Indira Gandhi International Airport · DEL
Stopover in Delhi: what to do and when to leave
Delhi airport is split across three terminals, and an international connection can involve immigration, baggage, customs, a terminal transfer and a second security check. The Airport Express makes central Delhi reachable, but only a long layover leaves enough room for a controlled city visit.
With less than 10 hours, stay at DEL. From 11–13 hours, Connaught Place can fit if you can enter India, your baggage is checked through and you reserve at least three hours for the return to the correct terminal.
Your safety comes first. Reviewed on August 23, 2026 · Guidance, not immigration authorization.
At a glance
The essentials before you decide
Indicative timings: always confirm schedules and closures for the day of your layover.
- Minimum time to leave
- 11 h or more
- Time to city centre
- 30–55 min
- Terminals
- T1 · T2 · T3
- Return buffer
- Return at least 3 hours before an international departure.
- Main transport
- Airport Express · metro · taxi
- Does transport run overnight?
- Check the last and first service
- Can you sleep inside?
- Limited — rest options exist; confirm access
Quick decision
Leave for Delhi?
Only from 11 h of stopoverAnd only if you have confirmed entry, luggage to your destination and a protected return.
Check India's current entry or transit conditions before crossing immigration.
Confirm whether baggage is checked through or must be collected for customs and re-check-in.
Guidance margin, not an official requirement.
Depending on the duration
What to do during your stopover
Stay near your gate
Terminal changes and formalities can consume the whole connection; use dining, rest or a lounge instead.
DEL without rushing
Keep the layover inside your terminal and avoid depending on a cross-city return.
Connaught Place
Take the Airport Express toward New Delhi and keep the visit to one compact, reversible area.
India Gate with margin
Add one nearby landmark only after fixing the return train and the route to your departure terminal.
Safe decision
What changes
the calculation
Calculate the time you can actually use. Not every hour of a layover is usable.
Entry requirements
Visa, eTA or exemption depending on your nationality.
Minimum connection time
Consider the MCT of the airport and your itinerary.
Procedures and controls
Immigration, security and possible additional procedures.
Transfers
Transfers between terminals and to the city center.
Day and time
Traffic, schedules and city activity.
Unexpected changes
Delays, gate changes or operating conditions.
Door-to-door timingWhere your layover time goesSee breakdown
These are indicative ranges. Queues, time of day and terminal changes can lengthen every stage.
- 01Arrival0:00
Confirm T1, T2 or T3, baggage and the next check-in.
- 02Immigration and exit0:45–1:30
Passport, route, baggage and queue change the duration.
- 03To Connaught Place0:30–0:55
Airport Express plus station access and final connection.
- 04Protected return3:00 before
Train, terminal transfer, security and gate count.
Practical airport guide
Terminals, night and transport
The details that most often decide whether a layover stays comfortable. Confirm live operating information before travelling.
Terminal connection
T1 · T2 · T3
- Usual transfer
- Walk or connected buildings
- What to expect
- The terminals are not one continuous building. Confirm both flight terminals and whether baggage must be collected before crossing immigration or boarding an inter-terminal service.
- Controls
- The change may require immigration or clearing security again
Overnight layover
What remains usable at night
- Terminal
- No closure is listed in this guide; confirm official hours
- Public transport
- Check the last and first service
- Sleep inside
- Limited — rest options exist; confirm access
- Rest and showers
- Lounges and transit hotel by terminal · confirm access
Airport hotel
Holiday Inn Express New Delhi Airport T3
Inside the airport or transit area
- Zone
- Airside
- Terminal
- T3
- Immigration
- Normally no, if it is compatible with your transit route
- Cancellation
- Depends on the selected rate · check before paying
The search opens with the hotel and city preselected. Confirm the exact property, access conditions and rate before paying.
Actionable transport
Airport Express
- Realistic journey
- 30 min each way
- Indicative price
- Check rate
- Where to board
- T1, T2, T3
- Frequency
- Check the live timetable and service alerts
- Ticket
- Use the operator’s official channel or the machines indicated at the station
Useful services
Find them before walking across the terminal
A service is marked as mentioned only when it already appears in this airport’s reviewed guide data. Always confirm its location and opening hours.
Airport orientation
Indira Gandhi International Airport campus map
An orientation infographic for terminals, internal transfers and transport to the city; always confirm the route on the official map.
Routes with margin
Choose a plan you can cancel
Connaught Place
11–13 hour layoverA compact central area with a controllable rail return.
Open routeConnaught Place + India Gate
14 hours or moreOnly with entry complete and the return route fixed.
Open routeInside the airport
Plan B without leaving
When not all conditions are met, the best plan is to conserve energy and connection.
Three terminals
T1, T2 and T3 require different access plans; confirm both flights before leaving.
Airport Express
The rail segment is only part of the journey: add terminal, platform and final city access.
Airside plan B
Dining, lounges and rest protect the connection when formalities run long.
Quick answers in DEL
Find what you need
Don’t guess where it is. Choose what you are looking for and we will tell you which area to check, with the official directory just one click away.
Try a quick search:
T1, T2 or T3 · confirm terminal and side of security
A break without missing the gate
Delhi airport's current dining offer is distributed across T1, T2 and T3. Use the official airport directory for the area on your boarding route.
See location and official routeThe shops, hours and accesses change. This guide points out where to check it; The official airport directory has the final say.
Your layover, without improvising
Make it yours in 30 seconds
Choose how much margin you have, mark the three critical checks, and save the guide to return to during your trip.
Recommended plan
Connaught Place
Delhi. Leave only if entry, baggage and transportation (Return at least 3 hours before an international departure.) are resolved before you start.
Your connection is not generic
Plan your stopover in Delhi
Our tool estimates your actual time, shows you what you can do, and helps you decide with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
Before deciding
Can I leave DEL during a layover?
Yes, if you meet India's entry conditions, your baggage situation is clear and you keep enough time for immigration, ground transport, security and the correct departure terminal.
Which Delhi airport terminal has the Airport Express?
The airport's official transport guidance connects the Airport Express with the Terminal 3 area. Travellers using T1 or T2 must include the correct terminal link and walking time.
What can I do on a 12-hour layover in Delhi?
Connaught Place is the most controllable first choice. Keep the visit to one area, decide the return train before starting and be back at DEL at least three hours before departure.