Looking at things to do in Varanasi and wondering what awaits you? Everything about the city is concentrated, intense and palpable. Varanasi is one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited cities and one of the holiest sites in Hinduism.
It is the India you imagine.
The public cremation rituals are the main attraction of this city for – pilgrims and tourists – but there are many more things to do in Varanasi.
There are colours and crowds, culture, history, rituals and spiritual traditions. Then amidst all the bustle there is an unlikely atmosphere of tranquillity from the flowing Ganges River.
We have visited Varanasi many times over the last years of traveling in India and have explored much of this incredible city. Here are the best things to do in Varanasi and everything you need to know to make the most of your Varanasi experience.
- About Varanasi
- Best Time To Visit
- Do You Recommend a Guide for Varanasi?
- Things To Do in Varanasi
– River Ganges
– Ghats
– Burning Ghats
– Sunset Ganga Aarti
– Sunrise Ganga Aarti
– Boat Ride on the River Ganges
– Vishwanath Temple
– Lolark Kund
– Kushti Akhara
– Vishwanath Gali Bazar - Getting To Varanasi
- Getting Around in Varanasi
- Where To Eat
- Where To Stay
ThingsTo Know About Varanasi
The city of Varanasi (also known as Banaras or Benares) is one of the most fascinating cities to visit in India. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and for Hindus, it is considered exceedingly sacred.
The city is most famous for its open-air cremations that take place 24/7, 365 days a year.
For Hindus, it is believed that anyone who dies in Varanasi attains instant Moksha, or enlightenment. So, widows and elderly Hindus come to Varanasi to live out their final days, assisted by donations and offerings from devotees, dreaming to die and be cremated in the Holy City.
As a visitor, there is an all-consuming proximity of death. It isn’t all pretty. Some is eery and justly unfathomable as a stranger.
But the atmosphere in Varanasi is intense and palpable. There is a strangeness to the rituals and the city itself that really must be experienced to digest and describe.
Best Time of Year to Visit Varanasi?
Varanasi is one of the most intense and spiritual cities on Earth, but the weather can significantly impact your experience.
The best time to visit Varanasi is during the cooler months, typically from October to March when the temperature is pleasant. In summer and the rainy season from May and June to July and August it can be unbearably hot and with rainfall in the Monsoon Season.
Timing your visit is key.
- Winter (November – February): This is the peak winter season – and officially the best time to visit. Daytime temperatures are mild and perfect for sightseeing, though evenings and nights can get surprisingly chilly.
- The Shoulder Seasons (Mid-September – October & March – April): This is our top recommendation. These months offer a “sweet spot” with warm, pleasant temperatures and far fewer crowds than mid-winter. You’ll have more space to breathe at the evening Aarti ceremonies.
- Summer (May – June): Avoid these months if possible. High summer in Varanasi is punishing, with temperatures frequently soaring to 40°C (104°F). The heat and humidity make outdoor exploration draining and potentially dangerous.
- The Monsoon (July – August): The rainy season brings heavy downpours. While the city looks lush, the Ganges often rises significantly, which can submerge the lower Ghats and make the famous boat rides impossible.
Note that in winter – November to February – while the weather is ideal, be prepared for larger crowds and higher accommodation prices. This is the busiest time for both tourists and pilgrims.
Seasonal Temperature & Atmosphere
| Months | Temperature | Vibe |
| Winter Nov – Feb | 10°C – 25°C | Ideal weather; very crowded. |
| Shoulder Mar – Apr; Sept – Oct | 20°C – 32°C | Great balance; less crowds. |
| Summer May – Jun | 32°C – 40°C+ | Intensely HOT. |
| Monsoon Jul – Aug | 25°C – 35°C | Very wet; Ghats may be flooded. |
Read our detailed and very honest Travel Guide To India.
Do You Need a Guide in Varanasi?
Most of the things to do in Varanasi can be explored independently. But it truly is a city with such depth of culture, religion and history that it just makes more sense with a guide.
However, a word of caution: Always choose a government-registered guide. If you pick up a random guide on the street, you may find that your ‘cultural tour’ quickly turns into a series of unwanted stops at silk shops and souvenir stores where the guide earns a commission. Not only will you miss the amazing things to see in Varanasi but instead you will spend your time shopping! Don’t be mistaken.
Our Recommendation: Ravi Gaur
For a truly authentic experience, we suggest connecting with Ravi Gaur. He is a registered guide and a Varanasi local who brings an incredible depth of passion and personal history to his tours. We’ve visited many times, and we still start all our trips in Varanasi with him to get that friendly, local perspective.
- Contact: You can reach Ravi directly via WhatsApp at +91 85769 16590.
Tip: Send Ravi a message a few weeks before you arrive with your travel dates. He can help coordinate your arrival logistics to save you the hassle of navigating the station crowds alone.
10 Obscure & Incredible Things To Do in Varanasi
There is a lot to take in visiting this historic city, but here are 10 Things To Do in Varanasi that should absolutely be on your Varanasi itinerary.
1. River Ganges
The Ganges River is one of the world’s most sacred waterways and Varanasi is the most popular place to see it.
The city is situated on the banks of the River Ganges, making it the ultimate destination for all Hindu pilgrims, and for visitors, seeing the Ganges is the most important of things to do in Varanasi.
Wherever you are staying in Varanasi you won’t be far from the river.
2. The Ghats – Things To Do in Varanasi
Ghats are the points along a water source where there are a set of stairs.
In Varanasi, there are more than 80 Ghats along the River Ganges:
- Assi Ghat: This is the furthest south of the main Ghats and is particularly important as the River Assi meets the Ganges near here. There is a morning and evening Ganga Aarti ceremony performed daily at Assi Ghat.
- Bachraj Ghat: This is a small Ghat with three Jain temples.
- Kedar Ghat: This is a small Ghat where a fire Aarti is performed every evening.
- Shivala Ghat: Dedicated to Shiva with a small Shiva temple.
- Manikarnika Ghat: This is the main burning Ghat.
- Harishchandra Ghat: The second cremation Ghat and one of the oldest Ghats in Varanasi.
- Dashashwamedh Ghat: This is the main Ghat where the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony is held.
Walking along the different Ghats is one of the best things to do in Varanasi.
3. Varanasi Burning Ghats: Cremation Ghats
Many Hindus believe that dying in Varanasi liberates the soul from the cycle of birth and death. As such, there are specific Ghats designated for cremation ceremonies that operate around the clock on the banks of the Ganges.
- Manikarnika Ghat: This is the main burning Ghat and the most auspicious place for a Hindu to be cremated. Huge piles of firewood are stacked along the top of the Ghat, and every piece of wood is weighed and calculated to give the price of each cremation. It is inexplicably fascinating to observe.
- Harishchandra Ghat: This is the second and smaller burning Ghat and one of the oldest Ghats in Varanasi.
As a visitor, witnessing the open-air cremations is one of the most important things to do in Varanasi, to understand the significance of this holy city.
4. Sunset Ganga Aarti Ceremony: Things To Do in Varanasi
Ganga Aarti is a ritual for worshipping the river Ganges. One of the most famous things to do in Varanasi is to attend the evening Ganga Aarti Ceremony.
In Varanasi, the Aarti ceremony is performed daily at sunrise and sunset on the Ghats offering prayers and gratitude to God to remove evil.
It is an intense and breathtaking ritual to witness, performed with great dedication by Sadhus (Hindu monks) and pujaris (temple attendants) dressed in traditional clothing. There is swirling oil lamps and chanting, with incense, fire and candles burning while the crowd sings devotional songs and repeats prayers.
In Varanasi, the two main evening Aarti ceremonies take place at the Ghats:
- Dashashwamedh Ghat: This is the main evening Aarti ceremony and undoubtedly the most popular thing to do in Varanasi. The best way to experience this amazing event is from a boat ride on the river.
- Assi Ghat: This is a smaller evening Ganga Aarti though equally as impressive. It is easier to watch the ceremony here from the Ghats.
If you are visiting Varanasi for the first time, this is one of the must-do things to see.
- Entry Fee: Prices for a boat ride to see the Ganga Aarti vary, from INR 200 PP (with 30+ more people in the boat) or 3000 INR for a private boat (recommended).
5. Sunrise Ganga Arti Ceremony
There is a daily morning Ganga Aarti at Assi Ghat. The dawn ceremony was originally only performed at Assi Ghat, but there are now some smaller morning Aarti ceremonies at other ghats along the river too.
The morning ceremony is performed similarly to the evening Aarti with lamps lit with burning oils, candles and incense. Though there is a different feel in the morning with the lightening sky and mist above the Ganges.
After the morning prayer ritual devotees stay for yoga on the Ghat.
Fewer people attend the morning Aarti, so you can get a close look at the rituals. It is a wide, open space that can fit a lot of people and is much less crowded.
If you are an early riser, this is one of the less crowded and peaceful, spiritual things to do in Varanasi. The morning Aarti starts early – before sunrise – and lasts only around 20 minutes.
- Entry Fee: Free.
- Timing: Before sunrise
- Location: Assi Ghat
Read our detailed and very honest Travel Guide To India.
6. Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the most famous temple in Varanasi and is widely recognised as one of the most important places of worship in the Hindu religion. It is dedicated to Shiva as the Hindu lord of the universe.
For devotees, a visit to Vishwanath Temple and a bath in the River Ganges is believed to grant liberation from the cycle of birth and death and visiting is considered a way to attain spiritual enlightenment.
We heard mixed things about visiting as non-Hindu. But it is possible to enter the complex. There is strict security screening with a bag check and lockers to deposit any electronic items (including cameras).
It is a busy atmosphere inside and possible to peak at the golden dome of the tower. However, non-Hindus are not allowed to enter further into the temple or the sacred Gyan Kupor Well.
- Cost: Free
- Timing: Sunrise – Sunset
- Location: Vishwanath Ghat
7. Boat Ride on the River Ganges
It is incredible to see the happenings on the river Ganges, at any time during the day. But in the morning, it is a quiet and mystical experience, which we recommend as a priority to experience in Varanasi.
A sunrise boat ride on the River Ganges will float you past all the different Ghats, temples and pilgrims going about their morning rituals. Devotees perform their morning ablutions in the river, offer prayers, and the air is still with early morning light and the sound of temple bells.
- Cost: Prices vary for a boat ride on the River Ganges from 1000 INR per boat (without motor) to 3000+ INR per boat (motor) for 1-4 people.
- Timing: Sunrise
- Location: Boats depart from all along the Ghats however the most popular place to get a boat from is Assi Ghat.
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8. Lolark Kund – Things To Do in Varanasi
Lolark Kund is one of the oldest sacred sites of Varanasi. It is a historic stepwell descending 15m in height from below the ground level and it is another of the fascinating sites of worship in the sacred city.
The word Lolark means ‘trembling sun’ and denotes the wavering image of Lord Surya, the sun god, in the water of the tank.
Legends have it that the water here has a special power of fertility and the couples who bathe here are to be blessed with a child.
- Cost: Free.
- Timings: Sunrise – Sunset
- Location: Tulsi Ghat
9. Kushti Akhara: Kushti Wrestlers of Varanasi
Another of the curious things to do in Varanasi (that we would never have found on our own) that we found particularly interesting was seeing an Akhara in action.
This is a local gym, where Kushti wrestlers train themselves using traditional methods and routines. They weight train using heavy clubs of different shapes and sizes, each having its own specific purpose. The sport is seen as sacred and a part of the Hindu religion.
The wrestlers are followers of Hanuman, the monkey god and Hindu god of might.
- Cost: Free, though best visited with a guide.
- Timing: Morning and evening sessions
- Location: Tulsi Ghat
10. Vishwanath Galli Bazar
Vishwanath Gali is one of the famous markets in Varanasi.
The marketplace spills out from a central Chowk (square) into the narrow surrounding lanes selling everything from religious offerings and garlands to tourist souvenirs, bangles, dupattas, and sarees.
Getting to Varanasi: Flights, Trains, and Roads
Varanasi is one of India’s most accessible spiritual hubs, well-connected to the Golden Triangle and beyond. Whether you prefer the speed of a flight or the classic experience of the Indian Railways, you have several great options for 2026.
By Air
Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) handles daily direct flights from major hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Agra. This is the fastest option if you are tight on time.
By Train
The city is served primarily by Varanasi Junction (BSB), located just a short rickshaw ride from the main Ghats. It is a major stop for nearly all north Indian rail routes.
There are daily trains departing regularly from Delhi to Varanasi. The fastest train from Delhi is the Vande Bharat Special which departs Delhi (NDLS) at 06:00am arriving to Varanasi (BSB) at 14:00h taking 8 hours for the journey.
- From Delhi: The Vande Bharat Express is a modern, high-speed chair-car train that is much faster than traditional sleepers.
- SUGGESTED TRAIN
#02436 VANDE BHARAT SPECIAL
Route: New Delhi (NDLS) → Varanasi (BSB)
Frequency: Runs Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun (No service on Mon/Thu)
Schedule: Departs 06:00 (NDLS) | Arrives 14:00 (BSB)
Time: 8-hour journey
- From Agra: Since there is no high-speed Vande Bharat on this specific leg yet, the best way to get from Agra to Varanasi is either by overnight train or bus. The train journey typically takes between 9 and 12 hours.
By Road
While long-distance buses connect Varanasi to cities like Lucknow and Kanpur, the train or plane is generally much more comfortable for the long haul from Delhi or Mumbai.
- Read Our Guide To Train Travel In India and all about taking the Train From Agra To Varanasi or Train From Delhi To Varanasi.
- Book tickets for the trains in India easily online in advance through 12GoAsia.com.
Navigating Varanasi: Getting Around
A walk along the Ghats and through the labyrinth of narrow back streets is one of the best things to do in Varanasi. Outside of the Ghats and old city it is easy to get around by auto rickshaw. Or of course, there is transport by boat on the river Ganges.
Varanasi is a city of two halves: the ancient, chaotic labyrinth of the ‘Old City’ and the more modern, sprawling outer districts.
Depending on where you are, your mode of transport will change completely:
- On Foot: Walking is the absolute best way to experience the soul of Varanasi. The Ghats (the stone steps leading to the river) provide a continuous path along the Ganges, while the backstreets are a maze of narrow alleys where vehicles can’t fit. Exploring on foot allows you to discover hidden temples and tiny lassi shops at your own pace.
- By Boat: To see the city from its most iconic perspective, take a boat on the Ganges. This is one of the most famous things to do n Varanasi. Whether you choose a traditional rowing boat for a sunrise tour or a larger motorboat, it’s the most peaceful way to navigate between the different Ghats.
- Auto-Rickshaws: For traveling outside the pedestrian-only Old City, auto-rickshaws are everywhere.
- Private Taxis & Apps: For longer trips—such as heading to the Airport, Varanasi Junction Railway Station, or a day trip to the Buddhist site of Sarnath—booking a taxi is your best bet.
While you can hail rickshaws on the street, it is often easier and more reliable to ask your accommodation to book a taxi for you, especially for early morning airport runs. Alternatively, ride-sharing apps like Uber and Ola are active in Varanasi and offer fixed pricing.
Where To Eat: Cafes in Varanasi
Sampling the local street food and finding a nook to sip masala chai and watch the world go by is part of the quintessential Varanasi experience.
There are numerous cafes and restaurants that offer a range of cuisines, vegan and vegetarian foods.
- Blue Lassi: A tiny, hole-in-the-wall yoghurt shop famous for churning out sought after Lassis and cold yoghurt since 1925.
- Mona Lisa Café: A casual café with low tables, a solid menu and usually filled with foreigners. This was our regular go-to for breakfast and lunch in Varanasi.
- Bhumi French Bakers: An old bakery and casual café famous for its pastries and croissants.
- Brown Bread Bakery: Awesome for breakfast and lunch boasting European-quality cheeses and breads along with excellent pastas, pizzas and more.
- Ashish Café: A great breakfast Aloo Paratha and vegetarian Thali.
Read our detailed and very honest Travel Guide To India.
Final Thoughts?
Everything about Varanasi is intense. Witnessing the age-old traditions and rituals is a highlight. Even a walk on the Ghats offers a glimpse into the heart of India’s spiritual culture.
Whether or not Varanasi turns out to be your favourite place in India; it really is incredible – and certainly, one you’ll never forget.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to the unique things to do in Varanasi and have a great journey onwards in India. 🙂
Where To Stay in Varanasi
There are lots of options for accommodation in Varanasi. We recommend staying near Assi Ghat which is close to everything to do in Varanasi.
- Budget-Mid: Hotel Temple of Ganges
Simple rooms with options for triple/family accommodation. Close to Assi Ghat with rooftop views to the River Ganges.
- Budget-Mid: Shree Yoga Mandir
Simple and reasonably priced double and family rooms close to Assi Ghat.
- Budget: Moustache Varanasi
Hostel accommodation close to Assi Ghat.
Read More About Travel in North India
- Epic 10 Day Rajasthan Itinerary.
- Things To Do In Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
- 12 Things To Do In Kolkata.
- What To Wear In India.
- Local Desert Cuisine & Food To Try In Jaisalmer.
- Get The Bus From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Or Bikaner.
- Get The Overnight Train Delhi To Jaisalmer.
- Taking The Train Jaipur To Jaisalmer.
- Jaisalmer To Jaipur (& Jodhpur) By Overnight Train.
Useful Links Planning Travel in India & Beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in India.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Find everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have insurance before embarking on all the great things to do in Varanasi!