Flights San Francisco (SFO) - Delhi (DEL)

About the flight from SFO to DEL

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is around 13 miles from the Financial District in downtown San Francisco. Called Indira Gandhi Airport (DEL), Delhi's airport is located close to 10 miles from the center of New Delhi.

Around 20 airlines offer flights from San Francisco to Delhi. Direct service is provided by United Airlines and Air India. Additional carriers servicing this route include Lufthansa and Cathay Pacific.

The flight distance for direct flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Delhi (DEL) is 7,707 miles, and the flight time is roughly 16 hours. If passengers book a flight requiring a connection, they should anticipate a travel time between 19 to over 30 hours. In some cases, they will be required to stay overnight at another location.

Although direct flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Delhi (DEL) are the fastest option, there are usually only two offered per day. However, passengers can choose daily between over 70 flights requiring a connecting flight in another city. Layovers occur in cities such as Vancouver, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

Public transportation, parking, and ride-shares at SFO and DEL

Passengers have many ways to reach San Francisco International Airport. These include driving, using ride-share apps, by taxi, or Supershuttle. A BART train station is also located directly at the airport. Plenty of short and long-term parking is available and each terminal has a drop-off and pick-up zone.

Once at Indira Gandhi Airport, passengers can easily reach the city by metro within 20 to 30 minutes. Another option is to use a ride-sharing app such as Ola or Uber, travel by pre-paid taxi, or take the bus. Onsite parking is also available.

Practical information

San Francisco has heavy traffic throughout the day, especially during rush hour, so it's wise to plan in a little extra travel time to reach the airport. The same is true in Delhi, so in both cases traveling by train to and from the airport may be the quickest option.

To enter India, all foreign nationals need both a passport (valid for at least 180 days) and a visa. Visa applications can be completed and paid for online. A visit to a doctor to receive the recommended vaccinations is also advisable.

New Delhi is 12.5 hours ahead of San Francisco. The city has a hot season from April to July (average daily high 96 F) and a cool season from early December to mid-February (74 F high to 46 F low). Heavy rain fall is possible from mid-June to mid-September.

Top travel tips

Many agree that the best time to visit New Delhi is either in the fall (October/November) or the late winter (February/March). During these times, the weather is drier and neither too hot nor too warm.

Travelers will have to exchange their dollars into Indian rupees. As of October 2019, the exchange rate is 1 USD = 71 INR. The official languages of India are Hindi and English. Tourists from the United States should have no problem getting by with English in Delhi, although they may run into problems if they travel to more rural areas off the beaten path.

Although Delhi is a very exciting city with plenty to explore, many westerners experience culture shock when arriving. It's a good idea to read up on typical culture shock issues, for example, facing poverty.

It's important to always haggle and bargain at markets. As a rule of thumb, you should never pay more than half of the initial offer. But keep in mind that bargaining is meant to be fun, so always do it with a smile!

What to see in Delhi

Check out Old Delhi

No trip to Delhi is complete without getting lost in the narrow bazaars in Old Delhi. You'll truly feel like you've been transported back in time to the Middle Ages. Worth it for the smells and colorful mounds of spices alone!

Hop on a bus tour

For tourists in the city, taking a bus tour can be the best way to see the major sites in a practical way. Both half-day, one-day, and two-day tours are generally available.

Snack on scrumptious street food

Delhi is famous for its street food, and for good reason. Pick up some tasty treats while traipsing around Old Dehli, such chaatpapdi (spicy fried wafers with potatoes, yoghurt, and garbanzo beans) or piping hot kebabs served with sticky jalebis (sweet fried dough),to name but a few.

Read more about Delhi

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