Cheap Accommodation In Varanasi, India
Varanasi is one of those destinations that seems to demand very little of your wallet while giving back an enormous amount in return. This is a city where a sunrise boat ride along the Ganges, an evening at the ghats watching the aarti ceremony, or simply wandering the tangled lanes of the old town costs next to nothing, and where a comfortable, clean room can still be found for a fraction of what you’d pay in most other major tourist cities in India. For Australians used to higher travel costs, Varanasi often comes as a pleasant surprise – the value here is exceptional if you know where to look. Whether you’re after a simple guesthouse with a river view or something a touch more polished, there’s a wide spread of accommodation in Varanasi to suit almost any budget. Use the search box above to compare accommodation options in Varanasi and find the best deal for your dates.
Getting There: Cheap Ways to Reach Varanasi
Varanasi is well connected for a city of its size and religious significance, and there are several budget-friendly ways to get there. Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport handles domestic flights from major Indian hubs like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, and fares can be very reasonable if booked a few weeks ahead, especially outside peak pilgrimage periods. Most travelers coming from Australia will fly into Delhi first, then take a short domestic connecting flight into Varanasi rather than trying to find a direct international route.
For those already in India, the train is often the cheapest and most atmospheric option. Varanasi Junction (also called Varanasi Cantt) is a major rail hub, and overnight sleeper trains from Delhi, Kolkata and Lucknow are inexpensive and give you a genuine slice of Indian travel culture along the way. Long-distance buses also connect Varanasi to nearby cities like Allahabad (Prayagraj) and Lucknow, and these are usually the cheapest option of all, though slower and less comfortable than the train. Once you arrive, auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws are the standard way to get around the city cheaply, and most accommodation in Varanasi is within easy rickshaw distance of the ghats and old city.
Best Time to Visit Varanasi
The most comfortable months to visit Varanasi are between October and March, when temperatures are milder and the humidity of the Indian summer has eased off. This is also the busiest period for tourism, so if you’re chasing the lowest accommodation prices, the shoulder months of October and March tend to offer a good balance of pleasant weather and better rates than the peak of December and January. Summer, from April through June, is intensely hot in Varanasi, with temperatures regularly climbing well above what most Australians would consider comfortable, but it’s also when accommodation prices drop the most, which can suit travelers happy to stick close to air-conditioned rooms during the middle of the day. The monsoon season, roughly July to September, brings heavy rain and higher river levels, which can affect access to the ghats, but it also means fewer crowds and some of the cheapest accommodation rates of the year.
Top Attractions in Varanasi
Varanasi’s biggest drawcards cost little or nothing to experience. The ghats themselves, the long series of stone steps leading down to the Ganges, are free to wander and are arguably the city’s single most memorable feature. Dashashwamedh Ghat is the most famous, and it’s where the nightly Ganga Aarti ceremony takes place, a fire and light ritual that draws large crowds but remains free to watch from the steps (small charges apply if you want a boat seat on the water for a closer view). A sunrise boat ride along the river is one of the few genuinely worthwhile paid experiences, and shared boats keep the cost low if you’re not fussed about privacy.
The old city’s narrow lanes, known locally as galis, are worth exploring on foot, leading past temples, shrines and small workshops. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the most significant Hindu temples in India, is a major pilgrimage site, though security is tight and phones and cameras are generally not permitted inside. Sarnath, located a short and inexpensive rickshaw or bus ride from central Varanasi, is where Buddha is believed to have given his first sermon, and the archaeological park and museum there are both budget-friendly half-day trips.
For Families and Kids
Varanasi is an intense, sensory city, and while it’s not a typical family holiday destination in the way a beach resort might be, there’s still plenty that will engage curious kids without costing anything. The riverfront itself is endlessly fascinating for children, with boats, bathers, cows and the general hum of daily life all playing out along the ghats. Sarnath’s open parkland and museum grounds offer a calmer, more spacious environment than the crowded old city lanes, and give kids room to move around. Benares Hindu University has a large, leafy campus that’s pleasant to walk through, and its on-site Bharat Kala Bhavan museum is an affordable way to introduce older children to Indian art and history.
Outdoors and Nature Around Varanasi
While Varanasi itself is a dense urban environment, the Ganges River is the city’s great natural asset, and simply being on or beside the water is the main outdoor experience here. Early morning boat rides are as much about nature as culture, with river birds, changing light and the sheer scale of the river all on display. A short trip out of the city to the rural areas around Sarnath offers a quieter, greener change of pace, with fields and small villages giving a glimpse of rural Uttar Pradesh life away from the intensity of the ghats.
Local Culture and Heritage
Varanasi is widely regarded as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and it holds deep significance in Hinduism as a place of pilgrimage, death rites and spiritual practice. Cremation ceremonies take place openly at Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats, and while these are sacred rituals rather than tourist attractions, respectful observation from a distance is generally accepted. The city has also long been a centre for classical music, weaving (particularly the famous Banarasi silk saris) and Sanskrit scholarship. Wandering the old city, you’ll find centuries-old temples sitting alongside busy markets and family-run workshops, giving a real sense of a living, working heritage rather than a museum piece.
Eating in Varanasi on a Budget
Food in Varanasi is one of the easiest ways to keep costs down while eating extremely well. Street food stalls around the old city and near the ghats sell local specialties like kachori sabzi, chaat, and the city’s famous lassi, often served in small clay cups, all for a handful of rupees. Small thali restaurants, offering a set plate of rice, dal, vegetables and bread, are widespread and represent excellent value, particularly around the Godowlia and Assi Ghat areas where backpackers and pilgrims alike tend to eat. Rooftop cafes overlooking the river are slightly pricier but still cheap by Australian standards, and they’re worth it for the view alone, especially at sunset. Bottled or filtered water is a sensible choice throughout Varanasi, and most budget eateries cater well to this without issue.
Accommodation Options in Varanasi
Accommodation in Varanasi covers an unusually wide range for the price, from simple riverside lodges to more polished heritage stays, and prices remain low compared to most other major Indian cities.
Budget and Cheapest Accommodation
The old city and the area around Assi Ghat and Dashashwamedh Ghat are packed with budget guesthouses, many run by local families, offering basic rooms with fans or air conditioning at very low rates. These are ideal for travelers who want to be within walking distance of the ghats and don’t need much beyond a clean bed and a fan.
Family Accommodation
Slightly larger guesthouses and mid-range hotels away from the busiest lanes, particularly around the Cantonment area near the train station, tend to offer more spacious rooms suited to families, along with easier vehicle access for luggage and prams.
Luxury and Boutique Accommodation
Varanasi has a small but growing selection of boutique hotels set in restored heritage havelis along the river, offering a more comfortable, design-conscious stay while still costing far less than comparable properties in Australia or Europe.
Romantic and Couples Accommodation
Riverside guesthouses and boutique havelis with rooftop terraces overlooking the Ganges make for a memorable, affordable romantic stay, particularly for sunrise or sunset views.
Long-Stay Accommodation
Travelers spending a week or more, including those attending yoga or meditation courses nearby, can often negotiate discounted weekly or monthly rates directly with guesthouse owners, particularly outside peak season.
Airport Accommodation
A small number of hotels near Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport suit travelers with early flights or late arrivals, though most visitors prefer staying closer to the ghats and taking a short rickshaw or taxi ride to the airport when needed.
Shopping in Varanasi
Varanasi is famous for its silk, particularly Banarasi sarees, and while genuine silk pieces can be a significant purchase, the surrounding markets also sell smaller silk items, scarves and textiles at more affordable prices. The lanes around Vishwanath Gali are packed with shops selling brassware, wooden toys, religious items and prayer beads, and bargaining is expected and part of the experience. Local markets are also a good place to pick up inexpensive spices, incense and handicrafts to take home.
Nightlife and Free Fun in Varanasi
Varanasi isn’t a nightlife city in the conventional sense, but the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat is the closest thing to a nightly show, and it’s completely free to watch from the steps. Simply sitting along the ghats after dark, watching the river and the glow of oil lamps, is one of the city’s most memorable free experiences. Rooftop cafes stay open into the evening and are a relaxed, low-cost way to end the day with a view.
Suggested Budget Itinerary for Varanasi
Start early with a sunrise boat ride along the Ganges, ideally shared with other travelers to keep costs low. Follow this with a simple breakfast of kachori and chai from a street stall near the ghats. Spend the late morning wandering the old city lanes, taking in temples and workshops, before a cheap thali lunch. In the afternoon, take a short rickshaw ride out to Sarnath to explore the archaeological park and museum. Return to Varanasi in time to find a spot along Dashashwamedh Ghat for the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony, then finish the day with dinner at a rooftop cafe overlooking the river. This kind of day costs very little beyond transport and meals, and it captures much of what makes accommodation in Varanasi such good value for budget travelers willing to embrace the city on its own terms.