Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is not in the middle of Hyderabad. It is out in Shamshabad, a long drive from the city centre, which is exactly why a hotel close to it is so useful. If you are looking for a hotel near the airport, this is what the choice looks like and how we fit into it.
A quick look at the airport
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, which flights know as HYD, opened in March 2008 and is run by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited. It is about 24 km south of the city centre, in Shamshabad, and it has a single integrated terminal, so domestic and international flights leave from the same building. After its expansion, the airport can handle around 40 million passengers a year, which gives you an idea of how busy it gets.
There is no metro line to the airport. An airport metro corridor has been planned for years, but as of writing it is not running, so getting there still means a car, a cab or a bus. TGSRTC runs the Pushpak airport buses from several points in the city.
What kinds of hotels are nearby
Broadly you will find two kinds. There are large chain hotels, some of them a few kilometres from the terminal, such as the Novotel, which is about 3.5 km away and has 305 rooms. And there are smaller independent hotels in Shamshabad and the nearby streets, usually more modest, often more flexible, and closer to what most travellers actually need for a night or two.
Neither type is better. A big hotel offers a certain predictability. A smaller hotel often gives you a more personal service. What matters is whether the hotel fits your flight.
What to compare
- Real distance, not marketing distance. “Near the airport” can mean 3 km or 30 km. Look at the hotel on a map and check the drive time at the hour you will travel.
- The transfer. Is there a pick-up, is it free or charged, and can they tell you the time before you book? Ours is available on request, with charges confirmed when you ask.
- The front desk. If your flight lands at 2 a.m., a reception that closes at midnight is no use. Ours is open 24 hours.
- Flexibility. Early check-in or late check-out can make the difference between a real rest and a miserable one. We offer both depending on availability.
- Parking and food. If you are driving, is there somewhere for the car? If you land late, is there something to eat? Parking is free for guests with us, and we have a pure vegetarian restaurant on site.
Where Hotel Sky International fits
We are in Shamshabad, about 5 km from the airport, roughly 10 minutes by car in normal traffic. We are a smaller hotel, with three room types: Standard, Executive and Executive Twin Beds, all air conditioned and with free Wi-Fi. Guests tell us they like the clean rooms, the helpful staff and the easy access to the airport, and those reviews are on our home page.
The most common guests are frequent flyers and corporate travellers, families, passengers on a long layover, and people with a very early flight. If that sounds like your trip, our guide to how early to reach the airport will help you plan the timings.
Quick answers
Which hotel is closest to Hyderabad airport?
Several hotels are within a few kilometres of the terminal. Hotel Sky International is about 5 km away, in Shamshabad.
Is there a metro to Hyderabad airport?
No. A metro link has been planned but is not operating, so you will need a car, cab or bus.
Do you offer airport transfers?
Yes. Pick-up and drop are available on request, with charges confirmed when you ask.
Is the reception open at night?
Yes, it is open 24 hours.
Stay in Shamshabad, close to the airport
Book directly and get airport pick-up and drop on request.