Looking for the ultimate 2-day Varanasi itinerary? We have got your Varanasi visit covered with all the best things to see and do in Varanasi in two days.
And spoiler alert; 2 days in Varanasi is perfect.
Here is everything you need to know to help plan your time in this sacred city. From choosing whether to go with a guide or take a day tour, to tips where to eat and how to find some cool and lesser-known sights that you don’t want to leave without seeing.
These are our unanimous recommendations for the best 2-Day Varanasi itinerary.
- About Varanasi
- What is it really like visiting?
- How long do you need?
- What is the best time to visit?
- Do you recommend a guide?
- Summary – 2-Day Varanasi Itinerary
- Details – 2-Day Varanasi Itinerary
– Day 0 – Arriving
– Day 1- in Varanasi
– Day 2 – in Varanasi - What is the best way to get to Varanasi?
- Getting around in Varanasi
- Where to eat
- Where to stay
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 one of the holiest sites for Hindus.
Varanasi most famous for the public, open-air cremations that take place around the clock on the Ghats lining the riverfront.
For Hindus, it is believed that anyone who dies in Varanasi attains instant Moksha, or enlightenment. And 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 incredible to experience in person.
What is it like visiting Varanasi? Honestly?
Varanasi was only the second city we ever visited in India and boy was it a shock to the system. It is unashamedly a huge culture shock arriving to Varanasi. We thought we’d seen busy in New Delhi but arriving to the back streets of this holy city overcrowded with domestic pilgrims was a whole different level of bustle.
It can be overwhelming.
Now, after visiting Varanasi many times in the last few years at different times of the year we have also come to realise that unlike some of the larger but modern megacities – like New Delhi – or the tourist specific destinations – like Jaipur – Varanasi is not the cleanest of destinations in India. (Sorry, Varanasi).
It is always touted as one of the best destinations to visit in India. And it absolutely is. But there is a level of mental and emotional culture shock that makes it so unlike anywhere else in the subcontinent.
How long do you need? Is a 2-day Varanasi itinerary enough?
We reckon 2-3 days in Varanasi, counting arrival on the first day, is ideal. It is a busy city with domestic tourism and crowds of Hindu pilgrims. Foreign tourists make up only a small portion of the crowds that flock here, and it can be overwhelming at times.
With the crowds and overwhelm of general chaos sensory overload, we think 2-days in Varanasi is sufficient. With 2-days a Varanasi itinerary can cover the best of the city without being too much.
When is the best time to visit?
The summer from May and June can be unbearably hot and the rainy season in July and August is notourisly wet with rainfall from the monsoon season.
The best time to visit Varanasi is during the cooler months, typically from October to March when the temperature is pleasant and the chance of rain is much less.
- May – June: This is the summer with high temperatures during the days and nights often reaching 40°C/104°F.
- July – August: This is the monsoon season with high rainfall in July.
- November – February: The winter months have a comfortable daytime temperature but with cool evenings and cold overnights. However, this is the busiest and most crowded tourist season.
- Mid-September – October and March – April: This is the best time of year to visit Varanasi in the shoulder seasons with pleasant temperatures and lesser crowds.
Do you recommend a guide or tour in Varanasi?
We say, yes. 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.
We’ve been many times to Varanasi now but still each time we spend the first day on a walking tour with Ravi.
- Tip: It is important to choose and book a registered guide in Varanasi. It is a common scam for tourists to play guide and instead take you shopping! Don’t be mistaken.
We highly recommend Ravi Gaur. He is a registered guide and a born and raised local in Varanasi with an incredible passion for his city and culture.
- Ravi Gaur
+91 85769 16590
Give Ravi a message on WhatsApp with your proposed dates for Varanasi and he can arrange a pick-up from the airport or train station.
Summary – 2-Day Varanasi Itinerary
First up here is a summary of what to see with 2 days in Varanasi.
DAY 1 – Varanasi
- Sunrise boat ride
- Ghat tour
- Vishwanath Temple
- Evening Ganga Aarti
DAY 2 – Varanasi
- Morning Ganga Aarti
- Old Varanasi
- Sunset boat ride
This is a busy 2-day Varanasi itinerary, but you can easily slow it down by changing it up to see the evening Aarti ceremony – the most famous of things to see in Varanasi – on the first evening and allowing a slower pace of taking it all in on the second day.
But for now, let’s assume that on Day 1 of this 2-Day Varanasi itinerary you have arrived sometime during the afternoon and made your way to your accommodation in Varanasi.
- Tip: Take a short stroll down to the river to have a first glance at the sacred Ganges before returning to your accommodation for dinner on the rooftop.
Detailed 2-Day Varanasi Itinerary
Here is the complete Varanasi itinerary with details for each day, sites and stops to see.
DAY 1 – 2-Day Varanasi Itinerary
Stop 1 – Sunrise boat ride on the River Ganges
Before dawn, take a boat ride along the river and see the sunrise over the city. This is a magical time of day to officially start your Varanasi itinerary. The city wakes up early and the river comes alive with devotees performing their morning ablutions and prayer rituals in the water and on the Ghats.
Stop 2 – Breakfast
Return to your accommodation for a relaxed breakfast. If you haven’t yet tried the breakfast Aloo Paratha with a local chutney, this is a great place to do it.
Stop 3 – River walk along the Ghats
In Varanasi, there are more than 80 Ghats along the River Ganges. The ghats are the points along the river where there are a set of stairs. Most are used for bathing but there are also several ‘burning ghats’ where bodies are cremated in public.
- 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.
- Dashashwamedh Ghat: This is the main ghat where the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony is held.
You can walk most of the way along the river along the ghats. Be mindful at the burning ghats you cannot pass close to the cremations. These happen 24/7 and you will often see funeral processions threading through the narrow back streets heading towards the main burning ghat.
- 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.
A walk along the ghats is the ultimate – and most eye-opening – ‘people watching’ place in Varanasi.
Stop 4 – Kashi Vishwanath Temple
This 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. However, 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).
- Cost: Free
- Timing: Sunrise – sunset
- Location: Vishwanath Ghat
Stop 5 – Lunch at Mona Lisa Café
Head to Mona Lisa Café for lunch on Day 1 of your Varanasi itinerary. This is a small but popular café in the back streets always filled with foreign tourists.
Stop 6 – Evening Ganga Aarti
Witnessing the Ganga Aarti is one of the highlights of Varanasi as a visitor. It is a spiritual ritual held every evening, where devotees gather to offer prayers to the river Ganges with a mesmerizing display of lights and incense.
DAY 2 – 2-Day Varanasi Itinerary
Stop 1 – Morning Aarti at Assi Ghat
This is an amazing early morning spiritual ceremony performed every morning 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
Stop 2 – Explore the back streets of Varanasi
All over India it is an addition to any itinerary to make time to just wander and take in the smaller, back streets of each destination. Varanasi is perfect for this. If you have already covered most of the Ghats on the first day of your Varanasi itinerary, today it’s time to follow the back streets away from the river.
There are lots of narrow laneways creating an ominously confusing labyrinth. But it is worth surrendering to the mystery of wandering and observing life exactly as it is in this sacred city.
There is a busy market in Vishwanath Gali, 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.
You will see endless stalls selling empty bottles for pilgrims to carry water from the Ganges home with them to share with their loved ones. And there are countless hole-in-the-wall type shops and nooks selling street food and snacks along the way.
- Tip: If you are staying at Assi Ghat you can walk again along the Ghats and join up to the market at Vishwanath Gali to make your way inland and back towards Tulsi Ghat next.
Stop 3 – Kolkar Kund
Head next towards Tulsi Ghat for the following two stops on your Varanasi itinerary. Lolark Kund is a historic stepwell and is one of the oldest sacred sites of Varanasi. The well descends 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
Stop 4 – Traditional Wrestlers Gym
I admit we would never have found this on our own, but we found it amazing to see an Akhara in action – a traditional wrestlers gym.
Here, 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 Kushti wrestlers are followers of Hanuman, the monkey god and Hindu god of might.
It is best to visit the Akhara with a guide but you can find the gym near Tulsi Ghat.
- Cost: Free, though best visited with a guide.
- Timing: Morning and evening sessions
- Location: Tulsi Ghat
Stop 5 – Lunch at Ashish Cafe
Choosing where to eat in Varanasi is not easy because the truth is you are spoilt for choice. But at the city end of Assi Ghat there are several restaurants at the top of the stairs, including Ashish Café.
The staff are lovely, and we recommend the chai and vegetarian Thali. It makes a good lunch stop on Day 2 of your Varanasi itinerary heading back from the bustling back streets in the direction of Assi Ghat.
- Cost: 200 – 400 INR per person
- Timing: 7am – 10pm
- Location: Near Assi Ghat
Stop 6 – Sunset boat ride on the River Ganges
Albeit any time of day is amazing to take a boat ride on the River Ganges. But as the perfect way to end your 2-days in Varanasi take a sunset boat ride on the river and float all the way down towards the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
- Tip: If you go early – before sunset – you will have time to do both a boat ride and return to Assi Ghat in time to see the evening Ganga Aarti there.
Have longer than 2 days in Varanasi?
If you have longer than 2 days in Varanasi it is worth taking a day trip to Sarnath. This is a historic city about 30 minutes’ drive from Varanasi and is said to be the location where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after gaining enlightenment.
Sarnath is considered as one of the four holy Buddhist sites for pilgrimage.
Other places to eat and cafes in Varanasi
Varanasi is full with small food stands, traditional eateries, tourist-style cafes and rooftop restaurants.
- 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.
- Blue Lassi: A tiny, hole-in-the-wall yoghurt shop famous for churning out sought after Lassis and cold yoghurt since 1925.
- 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, awesome chai and vegetarian Thali.
What is the best way to get to Varanasi?
Varanasi is easy to reach by air, train and road.
There are daily flights to Delhi, Agra, Kolkata and Mumbai.
The railway station, Varanasi Junction (BSB), is not far from the city, and it is well connected also with all the other major cities in north India.
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.
- SUGGESTED TRAIN
Delhi to Varanasi
#02436 VANDE BHARAT SPECIAL
Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun*
Departs 06:00h from Delhi (NDLS)
Arrives 14:00h to Varanasi (BSB)
*Note the Vande Bharat Special does not operate on Monday or Thursday.
The best way to get from Agra to Varanasi is either by overnight train or bus. The train takes approximately 9-10 hours.
- Book tickets for the trains in India easily online in advance through 12GoAsia.com.
Is it easy to get around independently in Varanasi?
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.
- Tip: To go further, to the train station, airport, or on a day trip to Sarnath it is easy to book a taxi through your accommodation.
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.
Final thoughts? Is a 2-Day Varanasi itinerary enough?
A 2-Day Varanasi itinerary covers a heck of a lot. There is so much to see, and observe, and likewise a heck of a lot to digest. It’s a vibrant and colourful city. And there is no place like Varanasi.
I hope you enjoy exploring Varanasi on this 2-Day Varanasi itinerary!
Read more about travel in North India
- Epic 10 Day Rajasthan Itinerary
- Things to do in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
- What to see in Jaisalmer Fort
- Local desert cuisine and the food to try in Jaisalmer
- Getting the bus from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur or Bikaner
- Overnight train Delhi to Jaisalmer
- Taking the train Jaipur to Jaisalmer
- Leaving Jaisalmer to Jaipur (and Jodhpur too) by overnight train
- Choosing the best camel safari in Jaisalmer
About travel planning for India and beyond…
These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia through 12Go.
- 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 including 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 travel insurance, whatever your Varanasi itinerary!
