Rajiv Gandhi International is one of India’s more manageable airports, with everything under one roof in a single terminal. That’s the good news. The reality check: India does airports differently compared to most places, with more document checks and procedures that take time. The airport offers various shops and dining options throughout the airside (post-security) area, and it functions well compared to busier Indian hubs. Knowledge is power here.
Getting to and from the airport
Getting between Hyderabad Airport and the city takes about 45 minutes, though traffic can add more time.
Your two main options are taxi or bus, and staff at arrivals can help you navigate both. While metro expansion proposals have been discussed, no rail service currently operates to the airport.
For taxis and rideshare services, you have the usual options: Uber, the local Ola app (plus Rapido), radio taxis (OHM, Meru, Skycabs), prepaid taxis, and pre-booked services.
Most hotels will be glad to arrange a pick-up as well, which can smooth the whole process (sometimes it’s nice to be met at arrivals and not have to think about where you need to go).
Those hotel pick-ups tend to be a lot more expensive, though. Uber is my usual choice because it’s easy enough and very affordable.
Hyderabad Airport has quite a nice direct bus service called the Pushpak Airport Liner. These are comfortable electric buses with phone chargers and other perks. They are also wheelchair accessible. It stops at a number of locations around the city and is a good, affordable option if you don’t feel like taking a taxi/Uber.
Renting a car at the airport is possible, but I wouldn’t recommend it for most. You need special skills to drive in India, and honestly I’ve never considered it worth the stress when you realize that taxis and Ubers are very affordable, even when hired for several hours. Unless you’re just really looking for an adventure, I’d skip it.
What to expect at Hyderabad Airport
One of the best things about Hyderabad is the fact that everything is under one roof in the same terminal. That means no complications with changing terminals which can create delays.
Transit passengers should know that transfer procedures vary by connection type. For domestic-to-domestic (D-D) and international-to-international (I-I) transfers, you can stay within the terminal with a security check. However, for international-to-domestic (I-D) or domestic-to-international (D-I) connections, you’ll need to go through passport control and customs, then check in again. It’s worth checking your specific connection type to know what to expect.
It’s also important to know that like every airport in India, at Hyderabad you’ll encounter more document checks than you may be used to elsewhere. So you should always plan to arrive with plenty of time before your flight, and make sure you have all your documentation, ideally printed out on paper (it can work if you have it on your phone too, but you never know). To begin with you’ll need to show a ticket or boarding pass, plus ID, to enter the terminal. Usually the line to do this isn’t too long, but there will be some delay.
Security at HYD
After entering the terminal building you’ll find a standard layout with rows of check-in desks for all airlines serving Hyderabad—and just beyond that, the security check. You’ll need to scan your boarding pass to access the area, and the organization here leaves something to be desired. The layout means passengers end up grabbing bins from the belt and then going to the back of a snaking line some distance away, but it’s not uncommon for some passengers to head straight to the belt and cut the line if they spot an opening.
Once you make it to the belt you should plan to remove anything even remotely electronic from your bag including chargers. I’ve had all kinds of things scrutinized as well as confiscated at security in India, including seemingly innocuous things like electrical tape. As with navigating most airports in India, it’s good to go in with plenty of time, take a few deep breaths, and just be patient.
Tip: it can be well worth paying for the fast track check-in and security that airlines like IndiGo offer (or booking business class) because lines can get long at both. It’s also generally a good idea to get a paper boarding pass even if you already have a mobile one. It’s that much easier to get through security and you’re less likely to have any issues at the gates to security, as well as the boarding gate, where you can expect to get your pass checked multiple times.
Terminal layout
Once you’re through security at Hyderabad you’ll find that all double-digit gates are in the main terminal area on the main level. If your gate is one of the triple digit gates that means you’ve got a remote stand/bus gate and you’ll have to descend two levels to find those. It’s all reasonably intuitive and well signposted
Food & retail outlets
There are lots of new shops and dining options being added to the main airside area, and there’s actually a great selection already. It’s a good mix of local chains and other unfamiliar options (to those not from India) and familiar international options like Tim Horton’s, whose footprint in India always takes me by surprise.
Lounges
The main third-party lounges at Hyderabad are the Encalm Lounges, with locations in both the Domestic departure area (Level E, near Gate 21) and International departure area (Level E, near Gate 23). You can typically access them through various lounge programs or paid entry. They’re usually bustling; the entry process varies, though it’s not too difficult to figure out.
The usual offering of seating, food, and drinks is available. It’s fine, but nothing special.
The lounge has its own Wi-Fi but if you don’t have an Indian phone you’ll need to flag down a member of staff to input a login code and then you’ll need to get their number in order to get a text verification code. Most are happy to oblige. Cell service is spotty in the lounge so it’s pretty essential, and it’s a pretty annoying process, unfortunately.
Airport Wi-Fi
As with almost every airport terminal in India, a free Wi-Fi system exists but is needlessly complicated. The Hyderabad Airport Free Wi-Fi in theory has a way to receive a login code to any number in the world, which is a lot more usable if you’re not from India. Receiving that code is not guaranteed, but it does usually arrive. Just know it might take a full five minutes, so have patience and it should work.
What to do on a layover
If you’re into food, Hyderabad is famous for biryani—the famous (and delicious) rice dish. Some might argue it’s worth a couple of hours of driving instead of sitting around at the airport. I’d say it depends how much energy you have. If you have a longer layover, say 6+ hours, you could head into town to get some. Go to Charminar and you can also visit the famous monument while you’re at it. That would make for a good taste of Hyderabad.
If you have less time or just aren’t too moved by the thought of biryani, you could hop in a quick cab over to the nearby Swayambhu Balaji Temple, about fifteen minutes up the road. That way you won’t need to worry too much about traffic getting back, and you’ll get a dose of culture and a change of scenery too.
Airport hotels
When it comes to airport hotels at Hyderabad I would only really consider two options. The first is the full-service Novotel just adjacent to the airport. It’s the closest and the nicest option among traditional hotels, though it’s unfortunately not walking distance from the terminal.
The second option is the Transit Hotel by Plaza Premium, which is the only option for sleeping within the terminal itself. Just that fact alone makes it worth consideration, but they do charge for the convenience, and you may find you’re better off saving a bit of money for more of a proper hotel just down the road. It is absolutely fine as an option and you can’t beat being in the terminal, but rooms are on the small side.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
