Activity
Things to do in Varanasi
12 sights, walks and activities, 4 of them free.
- Things to do
- 12
- Free
- 4
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Ideal stay
- 2 nights
Things to do in Varanasi
Shared sunrise boat ride, Assi to Manikarnika
₹200–₹250 per person1.5 hours
Representative photo · Photo by Tanmoy Pal on Pexels
Evening aarti from a boat
₹300–₹400 per person1.5 hours
Representative photo · Photo by Ethan Sarkar on Pexels
Old city food walk
₹1,000–₹1,300 per person3 hours
Representative photo · Photo by Himanshu Singh on Pexels
Kashi Vishwanath darshan
Free1–2 hours
One of the holiest Shiva temples in India, with a gold-plated spire and a new corridor to the river.
Photo: Gannu03 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ghat walk to Manikarnika
Free1.5 hours
A walk along the river steps past temples, bathers and boats to Manikarnika, the main cremation ghat.
Photo: Gannu03 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sankat Mochan temple
Free45 min
A Hanuman temple founded by the poet Tulsidas, in a shaded compound with many monkeys.
Photo: Vinayaraj · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sarnath: Dhamek Stupa and ruins
₹25–₹50 per person2 hours
Where the Buddha gave his first sermon, with the brick Dhamek Stupa and the Ashoka lion capital in the museum.
Photo: SpeakingArch · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ramnagar Fort museum
₹50–₹100 per person1.5 hours
The 18th-century sandstone fort of the Maharaja of Benares on the far bank, with a museum of vintage cars and arms.
Bharat Kala Bhavan, BHU
₹20–₹50 per person1.5 hours
The tree-lined BHU campus and its museum of Indian paintings, sculpture and textiles.
Sunrise boat on the Ganga
1.5 hours
A rowboat along the ghats at dawn, as pilgrims bathe and the old city's temples catch the first light.
Good to know
- In the monsoon (roughly Aug–Sep) the Ganga floods the lower ghats and the aarti moves to rooftops; boats may be stopped.
- Photography at Manikarnika cremation ghat is considered disrespectful; ask before photographing people.
- Free sights can still charge for parking, shoes or a camera.
Questions
What are the best things to do in Varanasi?
Shared sunrise boat ride, Assi to Manikarnika; Evening aarti from a boat; Old city food walk; Kashi Vishwanath darshan; Ghat walk to Manikarnika; Sankat Mochan temple.
What can you do for free in Varanasi?
Kashi Vishwanath darshan; Ghat walk to Manikarnika; Sankat Mochan temple; Subah-e-Banaras at Assi Ghat.
What is the best time to visit Varanasi?
Oct–Mar. Avoid May–Jun, Aug.
How many days do you need in Varanasi?
2 nights covers the main sights at an easy pace; from Delhi that fits a long weekend or a Friday-to-Sunday trip.