A travel card earns its keep in three places: what it pays back on flights and hotels, the markup it adds to every spend abroad, and the lounge and insurance perks around it. This list ranks the first, in rupees, and shows the forex markup beside it. Data as of October 2026.
The best travel credit cards, ranked
| # | Card | Back | Where it applies | Monthly cap | Annual fee | Forex markup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Axis Bank Burgundy Private Credit Card | 6% | All spends in this category | No stated cap | ₹1,18,000 a year | 0% |
| 2 |  Axis Bank Primus Credit Card | 5% | All spends in this category | No stated cap | ₹3,54,000 a year | 0% |
| 3 |  Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card | 4% | All spends in this category | No stated cap | ₹5,900 a year | 3.5% |
| 4 |  Axis Bank Olympus Credit Card | 4% | All spends in this category | No stated cap | ₹23,600 a year | 1.8% |
| 5 |  Bank of Baroda Eterna Credit Card | 3.75% | All spends in this category | ₹1,250 a month | ₹2,949 a year | 2% |
| 6 |  Bank of Baroda Tiara Credit Card | 3.75% | All spends in this category | ₹1,250 a month | ₹2,949 a year | 2% |
| 7 |  HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition | 3.33% | All spends in this category | No stated cap | ₹11,800 a year | 2% |
| 8 |  HDFC Bank Infinia Metal Credit Card | 3.3% | All spends in this category | No stated cap | ₹14,750 a year | 2% |
How we ranked them: what each card pays back on ₹5,000 a month in that spend, from the bank’s published rate and monthly cap, with lower annual fees first when two cards pay the same. A rate the bank limits to named shops is shown with the shop names. What a bank pays SkyloFin is never part of the order. Rates and caps change, so check the card’s page and the bank’s terms before you apply.
What to check before you pick one
- The annual fee against your travel. Several top earners cost ₹20,000 or more a year. Divide the fee by what the card would pay you back on your own yearly travel spend before you choose it.
- Points are not rupees. Most travel cards pay in points or miles; the rate above is their stated rupee value for the usual redemption. Transfers to airline partners can be worth more, and catalogue redemptions less.
- The forex markup. Every foreign spend carries it, plus 18% GST on the markup. A 3.5% markup costs about 4.13% of each spend abroad. Compare it on our international credit cards page.
- Lounge access rules. Many banks now ask for a minimum spend in the previous quarter before the next lounge visit is free. The card’s page shows its current rule.
See every card, ranked
The full ranking, updated from the banks’ terms: best credit cards for travel. All travel cards: travel credit cards.
Questions people ask
Which is the best travel credit card in India?
On our data, Axis Bank Burgundy Private Credit Card pays the most back on travel spends (6%), but it costs ₹1,18,000 a year. For most people a card with a lower fee and a low forex markup gives more after the fee; the table shows both.
Is a travel card worth it if I travel once a year?
Usually not for a card with a high fee. A lifetime free card with a low forex markup often saves more on one trip than a premium card earns, once its fee is counted.
Do travel cards charge a forex markup?
Most do, usually 1.99% to 3.5% plus GST. A few charge none; the last column shows each card’s stated markup.
Updated 18 Oct 2026.
