Pune Airport (PNQ) is sometimes also called Lohegaon Airport. It is situated just 10kms from the city centre and shares a runway with Lohegaon Air Base. Air India offers direct flights between Pune and Dubai; and Indian Airlines services direct flights to Singapore. Other airlines working out of Pune Airport include Air Sahara and Jet Airways, domestic carriers that link Pune to Indian cities like Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad. For the more budget conscious, there are airlines like SpiceJet and Air Deccan that fly to destinations within India.

There are taxi services from the airport to the city and it’s best to get a prepaid cab from within the airport. Alternatively, you can take an auto-rickshaw into Pune, or even a bus.

Mumbai is the nearest major city to Pune and many visitors choose to arrive via one of Mumbai’s airports: Chattrapathi Shivaji International Airport or Santa Cruz Domestic Airport. Chattrapathi Shivaji International Airport is a major gateway into India and is the busiest airport in the country with just short of 50 landings and takeoffs every hour. The airport is only 35kms from the centre of Mumbai and only a couple hours from Pune.

Chattrapathi Shivaji International Airport offers the full amenities you would expect from a major international airport, including bank counters outside the customs area and hotel booking and prepaid taxi services. The Departures lounge offers ample shopping including duty-free, a pharmacy and a bookshop. There is also a restaurant, a snack bar and an exchange kiosk.

The domestic airport in Mumbai, Santa Cruz Airport is even closer to the city centre at just 25kms distance. It offers services such as hotel bookings, auto rentals and a taxi stand outside. The small Departures area has a snack bar and a few shops. Pune can easily be reached from either of Mumbai’s airports by taxi, bus, rail or connecting flights.

There are excellent road and rail links to Pune from all major cities in India. Most visitors arrive via Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, or Chennai. There are two train stations in the area: Pune and Shivajinagar. The local trains will get you to Pune from Khadki, Pimpri, Chinchwad and Lonavala.

The new Mumbai-Pune Expressway provides a luxurious ride by bus. Buses also connect Pune to other cities like Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Blue-and-white air-conditioned taxis operate on a prepaid fare basis between Pune and Mumbai, and these are found at the airports and railway stations.

While in Pune, you’ll find that the best way to get around is by auto-rickshaw. The roads in Pune are pretty narrow, traffic is heavy, and there’s not much parking, so hiring a car or motorbike is not recommended. Auto-rickshaws don’t typically have meters so it’s best to negotiate the fare before you get in. There will be extra charges for bags and additional stops but tipping is not expected.