Varanasi trip planner: best time, cost and things to do
One of the world's oldest living cities, with ghats on the Ganga and the evening aarti. The best time to visit Varanasi is October to March, and May to June is best avoided (extreme heat). Plan 2 days; on the ground you can expect about ₹650 to ₹4,650 per person per day.
Plan your Varanasi trip and see the full cost
Varanasi at a glance
- State
- Uttar Pradesh
- Best months
- October to March
- Best avoided
- May to June (extreme heat)
- Suggested stay
- 2 days
- Nearest airport
- VNS (in town)
- Nearest railway station
- Varanasi Junction (BSB)
- Good for
- spiritual, heritage, foodie
- Ground cost per person per day
- ₹650 budget, ₹1,750 mid-range, ₹4,650 comfort
How much does a trip to Varanasi cost?
About ₹650 (budget), ₹1,750 (mid-range) or ₹4,650 (comfort) per person per day, two sharing a room and a cab, excluding the journey to Varanasi.
What to eat in Varanasi
- Kachori sabzi
- Banarasi paan
- Malaiyyo (winter only)
- Tamatar chaat
- Lassi in a kulhad
Top things to do in Varanasi
- Sunrise boat on the Ganga: Ghats waking up: bathers, chanting and cremation fires. about 2 hours. entry about ₹500
- Dashashwamedh Ghat aarti: The nightly Ganga aarti with fire and bells. about 2 hours. free entry. Watch from a boat for the full view
- Kashi Vishwanath corridor: One of the holiest Shiva temples. about 2 hours. free entry
- Sarnath: Where the Buddha gave his first sermon. about 3 hours. entry about ₹25
- Assi Ghat: Subah-e-Banaras music at dawn. about 1.5 hours. free entry
- Manikarnika Ghat: The cremation ghat where the fire never goes out. about 0.5 hours. free entry. No photos, and ignore anyone asking for 'wood money'
- Old city food walk: Kachori, malaiyyo and Banarasi paan. about 2 hours. free entry
- Ramnagar Fort: The Maharaja's fort with vintage cars. about 1.5 hours. entry about ₹75
How to get to Varanasi
To reach Varanasi, Varanasi has its own airport (VNS), and Varanasi Junction (BSB) is the railway station.
Frequently asked questions about Varanasi
When is the best time to visit Varanasi?
The best months for Varanasi are October to March. May to June: extreme heat. Prices for stays and flights rise around holidays and long weekends, so book early for those dates.
How much does a trip to Varanasi cost?
On the ground in Varanasi a budget trip costs about ₹650 per person per day, a mid-range trip about ₹1,750 and a comfortable one about ₹4,650, assuming two people share a room and a cab. That covers stay, food and local transport but not the journey to Varanasi. TripRoast works out the full cost per person from your city, including transport.
How many days do you need in Varanasi?
Plan at least 2 days in Varanasi. It works well as a short break.
What should you eat in Varanasi?
Try Kachori sabzi, Banarasi paan, Malaiyyo (winter only), Tamatar chaat, Lassi in a kulhad.
How do you get to Varanasi?
To reach Varanasi, Varanasi has its own airport (VNS), and Varanasi Junction (BSB) is the railway station.
Similar places to visit
- Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh
- Agra, Uttar Pradesh
- Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Amritsar, Punjab
- Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Costs are estimates built from public data, official fares and traveller reports. Always check prices before you book. How TripRoast works.