Overview
Amritsar is the spiritual heart of the Sikh faith and one of Punjab's most rewarding city breaks. It pairs profound history — the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum — with some of the finest food in India, from Amritsari kulcha to thick, cardamom lassi. For UK travellers it works as a standalone trip or as a gateway to Himachal, Delhi and Kashmir. This page shows live fares for cheap flights to Amritsar, so use the price charts alongside the advice below.
Best time to fly to Amritsar
The most comfortable months are October to March, when days are mild and dry and evenings cool. December and January can be genuinely cold at night and prone to morning fog, which occasionally delays flights. April to June is very hot, often above 40°C, while the monsoon brings humid, showery weather from July to September. Baisakhi in April and Bandi Chhor Divas (Diwali) are spectacular but busy, so book early. The When to book chart above shows how fares shift across the year.
Airlines and routes
Air India operates a nonstop service between London Gatwick and Amritsar, with a typical flight time of around nine hours. One-stop routings are often cheaper and offer more departure points: Qatar Airways via Doha, Emirates via Dubai, Etihad via Abu Dhabi, Gulf Air via Bahrain and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul all link UK airports to Amritsar, as does Air India via Delhi. Allow roughly 12–16 hours for a connecting journey. From Manchester, Birmingham or Scotland, a one-stop Gulf or Turkish routing is usually simplest.
Things to do in Amritsar
Compact and walkable around the old city, Amritsar rewards a two or three-night stay.
- Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib): The gilded gurdwara at the centre of a sacred pool, open to all and unforgettable after dark.
- Jallianwala Bagh: A moving memorial garden marking the 1919 massacre, steps from the temple.
- Wagah–Attari border ceremony: The theatrical evening flag-lowering drill on the Pakistan frontier, about an hour away.
- Partition Museum: First-person accounts of 1947 housed in the historic Town Hall.
- Gobindgarh Fort: A restored 18th-century fort with museums, street food and evening shows.
At Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ)
The airport lies about 11 km north-west of the centre, roughly 25–35 minutes by road. Prepaid taxis and app cabs such as Uber and Ola are the easiest way in; agree a fare in advance for an ordinary taxi. Many hotels near the Golden Temple arrange airport pick-ups, and a local bus also runs into town.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Amritsar
- Book roughly two to five months ahead; fares to Amritsar tend to climb sharply close to departure.
- Fly midweek and avoid the school holidays, Christmas and the peak October–November festival period.
- Keep your dates flexible and use the price charts on this page to spot cheaper days either side of your ideal departure.
- Compare the nonstop from Gatwick against one-stop Gulf and Turkish carriers, which are often better value from regional airports.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need a visa for India. Most visitors apply online for the e-Tourist visa before travelling and carry a printed copy for arrival; your passport should have at least six months' validity and a blank page. The currency is the Indian rupee, a closed currency, so use ATMs or exchange on arrival rather than at home and keep pounds only for prepaid costs. See a GP or travel clinic six to eight weeks before departure for advice on vaccinations such as hepatitis A and typhoid, drink bottled or filtered water, and pack a scarf to cover your head in the gurdwaras.
