Telangana is a landlocked state in south-central India on the Deccan Plateau, home to Hyderabad, the Qutb Shahi and Nizam heritage of Golconda and Charminar, and the Kakatiya temples of Warangal and Ramappa.
- Public
- Hyderabad Metro (three lines), MMTS suburban trains and the large TGSRTC bus fleet cover much of the city cheaply; Vande Bharat trains and TGSRTC coaches link Warangal, the Krishna reservoirs and neighbouring states
- Taxi
- Uber, Ola and Rapido cabs and autos are plentiful and inexpensive; airport and outstation trips are best booked by app or at the pre-paid counter
- Rental
- Cars with drivers are standard for day trips to Medak, Warangal, Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam; self-drive is possible but city traffic is dense
- Walking
- Old City, Charminar, Laad Bazaar and Necklace Road are walkable in pockets, but distances between major sights are large and summer heat above 40 C limits walking
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 3/5
- Taxi
- 4/5
- Rental
- 3/5
- Walking
- 2/5
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rs 100-300 (about $1-3) depending on the drop-off stop; fares were revised upward in mid-June | 45-90 minutes depending on traffic | ||
| Rs 800-1,800 (about $8-19) | 40-75 minutes | ||
| Rs 900-2,000 (about $9-21) | 40-75 minutes | ||
| Rs 112-375 (about $1-4) | About 75-100 minutes |
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Overview
Hyderabad has three metro lines, MMTS suburban trains, a large TGSRTC bus fleet and abundant app cabs and auto-rickshaws. Old City and Charminar are not directly on the metro and need an auto or bus for the last stretch.
Metro
Hours: About 6:00 am to 11:00 pm; QR tickets available on the T Savari app
- Operator
- L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad
- Website
- https://www.ltmetro.com
- Lines
- Name Red Line (Line 1) · Route Miyapur to LB Nagar · Length About 29 km, 27 stations
- Name Blue Line (Line 3) · Route Nagole to Raidurg (Hi-Tec City) · Length About 27 km, 23 stations
- Name Green Line (Line 2) · Route JBS Parade Ground to MG Bus Station · Length About 11 km, 9 stations
- Fares
- Rs 12-75 (about $0-1) per token journey; smart-card holders get roughly 10% off
- Notes
- Interchanges at Ameerpet (Red/Blue) and MG Bus Station (Green/Blue/Red); the metro does not reach the airport or Charminar
Buses
TGSRTC city buses cost about Rs 10-60 (about $0.10-0.63) per ride; tourist day passes cost roughly Rs 100-150 depending on bus class
Auto Rickshaw
Metered autos start near Rs 30 for the first 1.6 km with about Rs 15 per additional km; drivers often refuse the meter, so app autos (Rapido, Uber Auto) are simpler
Mmts
MMTS trains connect Lingampalli, Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Falaknuma for Rs 5-20
Walking
Most attractions are far apart; walking suits only the Charminar-Laad Bazaar area and stretches of Necklace Road
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Overview
- App cabs (Uber, Ola, Rapido) dominate; traditional taxis are rare. Autos are common for short hops.
- Typical Fares
- Airport to hitec city
- Rs 700-1,300 (about $7-14)
- Airport to secunderabad
- Rs 1,000-1,800 (about $10-19)
- Airport to charminar
- Rs 800-1,500 (about $8-16)
- City auto 5km
- Rs 80-150 (about $1-2)
- Full day car with driver
- Rs 2,500-4,500 (about $26-47)
- Payment
- UPI, cards and cash; app fares include surge pricing at peak hours and in rain
- Safety
- Use only app-booked or pre-paid rides; verify the licence plate and share trip status
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Trains
- Route
- Secunderabad to Warangal / Kazipet
- Duration
- About 1 hr 30 min (Vande Bharat) to 2.5-3 hr (express)
- Cost
- Rs 95-1,580 (about $1-16)
- Route
- Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam (Vande Bharat)
- Duration
- About 8.5 hr
- Cost
- Rs 1,500-3,000 (about $16-31)
- Route
- Kacheguda to Bengaluru (Vande Bharat)
- Duration
- About 8-9 hr
- Cost
- Rs 1,400-2,800 (about $15-29)
- Route
- Secunderabad to Tirupati (Vande Bharat)
- Duration
- About 8.5 hr
- Cost
- Rs 1,500-2,900 (about $16-30)
Buses
- Route
- Hyderabad (MGBS) to Warangal
- Duration
- 3-3.5 hr
- Cost
- Rs 200-450 (about $2-5)
- Route
- Hyderabad (JBS) to Medak
- Duration
- 2-2.5 hr
- Cost
- Rs 100-180 (about $1-2)
- Route
- Hyderabad (MGBS) to Yadagirigutta
- Duration
- 1.5-2 hr
- Cost
- Rs 70-150 (about $1-2)
- Route
- Hyderabad (MGBS) to Srisailam
- Duration
- 5-6 hr
- Cost
- Rs 300-600 (about $3-6)
- Route
- Hyderabad (MGBS) to Nagarjuna Sagar
- Duration
- 3.5-4 hr
- Cost
- Rs 200-400 (about $2-4)
Notes
Warangal is the most frequent intercity link; Vande Bharat trains and TGSRTC AC buses run through the day
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Telangana is served by one major airport (Hyderabad), a well-developed rail and TGSRTC bus network, and abundant app cabs in the capital. Hyderabad Metro covers the western and northern corridors but not the airport or Old City. Warangal, the Kakatiya heritage circuit and the Krishna reservoirs are best reached by train, bus or car with driver. Prices are approximate in INR with USD at 1 USD = 96 INR.
Airports
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (GMR Hyderabad)
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Uber
Ola
Rapido
T Savari
TGSRTC Gamyam
IRCTC Rail Connect
redBus
Google Maps
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Take the Pushpak airport bus (Rs 100-300, about $1-3) to save money on the 24 km airport run; app cabs cost Rs 800-1,800 (about $8-19)
Use Hyderabad Metro (Rs 12-75, about $0.13-0.78) to avoid road traffic between Miyapur, Ameerpet, Hi-Tec City, Nampally and LB Nagar
Book Vande Bharat and long-distance trains on the IRCTC Rail Connect app well ahead; Secunderabad to Kazipet takes about 1 hr 30 min on Vande Bharat
The metro does not serve the airport or Charminar; combine it with an auto or Rapido ride for Old City
For Warangal, Ramappa and Laknavaram, hire a car with driver for the day (about Rs 4,000-6,500, $42-68) because public transport to Ramappa is sparse
The Srisailam ghat road is closed at night; plan to arrive before dusk
Confirm the fare in the app before boarding autos, and carry small change for TGSRTC conductors