Sleeping in New Delhi Airport

New Delhi Airport sleeper — (Photo courtesy of Petr / 01Nov2013)

If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at New Delhi airport, you might wonder if sleeping in the airport is possible. Our guide to sleeping in New Delhi airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.

We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.

Sleeping in New Delhi Airport

Locations & Seating

With flights coming and going all day and into the night, plenty of travellers are milling about looking for sleep spots. Terminal 3 is the newest and is the most comfortable for sleeping. T3’s landside area has a lot of places to stretch out, both on armrest-free seating and on the carpeted floors, especially near the shopping area. Overall, there’s a decent amount of seating throughout the airport, and you may get lucky with armrest-free seats, couches, or reclining chairs. Just to let you know, you may have to wait in a landside Visitors Lounge (which can be very limited seating-wise) as security only allows passengers through within three hours of their departure time.

Rest Zones

At the time of this update, there are no designated rest zones within the airport.

Hotels

Do you prefer some privacy and comfort? A transit hotel is available if you want a good, solid sleep between flights without the stress of going through security. The Holiday Inn Express New Delhi International Airport has two areas, accessible from both the International and Domestic areas inside Terminal 3. Both day rooms and hourly options are available, but you do need to be a transit passenger to access this space.

For something a little more budget-friendly, check out the in-transit sleeping pods at Sam’s Snooze at My Space. These pods are rentable by the hour with a minimum 3-hour rental, starting at $36 for a single and $65 for a double/3 hours. Several other hotels are a short 5-minute drive from Terminals 1 and 3. Additionally, several outposts of the Plaza Premium Lounge offer private napping rooms inside their pay-to-use lounges. Check out the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at New Delhi Airport.

Lounges

If you want a private place to nap for a few hours between flights, check out a few of the Plaza Premium Lounge locations. In addition to offering a comfortable place to hang out, some areas have private sleep rooms that can be rented. Rooms can be booked at the lounge door. For more information, check out our New Delhi Airport Guide.

More Airport Services & Facilities

For information about drinking water, 24-hour food & drink options, luggage storage, showers, mobile charging and WiFi, visit our New Delhi Airport Guide.

Airport Conditions

If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Temperature – At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers about terminal temperature. Still, you can expect the airport to cool down at night as the air conditioning continues to run and fewer people are inside. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
Lighting – The lights stay on in central areas but may get dimmed in out-of-the-way corners. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
Noise – Daytime sleepers can expect to hear frequent announcements, commotion from busy concourses, and loud music. It does seem to quiet down at night, depending on your sleep spot, but earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones will help you get decent rest.

Security & Safety

Sleeping travellers report little issue from airport staff, though if you’re trying to nap on the floor, security guards may ask you to stick to the carpet rather than the tiled areas.

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at New Delhi Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s essential to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Please don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who awoke without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay sharp, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.