Saaremees, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Varanasi

India’s Timeless Spiritual Heartbeat

Varanasi stands as one of India’s oldest cities, located along the Ganges River in Uttar Pradesh. Its streets are filled with ancient temples and bustling markets where daily life unfolds around centuries-old rituals. The city is known for its spiritual atmosphere, with many people coming to bathe in the river or watch ceremonies that have been practiced for generations. Local crafts such as silk weaving and brassware production thrive here alongside traditional music performances. Varanasi offers a direct look into India’s cultural heritage through its daily rhythms and historic sites.

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City in India

$$$

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

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Safety: 4.1

General Safety:	5
Health & medical:	4
Accessibility:	1
Tap water:	1

Read details

2/5

English is spoken in most hotels, by guides, and in tourist areas, but less so in local markets and with older residents. Basic Hindi or a phrasebook will help, especially off the beaten track.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Varanasi Summary

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World-class for spirituality and river rituals. Walk historic ghats, watch evening ceremonies along the Ganges, visit ancient temples and explore bustling markets and narrow old-city lanes.

Place score

7.5

Best at:

Rivers

Religious sites

Traditional culture

Festivals

Spirituality

Personal score

Suited for

👶 3

Families

🧓 3

Seniors

🥗 10

Vegetarian

🕌 7

Halal

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 Varanasi, India

☀️

Jan

☀️

Feb

🔥

Mar

🔥

Apr

🔥

May

🔥

Jun

⛈️

Jul

⛈️

Aug

🌦️

Sep

🔥

Oct

🔥

Nov

☀️

Dec

High season:	Jan. - Feb., Oct. - Dec.
Shoulder season:	March, Sep.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

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

Climate details

Dev Deepawali on the November full moon: ghats lit with thousands of lamps, hotels book out

Ganges floods July to September submerge lower ghats and suspend boat rides

Dense fog December to January often delays trains and flights

Don't miss

🪔 Attend the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
🛕 Visit the sacred Kashi Vishwanath Temple
🕌 Explore the ancient ruins of Sarnath Buddhist site
🚤 Take a sunrise boat ride on the Ganges River
🏯 Discover history at the 18th-century Ramnagar Fort
🛤️ Stroll through the spiritual lanes of Varanasi’s old town

You've been here?

Why travel to Varanasi?

Traveling to Varanasi is like stepping into another era. The city’s 84 ghats along the Ganges are alive with pilgrims, sadhus and ceremonies, especially the mesmerizing evening Ganga Aarti. Wander the labyrinthine old city, discover centuries-old temples and soak in the spiritual energy that draws seekers from around the world. It’s not just about spirituality-Varanasi’s markets burst with color, the street food is legendary and the city’s silk weaving tradition produces the famous Banarasi sarees. But be prepared: the city can be overwhelming, with intense crowds, narrow lanes and confronting sights at the cremation ghats. Still, the experience is unforgettable and transformative.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Ramnagar Fort
2 Darbhanga Ghat
3 Kashi Vishwanath Temple
4 Tulsi Manas Temple
5 Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple (Mandir)
6 Sarnath
7 Banaras Hindu University
8 Shayri Mata Temple

🎡Places for activities

1 Sarnath Archaeological Museum
2 On the Ghat By Howdy (right address)
3 Nepalese Temple

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Panchganga Ghat
2 Manikarnika Ghat(KOSTRI)
3 Tulsi Ghat
4 Assi Ghat
5 Raj Ghat
6 Namo Ghat
7 Deer Park

🛍️Shopping

1 IP Mall Sigra
2 Dashaswamedh Market
3 Lahurabir
4 laher trara chowk near kashi gramin bank

🎈Events

Dev Deepawali
Ganga Mahotsav
Mahashivratri
Makar Sankranti
Buddha Purnima
Nag Nathaiya
Diwali
Holi
Dhrupad Mela
Chhath Puja

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Knowledge before you go

Book a dawn boat ride; mornings feel calmer here.
Expect crowds and narrow lanes; use a local guide for temple etiquette and navigation.
Be respectful at cremation ghats; avoid photos and keep a quiet distance.
Watch Ganga Aarti from a boat near Dashashwamedh Ghat, arriving early to avoid crush.

How to travel to Varanasi

Varanasi is served by Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, with direct flights to major Indian cities and some international routes. Varanasi Junction is a major rail hub, with frequent trains from Delhi, Kolkata and elsewhere. Long-distance buses connect Varanasi to cities across Uttar Pradesh and neighboring states.

Access summary

From Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (VNS): taxi or bus about 30–60 min.
From Delhi: direct flight about 1.5 hours; overnight trains also common.
From Kolkata: direct flights about 1.5 hours or long-distance overnight train.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Varanasi

Varanasi offers everything from riverside heritage hotels and charming guesthouses in the old city to budget hostels and modern hotels near the railway station. For a unique experience, stay near the ghats, but expect basic amenities in some older properties.

Hotel recommendations

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

Pearl Courtyard

8.1

Hotel Surya Kaiser Palace

8.1

JHV Varanasi

7.6

Palette by CheckIn Heritage Varanasi Retreat

8.2

BrijRama Palace, Varanasi | By the Ganges

9.2

Kashi Vandanam Homestay

8.5

Hotel Hindusthan International Varanasi

6.4

Rivatas Hotel By Ideal

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Varanasi

The old city is best explored on foot – its narrow, winding lanes are mostly inaccessible to vehicles. Auto-rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and taxis are widely available for longer distances. For the ghats, walking or boat rides are ideal. The city’s traffic can be chaotic, so allow extra time for travel and be prepared for crowds, especially near key temples and ghats.

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.

-81 %

Daily expenses in Varanasi are around 81% 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	£15	£34	£96
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£6	£19	£53
🍝 Food per day	£7	£12	£40
🚕 Transportation per day	£2	£3	£4

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£3.10
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£1.25
🍟 Fast food combo	£2.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£2.20
☕ Cappuccino	£1.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.25

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.41
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£2.10
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.85

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£2.30
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£9
🤧 Cold medication	£1.70
💇 Basic haircut	£1.15

Safety information overview

General safety

Varanasi is generally safe for tourists, but petty theft and scams can occur, especially in crowded areas and near the ghats. Take care with valuables, avoid walking alone at night in poorly lit areas and be cautious around the cremation ghats.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities range from basic clinics to good hospitals. Tap water is not safe to drink; always use bottled or filtered water. Street food is tempting but stick to busy, reputable vendors to avoid stomach issues.

Accessibility

Accessibility is limited in the old city and ghats due to narrow, uneven lanes and steps. Namo Ghat is wheelchair accessible. Plan ahead if you have mobility needs and expect crowds and occasional cows blocking the way.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe for drinking. Always use bottled or filtered water and avoid ice in drinks. Public drinking water is not widely available, so carry your own supply.