A spacious airport terminal with travellers waiting by the windows

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) · India

24-Hour Layover in Ahmedabad: What To Do

By AirConnect Editorial

Things to do in Ahmedabad

Tours, tickets & day trips

Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.

Quick answer

Can you leave the airport on a 24-hour layover in Ahmedabad?

Entry

India e-Visa required for most nationalities — apply online 30 days ahead. Or Visa on Arrival for some countries (Japan, South Korea, UAE). Tourist e-Visa is easy but not last-minute.

Into town

Ola/Uber cab: 25-45 min, ₹300-600 (USD 3.60-7.20).

Time outside

18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip

Times from AMD arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.

Top Ahmedabad: Where to Go

The sights in Ahmedabad worth leaving the airport for.

Sabarmati Ashram (Gandhi Ashram) (Sabarmati Ashram)1

Sabarmati Ashram (Gandhi Ashram)

Mahatma Gandhi's ashram + Salt March start. Free. Riverside setting. 90 min visit. Historical significance.

Photo: Umar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

landmark

Sidi Saiyyed Mosque + Adalaj Stepwell

Iconic Indo-Islamic 1573 stone-lattice mosque + 15th-century stepwell architecture. Combined half-day.

market

Manek Chowk (old city market)

Historic old-city market + street food. UNESCO-listed old Ahmedabad. Best evenings. Free.

Itinerary ideas for Ahmedabad

Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.

Insider tip

AMD is 10km NE of Ahmedabad — one of India's shorter airport-to-city transfers. Uber/Ola is the tourist standard (₹300-600). Ahmedabad is Gujarat's commercial capital + UNESCO Old City (2017 designation). Gujarat is 100% VEGETARIAN state at government level — no beef, no alcohol in public. For 6h layovers: Gandhi Ashram + Manek Chowk street food. Note: Ahmedabad summer (Apr-Jun) hits 45°C+; October-March best visit.

Into Ahmedabad

Getting to Ahmedabad City Centre

ModeCostTime
Ola/Uber cab₹300-600 (USD 3.60-7.20)25-45 min
Prepaid airport taxi₹500-800 (USD 6-10)25-45 min
BRTS + city bus (AMTS)₹15-40 (~USD 0.20-0.50)45-75 min
Auto-rickshaw (negotiate)₹250-40035-55 min
Eat like a local

Eat Like a Local in Ahmedabad

Gujarati thali (unlimited veg platter — Ahmedabad specialty). Dhokla (steamed chickpea). Fafda. Khaman. Undhiyu (mixed veg). Locho. Handvo. Gujarati sweets (mohanthal, penda).

24 hours in Ahmedabad

24-Hour Itinerary

1

Day 1 — Arrival

Into Ahmedabad and check in to your hotel

Take Ola/Uber cab (25-45 min, ₹300-600 (USD 3.60-7.20)). Most hotels hold bags before check-in.

2

Day 1 — Afternoon

Sabarmati Ashram (Gandhi Ashram)

Mahatma Gandhi's ashram + Salt March start. Free. Riverside setting. 90 min visit. Historical significance.

3

Day 1 — Evening

Dinner like a local

Gujarati thali (unlimited veg platter — Ahmedabad specialty). Dhokla (steamed chickpea). Fafda. Khaman. Undhiyu (mixed veg). Locho. Handvo. Gujarati sweets (mohanthal, penda).

4

Day 2 — Morning

Sidi Saiyyed Mosque + Adalaj Stepwell

Iconic Indo-Islamic 1573 stone-lattice mosque + 15th-century stepwell architecture. Combined half-day.

5

Day 2 — Late morning

Manek Chowk (old city market)

Historic old-city market + street food. UNESCO-listed old Ahmedabad. Best evenings. Free.

6

Day 2 — Departure

Back to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport

Head back to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport by Ola/Uber cab (25-45 min, ₹300-600 (USD 3.60-7.20)). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.

Your questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa for a 24-hour layover in Ahmedabad?

India e-Visa required for most nationalities — apply online 30 days ahead. Or Visa on Arrival for some countries (Japan, South Korea, UAE). Tourist e-Visa is easy but not last-minute. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.

Is 24 hours enough to leave Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport?

18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip. Getting into Ahmedabad by Ola/Uber cab takes 25-45 min each way.

How do I get from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to Ahmedabad centre?

Ola/Uber cab: 25-45 min, ₹300-600 (USD 3.60-7.20). Prepaid airport taxi: 25-45 min, ₹500-800 (USD 6-10). BRTS + city bus (AMTS): 45-75 min, ₹15-40 (~USD 0.20-0.50). Auto-rickshaw (negotiate): 35-55 min, ₹250-400.

Trains & buses from Ahmedabad

Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.

A made-up hotel bed with white pillows and warm bedside lamps

Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels.

Hotels near Ahmedabad Airport

With 24 hours, a day-use hotel room is worth it — shower, sleep, and recharge before your next flight.

Find hotels in Ahmedabad

Hotels, hostels & more · Trip.com

Search hotels

Also useful for your Ahmedabad trip

Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills

Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.

Get eSIM

Airlines that fly to Ahmedabad

See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from AMD.

Airport lounges at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport

Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.

Ahmedabad travel deals

Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.

How a layover in Ahmedabad works

Passport and a phone with a booking on a red suitcase

01

Check you can leave

India e-Visa required for most nationalities — apply online 30 days ahead. Or Visa on Arrival for some countries (Japan, South Korea, UAE). Tourist e-Visa is easy but not last-minute.

Photo: Jacob on Pexels.

A car on a country road heading towards the mountains

02

Head into town

Ola/Uber cab: 25-45 min, ₹300-600 (USD 3.60-7.20).

Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.

03

Back in time for your flight

Head back to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport by Ola/Uber cab (25-45 min, ₹300-600 (USD 3.60-7.20)). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.

Ready for Ahmedabad?

Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.