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Varanasi, India

Things to Do in Varanasi

Top sights, the tours and tickets travellers book most, hidden gems and day trips.

Most booked:Hidden Secrets of Varanasi: Vibrant Tradition (Guided Tour)

Most booked tours and tickets in Varanasi

Hidden Secrets of Varanasi: Vibrant Tradition (Guided Tour)

Hidden Secrets of Varanasi: Vibrant Tradition (Guided Tour)

5.0474 reviews3h
The Ultimate 1 Day in Varanasi - How to Spend 13 Hours - Private Guided Tour

The Ultimate 1 Day in Varanasi - How to Spend 13 Hours - Private Guided Tour

4.9339 reviews10h
Varanasi full day guided tour | Ranked 1 Tour Operator on Viator

Varanasi full day guided tour | Ranked 1 Tour Operator on Viator

5.0282 reviews10h
Full Day Varanasi Private Tour with Temples, Ghats & Rituals

Full Day Varanasi Private Tour with Temples, Ghats & Rituals

4.8188 reviews11h
Varanasi Landmark Evening City Tour - Aarti & Boating

Varanasi Landmark Evening City Tour - Aarti & Boating

4.6154 reviews2h
The Ultimate 3 Days in Varanasi - How to Spend 39 Hours - For First Timers

The Ultimate 3 Days in Varanasi - How to Spend 39 Hours - For First Timers

4.8154 reviews72h
One Day Admirable tour in Varanasi Private Guided Tour

One Day Admirable tour in Varanasi Private Guided Tour

4.9133 reviews12h

Top sights in Varanasi

  1. 1Sunrise Ganges Boat Ride
  2. 2Dashashwamedh Ghat
  3. 3Ganga Aarti Ceremony
  4. 4Manikarnika Ghat (Cremations)
  5. 5Old City Walks
  6. 6Kashi Vishwanath Temple
  • Witness Ancient Spiritual Rituals: Experience the powerful, daily Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat, observe the cycle of life and death at the cremation ghats, and see pilgrims perform sacred ablutions in the Ganges at sunrise.
  • Explore One of the World's Oldest Cities: Get lost in the maze-like galis of the Old City, discovering hidden temples like the Golden Temple (Kashi Vishwanath) and centuries-old havelis that have been continuously inhabited for over 3,000 years.
  • Take a Transformative Boat Ride: Glide along the Ganges at dawn to witness the city waking up—a serene panorama of bathers, yoga practitioners, and temples glowing in the morning light from a unique, peaceful vantage point.

Tickets and passes in Varanasi

Witness holy craft transform raw silk into perfection

Witness holy craft transform raw silk into perfection

5.06 reviews1h 10m
Private Varanasi Holi Tour with Boat Ride, Guide & Breakfast

Private Varanasi Holi Tour with Boat Ride, Guide & Breakfast

4.04 reviews10h

Food and drink experiences in Varanasi

Private Heritage and Spiritual Walk Tour - Varanasi Kashi

Private Heritage and Spiritual Walk Tour - Varanasi Kashi

4.9196 reviews3h
Varanasi Street Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Food Tasting Tour)

Varanasi Street Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Food Tasting Tour)

4.573 reviews2h

Day trips and outdoor activities from Varanasi

INDIVIDUAL YOGA CLASS - BEGINNER / ADVANCED Sunrise Yoga with Ayush in Varanasi

INDIVIDUAL YOGA CLASS - BEGINNER / ADVANCED Sunrise Yoga with Ayush in Varanasi

5.0166 reviews1h
GROUP YOGA CLASS - BEGINNER / ADVANCED - Sunrise Yoga with Ayush in Varanasi

GROUP YOGA CLASS - BEGINNER / ADVANCED - Sunrise Yoga with Ayush in Varanasi

5.091 reviews1h
Group Yoga Class with Siddharth from Beginner to Advance

Group Yoga Class with Siddharth from Beginner to Advance

4.956 reviews1h 30m

Hidden gems in Varanasi

Places most visitors miss, many of them free.

Bharat Mata Mandir

A unique temple inside the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith campus dedicated not to a god, but to 'Mother India'.

Tulsi Manas Temple

A modern marble temple located near Durga Temple, dedicated to Lord Rama.

Alamgir Mosque (Beni Madhav Ka Darera)

A mosque built atop the ruins of the original Bindu Madhav Temple, located at Panchganga Ghat.

Jain Temple at Chandraprabhu

A beautiful, ornate Jain temple hidden in the old city lanes near Manikarnika Ghat.

The Weavers' Colony in Sarai Mohana

A village on the outskirts, across the river, where many of Varanasi's master silk weavers live and work.

Day trips from Varanasi

Sarnath

30-45 min by auto-rickshaw or taxi

One of Buddhism's most important pilgrimage sites, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The peaceful ruins, museums, and international monasteries offer a stark contrast to Varanasi's Hindu intensity.

Chunar Fort

1.5 hours by car

A massive, historic fort overlooking the Ganges with a rich history spanning from the Mughals to the British. It offers stunning river views, ancient carvings, and a fascinating, less-visited atmosphere.

Ramnagar Fort and Museum

30 min by auto-rickshaw or ferry across the Ganges

The ancestral home of the Maharaja of Varanasi, this 17th-century fort on the eastern bank of the Ganges houses a quirky museum with vintage cars, palanquins, and an astronomical clock.

Plan your Varanasi trip

Things to do in Varanasi: FAQ

What are the best things to do in Varanasi?+

Top sights include Sunrise Ganges Boat Ride, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Ganga Aarti Ceremony and Manikarnika Ghat (Cremations). Away from the crowds, try Bharat Mata Mandir and Tulsi Manas Temple.

What are the most popular tours in Varanasi?+

The most booked experiences on Viator are Hidden Secrets of Varanasi: Vibrant Tradition (Guided Tour) (5.0 stars, 474 reviews); Banaras Wala Tours (4.9 stars, 355 reviews); The Ultimate 1 Day in Varanasi - How to Spend 13 Hours - Private Guided Tour (4.9 stars, 339 reviews).

How much do tours in Varanasi cost?+

The tours and tickets on this page start between €7 and €163 per person, depending on length and what is included.

Tours and prices from Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Prices change with your dates. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.