Varanasi Travel Guide 2026
Your complete guide to Top 10 restaurants, hotels, and things to do in Varanasi. Things to Do, Eat & Stay — plus curated category hubs for Uttar Pradesh, India.
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
🌿 Outdoors & Culture
At a glance
- Last updated: April 2026
- 21 active categories and 180 ranked listings.
- Overall city score: 7.3/10.
- Cost level: $$.
- Top categories: Restaurants & Food (10), Hotels & Accommodation (10), Tourist Attractions (10), Street Food (10).