Best Travel Credit Cards in India (2026): Types, Top Picks & How to Choose

Q: Which is the best travel credit card in India?

It depends on how you travel. Miles cards like Axis Atlas suit flexible travellers, zero forex cards like Scapia suit international spenders, and co-branded cards suit loyal flyers of one airline.

Q: What is a forex markup fee?

It's a fee, often around 3.5% plus GST, that card issuers charge when you pay in a foreign currency or on some foreign websites. Zero forex cards don't charge it.

Q: Do travel credit cards give free lounge access?

Many do, but most now require a minimum spend in the previous month or quarter to unlock visits. Check the rules for your card.

Q: Can I still get a Vistara credit card?

No. After Vistara merged into Air India, the Vistara co-branded cards stopped taking new applications.

Q: Are travel credit cards worth the annual fee?

Only if you travel enough to use the benefits. Add up the miles, lounge visits and forex savings you'd really use and compare that with the fee.

Team PaisaSimple • January 20, 2025

Traveller at an airport with a suitcase, passport and credit card, using a travel credit card in India

Miles, zero forex, airline perks or train rewards? Learn the types of travel credit cards in India, popular picks for 2026 and how to choose the right one.

Last reviewed: October 2026

A good travel credit card can pay for part of your next trip, save on foreign currency fees and make airport waits more comfortable. But travel cards come in very different types, and the best one depends on how you travel. Here's a simple guide for 2026.

Types of travel credit cards in India

Type	Best for	What you get
Miles / travel rewards cards	People who travel a few times a year, on different airlines	Miles or points you can use for flights and hotels, or transfer to airline and hotel programmes
Zero or low forex cards	People who spend abroad or on foreign websites	Little or no foreign currency markup (most cards charge around 3.5%)
Airline co-branded cards	Loyal flyers of one airline	Airline points, sometimes free tickets or upgrades
Railway cards	Frequent train travellers	Rewards on IRCTC bookings, fee waivers

Popular travel credit cards (as of October 2026)

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card: miles

Earns 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on travel (up to a monthly limit) and 2 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on other spends. Miles can be transferred to airline and hotel partners, though Axis cut some partners and added transfer caps in 2026. Fee: ₹5,000 + GST. Lounge access depends on the card's tier and, at some tiers, on your spending. See Axis Atlas

Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card: zero forex

Zero forex markup and no joining or annual fee. You earn Scapia Coins that you can use on travel bookings in the Scapia app. Since February 2026, unlimited domestic lounge access needs ₹20,000 of spend in the previous month. See Scapia

IndiGo SBI Card: airline co-brand

Launched in 2025, it comes in two versions (IndiGo SBI Card and IndiGo SBI Card ELITE) and earns rewards in IndiGo's loyalty programme. Best if you mostly fly IndiGo. Check fees and benefits on SBI Card's website.

IRCTC SBI Card Premier: trains

Gives value back as reward points on AC train tickets booked on IRCTC, a waiver of the transaction fee on rail bookings, and other rail benefits. Fee ₹1,499 + GST. Points are best used for IRCTC bookings. See IRCTC SBI Card Premier

Premium cards with strong travel value

Super-premium cards such as HDFC Infinia and HDFC Diners Club Black Metal give high value when points are redeemed for flights and hotels, plus lounge access. They suit high spenders. See our best credit cards in India guide.

What happened to the Vistara cards? Vistara merged into Air India in November 2024. The Vistara co-branded cards stopped taking new customers and their benefits have been wound down. Air India and SBI Card announced a new co-branded card in October 2026, but details weren't public at the time of writing.

Key features to compare

Reward rate on travel and on everyday spends. Most of your spending isn't travel, so the base rate matters.
Forex markup. Usually around 3.5% plus GST on many cards; some travel cards charge much less or nothing.
Lounge access rules. Many cards now need you to spend a set amount each month or quarter to unlock lounge visits. See credit cards with lounge access.
Transfer partners for miles, and any caps.
Annual fee and the spend needed to waive it. All fees and charges must be listed in the card's Key Fact Statement under the RBI's credit card rules.

How to choose the right travel credit card

Mostly one airline? Look at that airline's co-branded card.
Different airlines and hotels? A miles card gives more flexibility.
Spend abroad a lot? A zero or low forex card can save 3–4% on every foreign spend.
Travel by train? A railway card gives rewards on IRCTC bookings.
Travel only once or twice a year? A simple cashback card may give you more value overall.

The bottom line

The best travel credit card matches your travel style: miles for flexibility, zero forex for trips abroad, co-branded cards for loyal flyers and rail cards for train travel. Check the 2026 changes to lounge and reward rules before you apply.

Ready to compare? Compare credit cards on PaisaSimple →

Sources

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not financial advice. Card fees, rewards, forex charges and lounge rules are set by each issuer, change often and are summarised here as of October 2026. Check the issuer's official terms before applying.

PaisaSimple may earn a commission if you apply through links on this page. This never affects how we explain or compare cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best travel credit card in India?

What is a forex markup fee?

Do travel credit cards give free lounge access?

Can I still get a Vistara credit card?

Are travel credit cards worth the annual fee?