Varanasi Travel Tips: 10 Things First-Timers Should Know
Varanasi can overwhelm a first visit. These ten practical tips help you get more from the ghats, the lanes and the food.
21 September 2026 · 2 min read · Best in Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Varanasi is intense, beautiful and busy all at once. A little planning makes it much easier to enjoy.
- Go at sunrise. A boat ride along the ghats in the early morning is the best introduction to the city.
- Agree the boat price before you step in, and confirm whether it is per boat or per person.
- Watch the evening Ganga aarti from the water or from a ghat, and arrive early for a spot.
- Walk the lanes on foot. Cars cannot go far, and the old city is best seen at walking pace.
- Be respectful at the cremation ghats. Do not photograph the pyres, and do not follow touts who offer to show you around.
- Check current rules before visiting the Kashi Vishwanath temple: bags, phones and security arrangements change.
- Take a short trip to Sarnath, about 10 km away, where the Buddha gave his first teaching.
- Buy silk from weavers or established shops rather than from people who approach you in the street.
- Eat where the locals eat: kachori-sabzi at breakfast, lassi and malaiyo in winter.
- Wear shoes that are easy to remove and comfortable on uneven stone.
When to go
October to March is the comfortable season. In November, Dev Deepawali on the full moon lights the ghats with thousands of lamps and is one of the city's most striking sights, though it is very crowded.
Trips in Varanasi, all handled
See allVaranasi rewards patience. Leave a day with nothing planned and just wander.
Rules, prices and festival dates change, so confirm the details locally.
Want this planned for you? See Varanasi trips — stay, food, travel and a local host, all handled — or book a single experience.