Café Niloufer Café Niloufer is one of the most famous local names within the confines of Hyderabad Airport, which introduces the renowned Irani tea culture of the city into the terminal atmosphere. The café is a favorite with travelers who are about to leave Hyderabad, for a last bite of the city.The tea, bun maska and bakery wares are particularly popular during the night-time and evening flight times, and the vibe is more local than the corporate airport cafés.
Starbucks Starbucks, which is one of the more consistent options in the airport to get coffee, grab a quick bite to eat, charge your devices, or get a seat that's conducive to work before a flight, is tucked away in the passenger side of the airport.
It tends to be crowded early in the morning and late in the evening, as Hyderabad has a large business traveler population.
Buffalo Wild Wings If you have a longer layover, Buffalo Wild Wings provides a more leisurely experience at its dine-in counters than its quick-service counters. Famous for American comfort food, burgers and wings and larger portions of food.
This outlet is frequently the favored choice of younger passengers and travellers who have been waiting several hours before they leave.
Haldiram's Haldiram's offers popular Indian dishes, snacks, sweets and vegetarian cuisine, which is convenient for families and travellers who are in transit and need quick and nutritious food.
The menu is convenient for both the locals and foreigners who like to have a familiar Indian meal before a long flight.
Lounges
Encalm Lounge – Domestic Departures Encalm Lounge is one of the most popular high-end lounges at the airport, near the domestic departure terminal on Level E. Travelers have access to food buffets, beverages, work spaces, charging stations, Wi-Fi and quiet seating areas away from the crowds in the gate.
Priority pass, certain premium credit cards and paid access are accepted in the lounge, if available.
Encalm lounge is the International Departures section.
Encalm Lounge, located close to Gate 23B, is for those traveling overseas to the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia. During the day, the area is quieter but during the late hours the area is busier with international departure banks.
These amenities include buffet meals, refreshments, Wi-Fi, shower and comfortable seating for long waits.
Air India Maharajah Lounge This lounge is mainly for the use of Air India's premium class travelers, as well as the Air India star alliance elite travelers. It provides a more subdued setting for domestic departures and can be a preferred option for more brief business travel.
Transit Hotels & Rest Areas
Transit by Encalm Encalm's transit accommodation and short-stay rooms are right at the airport and very convenient for overnight stay and late flights. There are also comfortable sleeping rooms, shower rooms, wellness facilities and quiet resting areas at the airport zone available for travelers.
JPOD Sleeping Pods Budget-conscious passengers of transit vehicles can enjoy compact sleeping pod accommodation from JPOD. These pods are particularly convenient for short-term use between flights overnight.
Ground Transportation
It is well connected to the city by airport taxis, app based taxi services like Uber and Ola, airport shuttle and rentals.
Pushpak Airport Liner bus service is popular among those who do not want to spend a lot of money travelling to major city points like Hitech City, Secunderabad or central city of Hyderabad. For most travellers, especially late-night arrivals, ride-hailing service is still the quickest way to get to their destination.
Hyderabad tip for traveling: Traffic in the city during the evenings may be unpredictable; always plan to leave ample time when traveling from the city to the airport.
Traveler Essentials
The airport has ATMs, pharmacy counters, baggage wrapping counter, SIM card kiosks, currency exchange counters, charging stations and medical support facilities.
When travelling out of the country after hours, it can be convenient to only change a small sum at the start of your trip, and then get money from the city using digital currencies or forex.
Duty-Free Shopping
The shopping duty-free at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is spread across the International Departures (ID) terminal, mostly after the immigration and security check stands and is available to inbound international travellers at the arrival side. With high numbers of flights from the Gulf, Europe and the Southeast region, the shopping area is vibrant and open around the clock.
If the duty-free at HYD were a travel retail street, it wouldn't be just a counter for liquor and perfumes—the entire area feels more like a travel retail street. Passengers transiting the international concourse will encounter a blend of international luxury brands, premium offering brands from India, gifting gourmets and souvenir shopping from Hyderabad.
Fragrances, Beauty & Luxury Skincare The airport is one of the busiest retail zones with a special emphasis on the fragrance and cosmetics sector, particularly for passengers traveling to Middle Eastern destinations. International brands are popular items like Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Armani, Burberry, Lancôme, Estée Lauder, MAC, Calvin Klein and Paco Rabanne.
The section is a favorite for last minute gifts or for purchases on the plane, with a lot of emphasis on luxury skin care, travel-size cosmetics, anti-aging and airport-only perfume gift packs.
Traveler tip: perfumes bought at the airport may be cheaper than those available in the city, particularly in the holidays when travel is heavy.
Collectibles & wine from Premium Liquor & Tobacco Collections. The selection of drinks is large and typically highlights high-quality whiskies and international drinks. Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, Glenfiddich, Jack Daniel's, Ballantine's, Jameson, Hennessy, Absolut and Bombay Sapphire are common brands that travelers can find.
Travel retail bottles and packaging for collectors are often placed close to the central aisles, especially during holiday travel seasons. Of course, there are also sections for premium cigars and imported cigarettes as well as tobacco gift packs.Late night Gulf departures are particularly hectic in the liquor area as many travellers buy gifting bottles prior to their flights.
Chocolates, Gourmet Gifts & Indian Specialty Products The duty free section of Hyderabad Airport is one of the funner sections, where you can find international sweets as well as Indian gifting items. They can enjoy gourmet chocolate brands like Toblerone, Ferrero Rocher, Lindt, Patchi, Godiva and gourmet dry fruits, saffron, tea collections and Indian sweet gift packs.
The airport also embraces local culture with souvenirs, gifting with pearls, and collecting spice collections, among others, which will have a greater impact on international visitors seeking to find something more authentic than standard airport items.
This section is generally a favorite among tourists wishing to travel abroad as they will find that products have already been packed for ease of travel and it makes for a quick family gift.
Fashion, Accessories & Lifestyle Shopping The international retail area at HYD comprises travel fashion boutiques and accessory counters, where visitors can find sunglasses, handbags, wallets, watches and high quality travel equipment. Brands are subject to change throughout the year, but eyewear, leather, jewelry and smart travel accessories are among the categories that are likely to be seen by travelers.
Some retail counters are also affected by the reputation of Hyderabad as a pearl hub as one can also see jade- and jade-like collections of jewellery collections along with exquisite accessories near the central concourse of the mall.
Overall, the shopping experience seems to be a bit more refined and less frenzied compared to numerous busy metros in India, and shopping is not too difficult even during rush hours.
Electronics & Travel Essentials Travel adapters, headphones, charging cables, power banks, smart accessories, grooming devices and compact gadgets are available in the retail zone for those who want to make quick purchases of electronics.
Less expensive electronics can be purchased at the airport, but many travelers like to shop around first when purchasing a costly electronic item, since duty-free rates of electronics are not always drastically lower than the online or city retail rates.
Families & Children Shopping There are also toy spaces, candies, travel games, plush gifts and children's snack baskets located in the retail concourse for families traveling with children. They are especially colorful at holidays with themed gift packages and travel packages.
Bright confectionery displays and interactive chocolate sections are often used near the central shopping corridor, which are enjoyed by children.
Late-Night Shopping Atmosphere The duty free shopping area of Hyderabad Airport has one special thing about it that is the shopping area after midnight is a lively scene. The night time hours are a busy time for many of the international flights which leave from the terminal so it is still very lively at 2 AM or 3 AM.
Because of the amount of time spent on the counter browsing through fragrances, chocolates and liquor stalls, the airport has a more international air about it than quieter airports with more of a domestic feel.
For those travelling to HYD for duty-free shopping, here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind.
Be sure to have your boarding pass on hand, as it will be needed for any duty free items purchased.
When boarding an overseas flight, check on liquid restrictions at the next airport before buying big bottles of alcohol or perfumes.
Shop for electronics prior to purchase — perfumes, chocolates and liquor generally are more affordable at the airport.
It's easier to shop in the quiet evening than it is in the rush hour at midnight.
Certain high-end gift packs and gift sets are only available in travel stores and not in city stores.
The most popular categories of travel that people are looking to purchase at HYD are listed below:
Whisky & international spirits, premium quality
Luxury perfumes & skincare
Chocolates & gourmet gift packs
Hyderabad-inspired souvenirs
Tea, spices & Indian gifting products
Sunglasses & travel accessories
Tobacco & cigar collections
Last-minute international gifts
Suggested Layover Itineraries
3-hr layover – stay in the airport. Take advantage of the time at the airport without leaving the terminal; relax and enjoy a laid-back airport experience. Have a tea break at Café Niloufer, engage in duty-free shopping, and spend the rest of the time in the Encalm Lounge or the quiet seating area.
This is preferable for travellers who have not much stress before further travel.
5–6 Hour Layover – Quick Hyderabad Food & Heritage Loop With good immigration timing and traffic conditions you can make a short city trip towards the old Hyderabad side. A visit to the Charminar area for local food or shopping for pearls can be squeezed into this time frame.
This walk takes 45-70 minutes each way, depending on the traffic. It will be best to have an opportunity to do this outside rush hours.
Have a half-day experience in Hyderabad with an extra night's accommodation. The longer layover allows guests to relax and visit parts of Hyderabad like Charminar, Hussain Sagar, Laad Bazaar or modern areas of the city like Hitech City as per their interests.
Foodies choose biryani spots along with heritage areas, families opt for quieter cafés and shopping malls. Always check in to the airport 3 hours prior to international flights.
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