Delhi Metro Getting Around

Using the Delhi Metro as a visitor — cards and tokens, women-only coaches, luggage reality, and when a private cab still makes sense.

SkiffrNovember 7, 2026

Why the metro is worth learning

Delhi's roads are busy most of the day and gridlocked at rush hour. The Delhi Metro runs on its own tracks, much of it underground or elevated, and covers most of the places a visitor goes. Trains are clean, air conditioned and frequent, and signs and announcements are in English and Hindi. For many cross-city trips at peak times, it is faster than a car.

It is not the answer for everything, and this guide covers where it works and where a car makes more sense.

How the network is laid out

The metro has many lines, each named by colour. The ones visitors tend to use:

Yellow Line: runs north to south through the centre, with stops at Chandni Chowk, Rajiv Chowk (Connaught Place), Central Secretariat, INA, Hauz Khas and Qutub Minar, and on into Gurugram
Blue Line: east to west, also through Rajiv Chowk, with stops near Karol Bagh and Akshardham, and into Noida and Dwarka
Violet Line: useful for Khan Market, Lajpat Nagar and other south-east neighbourhoods
Airport Express (Orange) Line: connects Terminal 3 at the airport with New Delhi station, with stops in between, including Aerocity

Rajiv Chowk is the busiest interchange and sits beneath Connaught Place. Expect crowds there at rush hour.

Tickets

You have a few options:

Tokens: single-journey tokens bought at station counters or machines. You tap in and drop the token into the slot at the exit
Smart card: a rechargeable card, convenient if you plan several trips over a few days. A deposit applies
Tourist cards: unlimited travel cards for a set number of days have been offered. Check at the customer care counter
QR tickets through the official app, on many lines

Keep your token or card handy. You need it to exit, and losing a token means paying a fine.

Security checks

Every station has a security check: bags go through an X-ray, and you walk through a metal detector with a quick body pat-down. There are separate queues for women. At busy stations at rush hour, this adds time. Large bags and certain items are restricted.

Women's coaches

Most trains have a coach reserved for women, typically the first coach in the direction of travel. It is marked in pink on the platform and inside the train. Men who board it can be fined. Women can travel in any coach.

Some seats in every coach are reserved for elderly passengers, people with disabilities and women. Offer them up when needed.

Rush hour

Roughly 8 to 11 in the morning and 5 to 8 in the evening on weekdays, central lines are packed. Expect pushing at doors and standing room only. Keep your bag in front of you and your phone in a front pocket. If you can, travel outside these hours or use a car.

Trains run from early morning to around midnight. Exact first and last train times vary by line and station, so check the official app or station boards if you are travelling late.

Getting to and from the airport

The Airport Express line from T3 is the fastest way between the airport and central Delhi when roads are busy. It is less crowded than other lines and has space for luggage. The catch: once you get to New Delhi or another stop, you still need to get to your hotel with your bags, which can mean stairs, crowds and another ride.

If you are arriving after a long flight with big suitcases, children or older relatives, a pre-booked car to the door is easier. Options include Delhi Airport T3 to Delhi NCR, Delhi Airport to Gurugram, and for departures, Delhi NCR to Delhi Airport. The Delhi airport pickup and drop guide has more detail.

Sightseeing by metro

Many of the main sights are near a station:

Chandni Chowk and Red Fort: Chandni Chowk or Lal Quila stations
Jama Masjid: Jama Masjid station, or walk from Chandni Chowk
Connaught Place: Rajiv Chowk
India Gate: Central Secretariat or Khan Market stations, then walk or auto
Humayun's Tomb: JLN Stadium or a short auto ride from nearby stations
Qutub Minar: Qutub Minar station, then a short ride
Hauz Khas: Hauz Khas station
Akshardham: Akshardham station
Lotus Temple: Kalkaji Mandir station

The last stretch from station to entrance often needs an auto or e-rickshaw, or a walk in the heat.

When a car is better

Airport runs with heavy luggage
Late at night after trains stop
Groups of three or four, where a car can cost about the same per person and saves time
Travelling with older relatives or small children
Trying to see several spread-out sights in one day

A full day Delhi sightseeing car with driver is good for that last case. The driver waits while you visit, so you do not need to find a ride at each stop.

Trips out of the city are car territory too. A same-day Delhi to Agra round trip, an overnight Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri trip, or a one-way car to Chandigarh or Dehradun can be booked with the fare agreed upfront.

Tips from experience

Stand on the right of escalators if you are not walking, though this is not always followed
Let people off before you board. It does not always happen, but try
Use the gate numbers on station maps to exit on the right side of a big road
Download the official Delhi Metro app for routes, fares and first and last train times
Carry a small amount of water. Eating and drinking on trains is not allowed

Safety

The metro is generally safe and well policed. Usual city precautions apply: watch for pickpockets in crowds, keep valuables close, and use women's coaches if you prefer.

FAQ

Can I pay with a foreign card at the ticket counter?

Card acceptance varies. Carry some cash for tokens or recharges.

Is the metro accessible?

Most stations have lifts and ramps. Crowds at peak times can make it hard going.

Is the Airport Express line worth it?

For light travellers going to the centre, yes. With heavy bags and a hotel far from a station, a car is usually better.

Can I bring a large suitcase?

On the Airport Express, yes. On other lines, it is allowed within limits, but it is hard going at rush hour.