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Varanasi travel guide

What to watch out for, what to see, what to eat, and how to get around — written for people arriving for the first time.

Last updated 2026-08-30

Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi
Photo: Bobinson K B · CC BY SA 2.0 · source

Common scams in Varanasi

13 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Varanasi, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.

Common scams in Varanasi — and how to avoid them →

Top places to visit in Varanasi

6 places worth your time in Varanasi, with what each is actually like and when to go.

Top places to visit in Varanasi →

Top food to try in Varanasi

6 dishes to eat in Varanasi, what is in them, and where they belong.

Top food to try in Varanasi →

Traditions and customs in Varanasi

5 customs and traditions in Varanasi — what they are, and how to take part without causing offence.

Traditional things to do in Varanasi →

Getting around Varanasi

How to travel around Varanasi — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Getting around Varanasi: transport and taxi apps →

Rules to follow in Varanasi

4 laws, restrictions, and customs in Varanasi that travellers often break without knowing — and the fines or consequences that follow.

Rules to follow in Varanasi — laws and customs travellers must know →

Emergency contacts in Varanasi

5 emergency services in Varanasi you may need as a traveller — tourist police, ambulance, fire brigade and more. Save these before you go out.

Emergency numbers in Varanasi — police, ambulance, fire and tourist helplines →

Best places to shop in Varanasi

4 markets, malls and shopping districts in Varanasi — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.

Best places to shop in Varanasi — markets, malls, bazaars and street shopping →

Scam entries describe patterns reported in an area. They are not findings of fact, and they do not allege wrongdoing by any named business.