Chennai has a large international airport about 17kms south of the city centre known as Meenambakkam Airport. The airport is divided into two distinct terminals. Anna International Terminal handles a good selection of routes to Europe the Middle East and parts of Asia, including direct flights from London on British Airways and New York on Delta. The Kamaraj Domestic Terminal services flights from every city in India via Jet Airways, Air Sahara and Indian Airlines.

The two adjacent terminals both have all the essential facilities a traveller might need upon arriving in Chennai. There are branches of Indian banks, ATMs, currency exchange bureaux and plenty of eating and drinking places. An airport communications centre provides internet access and video phones, while a number of small shops and a duty-free stores sell basic sundries. Information desks are available in both terminals (phone: +91 44 2256 0551) to help with any questions.

It takes about 30 minutes to drive from the airport into the city centre. Prepaid taxis and auto-rickshaws can be booked at kiosks in the arrivals area of both terminals, and are unquestionably the best transport option. If you plan to rent a car, the offices of several local car hire firms can be found the arrivals area. To get from the airport to Chennai, simply follow the GST road northeast from the airport, and the signs will lead you right into the city.

There is also a suburban rail connection just outside the airport called Tirusulam. Trains from this station run regularly to Fort George and Egmore stations every 30 minutes from early in the morning until late at night. A public bus stop can be found in front of the airport gates if you feel like starting off your trip with a dollop of excitement.

If you are travelling to Chennai from within India, the effective railway system has two main stations right in the heart of the city. Chennai Central is in Georgetown, and connects to most destinations around the country, while Egmore station deals mainly with destinations around Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

India also has a bus system, but this mode of travel can test even the hardiest constitutions. A short air-conditioned bus trip is no problem, but with such vast distances being covered in India, long-distance coach trips are not recommended. The massive Chennai Moffussil bus terminus is where you can catch long-distance coaches.

Renting a car to get around is not always the best idea in India. Roads can be a bit dodgy and during the rainy season conditions get quite nasty. If you want more freedom to explore the area in and around Chennai, a better option is to hire both a car and a driver per day and let them do the hard work while you sit back and enjoy the luscious scenery.

Chennai is really spread out, and unfortunately most of the attractions are located far away from each other. Walking between sites is virtually impossible but fortunately there is a dearth of auto-rickshaws and taxis. Unlike most other cities, however, taxis in Chennai don’t commonly cruise the streets looking for fares or line up at the taxi ranks waiting for customers. You will need to phone for a taxi pickup. Auto-rickshaws, on the other hand, ply the streets in a continual flow of exhaust and will stop for you even if you don’t flag them down.

Whether you use an auto-rickshaw or a taxi, always settle the fare before getting in. Taxi drivers in Chennai are notorious for trying to squeeze the highest possible fare out of foreigners, so it may help to get a general idea of fares from your hotel or other tourists.  If you want to hire a driver for the day, Tamil Nadu Tourism (phone: +91 44 2538 2916) is a great place to start.