Uttar Pradesh · India
Where to stay in Varanasi
Varanasi is a city in Uttar Pradesh, India, home to about 1,198,000 people.
- Best months
- December to February
- Nearest airport
- VNS21 km · Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport
- Currency
- INRIndian rupee
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Language
- English, Hindi
About
About Varanasi
Varanasi, or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world. The city also has a syncretic tradition of Islamic artisanship that underpins its religious tourism.
Varanasi (vah-RAH-nuh-see) or Banaras (buh-NAH-ruhss) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with settlements dating back to the 11th century BCE. Many Hindus believe that dying in Varanasi brings salvation (variously termed as moksha, mukti or nirvāṇa) and so they make the trip to the city when they realise that they are close to death. For some, the culture shock of the burning corpses in plain view can be a bit overwhelming.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Varanasi
See
Varanasi is not a city with distinct tourist destinations; the experience is in watching the spectacle of life and death on the river and meandering through the alleys of the old city.
- Jantar Mantar
- Rajghat
- Rani Laxmibai Janmasthali
- Panchganga Ghat
- Manikarnika Ghat
- Dashashwamedh Ghat
- Rana Ghat
- Kedar Ghat
- Narad Ghat
- Harishchandra Ghat
- Hanuman Ghat
- Shivala Ghat
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Varanasi to stay in
The most interesting area to stay is around the ghats, which are the main attractions for foreigners and are close to the religious attractions. However, this area is extremely noisy and many accommodation choices here are subpar, so do some research before you book. An alternative to staying in Varanasi is to stay near the main railway station (Varanasi Junction). This area has some very nice places and is about 10 minutes away on a tuk-tuk. Another alternative is the much quieter Sarnath, 10 km from Varanasi, but it takes more than 75 minutes each way to reach Varanasi by tuk-tuk (₹200). Some budget accommodations advertise free morning and evening boat rides along the river.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Varanasi
218 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata; the 40 best known are shown, by the number of Wikipedia editions that cover them. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Amritara Suryauday Haveli | 2.5 km | |
| Baba Guest House | 1.5 km | |
| BrijRama Palace - A Heritage Hotel | 1.6 km | |
| BrijRama Palace Varanasi | 1.6 km | |
| Capital O 15351 Vikram Palace OYO Rooms | 5.8 km | |
| Capital O 3831 Jade Inn OYO Rooms | 4.6 km | |
| Capital O 41561 Hotel Paradise Residency OYO Rooms | 3.9 km | |
| Capital O 61009 Hotel Moti Mahal OYO Rooms | 6.0 km | |
| Capital O 81090 Hotel Banarasi OYO Rooms | 2.3 km | |
| Capital O 84053 Hotel Shree Rudra OYO Rooms | 2.3 km | |
| Capital O 84591 Kalawati OYO Rooms | 5.5 km | |
| Capital O 85006 G V Guest House OYO Rooms | 1.5 km | |
| Capital O 85365 Tejas Inn OYO Rooms | 2.4 km | |
| CAPITAL O75253 Ok International OYO Rooms | 1.5 km | |
| CAPITAL O75949 Hotel Kiaara OYO Rooms | 6.7 km | |
| Collection O 18324 Sahani Guest House OYO Rooms | 5.0 km | |
| Collection O 23139 Natraj Inn OYO Rooms | 1.1 km | |
| Collection O 27949 Hotel Kriti Green OYO Rooms | 9.7 km | |
| Collection O 30071 Near J P Mehta Inter College OYO Rooms | 4.4 km | |
| Collection O 41089 Vrindavan Palace OYO Rooms | 4.9 km | |
| Collection O 44523 Shri Krishna Hotel Inn OYO Rooms | 1.5 km | |
| Collection O 45990 Premiere Villa OYO Rooms | 4.2 km | |
| Collection O 49042 Central Jail Rd OYO Rooms | 4.6 km | |
| Collection O 66683 Lake View Hotel OYO Rooms | 3.8 km | |
| Collection O 67080 Hotel Janki OYO Rooms | 2.3 km | |
| Collection O 68122 Walk-in Shiva Paying Guest House OYO Rooms | 3.5 km | |
| Collection O 76042 Hotel Rk Heights And Banquets OYO Rooms | 7.3 km | |
| Collection O 76310 Lily Grand Hyderabad Gate OYO Rooms | 6.7 km | |
| Collection O 76349 Hotel Aparajita OYO Rooms | 4.6 km | |
| Collection O 83538 Hotel A K Grand OYO Rooms | 1.9 km | |
| Collection O 83623 Hotel Stay Inn OYO Rooms | 6.8 km | |
| Collection O 84651 Hotel Sai Kripa OYO Rooms | 2.8 km | |
| Collection O O 28469 Shivanya Guest House OYO Rooms | 4.8 km | |
| Collection O O 3519 Hotel Garden Inn OYO Rooms | 1.3 km | |
| Comfort Inn Benaras | 4.1 km | |
| Cresent Villa | 2.9 km | |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Varanasi | 2023 | 4.1 km |
| Dwivedi Hotels Sri Omkar Palace | 1.6 km | |
| Family Guest House | 1.6 km | |
| Ganpati Guest House | 1.1 km |
All 218 hotels in Varanasi, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Varanasi
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Varanasi are December to February. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 42 °C; August is the wettest, with about 257 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Varanasi: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS), about 21 km from the city centre in a straight line; Prayagraj Airport (IXD, 129 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
Varanasi is well connected by plane, train, and bus. Varanasi is mostly on the west bank of the Ganges. The Malviya Bridge on the north and Ramnagar Bridge on the south connect the city to the eastern parts of India.
Getting around
Many streets are too narrow to be reached by cycle-rickshaw, auto-rickshaw, and car and therefore, you may have to walk a bit to reach your destination. Walking is the only way to see the waterfront and the ghats - but be ready to be hot, sweaty, and lost - locals are usually happy to point you in the right direction. The names of ghats and signs pointing to restaurants and hotels are often painted on the walls in Roman letters. For better orientation, walk into any bookstore and pick up a small guide/map book that will have the list and description of all the ghats.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
VNS · Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport
IXD · Prayagraj Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Varanasi
Eat
Banarasi Khana, or local delicacies, are known for their flavours. Many dishes here are flavoured with asafoetida, ginger, bay leaves, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and/or dried fenugreek leaves. Benares Dum Aloo is different from the dum aloo cooked elsewhere in India because the potatoes are stuffed with and cooked in gravy that includes jaggery, fennel, and chilli paste. Varanasi is also known for its street food and chaat vendors. Aloo chaat is very common. Varanasi Paan is famous all over India. Paan is an assortment of flavours wrapped in a betel leaf. There are two versions: One that includes tobacco, and one that includes only sweet flavours.
Drink
Coffee is not as common in Varanasi as it is in the bigger and more cosmopolitan cities, and is often just available as the instant variety, served black or white. Even in those cafes that serve real coffee, it is still hit or miss whether it is of standard taste. All the cafes listed here at least sell the real stuff.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Varanasi: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Varanasi?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Varanasi are December to February. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 42 °C; August is the wettest, with about 257 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Varanasi?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS), about 21 km from the city centre in a straight line; Prayagraj Airport (IXD, 129 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Varanasi?
Indian rupee (INR).
Nearby
Destinations near Varanasi
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.