Delhi (New Delhi) Airport — Airport Express Metro (Orange Line)
Indira Gandhi International (DEL) to Delhi — Updated 2026
The Delhi Airport Express Metro (Orange Line) is one of India's most convenient airport rail links: a direct 20-minute run from Delhi Airport Terminal 3 to New Delhi Railway Station for just INR 60 (~$0.75). Trains run every 10 minutes from 04:45 to 23:30 daily. From New Delhi Railway Station, you can transfer to the main Delhi Metro network (Yellow Line, Blue Line, etc.) for the rest of the city, or walk into the station for long-distance trains across India. Airport Express also has intermediate stops at Aerocity (Airport hotels), Delhi Aerocity Metro (Dwarka Sector 21), Dhaula Kuan (South Delhi), and Shivaji Stadium. Terminal 3 is the only terminal with direct Airport Express access — for Terminals 1 (mostly IndiGo + SpiceJet domestic), take the free shuttle to T3 first (10-15 min). The Airport Express is especially valuable because Delhi taxi scams targeting arriving foreign tourists are notorious — Metro bypasses this entirely for a fixed price.
Airport Express Metro (Orange Line) stops
| Station / Stop | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DEL T3 Airport Station | 0 min | Directly connected to Terminal 3 arrivals |
| Aerocity | ~5 min | Airport hotel district (Hilton, Novotel, Ibis, JW Marriott) |
| Dhaula Kuan | ~10 min | South Delhi transit hub |
| Shivaji Stadium | ~15 min | Connaught Place area |
| New Delhi Railway Station | ~20 min | Main railway station + Yellow Line Metro transfer |
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Airport Express Metro (Orange Line) vs alternatives
| Option | Cost | Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Express Metro | INR 60 (~$0.75) | 20 min | Fastest + safest + cheapest. |
| Uber / Ola | INR 300-700 | 30-90 min | Book from designated Uber/Ola zone. |
| Prepaid taxi (arrivals counter) | INR 500-900 | 30-90 min | Fixed price + safe alternative to Metro. |
| Airport bus | INR 25-100 | 45-90 min | Cheap but slow. DTC/AC buses. |
| Private transfer | INR 1500-2500 | 30-90 min | Late arrivals + families. |
FAQ
Which Delhi terminal has Airport Express Metro?+
Terminal 3 (international + full-service domestic — Air India, Vistara, most international carriers). Terminals 1A / 1D / 1C (mostly IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa domestic) DON'T have direct Metro — take the free 24/7 shuttle bus to T3 first (10-15 min).
Airport Express to Connaught Place?+
Airport Express to Shivaji Stadium station (15 min, INR 60), then 5-10 min walk to central Connaught Place. Or continue one more stop to New Delhi Railway Station, transfer to Yellow Line to Rajiv Chowk (2 min, INR 20) — the CP heart. Total 25-30 min from airport for INR 80.
Is Delhi Airport Metro safe for tourists at night?+
Yes. Airport Express operates 04:45 to 23:30 with dedicated CCTV + security. Delhi Metro (including transfers at New Delhi Station) is one of India's safest urban systems for foreign tourists. Compare with Delhi taxi scams (notorious: "your hotel is closed, let me take you to alternative"), Metro is dramatically safer.
Metro from Delhi Airport to Old Delhi (Chandni Chowk)?+
Airport Express to New Delhi Railway Station (20 min), transfer to Yellow Line to Chandni Chowk (2 stops, 5 min). Total 30 min for INR 80. Or Yellow Line further to Kashmere Gate for Red Fort area. Much faster than taxi through Old Delhi traffic.
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