Guide details
Best time to visit
Arrive 2 to 3 hours before international, 1.5 to 2 hours domestic
How to get there
Chennai Metro Blue Line, prepaid taxi, app cab, or MTC bus
Highlights
Terminal walkway, Blue Line metro station, duty free
Good for
Transit passengers, early or late flights
Price range
Rs 10 by metro to Rs 700 by taxi into the city
Chennai Airport, officially Chennai International Airport (code MAA), is the main gateway into the city and into Tamil Nadu, sitting around 21km south of the city centre in Meenambakkam and Tirusulam. Here’s what you need to know about the terminals, getting to and from the city, and what’s around the airport if you’ve got a long layover or an early flight.
Chennai Airport terminals
Chennai Airport has two main terminals connected by a covered walkway, so moving between them on foot takes only a few minutes. Terminal 1, the Kamaraj Domestic Terminal, handles all domestic flights, while Terminal 4, the Anna International Terminal, handles international departures and arrivals. Both terminals are well signposted, and it’s a straightforward walk if you’re connecting between a domestic and an international flight, though it’s worth allowing a bit of extra time at busy periods, since the walkway and check in areas can get crowded during peak departure banks in the early morning and late evening.
Getting to and from Chennai Airport by metro
The Chennai Metro Airport station sits directly beneath the terminal building on the Blue Line, making it one of the cheapest and most reliable ways to reach the city centre, especially when road traffic is bad. A metro ride from the airport to Chennai Central takes around 40 to 45 minutes and costs only a fraction of what a taxi would charge. It’s a great option if you’re travelling light, though with heavy luggage or late at night, once trains stop running for the day, you’ll want to take a taxi instead.
Getting to and from Chennai Airport by taxi and bus
Prepaid taxi counters are available in the arrivals area of both terminals, and this is the simplest option if you’d rather not negotiate a fare, since you pay upfront based on your destination. App based cabs also operate from designated pickup points just outside the terminals. A taxi into the city centre takes around 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic and time of day, and typically costs somewhere between Rs 400 and Rs 700 depending on the exact drop off point. Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses also run routes connecting the airport to various parts of the city, and these are the cheapest option by far if you don’t mind a longer journey with stops along the way.
Facilities at Chennai Airport
Both terminals have the usual range of facilities you’d expect from a major international airport, including food courts, cafes, currency exchange counters, ATMs, duty free shopping in the international terminal, and free wifi throughout. Lounges are available in both terminals for those with airline status or lounge access cards, and baggage trolleys are free to use across both terminals. Charging points are available at most seating areas, though it’s worth carrying a power bank if you’re on a long layover, since sockets can be in demand at peak times.
Hotels near Chennai Airport
If you’ve got an early flight or a long layover and want to avoid the trek into the city, there are several hotels within a short drive of the airport, ranging from budget stays to well known international chains. Options in the Meenambakkam and St Thomas Mount area include a mix of business hotels and mid range chains, most offering a free shuttle to and from the terminals, which is worth checking when you book. Staying near the airport makes sense if your flight is very early or very late, but if you’ve got a full day or more in Chennai, you’re better off staying closer to the centre, since the airport area itself doesn’t have much to see or do.
- Distance from city centre: around 21km
- Terminal 1: domestic flights, Kamaraj Domestic Terminal
- Terminal 4: international flights, Anna International Terminal
- Metro to Chennai Central: around 40 to 45 minutes
- Taxi to city centre: around 45 minutes to 1 hour, roughly Rs 400 to Rs 700
- MTC buses: cheapest option, with more stops and longer journey times
Whether you’re passing through or just landed, Chennai Airport is easy enough to navigate once you know which terminal you need and how you’re getting into the city. For most visitors, the metro is the quickest and cheapest way in, with taxis as the sensible backup for late flights or heavy luggage.