhi Airport to Connaught Place?

A prepaid taxi from the counters in the arrivals halls costs roughly ₹400 to ₹600 to Connaught Place, more at night; Uber and Ola quote similar fares from the app pickup points. Pay at the counter, keep the slip and hand it to the driver at the destination.

Does the metro run all night from Delhi Airport?

No. The Airport Express Line runs from about 4:45 am to 11:15 pm from Dwarka Sector 21 and 11:30 pm from New Delhi, and the Magenta Line from about 5:30 am to 11:30 pm. Between those hours a prepaid taxi or an app cab is the only option, apart from the hotels in Aerocity a few minutes away.

Information last verified: September 26, 2026