Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) — Taxi Fare Guide
At Delhi Airport the safest options are the Delhi Police prepaid taxi counters and app-based cabs. At the prepaid counter (inside the terminal near arrivals) you pay a fixed fare in advance based on your destination and receive a receipt with the car number, which avoids haggling and meter disputes. Both non-AC and AC prepaid taxis are available, with AC costing more.
A prepaid taxi to Connaught Place / central Delhi typically runs ₹500-₹900 depending on car type, distance and night charges; a 25% night surcharge applies roughly 11pm-5am, and there is a small per-bag luggage charge. App-based rides via Uber and Ola are usually the cheapest and most transparent option, booked from the designated pickup zone, though fares surge in peak hours and bad weather.
For budget travellers, the Delhi Airport Metro Express links Terminal 3 to New Delhi station in about 20 minutes for a fraction of the taxi cost. Avoid unofficial "limousine" or private touts who approach you in the arrivals hall; stick to the prepaid counter or your ride-hailing app.
| Destination | Approx. fare | Time |
| Connaught Place / New Delhi | ₹500-₹900 | 30-45 min |
| Karol Bagh / Paharganj | ₹500-₹800 | 30-45 min |
| South Delhi (Saket/Hauz Khas) | ₹450-₹700 | 25-40 min |
| Gurugram (Gurgaon) | ₹600-₹900 | 30-50 min |
Practical tips: Use only the official Delhi Police prepaid booth or a licensed app, keep the prepaid slip until you arrive, and confirm whether night and luggage charges are included. Carry some cash, as not all drivers accept cards for prepaid trips.
Other ways to the city
Delhi has genuinely good airport rail links, and in heavy traffic the metro is often faster than any car. Your main alternatives to a taxi are:
- Delhi Metro Airport Express (Orange Line) - runs from Terminal 3 to New Delhi railway station in about 20 minutes, via Dhaula Kuan and Shivaji Stadium. Trains every 10-15 minutes, fare roughly INR 60-70. At New Delhi you connect to the Yellow and Blue lines.
- Magenta Line from Terminal 1 - the Terminal 1-IGI Airport station serves the domestic terminal and links to Hauz Khas and Botanical Garden in Noida. Fares are typically INR 20-50.
- Free inter-terminal shuttle - a complimentary bus connects T1, T2 and T3 for passengers with a boarding pass or ticket; allow about 20 minutes between terminals.
- DTC and Cluster city buses - services from the airport to ISBT Kashmere Gate and other hubs cost only INR 25-50 but are slow and crowded, best if you have little luggage.
- Airport coaches to Gurugram and Noida - scheduled shuttle coaches serve the satellite business districts for roughly INR 100-200.
If you land after midnight, note the Airport Express does not run all night - a prepaid taxi or app cab is the practical choice then.
Delhi — Highlights in photos
Fares are researched from official and public sources and are approximate — always confirm the meter or fixed fare before you travel.