1Qutb Minar Complex
UNESCO site closest to the airport — 12th-century minaret in a garden. Open from sunrise, INR 40.
Photo: Syed Sajidul Islam, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Indira Gandhi Airport (DEL) · India
3-Hour Layover in Delhi: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 3-hour layover in Delhi?
Entry
India e-Visa required for most nationalities — apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in at least 4 days before travel. Available for 180+ nationalities. Some nationalities (Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives) visa-free.
Into town
Delhi Metro (Airport Express Line).
Time outside
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
Times from DEL arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Delhi: Where to Go
The sights in Delhi worth leaving the airport for.
1
2Chandni Chowk & Red Fort
Mughal-era bazaar street — paratha alley (Gali Paranthe Wali) is the most photographed food street in India.
Photo: Goutam1962, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
3Lodhi Garden
Free 15th-century tombs in a green park. Popular with Delhi's morning joggers — peaceful and very photogenic.
Photo: Tarun Kumar Sambhariya, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Itinerary ideas for Delhi
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
3 hours
You are here3 hours in Delhi
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
Insider tip
IGI has three terminals — T1 (domestic budget), T2 (not in use), T3 (international + Air India domestic). Confirm your terminal — T1 is 4km from T3.
Into Delhi
Getting to Delhi City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi Metro (Airport Express Line) | $2 | 20 min to New Delhi station |
| Taxi / Ola | $8–15 | 30–60 min |
Photo: Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Eat Like a Local in Delhi
Chole bhature at Sitaram Diwan Chand in Paharganj — Delhi's most famous breakfast, INR 100. Opens at 8am.
3 hours in Delhi
3-Hour Itinerary
1
0–30 min
Stay airside and find your departure area
With 3 hours, leaving Indira Gandhi Airport is risky: passport control, the trip into Delhi and security on the way back take most of the time.
2
30–120 min
Eat, rest or use a lounge airside
Check the departures board for your gate before you settle in.
3
120–180 min
Go to your gate
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 3-hour layover in Delhi?
India e-Visa required for most nationalities — apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in at least 4 days before travel. Available for 180+ nationalities. Some nationalities (Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives) visa-free. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 3 hours enough to leave Indira Gandhi Airport?
Stay airside — 3h is too tight.
How do I get from Indira Gandhi Airport to Delhi centre?
Delhi Metro (Airport Express Line). Taxi / Ola.
Getting out of Indira Gandhi Airport
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Trains & buses from Delhi
Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.
Planning a longer stay in Delhi?
Read our full destination guide — hotels, attractions, visa tips, and more.
Delhi Destination Guide →Also useful for your Delhi trip
Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills
Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.
Airlines that fly to Delhi
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from DEL.
Air India route mapAir India Express route mapAlliance Air route mapIndiGo route mapSpiceJet route mapAeroflot route mapAir Arabia route mapAir Astana route mapAir Canada route mapAir France route mapAir Mauritius route mapAir Seychelles route mapAirAsia route mapAirAsia X route mapAkasa Air route mapAll Nippon Airways route mapAll Nippon Airways route mapAmerican Airlines route map
Airport lounges at Indira Gandhi Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Delhi travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Delhi works
01
Check you can leave
India e-Visa required for most nationalities — apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in at least 4 days before travel. Available for 180+ nationalities. Some nationalities (Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives) visa-free.
03
Back in time for your flight
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Ready for Delhi?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.