3 Days in Varanasi: A Day-by-Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Day one starts at dawn on Assi Ghat and visits the temples of the southern city and the BHU campus. Day two goes into the old city for Kashi Vishwanath, walks the ghats past Manikarnika and ends with the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh. Day three is for Sarnath, where the Buddha first taught, and Ramnagar Fort across the river.
Good to Know
Estimated total per person: ₹1,600 to ₹3,300, excluding flights and hotel
Weather: Summers are very hot, the monsoon brings heavy rain from July to September and can flood the lower ghats, and winter mornings are foggy and cold.
Pack:
Modest clothes covering shoulders and knees
Slip-on shoes for temples
A warm layer for winter boat rides at dawn
A small torch for early mornings
Local tips:
Phones, bags and leather items are not allowed inside Kashi Vishwanath; use the lockers outside.
Do not photograph cremations at Manikarnika Ghat.
Agree boat prices before you get in; shared boats cost much less than private ones.
Booking tips:
For the Dashashwamedh Ganga Aarti, arrive an hour early for a spot on the steps, or book a boat to watch from the river.
Go to Kashi Vishwanath early in the morning when queues are shortest.
Getting there (from other Indian cities):
flight: Direct flights to Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other cities - About 1.5 hours from Delhi
train: Vande Bharat and other trains from Delhi to Varanasi Junction or Banaras station - About 8 hours from Delhi by Vande Bharat
The airport is about 25 km from the old city; allow an hour by taxi. Cars cannot enter the lanes near the ghats, so walk the last stretch or take a cycle-rickshaw.
Book trains early for festival dates such as Dev Deepawali.
Day 1: Dawn at Assi Ghat and the temples of the south
Sunrise and the morning programme at Assi Ghat, then the Tulsi Manas and Sankat Mochan temples and the new Vishwanath temple on the BHU campus.
Assi Ghat (sunrise): Be at Assi Ghat before sunrise for Subah-e-Banaras, the morning programme of aarti, music and yoga held on the steps as the sun rises over the river. Assi is the southernmost of the main ghats and calmer than those in the old city. Free Why visit: The morning aarti and music at sunrise; A calmer ghat to start your Varanasi visit Know before you go: Arrive by about 5am in summer and 6am in winter; Boats leave from here for dawn rides
Tulsi Manas Mandir (morning): Take an auto inland to Tulsi Manas Mandir, about 10 minutes. Built in white marble in 1964, it marks the place where the poet Tulsidas is said to have written the Ramcharitmanas, and verses from it are carved on the walls. Free Why visit: A marble temple dedicated to Rama and Tulsidas; Verses of the Ramcharitmanas on the walls Know before you go: Remove shoes at the entrance
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple (late morning): Walk to Sankat Mochan, a few minutes away, one of Varanasi's most loved Hanuman temples, traditionally linked with Tulsidas. Devotees bring laddoos as offerings, and the temple garden is full of monkeys. Free Why visit: One of the city's most important Hanuman temples; A busy, devotional atmosphere Know before you go: Phones and bags may not be allowed inside; use the deposit counter; Busiest on Tuesdays and Saturdays
New Vishwanath Temple, BHU (afternoon): Take an auto to the Banaras Hindu University campus, about 10 minutes, for the new Vishwanath temple, with one of the tallest temple spires in India. The leafy campus is a calm contrast to the old city. Free Why visit: A tall marble temple in a quiet university campus; Open to all, with no long queues Know before you go: The campus is large; take an auto between gates
Eat: Pehalwan Lassi - A famous lassi shop near BHU, known for thick lassi topped with malai and seasonal fruit.
Evening: Take a shared boat from Assi Ghat at dusk to see the ghats lit up from the river.
Budget for the day: ₹280 to ₹700 per person, excluding hotel
Day 2: Kashi Vishwanath, the ghats and the Ganga Aarti
The old city: darshan at Kashi Vishwanath, a walk along the ghats past Manikarnika, and the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh at sunset.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple (early morning): Start early at Kashi Vishwanath, one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva and the most important temple in Varanasi. The Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor, opened in 2021, now links the temple to the river ghats with wide courtyards. Free, paid quick-entry (Sugam Darshan) tickets are available Why visit: One of the twelve Jyotirlingas; The new corridor down to the Ganga Know before you go: Phones, bags and leather items are not allowed inside; use the lockers; Queues are shortest early in the morning
Manikarnika Ghat (late morning): Walk down the corridor to the river and along the ghats to Manikarnika, the main cremation ghat, where fires have burned day and night for centuries. Watch quietly from a respectful distance; for Hindus, being cremated here is believed to bring liberation. Free Why visit: The most sacred cremation ghat in Varanasi; A profound part of life in the city Know before you go: Do not take photos of cremations; Ignore men offering 'tours' who then ask for money for wood
Dashashwamedh Ghat Ganga Aarti (evening): Walk south along the ghats to Dashashwamedh, the busiest ghat in the city, and find a place before sunset. Every evening, young priests in saffron perform the Ganga Aarti on wooden platforms, with large brass lamps, bells and chanting, as boats crowd the river to watch. Free, boats to watch from the river charge extra Why visit: The most famous Ganga Aarti in India; A spectacle every single evening Know before you go: Arrive an hour early for a spot on the steps; Keep bags close in the crowd
Eat: Kashi Chat Bhandar - A busy chaat shop near Godowlia, known for tamatar chaat, a spicy tomato dish particular to Varanasi.
Evening: The Dashashwamedh aarti is the evening plan; watch from the steps or from a boat on the river.
Budget for the day: ₹250 to ₹600 per person, excluding hotel
Day 3: Sarnath and Ramnagar Fort
Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon, in the morning, and Ramnagar Fort on the far bank of the Ganga in the afternoon.
Sarnath (morning): Take a cab to Sarnath, about 10 km north of the city, where the Buddha gave his first sermon after his enlightenment. Walk around the great Dhamek Stupa and the ruins of old monasteries, then visit the museum, which holds the Lion Capital of Ashoka, India's national emblem. ₹25, Indian visitors, archaeological site; the museum charges a few rupees more Why visit: Where the Buddha first taught; The original Lion Capital of Ashoka in the museum Know before you go: The museum is closed on Fridays; Go in the morning when it is cooler
Ramnagar Fort (afternoon): Drive south across the Ganga to Ramnagar Fort, about 45 minutes from Sarnath. Built in the 18th century, it is the home of the Maharaja of Benares, and its museum shows vintage cars, palanquins, arms and old clocks. The riverside walls look back across the water. Museum ticket at the gate Why visit: The fort of the Maharaja of Benares; A quirky museum of royal belongings Know before you go: The museum is old-fashioned and poorly lit in places; Traffic on the bridge can be slow
Eat: Baati Chokha Restaurant - A village-style restaurant serving baati chokha, the region's roasted wheat balls with mashed vegetables, on the way between Sarnath and the city.
Evening: Return to Assi or Dashashwamedh for a last evening by the river.
Budget for the day: ₹1,100 to ₹2,000 per person, excluding hotel
Want a Different Pace?
Dawn boat ride: A sunrise boat from Dashashwamedh to Manikarnika and back: The ghats come alive at dawn with bathers, prayers and laundry. (Trade-off: Very early start. - Similar cost)
Add a silk-weaving visit: A Banarasi silk weavers' workshop in the old city: See saris woven on hand looms. (Trade-off: Shops may pressure you to buy; go with a trusted guide. - Similar cost)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Varanasi?
A 3-day Varanasi itinerary like this one works well for First-time visitors, Pilgrims and spiritual travellers, Photographers who rise early. It's not the best fit if You dislike crowds and narrow, busy lanes or You are visiting in the peak of summer, May and June.
How much does a 3-day Varanasi trip cost per person?
Budget about ₹1,600 to ₹3,300 per person for entry tickets, food and local transport on this 3-day Varanasi itinerary. Flights and hotel are extra.
What's the best time to visit Varanasi?
The best time to visit Varanasi is October to March.
How do I reach Varanasi from other Indian cities?
Common options are flight (About 1.5 hours from Delhi), train (About 8 hours from Delhi by Vande Bharat). The airport is about 25 km from the old city; allow an hour by taxi. Cars cannot enter the lanes near the ghats, so walk the last stretch or take a cycle-rickshaw.
What are the must-see places in Varanasi in 3 days?
Day 1: Assi Ghat, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple and New Vishwanath Temple, BHU. Day 2: Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Manikarnika Ghat and Dashashwamedh Ghat Ganga Aarti. Day 3: Sarnath and Ramnagar Fort.
Which Varanasi attractions are free?
On this itinerary, Assi Ghat, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, New Vishwanath Temple, BHU, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Manikarnika Ghat and Dashashwamedh Ghat Ganga Aarti are free to visit (some charge for special exhibitions or inside visits).
How much are entry tickets in Varanasi?
Sarnath: ₹25. Prices are for Indian adult visitors; check the official site before you go.
What time is the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi?
The Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat starts around sunset every evening, roughly 6 to 7pm depending on the season, and lasts about 45 minutes. There is also a morning aarti at Assi Ghat at sunrise.
Can you take a phone into Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
No. Phones, bags, cameras and leather items are not allowed inside; there are lockers near the gates.
Where to Eat in Varanasi
Desi Mandapam Baati Chokha Restaurant - ★4.9 - Sankat Mochan Road, Durgakund Rd, near Kewaldham Petrol Pump, Kaiwalya Dham Colony, Tulsi Manas Mandir Colony, Naria, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India
Roma's Cafe Diner - ★4.3-24, 2nd, Swastik Plaza, near Ravidas Gate, Lanka, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India
Sagar Ratna - Pure Veg Restaurant BHU Lanka - ★4.3 - Swastik Plaza B30/69, 70, BHU Rd, near Ravi Das Gate, Lanka, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India
Terracotta Cafe - ★4.5 - B1/146, Pushkar Talab Rd, Assi, Road, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India
Shreeji - Sweets & Milk - ★4.5 - k 26, 17, choukhamba, Ghasi Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001, India