When is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Calcutta?
The best and cheapest time to find Calcutta flights is around September at the end of the monsoon season. The winter months (October to March) often has the most pleasant weather and thus coincides with the peak tourist season. Take advantage of last-minute flights on Netflights to save on flights to Calcutta during the winter. Summer (April to June) tends to be hot and humid with temperatures rising to 45 degrees Celsius regularly.
When is the Best Time to Book your Flight to Calcutta?
Book as early as possible to find cheap Calcutta flights. To keep costs low, booking and travelling during the week in addition to choosing the ‘flexible dates’ option on Netflights will help you find great deals on return flights, even during the peak season. If you can travel during the peak season, your visit might coincide with popular Hindu festivals, such as Durga Puja, Laxmi Puja and Kali Puja. You could also try expanding your search to include other India airports.
Flying to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), located less than 17 kilometres from Calcutta, is India’s fifth-busiest airport and one of two international airports serving the West Bengal region.
Search and book flights to Calcutta from major United Kingdom (UK) airports, like London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast. Although no airport has direct flights to CCU, you can find single-stopover return flights departing from London Heathrow and London Gatwick as well as Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. Edinburgh and Belfast both offer flights with two or more stops. Stopover will likely be in cities like Doha, Frankfurt and Zurich. British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Swiss Airlines are some of the more popular airlines that offer Calcutta flights from the UK.
On Arrival and Getting Around the Airport
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is a large, modern single-terminal airport in the shape of an L. Terminal 2 first opened in 2013 and has five levels. In addition to separate levels for arrivals and departures, it is also divided into international and domestic halls. Because of CCU’s layout, passengers can navigate between halls easily and efficiently. The airport has several amenities available, including ATMs, currency exchanges, restaurants, cafeterias, duty-free shops, retail shops, luggage storage and lockers, baggage trolleys, medical services, baby-care facilities, a post office, prayer rooms and free Wi-Fi for up to 30 minutes.
Getting to the City from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)
To get from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport to Calcutta, you can take a taxi, a bus or train or hire a car. Taxis are a convenient option as they are available at the taxi rank right outside the arrivals area. You can book a taxi in advance or reserve one upon your arrival. For a cheaper option, there are several public bus lines that stop near the airport. The nearest stop is a 15-minute walk from CCU. The arrivals area is near the train station and railway reservation offices. The car hire desk is also in the arrivals hall.
Why visit Calcutta?
Calcutta has long been India’s intellectual, artistic and cultural capital. Once part of the British East India Trading Company, its British colonial roots are evident in its historic sites, like the Marble Palace, Fort William, Victoria Memorial and the large, gothic St Paul’s Cathedral. The city’s grand architecture also reflects its Indian heritage at sites like the Birla Mandir Temple and the Dakshineswar Kali Temple.
Learn more about India’s history with a visit to the Indian Museum, the largest and oldest museum in the country. Bibliophiles can browse for books at the National Library, the largest library in India. Mix with the locals by trying out some local delicacies at the busy New Market or having breakfast at the Tiretta Bazaar. If you are looking to pick out some flowers, the Mullik Ghat Flower Market is the place to go.
Don't Forget Before you Fly
Before travelling to Calcutta, British nationals need to apply for an e-visa or regular visa. Visit the Indian High Commission website for further information and instructions on how to apply. You can stay up to 60 days with double entry on tourist and business e-visas and triple entry with emergency e-visas; the 60 days begin on your date of entry. Make sure your passport has two blank pages for the visa and that it is valid for at least 180 days after the date of your visa application. The currency is the Indian rupee.
