Getting Around, Chennai Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)

Arranging transport to and from Chennai is easy, thanks to the major international airport here. Located just 7 km / 4 miles to the south of the city, Chennai International Airport is home to in excess of 25 different airlines, which currently struggle to keep up with the high demand for flights.

Chennai also has enormous bus and train stations, making it simple to travel to cities across Tamil Nadu and throughout India. Public transportation around the metropolitan area includes inexpensive bus travel, auto rickshaws and a popular commuter train.

Chennai International Airport (MAA) / Arriving by Air

Address: Great Southern Trunk Road, Meenambakkam, Tamil Nadu, India, IN
Tel: +91 044 2256 0501
Chennai International Airport is one of the largest international hubs in the country. Its 12 million annual passengers make it the nation's third-busiest airport next to Mumbai and Delhi.

An extensive network of flights connect all over the subcontinent, the Middle East and Asia at large, with a few connections to Europe and North America aboard Jet Airways.

Car Rental

Renting a car is possible in Chennai, but these vehicles almost always come with a driver. Most drive for affordable daily rates, and this can be a serious convenience for visitors who want to follow their own schedule without having to cope with local driving conventions or complicated directions. An experienced driver can make a day of sightseeing all the more easy to organise transport-wise.

Book your Chennai Car Rental here.

Buses and Coaches

Buses ply routes all over the city and are the most affordable means of getting around. The state-of-the-art Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) is one of the largest bus stations in Asia and operates regular services to cities all across India, handling some 200,000 passengers each day. Tourists will want to stick to the deluxe air-conditioned buses operated by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), as anything else is far too uncomfortable. Of note, information on routes is available online.

Trains

Trains tend to be more popular than buses and cover many of the same inter-city routes, with both the Egmore and Chennai Central stations operating long-haul services. Many destinations are connected by this railway and trains travel on a daily basis for Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kolkata. Locally, trains also connect the suburbs to the city centre.

Taxi / Auto Rickshaws (Autorickshaws)

Taxis are handy for getting from the train station, bus station or airport to your hotel. Away from these locations, taxis are harder to secure, but auto rickshaws are ubiquitous. Be sure to agree on the fare ahead of time, as the meter seldom works.