What currency is used in Varanasi?

Varanasi uses the Indian rupee (INR).

How much does a day in Varanasi cost?

Roughly $20-35 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $50-90 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Varanasi?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Varanasi without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Varanasi travel guide

India

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, stacked in stone steps along the Ganges. Varanasi is intense, devotional and unforgettable, and it asks for patience in return.

Essentials

Language: Hindi; English is spoken in guesthouses and by many guides
Currency: Indian rupee (INR)
Plugs: Type C, D and M, 230 V
Emergency number: 112
Tipping: Around 10% in sit-down restaurants if no service charge is added; small tips for boatmen and guides are customary.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $20-35, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $50-90, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Varanasi

Assi Ghat: the calmer southern end of the river, with guesthouses, cafés and a morning ceremony.
Dashashwamedh: the busy heart of the ghats and the setting for the nightly Ganga Aarti.
Bengali Tola: a maze of narrow lanes behind the river, close to everything and full of small temples.

Getting around Varanasi

The ghats and old-city lanes are best walked, and boats link the riverfront. For longer hops, take an auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw and agree the fare before you get in.

Best time to visit Varanasi

October to March, when days are warm and dry rather than scorching or flooded.

Top things to do in Varanasi

Row along the ghats at sunrise and watch the city wake up on the river
Watch the Ganga Aarti fire ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat in the evening
Walk the riverfront from Assi Ghat north, passing dozens of ghats in a couple of hours
See the textiles and miniature paintings at Bharat Kala Bhavan on the Banaras Hindu University campus
Visit a silk-weaving workshop to see how Banarasi saris are made on hand looms

What to eat in Varanasi

Kachori sabzi: fried, stuffed pastries with a spiced potato curry, the classic breakfast
Lassi: thick sweetened yoghurt served in a clay cup, often topped with cream
Tamatar chaat: a hot, tangy tomato and potato snack served in a leaf bowl
Malaiyyo: a light, saffron-flavoured milk foam sold on winter mornings

Day trips from Varanasi

Sarnath: where the Buddha gave his first sermon, with stupas, ruins and a museum, about 10 km away
Ramnagar Fort: an 18th-century riverside fort and museum across the Ganges, under an hour by road
Chunar Fort: an older hilltop fort above a bend in the river, about an hour and a half by road

Local etiquette

Do not photograph cremations at Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats, and dress modestly. Remove your shoes before entering temples, and ask before taking pictures of people at prayer.

Staying connected

Prepaid SIMs from Jio and Airtel need your passport and a photo and can take a few hours to activate, so a travel eSIM is often simpler; most guesthouses have Wi-Fi.

Staying safe

Expect persistent touts, self-appointed guides, and people near the cremation ghats asking for money for firewood; a polite, firm no is enough. The lanes are shared with motorbikes and cows, so watch your step, and avoid drinking or swimming in the river.

A local tip

Take a rowing boat out at dawn, when the light is soft and the ghats fill with bathers, rather than joining the crowded evening boats.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Varanasi on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Varanasi for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Varanasi, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Varanasi

What currency is used in Varanasi?: Varanasi uses the Indian rupee (INR).
What is the emergency number in Varanasi?: In Varanasi, call 112.
When is the best time to visit Varanasi?: October to March, when days are warm and dry rather than scorching or flooded.
How much does a day in Varanasi cost?: Roughly $20-35 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $50-90 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Varanasi?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Varanasi without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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