Boarding my flight on ANA from Tokyo to Delhi in the early morning.
5 Essential Things to Do When You Arrive in New Delhi (DEL)
Traveling to Delhi and worried on what do do when you step off that plane? In this guide, I am going to provide you with 5 essential things to do when you arrive in New Delhi (DEL). And while Delhi might seem overwhelming if you’re not used to the crowds, this article will provide you with a step by step guide so that you can enter India with ease and joy. So, without further ado, welcome to New Delhi, India!
I have lived in India for nearly ten years at the time of writing this article (2025), co-founding a sock company called Fazl Socks, and I can say that even now while landing in Delhi, I still get a teeny endorphin rush when hit with the humidity, smell, crowds, and chaos. And yet, I’m overwhelmed with joy, excitement, and anticipation for what lies beyond the initial welcome of sensory overload (and immigration).
Delhi is charming. It’s ancient. It has a heartbeat all its own—unlike any other city—and that pulse echoes through every corner where its 35 million residents live. It’s a hodgepodge of contrasts that we may never fully grasp, and while we become lost in the confusion, this is where the magic happens.
I’ve spoken to so many people over the years who say they want to come to India, but are hesitant due to what they see on the media. My goal in this article is to welcome you to India properly so that you can leave the airport and safely arrive at your hotel with comfort and ease. That’s why, I’ve created this guide of 5 essential things to do when you arrive in New Delhi (DEL), India. I will also provide you with a FREE PDF version of this guide in the article. Just provide your email here, and once downloaded, you can save it on your phone and use it after landing at DEL. These 5 steps will help you to avoid scams and make you feel confidant when embarking into the subcontinent.
5 Essential Summary
Table of Contents:
- Navigate the Airport Smoothly at Arrival
- Set Up Your Local SIM & Grab Cash
- Get Safe Transportation to Your Hotel
- Be Aware of Common Scams
- Bonus TIP
1. Navigate the Airport Smoothly at arrival
If you’re arriving from another country, there’s a very good chance you will arrive at Terminal 3. This is the main terminal of Delhi—one of the busiest airports in the world—handling nearly 80 million passengers per year. With that many passengers comes a lot of other traffic in and around the airport: Staff, service, crew, taxis and drivers, porters, the list goes on. My goal is to provide you with as much ease as possible while navigating this complex web of society.
After arriving into Delhi and crossing immigration, you will proceed to collect your bags. This is important! Once you have left the baggage area, you can not return back in. India takes security very seriously.
PRO TIP: This is the time to exchange money (not take out cash from an ATM) if you are carrying any currency. The rates are reasonable and the lineups are way less inside the baggage area compared to outside.
If I arrive any time before 2 PM, I usually like to grab a coffee here as well from Starbucks. And I know, I know. It’s Starbucks! I too love coffee and recognize it’s not the best coffee in the world. However, when you’ve just stepped off a 12 hour flight from wherever you just came from, it’s a solid dose of caffeine to tide you over until your next steps. And if you are wondering about cafes in Delhi, I have an article here on my top 3 cafes in Delhi, as well as as a YouTube video with more in-depth detail.
You’re now good! You’ve got a coffee, some cash from exchange, and your bags. Head through the glass doors and into the main terminal area (but do not head outside yet!)
2. Set Up Your Local SIM & Grab Cash
Take a breather. This is where you begin to see crowds. It’s OK. Take it all in. At this point, you need to ensure two things are done before exiting the airport that will make your journey much easier.
- CASH. After exiting the baggage area and go through the sliding glass doors (but before actually going outside), you will notice some ATM’s and an Airtel booth. This is where you can get cash. DO NOT USE SBI or PNB. Instead use either Kotak Mahindra Bank OR IndusInd Bank. These two options provide the easiest service, almost always have cash in the ATM machine, and charge very reasonable prices. You can take out a max of 10,000 INR (~$115 USD) at one time. I usually recommend taking out 20,000 INR over two transactions to kick off your trip.
- SIM. Though there are other options around India (mainly Jio and Airtel), for time sake and ease, this is where you will get an Airtel SIM card. When in the airport, this is the only time you will not be required to submit a passport photo to access a SIM. If you try and get a SIM card outside the airport, there is more paperwork involved, along with having to find a place that will provide you with passport photos. Honestly, just a pain in the ass and India does have a way of making things more complicated then they really need to be. Get your Airtel card and allow the service to activate between 4 and 24 hours. It will not work right away, so do not be spooked. It will eventually work. And when you want to recharge your SIM with more funds to make calls / data / etc., most shops will do this for you for a small fee.
2. Hotel Car. If you’re staying at a decent
3. Get Safe Transportation to Your Hotel
Where do i go now?
At this point, you’ve got your cash, SIM, bags, and coffee. Do not just exit the airport.
Where do I go? Stay inside the Arrivals Terminal at T3 and walk all the way down towards the other end (near to Domestic Arrivals). You will see a small food court with a Costa Coffee, Subway, and a few other local vendors. This is where you exit the airport.
Look for the Mega Cabs kiosk.
Of all the various ways to hire a taxi, there are really only two that I recommend in Delhi, and I’ll explain why the more common companies such as Uber are not good from the airport.
Two of my recommended ways to get from Delhi International Airport to your airport:
1. Mega Cabs. Mega Cabs is perhaps the best company in Delhi to get from point A to point B from the airport. Here’s why:
- The are owned by Mega Cabs. They are not owner operators listed on every App out there—they are company owned. With that comes strict quality assurance and very clean vehicles with professional drivers.
- They do not cheat you. Every single time they have been reliable, not asking for extra charges for toll, parking, baggage, AC usage, etc. You pay your fee, which is very reasonable, and they take you to your destination. That said, it is OK to Tip. I usually give 200 – 400 INR to the driver if they helped loaded my bags, drive respectfully, and were generally kind (talking, but not too much talking)
- They’re the same car every time. I love their consistency. Every time they are clean, they look the same, they’re branded with their logo, and they do not take customers from outside Mega Cabs bookings.
2. Hotel Car.If you’re staying at a decent hotel, they will likely offer you a airport pick up for a fee. And while these fees can be expensive, you will be getting the very best service with a dedicated concierge driver in uniform, the vehicle will offer cold drinks such as water, coke, etc., and the driver will be waiting for you when you exit the airport with a signboard and your name on it. Of course, this comes with a price. Expect to pay between $30 USD and $50 USD, depending on where you are staying.
Where do I find these drivers?
If you’ve hired a hotel taxi, there is no need to walk down to the other end near domestic arrivals.Once you’ve grabbed your cash and SIM, you can exit the doors just next to this area of the international arrivals.
4. Be Aware of Common Scams
As you exit the terminal, a ton of people will come up to you and they’ll say a few things every time:
- Taxi?
- Where are you going?
- Which country?
These three phrases always mean bad news. Never go with these people, and do not make eye contact with any of them. It’s OK to be rude and simple ignore them. I promise you, it won’t hurt their feelings.
If you follow my instructions above, you will get to your hotel with no issues or complications. If you don’t, it’s like they will take you somewhere you weren’t planning on going.
I had a friend come a few years ago and I had warned him of these things. Unfortunately, he went with one of these guys asking one of these three questions, and he ended up in some sketchy office where they sold him a seriously overpriced tour to the Taj, filled with a horrible car and a disgusting hotel.
If anyone demands parking charges, tips, extra charges for AC, or anything else outside of the agreed upon price, you’re getting scammed. This is why it’s better not to put yourself in one of these situations and simply follow the advice given to you.
5. Bonus Tip
Always make sure to take a picture of your driver, license plate, and the small information provided on the side of every taxi in India. It’s usually yellow and contains a bunch of important information.
Lastly, always carry a digital copy of your passport and visa, along with your arrival hotel / accommodations in case anything happens to your phone (lost, stolen, etc.) This provides an extra level of security and caution to make sure that you know what to do when following these 5 Essential Things to Do When You Arrive in New Delhi (DEL).
Happy journey to India! If you’re looking on where to find some excellent places in Delhi, make sure to check out my page on: