Varanasi Travel Guide 2026 — Things to Do, Eat & Stay
Spiritual city on the Ganga where rituals, music, and narrow lanes run late into the night.
Quick facts
Pop. ~1.2M (2011)100 km² (40 sq mi)IST (UTC+5:30)VNSAncient pilgrimage city on the Ganges
Stats from public records. Verify before travel. Last reviewed 2026.
See all facts
| Population | approximately 1.2 million (2011 census) |
|---|---|
| Area | approximately 100 km² (40 sq mi) (order-of-magnitude) |
| Elevation | approximately 80 m |
| Founded / established | Ancient pilgrimage city on the Ganges |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Nearest airport | Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) |
| Languages | Hindi, English |
| Nicknames | Benares, Kashi |
Explore categories in Varanasi
Top places, ranked lists, and details by category.
🗺️ Explore & Visit
🏙️ Live & Work
👨👩👧 Family & Wellness
At a glance
- Last updated: March 2026
- 5 active categories and 50 ranked listings.
- Overall city score: 7.3/10.
- Cost level: $$.
- Top categories: Restaurants & Food (10), Hotels & Accommodation (10), Tourist Attractions (10), Best Neighborhoods (10).
Start planning Varanasi
We are still expanding detailed editorial coverage for Varanasi. To keep this page useful and consistent, start with the strongest available categories and nearby city comparisons while more live city data is being added.
Best available categories right now
- Restaurants & Food (10 listings)
- Hotels & Accommodation (10 listings)
- Tourist Attractions (10 listings)
- Best Neighborhoods (10 listings)
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