Getting around India · the practical pieces.
Last verified: May 2026
Rides, trains, eSIM, payments — the on-the-ground basics every NRI sets up before landing.
🏆 Set up before you land
Uber & Ola
Works in all major Indian cities. Your international card works fine. Install both apps before you land — Ola often has shorter wait times in tier-2 cities, Uber better in metros. ₹50–300/ride typical.
Major citiesIntl card OK
Car with driver
Best for intercity trips and family travel. ₹1,500–3,000/day all-in. Ask your hotel to arrange — usually cheaper than Uber Outstation or car-rental agencies, and the driver knows the route.
IntercityFamily₹1.5-3K/day
Indian Railways · IRCTC
Cheapest city-to-city by far. Book under tourist quota on IRCTC. Vande Bharat or AC2 for comfort. Delhi–Agra in 2 hours flat — train often beats flight when you factor airport time.
Cheapest intercityVande Bharat
Auto-rickshaws & Rapido
For short city hops. Rapido (bike taxis) faster in traffic than cabs. Fare ₹30–150 typical. Cash and UPI both accepted. Most autos in metros now have meters that work.
Short hops₹30-150
📱 Best for short trips
Airalo eSIM
Install before you fly — activates on arrival. Best for trips under 3 weeks. 1GB from $4.50, 10GB from $19. No SIM-card queue at the airport, no passport verification, no local KYC.
Short trips$4.50+No KYC
Local SIM · Airtel or Jio
For stays over 3 weeks. ₹200–500/month unlimited data. Go to an official store with your passport and OCI card — the airport-counter SIMs often take 24-48 hr to activate.
Long stays₹200-500/moOCI/passport
UPI / wallets
Most NRIs can't use Indian UPI without a domestic bank account, but international UPI is rolling out via NRE accounts. PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm — install one in advance if you have NRE.
Need NREPhonePe / GPay
Shows & events · BookMyShow
Movies, theatre, concerts across India. Popular shows + cricket matches sell out — book before you land. International cards work on BookMyShow.
Pre-bookIntl card OK
Some links above are affiliate-wrapped (Cuelinks). We may earn a small commission at no cost to you. This does not influence which apps/services we recommend — listed based on NRI accessibility (intl-card support, no domestic-KYC requirement) and reliability. Pricing accurate May 2026 but services + plans change frequently.