The world's oldest continuously inhabited city. 88 ghats step down to the Ganges, where the Ganga aarti every evening, the cremation ghats, and the alleyways have been the same for 3,000 years.
Part of a longer route
Varanasi sits on a curated circuit — most people visit it as one stop of several.
What a day here looks like
The things most people actually do in Varanasi, by time of day.
Morning
- Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges — 84 ghats1h 30m · easy
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple darshan1h 30m · easy
- Old city galli walk — chai, kachori & temples2h · moderate
- Assi Ghat yoga & riverside meditation1h · easy
Afternoon
- Sarnath Buddhist site & museum2h 30m · easy
- Banarasi silk weaver atelier visit1h 30m · easy
- Manikarnika Ghat cremation observation30m · easy
Evening
- Dashashwamedh Ghat — Ganga aarti ceremony1h 30m · easy
About 12h of activity in total — the planner spreads this across your days and fits travel time around it.
A plan from our planner, day by day
Generated by the same planner you'd use — not a sample someone wrote once.
- 1🙏 Spiritual Day5h out
- Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges — 84 ghats · morning, 1.5h
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple darshan · morning, 1.5h
- Manikarnika Ghat cremation observation · afternoon, 0.5h
- Dashashwamedh Ghat — Ganga aarti ceremony · evening, 1.5h
First contact with the sacred energy here — check in, then head to the ghats or main temple at dusk.
- 2🎭 Cultural Day7h out
- Old city galli walk — chai, kachori & temples · morning, 2h
- Assi Ghat yoga & riverside meditation · morning, 1h
- Banarasi silk weaver atelier visit · afternoon, 1.5h
- Sarnath Buddhist site & museum · afternoon, 2.5h
Culture here is in the streets, not just museums — this day takes you through both.
Swap places, change the pace, set your own dates.
Plan my Varanasi tripMust-see highlights
Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh
Sunrise boat ride
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Sarnath Buddhist site
Banarasi silk weavers
Assi Ghat sunrise yoga
Manikarnika Ghat (cremation ghat) observation
Old city galli walk
Tulsi Manas Mandir
Durga Temple (Monkey Temple)
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
Ramnagar Fort (14km)
Banaras Hindu University campus & New Vishwanath Temple
Bharat Mata Mandir
Loading 14 more places…
On the map
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Varanasi Junction 5 km · Lal Bahadur Shastri (VNS) 26 km
Nearest transport
Stay options
In Oct, expect stays around 30% pricier than the base rate.
Best time to visit
October – March
How to get here
Delhi → Varanasi
train · 12h
₹800
approx.
Mumbai → Varanasi
flight · 2h
₹5,500
approx.
Nearby attractions
Varanasi questions, answered
What is the best time to visit Varanasi?
The best months are January, February, November. October – March July scores lowest on weather and conditions.
How many days do you need in Varanasi?
Most people spend 4 days in Varanasi. There are around 8 main things to do, totalling roughly 12 hours of activity.
How do you get to Varanasi?
The nearest railway station is Varanasi Junction (5 km) and the nearest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri (VNS) (26 km). The cheapest common route is Delhi → Varanasi by train, about ₹800 per person one way.
How much does a trip to Varanasi cost?
Stays start around ₹1,100 per night, with food about ₹400 per person per day.
If you like Varanasi
Closest matches across all of India, by character rather than by map.
