A good travel card pays you back every time you fly or spend abroad — through free airport lounge visits, miles you can convert into free flights, travel vouchers, and lower foreign currency charges.
If you travel abroad, look closely at the forex markup: a 0% or 1.5–2% card can save ₹2,000–₹3,500 on every ₹1 lakh you spend overseas compared to a standard 3.5% card.
⭐ Top pick
Axis Bank
Magnus
★ 4.5 / 5
Super-premium card with unlimited international lounges
- 💎35 points/₹200 above ₹1.5L monthly spend
- ♾️Unlimited lounges international + domestic
- 🎫₹12,500 voucher welcome benefit
Annual fee₹12,500/yr
Rewards≈1.2% – 3.5%+ in points
Apply Now — it's free →
⭐ Top pick
14 lounge visits, free movie tickets and 50,000 bonus points a year
- ✈️8 + 6 lounges domestic + international
- 🎬2 free tickets/month on BookMyShow
- 🏆50,000 points in yearly milestones
Annual fee₹4,999/yr
Rewards0.5% – 2.5% value back
Apply Now — it's free →
⭐ Top pick
Axis Bank
Privilege
★ 4.1 / 5
12,500 welcome points worth ₹2,500 + domestic lounges
- 🎁12,500 points welcome, worth ₹2,500
- ✈️8 lounges/year domestic, spend-linked
- 🛫15% off flights + 10% off Amazon Fresh
Annual fee₹1,500/yr
Rewards~1% value back
Apply Now — it's free →
⭐ Top pick
Axis Bank
Privilege Amex
American Express
Axis Bank
Privilege Amex
★ 4.0 / 5
Buy-one-get-one movies + 8 lounge visits on Amex
- 🎬Buy 1 Get 1 movie tickets
- ✈️8 lounges/year domestic airports
- 🧳Bonus points on travel bookings
Annual fee₹1,500/yr
RewardsAccelerated on travel & dining
Apply Now — it's free →
⭐ Top pick🆓 Lifetime free
Axis Bank
LIC Signature
Visa
Axis Bank
LIC Signature
★ 3.9 / 5
Lifetime free card with 8 airport lounge visits
- 🆓Lifetime free no fees ever
- ✈️8 lounges/year domestic airports
- 📄2X on LIC insurance premiums
Annual feeLifetime Free
Rewards1 – 2 EDGE points / ₹100
Apply Now — it's free →
⭐ Top pick
Earn travel credits that convert to air miles & hotel points
- ✈️2 credits / ₹200 on travel spends
- 🛋️4 lounges/year domestic airports
- 🔁Transfer to airline & hotel partners
Annual fee₹1,499/yr
Rewards0.5% – 1% in travel credits
Apply Now — it's free →
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⭐ Top pick
SBI Card
IRCTC RuPay
RuPay
SBI Card
IRCTC RuPay
★ 3.9 / 5
10% back on AC train tickets booked on IRCTC
- 🚆10% back on AC & chair car bookings
- 🛋️4 railway lounges every year
- 📲UPI ready RuPay card
Annual fee₹300/yr
RewardsUp to 10% on IRCTC AC bookings
Apply Now — it's free →
🆓 Lifetime free
Scapia × Axis Bank
Scapia
★ 4.6 / 5
Free travel card: 0% forex + unlimited lounge access
- 🌍0% forex in 180+ countries
- ♾️Unlimited lounges domestic, on ₹20k monthly spend
- 🧳4% back on Scapia app travel bookings
Annual feeLifetime Free
Rewards1% – 4% value back
Apply Now — it's free →
15 reward points per ₹100 online, plus unlimited lounge visits
- 🛒15 pts / ₹100 online, travel, dining & movies
- ✈️Unlimited lounges domestic, spend-linked
- 🌍2% forex lower than most cards
Annual fee₹2,499/yr
Rewards0.75% – 3.75% value back
Apply Now — it's free →
🆓 Lifetime free
Uni × BOBCARD
GoldX
RuPay
Uni × BOBCARD
GoldX
★ 4.3 / 5
1% back as real 24K digital gold, plus 0% forex abroad
- 🪙1% in 24K gold on every eligible spend
- 🌍0% forex on international spends
- 📲1% on UPI RuPay scan & pay
Annual feeLifetime Free
Rewards1% – 5% back in gold
Apply Now — it's free →
HDFC Bank
Marriott Bonvoy
★ 4.3 / 5
Free Marriott night every year + 24 lounge visits
- 🏨Free night worth up to 15,000 points, every year
- ✈️12 + 12 lounges India & abroad, no spend needed
- ⭐Silver Elite Marriott Bonvoy status
Annual fee₹3,000/yr
Rewards2 – 8 Bonvoy points / ₹150
Apply Now — it's free →
IDFC FIRST Bank
FIRST Mayura
★ 4.3 / 5
0% forex + 32 airport lounge visits a year
- 🌍0% forex on international spends
- ✈️32 lounges/year 16 domestic + 16 international
- 🎬Buy 1 Get 1 on BookMyShow
Annual fee₹5,999/yr
Rewards5X – 10X reward points
Apply Now — it's free →
🆓 Lifetime free
Lifetime free card whose points transfer to 20 airlines & hotels
- 🆓Lifetime free no spend conditions
- ✈️Up to 6X on travel via HSBC portal
- 🔁20 partners airline & hotel transfers
Annual feeLifetime Free
Rewards2 – 10 points / ₹150
Apply Now — it's free →
🆓 Lifetime free
IDFC FIRST Bank
FIRST WOW!
★ 4.1 / 5
Lifetime free FD card with 0% forex and guaranteed approval
- ⚡Instant approval against an FD
- 🌍0% forex on international spends
- 🆓Lifetime free no joining or annual fee
Annual feeLifetime Free
Rewards3X – 10X reward points
Apply Now — it's free →
IDFC FIRST Bank
FIRST WOW! Black
★ 4.0 / 5
FD-backed card with 0% forex and 4 airport lounge visits
- 🌍0% forex on international spends
- ✈️4 lounges/year domestic airports
- 🏨Bonus points on IDFC FIRST travel bookings
Annual fee₹750/yr
RewardsUp to 16.7% on travel via IDFC app
Apply Now — it's free →
What is a forex markup?
It's the fee your card charges on foreign currency spends — usually 3.5% plus GST. Travel cards often reduce this to 2%, 1.5% or even 0%.
Is airport lounge access really free?
On many cards, yes — but more and more banks now require a minimum spend in the previous month or quarter. We mention spend conditions on each card page.
Do travel cards make sense if I fly only once or twice a year?
A lifetime free travel card does. High-fee premium travel cards are only worth it if you travel and spend often.
Approval is at the bank's discretion. Check final terms on the bank's page before applying.
