Sleeping in Airports

Kolkata Airport Guide

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Kolkata Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit.  Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

we slept sitting up. The lights remained on all night and we had to dawn our jackets (in India??) because the AC was quite cold. – Mur the Explorer

CCU Airport Overview

To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Kolkata Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (Code: CCU).

What to Expect

Kolkata Airport has a modern, six-level L-shaped terminal divided into domestic and international wings. The former domestic terminal still handles a few regional flights, and the former international terminal is used for chartered Hajj flights. The new terminal houses almost three dozen eateries and nearly two dozen retail establishments, almost all located on the airside. WiFi is available to help pass the time. Additional comfort can be found through fee-based access to one of the airport’s first-class lounges.

Kolkata Airport Guide
(Photo courtesy of a Guest Reviewer / 07Dec2018)

Sleeping in Kolkata Airport

Travellers call the airport safe and clean, with plenty of seating. Unfortunately, armrests make stretching out impossible. Be prepared to sleep on the floor. Airport staff are generally tolerant of overnight sleepers, but the terminal is cold, noisy and brightly lit. For those reasons, consider bringing an extra layer or travel blanket, earplugs/noise-cancelling earphones, and eyeshade if you intend to spend the night at the airport. For uninterrupted sleep, there are day rooms in the airport and several hotels located nearby. See Airport Hotels in the guide below.

Read some traveller reviews for more tips.

Good to Know

Mosquitoes have been spotted inside the airport terminal near the gates. Bring mosquito repellent!

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s website for current information. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Kolkata Airport Guide.

In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.   

Airport Hours

The airport is open 24 hours.

Rest & Relaxation Zones

There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Airport Hotels & Day Rooms

If sleeping in Kolkata Airport sounds like a nightmare, there are retiring rooms inside the terminal and hotels near the airport:

Retiring Rooms – For passengers with a confirmed onward flight ticket, the airport offers a variety of lodging at the airport. The Old Terminal (500 meters north of the New Terminal) has eight furnished retiring rooms, a 10-bed Ladies’ Dormitory, and a 24-bed Men’s Dormitory. Accommodation is subject to availability, available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and must be requested in person or via fax to the airport manager’s office. Maximum stay is 24 hours. At the time of this update, these were the current rates: Rs 1000/- per bed (twin-sharing) in a Retiring Room, Rs 1500/- per room for a family Retiring Room, and Rs 700/- per bed for the Dormitory. Hours: Open 24 hours. In the New Terminal, transit travellers have use of 12 double rooms located about 50 M from the luggage carousel. The rooms are fully furnished with an attached washroom, wardrobe, television, mini fridge, mobile/laptop charging points, WiFi, complimentary newspapers, drinking water, and tea/coffee. Check-in is available 24 hours a day. A reader tells us that showers are available. Rates start at RS 1,000. See the airport manager’s office on the departure level, which is accessible through Gate-3C or by sending a fax to 033-25118877.

Hotels near the airport

  • Holiday Inn Express Kolkata Airport  – 800m walk from the International Airport. No airport shuttle is available. » Check Rates
  • Hotel Airways – Located across from the Domestic Terminal building outside the airport area. There is an airport pick-up fee, but airport drop-off is free. » Check Rates

For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Kolkata Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.

Airport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!

  • Travel Club Lounge Annex – Location: Terminal 1, Airside, Mezzanine Level. Domestic flights. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
  • Travel Club (Domestic) – Location: Terminal 1, Airside, Mezzanine Level. Domestic flights. Lounge Access: Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
  • Travel Club (International) –  Location: Terminal 2, Airside, Mezzanine Level. International flights. Lounge Access: Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
  • Travel Club (International, Gate 10) – Location: Terminal 2, Airside, opposite Gate 10. International flights. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.

Related Pages: Kolkata Airport Lounges

Drinking Water

Information is unavailable. Does the airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.

Food & Drinks

Food concessions throughout the airport operate with varying schedules. At the time of this update, we cannot confirm the availability of 24-hour dining, but we can tell you that there is a wide variety of options located throughout the landside and airside areas of the airport.

Luggage Storage & Lockers

Luggage can be stored for up to 30 days in the Left Luggage Facility. Rates are Rs.20/- per bag for up to 24 hours and Rs.40/- per bag per day for every day beyond that, up to 30 days. Luggage is subject to X-rays and random hand searches. There are two locations: Arrivals, Counter 18 (near Gate 3C) or Departures, and the Airport Manager’s office, near Gate 3C. Hours: Open 24 hours.

Mobile Charging

A reader tells us that mobile charging facilities are available in domestic departure areas. The number of sockets is limited, but they are free of charge. An Indian power adapter is required.

Showers

A reader tells us that showers are available in the Retiring Rooms. (October 2024)

WiFi/Internet

Free WiFi is available at Kolkata Airport for 45 minutes. Connect to the “Tata Docomo Wi Fi” network, and enter your details at the web log-in page to get your WiFi serial number and PIN via SMS.

More Airport Information

More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover

Baby Care Facilities – If you are travelling with an infant, Child Care rooms are available for breastfeeding and diaper changing. Locations: three are available in Departures, and one is available in Arrivals, Lower Level.

Duty Free & Shopping – Duty-free shopping is available on both arrival and departure levels of the International wing of the terminal. In addition, a small variety of shops sell clothing, shoes, teas and other items throughout the airport.

Luggage

  • Baggage Trolleys – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available free of charge.
  • Luggage Storage & Lockers – see “Luggage Storage & Lockers” above.
  • Luggage Wrapping – Protect your bags from theft and damage by having them wrapped in plastic. Location: International Check-in area. Rates: Rs. 399/ bag.

Medical Services

  • Medical Services – There is a Medical Inspection Room located on both Departures and Arrivals levels for urgent and emergency medical assistance. Hours: Open 24 hours.
  • Pharmacy – Apollo Pharmacy is available, Domestic Hall, Landside.

Money

  • ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: multiple ATMs are available throughout the airport.
  • Currency Exchange – Seven foreign currency exchange counters are available at the airport. At the time of this update, they all appear to be located in the Arrivals area.

Post Office – Send your last-minute postcards to friends and family from the airport’s post office. Location: Arrivals Level.

Prayer Room – Location: unknown.

SIM Cards – A reader says, “There is no option inside the airport to buy cellular SIM card. However, after coming out of the airport area, the [SIM cards] are easily available, for which one must possess proof of identity issued by the respective Government of the country to which the buyer belongs.” (October 2023)

Smoking Lounge – Smoking is prohibited in the airport, except in the designated smoking rooms located both airside and landside.

Spa – Masti Health and Beauty offers spa services in the Domestic Hall, Airside.

Airlines
Kolkata Airport is served by the following airlines: Air India • Air Asia • Bhutan Airlines • Biman Bangladesh • China Eastern Airlines • Dragon Air • Druk Air • Emirates • Go Air • IndiGo • Jet Konnect • Qatar Airways • Regent Airways • Singapore Airlines • SpiceJet • Thai Airways • United Airlines.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Buses

The airport is served by West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC) with air-conditioned buses connecting passengers to a variety of destinations.

Car Rentals

Wenzcars offers car rental services on-site and is open 24 hours.

Hotel Shuttles

At the time of this update, we found only one hotel that provided airport transportation: Hotel Airways.

See also Airport Hotels above.

Taxis

Prepaid and on-demand taxis are available.

Trains

A reader says, “There is no railway connectivity from the CCU airport to the suburban or any railway network at present. Metro Railway connectivity to the airport is under construction and is likely to take 03 (Three) years to become operational.” (October 2023)

Last updated: 2024-08-26

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or  write a review.