The distance between the city center of Chennai in India and Chennai International Airport is approximately 21 kilometers. You can cover this distance by taking a train, bus, taxi or by renting a car, in 50 minutes on average.

Train

Train is the most used means of transportation of Chennai, which is a large and crowded city. Trains depart every 5-6 minutes, and their period between the stops is 2 minutes. When you want to go to the airport from the city center, there are no stops right in front of the terminal; however, you can take a short walk when you get off at Tirusulam stop. The duration of your journey depends on the station you take the train at in the city. To get off at this stop, you must come to Park Train Station in the city center and then take one of the local trains going to Tambaram or Chengalpet direction. 

Contrary to the general perception in the country, the wagons of the trains in Chennai are quite clean and have air conditioners. One train ticket costs maximum 40 Indian Rupees (1 INR=0.015 USD), and you can buy the tickets at every station. This cost is more reasonable than the airport transfers with a rented car or taxi; it is the most economical transportation alternative.

Bus

In your transfers to the airport from the city center, another economical alternative is to take a bus. This journey, by local buses, takes approximately 40 minutes. You can come close to the airport by the buses that you can take from the bus stops in the city center and goes from the direction of Thindivam (Trichy). The first bus departs from the harbor in the city center at 10:00 every day. Because the drivers are quite used to tourists, you can get their help for the stop you are going to get off at.

Taxi

If your backpack is not the only thing with you and you do not want to wait at bus stops or train stations, the most practical option you can prefer for transfer to the airport from the city center of Chennai is to take a taxi. Taxis, which you can stop within the traffic or reserve on the Internet, are active 24/7, and you can complete your transfer in about 30 minutes by taking them. For your transfer, which will cost 350-500 Indian Rupees on average, you can call a taxi from the well-known companies such as City Taxi (+91 82972 82979) and Fast Track (+91 44288 89999). You can also save money by benefitting from joint taxis, which are among the alternatives that tourists mostly resort to.

Car Rental

If your flight is at an early hour and you want to go to the airport with your own car, you will encounter several companies in the city, offering options in this matter. In order to see compared prices in the type of vehicle you prefer, you can search regional companies on the Internet and get offers from international brands such as Hertz, Avis, Alamo and Europcar.

Airport Information

Chennai International Airport serves Chennai, which is one of the biggest cities of India. With its active traffic, it is the fourth busiest airport of India following Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The airport, which is visited by approximately 20 million passengers per year and has adjacent international and domestic flights terminals, is located 21 kilometers far from the city center. While the domestic flights terminal is named after K. Kamaraj, one of the former Indian ministers, the international flights terminal is named as CN Annadurai.

While waiting for the departure of your plane in Chennai International Airport, which is the busiest airport of South India, you can visit shops and spend time in restaurants and cafes. Besides, the airport provides services such as free Wi-Fi, car rental offices and ATMs.