1Victoria Memorial
Marble Edwardian-era memorial to Queen Victoria (1921). Iconic Kolkata symbol. INR 30 garden + INR 200 museum. 2 hours.
Photo: Subhrajyoti07, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport (CCU) · India
24-Hour Layover in Kolkata: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 24-hour layover in Kolkata?
Entry
Same India rules as Chennai — e-visa USD 25-100. Note: Kolkata airport processes more domestic than international flights — confirm terminal at booking.
Into town
Pre-paid taxi (rank outside): 40–60 min, INR 500–800 (€5.50–9).
Time outside
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip
Times from CCU arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Kolkata: Where to Go
The sights in Kolkata worth leaving the airport for.
1
2Howrah Bridge + Mullick Ghat
Iconic 1942 cantilever bridge over the Hooghly River. Mullick Ghat flower market beneath the bridge is most-atmospheric Kolkata photo. Free walking.
Photo: Apoorva Karlekar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
3Indian Museum
India's oldest (1814) + largest museum. Egyptian mummy + Buddhist art + natural history. INR 500. 2-3 hours.
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
neighbourhood
Park Street + Tagore's House
Kolkata's hipster street + the poet Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home (Jorasanko Thakur Bari, INR 250). Christmas lights in December are iconic.
Itinerary ideas for Kolkata
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
24 hours
You are here24 hours in Kolkata
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip
Insider tip
CCU is 17km from centre — Ola + Uber are the cheapest reliable options (INR 350-650 / €4-7). Kolkata traffic is the worst in India — allow 60+ min always. The Metro is cheap + air-conditioned but doesn't reach the airport directly.
Into Kolkata
Getting to Kolkata City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-paid taxi (rank outside) | INR 500–800 (€5.50–9) | 40–60 min |
| Ola / Uber | INR 350–650 (€4–7) | 40–60 min |
| Bus + Metro (cheapest) | INR 50–80 (€0.55–0.90) | 90+ min |
Eat like a local
Eat Like a Local in Kolkata
Roshogolla (Bengali sweet) at K.C. Das (the original, since 1868). Mishti doi (sweet yogurt) at Mihijam. Bhetki fry + biryani at Arsalan. Mughlai paratha at any street stall.
24 hours in Kolkata
24-Hour Itinerary
1
Day 1 — Arrival
Into Kolkata and check in to your hotel
Take Pre-paid taxi (rank outside) (40–60 min, INR 500–800 (€5.50–9)). Most hotels hold bags before check-in.
2
Day 1 — Afternoon
Victoria Memorial
Marble Edwardian-era memorial to Queen Victoria (1921). Iconic Kolkata symbol. INR 30 garden + INR 200 museum. 2 hours.
3
Day 1 — Evening
Dinner like a local
Roshogolla (Bengali sweet) at K.C. Das (the original, since 1868). Mishti doi (sweet yogurt) at Mihijam. Bhetki fry + biryani at Arsalan. Mughlai paratha at any street stall.
4
Day 2 — Morning
Howrah Bridge + Mullick Ghat
Iconic 1942 cantilever bridge over the Hooghly River. Mullick Ghat flower market beneath the bridge is most-atmospheric Kolkata photo. Free walking.
5
Day 2 — Late morning
Indian Museum
India's oldest (1814) + largest museum. Egyptian mummy + Buddhist art + natural history. INR 500. 2-3 hours.
6
Day 2 — Departure
Back to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport
Head back to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport by Pre-paid taxi (rank outside) (40–60 min, INR 500–800 (€5.50–9)). 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 Kolkata?
Same India rules as Chennai — e-visa USD 25-100. Note: Kolkata airport processes more domestic than international flights — confirm terminal at booking. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 24 hours enough to leave Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport?
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip. Getting into Kolkata by Pre-paid taxi (rank outside) takes 40–60 min each way.
How do I get from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport to Kolkata centre?
Pre-paid taxi (rank outside): 40–60 min, INR 500–800 (€5.50–9). Ola / Uber: 40–60 min, INR 350–650 (€4–7). Bus + Metro (cheapest): 90+ min, INR 50–80 (€0.55–0.90).
Getting out of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose 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.Things to do in Kolkata
Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.
Tours, tickets & day trips
Our pickGetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Kolkata and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.
Browse KolkataJust need timed-entry attraction tickets in Kolkata? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in Kolkata.Trains & buses from Kolkata
Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels.
Hotels near Kolkata Airport
With 24 hours, a day-use hotel room is worth it — shower, sleep, and recharge before your next flight.
Find hotels in Kolkata
Hotels, hostels & more · Expedia
Search hotels
Also useful for your Kolkata trip
Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills
Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.
Airlines that fly to Kolkata
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from CCU.
Air Arabia route mapAir India route mapAir India Express route mapAirAsia route mapAkasa Air route mapAlliance Air route mapBhutan Airlines route mapBiman Bangladesh Airlines route mapBuddha Air route mapChina Eastern route mapChina Eastern Airlines route mapDruk Air route mapEmirates route mapEtihad Airways route mapflyadeal route mapflydubai route mapIndiGo route mapMalaysia Airlines route map
Airport lounges at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Kolkata travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Kolkata works
01
Check you can leave
Same India rules as Chennai — e-visa USD 25-100. Note: Kolkata airport processes more domestic than international flights — confirm terminal at booking.
02
Head into town
Pre-paid taxi (rank outside): 40–60 min, INR 500–800 (€5.50–9).
Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.
03
Back in time for your flight
Head back to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport by Pre-paid taxi (rank outside) (40–60 min, INR 500–800 (€5.50–9)). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.
Ready for Kolkata?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.