Delhi · India
DEL — Indira Gandhi International
Three terminals with no airside link between the two busiest
Indira Gandhi International is the busiest airport in India and handles both a large domestic network and most of the country's long-haul traffic. Its layout carries one significant trap: Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 are separate buildings with no connection behind security, so a transfer between them means exiting the airport entirely.
The airport itself is modern and well run. The two things worth planning around are that terminal split and Delhi's winter, when fog regularly closes the airport for hours at a time.
Terminals and how they connect
Terminal 3
The large modern terminal handling all international flights and a substantial share of domestic ones. Connected to the Metro and to the city's main road links.
Terminal 1
Primarily domestic and lower-cost traffic, several kilometres from Terminal 3. There is no secure connection to T3, so any transfer between them involves collecting bags, taking a shuttle or taxi and checking in again.
Terminal 2
An additional domestic terminal next to Terminal 1, used to absorb overflow. Its status has changed several times, so confirm which terminal your domestic flight actually uses close to departure.
Getting into Delhi
Times below are realistic ranges rather than best cases. Rail journeys keep to a timetable; road journeys do not, and treating the two the same is how people miss flights.
Airport Metro Express
20 minutes to New Delhi station
The Orange Line from Terminal 3 runs to New Delhi railway station, connecting into the wider Metro network. Fast, air-conditioned, cheap and easily the best way in. It does not run through the night.
Prepaid taxi
30 to 75 minutes
Booked at official counters inside arrivals for a fixed fare, which avoids negotiation. The safest road option, particularly for a first visit or a late arrival.
Ride-hailing
30 to 75 minutes
Widely used, with designated pickup zones outside the terminals. Cheap, though matching driver to pickup point at a busy terminal can be frustrating without a local phone connection.
Metro plus onward connection
40 to 70 minutes
The Orange Line connects into Delhi's broader Metro system, which is extensive and inexpensive. Good for most of the city, less so with large luggage at peak times.
Connecting through DEL
Within Terminal 3, connections are well handled and there is a dedicated transfer area for international-to-domestic passengers, which avoids a full exit. The case to plan carefully is a Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 pairing, because there is no airside connection at all: you clear immigration where relevant, collect your bags, travel between buildings by shuttle or road, and check in from scratch. Three hours is a sensible allowance for that, and it is a common combination on separately booked domestic-plus-international itineraries.
Worth knowing before you fly
Winter fog is a real scheduling risk
From late December through January, dense morning fog regularly reduces visibility below operating minimums and delays or diverts flights for hours. If you are travelling in that window, an afternoon departure and a generous connection are worth more than any other precaution.
You may need your ticket to enter the terminal
Access to Indian airport terminals is controlled at the door, and you will typically be asked to show a booking or boarding pass with photo identification before you can go in. Have it accessible rather than buried in a bag.
Confirm your domestic terminal shortly before you fly
Domestic operations have shifted between Terminals 1, 2 and 3 more than once. Because there is no airside link, arriving at the wrong one is expensive in time rather than merely inconvenient.
Terminal assignments, transit timetables and fares all change. Confirm the details that matter to your trip with the airport or transport operator before you travel.
Routes through DEL
Flying to Delhi
FAQ
DEL — common questions
Terminals, transfers and getting into the city.
How do you get from Delhi airport into the city?
The Airport Metro Express from Terminal 3 reaches New Delhi railway station in about 20 minutes and connects into the wider Metro network — fast, cheap and air-conditioned, and the best option for most arrivals. It does not run overnight. Prepaid taxis booked at official counters inside arrivals give you a fixed fare and are the safest road option, taking 30 to 75 minutes depending on traffic. Ride-hailing is cheaper still and widely used.
Can you transfer between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 at Delhi?
Only by leaving the airport. There is no connection behind security between them — they are separate buildings several kilometres apart. You collect your bags, travel between terminals by shuttle bus or road, and check in and clear security again. Allow around three hours for a connection structured this way, and be aware it is a common pattern when a domestic low-cost flight is booked separately from an international one.
Is Delhi airport affected by fog?
Yes, significantly. Dense fog in late December and January regularly pushes visibility below operating minimums, causing long delays, diversions and cancellations, often in the early morning. If your travel falls in that window, favour later departures, avoid tight connections and understand your fare's flexibility before booking rather than after a disruption.
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