Delhi Airport (DEL) Guide

Before security

• Entry: a printed or mobile boarding pass/ticket and photo ID are checked at terminal entry gates (standard at Indian airports).
• Digi Yatra: the face-recognition fast lane is live at T1, T2 and T3 — register in the app to skip document checks at entry and boarding.
• Bag wrapping & porters are available in the departures forecourt at T3.

Gates & walking time

• T3 is enormous: international gates can be a 15–20 minute walk from security — don’t linger too long in duty-free.
• Gate assignments appear on screens after security and can change; re-check boards rather than relying on the boarding pass print.
• T1 note: seating near some gates is tight during the 6–9 AM rush — arrive with buffer but expect a busy pier.

In the arrivals hall (T3)

• SIM cards: Airtel and Jio kiosks in international arrivals — bring your passport and a photo.
• Left luggage: a facility at T3 stores bags for hours or days.
• Prepaid taxi & ride-hailing pickup counters are signposted from the exit.

Meeting someone?

• Greeters wait outside the exit doors — visitors can’t enter the terminal without a ticket (or a paid visitor entry pass where offered).
• For pickups by car, the arrivals lane has a short free grace window (about 10–15 minutes); for longer waits use the multi-level car park.

Indian citizens

• Immigration applies to international trips only — carry your passport, boarding pass, and any visa for your destination.
• Fast Track Immigration (FTI-TTP) e-gates at T3 let registered Indian citizens clear immigration in seconds — enrol online in advance.
• Returning residents get a duty-free allowance (general goods up to a rupee limit, plus limited alcohol and tobacco) — check current CBIC limits before shopping abroad.

OCI holders & PRs abroad

• OCI card holders use the visa-free entry line with a valid foreign passport + OCI card; FTI-TTP fast-track is open to OCI holders too.
• Indian-origin travellers holding foreign PR (e.g. US green card) but not OCI need a visa/e-visa like other foreign nationals.

Foreign nationals

• e-Visa holders: follow the dedicated e-Visa counters at T3 immigration — have the printed ETA approval ready.
• Regular visas use the standard foreigner queues; fill the arrival card handed out on the plane or at the hall.
• Customs: green channel if nothing to declare; currency above prescribed limits (foreign cash beyond ~US$5,000, or higher total instruments) must be declared.

Lounges

• Encalm Privé (T3 domestic) — widely rated among India’s best domestic lounges: live food counters, bar, sleeping pods. Access via Priority Pass and bank card programmes.
• Air India Maharaja Lounge (T3 international) — new 16,000 sq ft flagship opened Feb 2026, for AI business class and Star Alliance Gold.
• Plaza Premium (T3 international) — pay-per-use or card access, showers available.
• Card access note: lounge access programmes changed in late 2025 — many banks moved to direct lounge partnerships, so confirm your card’s current programme before relying on it.

ATMs & forex

• ATMs from major banks are in all terminals, both landside and airside (T1 has fewer — HDFC and ICICI machines).
• Currency exchange counters operate 24/7 at T3 (arrivals and departures) — airport rates carry a premium, so exchange only what you need and compare with card/ATM rates.
• India is heavily UPI-based; foreign visitors can get prepaid UPI access at some kiosks, but a working card + small cash reserve covers most needs.

Shopping

T3’s international side has a large duty-free plus branded retail, Indian crafts and last-minute gift options. T1 and T2 have a modest selection of convenience retail. Duty-free is for international passengers only.

Food

T3 ranges from Indian thalis to global fast food and 24/7 coffee; T1 has a functional food court (Burger King, Starbucks, Subway and local counters — budget ₹200–500 for a light meal). Pre-security outlets are generally cheaper — eat before you clear security if time allows.

Restrooms & essentials

Restrooms are frequent and well-signed in all terminals, with accessible facilities throughout. T3 also has showers (in lounges), a spa, pharmacies, medical centre, child-care rooms and free (time-limited) Wi-Fi — an Indian mobile number helps for the SMS code; international travellers can use the Wi-Fi kiosks with a passport.

T2 ⇄ T3

Adjacent buildings — use the covered walkway connecting the arrivals areas (elevators up to departures), or the shuttle. Buggies available for reduced-mobility passengers.

T1 ⇄ T2/T3

~7–8 km by road, no walkway. Free inter-terminal shuttle buses run frequently (roughly every 10–20 minutes) — show your boarding pass. Allow 30–45 minutes for the full transfer including waiting.

Connecting flights

International→domestic: even with through-checked bags you clear immigration and customs at T3 first — keep at least 3 hours. Air India group passengers with onward boarding passes get assisted inter-terminal transfers with airside baggage handling on eligible connections.

Metro (fastest)

• Airport Express Line: T3 to New Delhi Railway Station in ~20 minutes (₹60–100). City check-in with bag drop is available at NDLS station for select airlines up to 6 hours pre-departure.
• T1: served by the Magenta Line’s own station.
• Metro baggage limit: ~25 kg in two pieces, size limits apply on the larger piece.

Taxi & ride-hailing

• Uber/Ola pick up from designated zones at each terminal — follow the signs.
• Prepaid taxi counters (fixed fare, pay inside) are the classic scam-proof option at arrivals.
• City centre by cab: ~30–55 minutes off-peak, 45–90 in rush hour.

Bus & car

• DTC and airport coach services connect the terminals with major hubs like ISBT and Gurugram.
• Parking: multi-level lots at T1 and T3; rates start around ₹150–300/hour with daily passes — private off-airport lots run cheaper for multi-day stays.

Under 30 min away

• Qutub Minar — UNESCO-listed 12th-century minaret, ~20–30 min from T3.
• Worldmark Aerocity — dining/retail complex right by the airport, ideal for short gaps.
• Sanjay Van & Mehrauli Archaeological Park — quiet ruins and greenery near Qutub.

Worth it with 5–6+ hours

• Humayun’s Tomb — the Mughal masterpiece that inspired the Taj Mahal.
• India Gate & Rajpath — Delhi’s ceremonial heart.
• Red Fort & Chandni Chowk — Old Delhi’s fort and legendary food streets (allow extra time for traffic).

Closest to the airport

• Chhatarpur Temple — vast marble temple complex dedicated to Goddess Katyayani, ~25 min away.
• ISKCON Temple (Sant Nagar) — Krishna temple with a popular vegetarian restaurant.

Delhi’s icons

• Lotus Temple — the flower-shaped Bahá’í house of worship, open to all faiths.
• Akshardham — monumental Hindu temple complex (note: cameras/phones are not allowed inside).
• Gurudwara Bangla Sahib — serene Sikh gurudwara with a golden dome and community kitchen.
• Jama Masjid — one of India’s largest mosques, in Old Delhi.
• Sacred Heart Cathedral — Delhi’s principal Catholic church, near Connaught Place.

Lost something at the airport?

• Terminal lost & found desks (24/7, with a daily 9:00–10:30 AM closure): T1: +91 96504 95769 · T2: +91 96674 00962 · T3: +91 99580 98651
• Email [email protected] with a description, where/when lost, and your contact details. Main office: T2 Departure level, near Gate 1.
• Items are held ~90 days (passports/IDs shorter); collection needs photo ID and proof of travel — the service is free.
• Left something on the plane? That goes to your airline, not the airport — contact the airline directly.
• Airport call centre: +91 124 479 7300.

Airline customer service

Use only the contact details on airlines’ official websites — fake “customer care numbers” planted in search results are a common scam in India:

• Air India — airindia.com → Contact Us
• IndiGo — goindigo.in → Contact Us (24/7 chat in-app)
• SpiceJet — spicejet.com → Contact Us
• Akasa Air — akasaair.com → Support
• For international carriers, check the contact page of the airline’s own site or ask at their T3 ticketing counters (departures level).

At the airport

All terminals have 24/7 medical rooms with doctors and ambulances — ask any airport staff member or CISF officer for the nearest medical centre. India’s all-in-one emergency number is 112 (ambulance also via 102/108).

Major hospitals within ~30 min

• Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj — full-service private hospital, ~20 min.
• Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, Vasant Kunj — trauma/orthopaedic speciality, ~20 min.
• Manipal Hospital, Dwarka — large multi-speciality, ~20–25 min.
• Medanta – The Medicity, Gurugram — one of India’s biggest private hospitals, ~25–35 min via the expressway.

In Chanakyapuri

Embassy of the United States, British High Commission (UK), High Commissions of Canada and Australia, embassies of Germany, France, Japan, China, Russia, and most others sit within the same few streets around Shantipath.

Before you go

• Nearly all missions require an appointment — check the embassy’s official website first; walk-ins are usually only for citizen emergencies.
• Most consular sections work weekday mornings only.
• For a lost passport you’ll typically also need a police report (an e-FIR can be filed online with Delhi Police).

Physical stores

• 24Seven and similar convenience stores — round-the-clock basics; several around Aerocity and Mahipalpur.
• Mahipalpur market (5–10 min from Aerocity) — pharmacies, snacks, SIM top-ups, and everyday supplies at local prices.
• Vasant Kunj malls (~15–20 min) — full supermarkets and department stores for bigger shops.

The Indian shortcut: delivery apps

If you’re staying at an Aerocity hotel, quick-commerce apps — Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart — deliver groceries, toiletries, chargers, and medicine to the lobby in 10–30 minutes. They need an Indian address pin and typically work with international cards or UPI. Often easier than going out.

Worldmark Aerocity

The dining-and-retail complex a few minutes from T3 — dozens of restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars in one walkable block, open late. The easiest “real meal” near the airport, no hotel required.

Hotel dining & bars

Aerocity’s hotels welcome non-guests: AnnaMaya (the food-hall restaurant at Andaz) and the JW Marriott’s restaurants and bar are the standouts for a special meal or a proper cocktail before a late flight.

Budget eats

Mahipalpur, the local neighbourhood across the highway, is lined with dhabas and small restaurants serving honest North Indian food at a fraction of Aerocity prices.