India · DEL
Flights to Delhi
A long flight, an early arrival, and a season that decides the trip
Delhi is one of the longest flights an American traveller regularly takes, and almost every itinerary lands in the small hours. Planning the first eight hours on the ground matters more here than on most trips, because you will arrive tired at a time when very little is open.
Season matters more still. Delhi's weather varies more across the year than most destinations, and the winter months bring an air quality problem serious enough that it should influence when you go, not merely what you pack.
Getting to Delhi
Airports
Indira Gandhi International (DEL) sits southwest of the city. Terminal 3 handles international arrivals and is large and modern; T1 and T2 serve domestic traffic and are not connected airside, so a domestic connection means exiting and transferring by road or shuttle.
Flight time
Roughly 15h 5m non-stop from New York, around 15h 25m from Chicago, about 15h 55m from San Francisco, and near 16h 30m from Los Angeles. Many itineraries connect through a Gulf or European hub instead, which adds several hours.
Into the city
The Airport Express metro reaches New Delhi station in about 20 minutes and is the fastest option, though it does not run through the night. Prepaid taxi counters inside the terminal fix the fare before you get in, which is the sensible choice on a late arrival.
When to go
Demand rather than price is described here on purpose. Any fare we show you comes from a live search on your own dates, so a fixed figure on this page would be out of date before you read it.
Best conditions
Late October to March
Cool, dry and comfortable for walking, which is why this is the main visitor season. December and January mornings can be genuinely cold and fog occasionally disrupts early flights.
Hot and wet
April to September
Extreme heat through May and June, frequently above 40°C, followed by the monsoon from late June. Fewer visitors and lower demand, but sightseeing on foot becomes difficult.
Air quality caution
November to January
Delhi's air quality is at its worst in these months, often reaching levels considered hazardous. Travellers with respiratory or cardiac conditions should weigh this seriously and check current readings before committing to dates.
Good to know
- Currency
- Indian rupee (INR)
- Language
- Hindi and English; English is widely used for business and signage
- Time zone
- IST, UTC+5:30, with no daylight saving
- Power
- Types C, D and M, 230V
- Entry for US passports
- A visa is required, with an e-Visa available for many trip types. Apply well ahead and confirm current requirements with Indian immigration, as categories and processing times change.
Entry requirements change and we are not an immigration authority. Always confirm the current rules for your nationality with the relevant government before you book or travel.
Worth sorting before you fly
Book the first night from the day you depart
Arriving at 02:00 means your room must be reserved from the previous calendar date or you will not have one. This is the single most common and most miserable Delhi booking mistake.
A domestic connection is not airside
Terminal 3 does not connect airside to the domestic terminals. If your onward flight to Jaipur, Udaipur or Goa is on a separate ticket, you must clear immigration, collect bags and transfer by road. Allow several hours, not one.
Use the prepaid taxi counter on arrival
Fixing the fare inside the terminal before you walk out removes the negotiation at a time when you are least equipped for it. App-based rides work well too, but the pickup areas can be confusing on a first visit.
The half-day pattern works better than the full one
Old Delhi and New Delhi are very different in pace, and trying to combine both in one day is exhausting in any season. Splitting them across mornings, with the afternoon indoors, is how most people who enjoy the city structure it.
Other destinations
FAQ
Delhi — common questions
Airports, timing, and when it is worth talking to an agent.
When is the best time to visit Delhi?
Late October to March gives the most comfortable weather by a wide margin, with cool dry days suited to walking. The complication is that November to January is also when air quality is at its worst. If that is a concern for you, late February and March are the sweet spot: still pleasant, with the worst of the winter air behind.
How long is the flight from the US to Delhi?
Non-stop, roughly 15 hours from New York or Chicago, around 16 hours from San Francisco, and closer to 16 and a half from Los Angeles. Many travellers connect through a Gulf or European hub instead, which typically adds three to six hours in total but can open up more departure times and cabin options.
Do I need a visa to visit India?
Yes. US passport holders need a visa, and an e-Visa is available for many categories of travel. Requirements, categories and processing times do change, so apply well in advance and confirm the current position with Indian immigration directly rather than relying on any third-party summary, including this one.
Is a stopover worth it on the way to Delhi?
It often is, and it is one of the clearer reasons to compare itineraries carefully rather than sorting by price. Breaking a fifteen-hour journey in a Gulf or European hub can make the trip considerably more comfortable, and some routings allow a stopover of a day or more at little additional fare cost. Whether that is available depends on your dates and how the ticket is constructed.
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