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Kolkata

The Cultural Heart of India

Kolkata stands out as a major city in eastern India, known for its rich history and vibrant culture. The city features grand colonial buildings alongside bustling markets where street vendors sell spices and sweets. Local trains carry millions daily while the Hooghly River shapes much of the landscape. Kolkata is famous for literature, music and festivals like Durga Puja that draw large crowds. Its food includes fish curries and delicate desserts such as rasgulla. The city balances tradition with modern growth in education and technology sectors.

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City in India

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 4.7

General Safety:	5
Health & medical:	5
Accessibility:	3
Tap water:	3

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas, hotels, and with younger locals. Most signs are bilingual, making navigation easier for English speakers.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Kolkata Summary

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Rich in culture and colonial history. Visit major museums and temples, explore bustling markets, enjoy famous street food and experience vibrant festivals.

Place score

6.3

Best at:

Local cuisine

Street food

Markets

Historic sites

Architecture

Personal score

Suited for

👶 5

Families

🧓 4

Seniors

💻 7

Digital Nomads

🥗 7

Vegetarian

India – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type D , Type M Type C: Type D: Type M: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Indian Rupee (INR) £1 ≈ ₹126.52
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common in India, especially in urban areas. Credit cards and mobile payment apps like Google Pay, Paytm, and PhonePe are widely accepted in cities. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated in India but not mandatory. A 10% tip in restaurants is common. Tipping taxi drivers and hotel staff is also customary, typically 10-15% for good service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is not commonly seen in India. Alcohol is typically consumed in licensed bars, restaurants, and hotels.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public spaces, including restaurants, bars, and public transport stations.

Independence Day (15 August)	A national holiday celebrated with flag hoisting and parades
Diwali (October-November)	The Festival of Lights, celebrated with fireworks and festivities

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112
Taxi apps:	Ola, Uber
Other:	India is a vast and diverse country with a rich cultural heritage, offering a wide range of experiences from ancient temples to modern cities. Prepare for varying infrastructure and safety conditions depending on the region.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Kolkata, India

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Jan

🔥

Feb

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Mar

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Apr

🔥

May

⛈️

Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

🔥

Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - Feb., Oct. - Dec.
Shoulder season:	March, Sep.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Durga Puja, late September to mid October: Kolkata's biggest festival, huge crowds at decorated pandals, hotels book out early and many shops close

Monsoon June to September brings heavy rain and flooded streets, April to May is very hot and humid

Don't miss

🏛️ Visit the grand Victoria Memorial and stroll through its gardens
🚋 Ride a hand-pulled rickshaw through the bustling streets of old Kolkata
🏢 Admire colonial architecture along B.B.D. Bagh and Park Street
🍮 Sample Bengali sweets like rasgulla and mishti doi at a local shop
🏏 Watch a cricket match at the historic Eden Gardens stadium
🌼 Explore the flower-filled chaos of the Mullick Ghat Flower Market at dawn

You've been here?

Why travel to Kolkata?

Kolkata offers a unique mix of colonial charm, rich cultural traditions and vibrant street life. From iconic landmarks like the Victoria Memorial to the spiritual aura of the Kalighat Temple, every corner tells a story. It’s a haven for art lovers and foodies, with bustling markets and mouthwatering street food. Be prepared for a bit of chaos, but embrace it – this city has a soul like no other!

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Belur Math
2 Dakshineswar Kali Hindu Temple
3 Howrah Bridge
4 Indian Museum
5 Jorasanko Thakur Bari
6 Kalighat Kali Temple
7 marble Palace
8 Science City
9 Saint Paul's Anglican Cathedral
10 Victoria Memorial

🎡Places for activities

1 Academy of Fine Arts
2 Alipore Zoo
3 Birla Planetarium
4 Eden Gardens
5 Nandan (West Bengal Film Centre)
6 Nicco Park
7 Prinsep Ghat

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Eco Park
2 Millennium Park
3 Rabindra Sarobar

🛍️Shopping

1 College Street
2 Gariahat Market
3 New Market
4 Quest Mall
5 South City Mall

🎈Events

Durga Puja
Kolkata International Film Festival
Book Fair
Dover Lane Music Conference
Poush Mela
Jagaddhatri Puja
Kolkata Christmas Festival
Saraswati Puja
Holifest
Rabindra Jayanti

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Visit Victoria Memorial for colonial architecture and history.
Explore Howrah Bridge and the vibrant flower market for local flavor.
Try street food at New Market and experience cultural events at Rabindra Sadan.
Attend Durga Puja for a deep dive into Kolkata’s festive spirit and traditions.

How to travel to Kolkata

Kolkata is well-connected via Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) with flights from major cities globally. It also has good train connections with Howrah and Sealdah stations. Long-distance buses and highways connect Kolkata to nearby states.

Access summary

From Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport (CCU): Taxi or app-cab, about 30–60 min.
From New Delhi: Frequent direct flights, typically about 2.5–3 hours.
From Mumbai: Frequent direct flights, usually around 2.5–3 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Kolkata

Kolkata offers a wide range of accommodation, from budget guesthouses and boutique hotels to luxury chains. Central areas like Park Street, Salt Lake and New Town provide good access to attractions and transport.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata

8.6

The Park Kolkata Hotel

8.0

Holiday Inn Express Kolkata Airport By IHG

8.7

Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences - An AccorHotels Brand

8.7

ITC Royal Bengal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kolkata

9.2

Peerless Hotel Kolkata

8.1

Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata

8.6

The Lindsay

7.3

ibis Kolkata Rajarhat

8.2

Hyatt Regency Kolkata

8.8

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Kolkata

Public transport options include buses, the Kolkata Metro, trams and auto-rickshaws. The metro is reliable for major routes, while trams offer a nostalgic experience. Taxis and app-based rides (e.g., Uber, Ola) are also widely available.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-79 %

Daily expenses in Kolkata are around 79% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-20 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to INR) is 20% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£17	£39	£109
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£8	£23	£60
🍝 Food per day	£9	£14	£44
🚕 Transportation per day	£1	£2	£5

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£4.20
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£1.70
🍟 Fast food combo	£3.30
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£2.80
☕ Cappuccino	£1.25
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.25

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.13
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£2.90
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.90

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£3
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£7
🤧 Cold medication	£1.40
💇 Basic haircut	£2.10

Safety information overview

General safety

Kolkata is generally safe, but be cautious with belongings in crowded places. Stick to well-lit areas at night and use reliable transport options.

Health & Medical

Good medical facilities are available, including private hospitals. Avoid street food with poor hygiene. Carry basic medications and stay hydrated.

Accessibility

Public transport and some tourist spots are accessible, but infrastructure for those with mobility issues can be inconsistent. Metro stations have some facilities for accessibility.

Tap water

Avoid drinking tap water. Stick to bottled or filtered water and ensure ice in drinks is from safe water sources. Hydration is important in the humid climate.