Short answer: at Hyderabad airport you can use an app cab, a prepaid or radio taxi, the TGSRTC Pushpak AC bus, or a pick-up arranged by your hotel. There is no metro to the airport. For a late arrival or an early flight, a transfer fixed in advance is the easiest. Here is how each option works.
The options at a glance
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel pick-up and drop | Late arrivals, early flights, families, anyone who wants the time fixed before landing | Needs your flight details in advance |
| App cabs (Ola, Uber, Rapido) | Flexible arrivals and trips anywhere in the city | Surge pricing at busy hours, waiting at the pickup point |
| Prepaid or radio taxis | Travellers who like a counter and a fare agreed up front | Queues at busy hours; ask what the fare includes |
| Pushpak AC bus (TGSRTC) | Solo travellers with light luggage going to routes the bus serves | Fixed routes and timings that change |
| Self-drive or rented car | Groups and long city trips | Parking is charged by the hour; the ring road is a toll road |
1. Hotel pick-up and drop
Hotel Sky International is at 11-3/5, Madhura Nagar, Shamshabad, Hyderabad 501218, about 5 km from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in a straight line and about 8 km by road. We are Hyderabad people, and we host thousands of guests every month, from business travellers and families to solo travellers and passengers in transit. Airport pick-up is complimentary on most stays; we confirm at booking whether it applies to yours. If a charge applies, we tell you the amount before the car comes. Give us your flight number and time when you book, so a driver is lined up for the right hour. If your flight is delayed, tell us and we adjust the pick-up.
Our tip. Send your flight number when you book, and again if the flight changes. A driver who knows your landing time is waiting when you walk out, with no phone calls from the kerb.
2. App cabs: Ola, Uber and Rapido
The airport lists Ola, Uber and Rapido as authorised app services. They suit loose plans. Fares rise when many flights land together, and you will usually be asked to walk to a designated pickup point instead of the arrivals kerb. Any airport charge shows up on the fare screen, so read it before you confirm. At night, check the number plate and driver against the app, share the live trip, and use the ride PIN.
3. Prepaid taxis and radio taxis
The airport also lists prepaid taxis and radio taxi brands, including electric cabs. Their advantage is a fare you agree at a counter before you set off. Ask what the fare covers (tolls, waiting, luggage) and keep the receipt.
4. The Pushpak airport bus
TGSRTC runs Pushpak AC buses between the airport and several points in the city, including Gachibowli, Kothaguda, Shilparamam, Lingampally and Secunderabad (JBS). Routes, timings and fares change, so check TGSRTC before you plan around a particular bus. For a solo traveller with one bag it can be the cheapest option. With a lot of luggage, or a very late arrival, it is rarely the easiest.
There is no metro to the airport
Many web pages still say an airport metro will open in 2026. It will not. The Raidurg to airport line is on hold, and a different corridor from the airport towards Future City has been proposed but is not built. Today the airport is reached by road.
Driving yourself
The Outer Ring Road is the main route and is a toll road, cashless by FASTag or UPI. At the terminal, the ramp allows a short free window for pick-up and drop (about 8 minutes) before charges apply, so a driver collecting you will often use the car park instead; check the airport website for the current rules and tariff.
How to choose
- Landing after midnight, or flying before 6 a.m.: book a hotel transfer in advance.
- Travelling alone with a small bag at a busy hour: Pushpak or an app cab.
- A family with luggage and children: hotel transfer or a prepaid taxi.
- Heading straight to a meeting in HITEC City or Gachibowli: see the airport to HITEC City and Gachibowli.
Planning timings for a flight? Read how early to reach Hyderabad airport and our early morning flight checklist.
Quick answers
What are the ways to get from Hyderabad airport to the city?
The airport lists app cabs (Ola, Uber, Rapido), prepaid taxis, radio taxis and the TGSRTC Pushpak AC bus. A hotel transfer arranged in advance is another option. There is no metro to the airport.
Does Hotel Sky International arrange airport pick-up?
Yes. Airport pick-up is complimentary on most stays, and we confirm at booking whether it applies to yours. Share your flight number and time when you book.
Is there a metro to Hyderabad airport?
No. A line from Raidurg to the airport was planned but is on hold, so no metro serves the airport today.
What is the easiest way to travel from the airport at night?
A transfer arranged in advance through your hotel, an app cab with ride PIN and shared trip status, or an official prepaid taxi.
How long does it take to reach Shamshabad from the airport?
The hotel is about 8 km by road from the terminal, usually 10 to 15 minutes in normal traffic.
Arrange your pick-up before you land
Tell us your flight number and time and we will confirm the transfer.