Delhi to Varanasi for International Travellers: Flight, Train or Car?

Short answer: Delhi to Varanasi is about 670 km as the crow flies and 760–860 km by rail or road. For most international visitors the best option is a nonstop flight (about 1.5 hours, six a day). Train lovers can take the 06:00 Vande Bharat (8 hours) or an overnight sleeper such as the Shiv Ganga Express. Driving takes 12–13 hours and only makes sense as part of a longer road trip.

How far is Varanasi from Delhi, and how long does it take?

Varanasi, also called Banaras or Kashi, sits on the Ganges (Ganga) in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The straight-line distance from Delhi is about 671 km (FlightsFrom). By rail the main trains cover 755–771 km, and by road it is about 820 km through Sultanpur and Jaunpur or about 860 km on the expressways (Triveni Cabs route guide).

That distance shapes everything. Unlike Agra or Jaipur, Varanasi is not a drive-and-see trip from Delhi. It is a separate leg of your journey, and the real choice is between a short flight and a train that either eats a day or replaces a night in a hotel.

Delhi to Varanasi at a glance: which option suits you?

Train times come from the IRCTC-based timetables on ConfirmTkt and the Yatradham Delhi–Varanasi timetable; flight data from FlightsFrom. All were checked on 24 October 2026. Indian Railways and airlines change schedules several times a year, so always go by your ticket.

Is flying the best way from Delhi to Varanasi?

For most visitors on a two- or three-week trip, yes. FlightsFrom lists about six nonstop flights a day between Delhi and Varanasi, flown by IndiGo (the most frequent), Air India and Air India Express, with a flying time of 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. It also lists SpiceJet as starting the route from 7 November 2026; treat that as unconfirmed until you can book it.

Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is at Babatpur, about 25 km from the city. Allow 45 minutes to an hour by taxi to the ghats and old city, longer in the evening rush (Happyfares airport guide). Cars cannot drive into the narrow lanes near the river, so the last few hundred metres to many guesthouses are on foot. A driver or hotel porter who meets you at the drop point makes this easy.

Add the trip to Delhi airport, check-in and baggage claim, and a “1.5-hour” flight is a five-hour door-to-door journey. Take a morning flight and you will still reach the river in time for the evening aarti.

What are the best trains from Delhi to Varanasi?

Varanasi is one of the best-connected cities in India by rail, and the train is a good experience in itself. Three trains suit most visitors:

• 22436 Vande Bharat Express: New Delhi 06:00 → Varanasi Junction (BSB) 14:00. It runs every day except Thursday, stops only at Kanpur and Prayagraj, and covers about 771 km in eight hours (ConfirmTkt; Yatradham timetable). It has only CC (air-conditioned chair car) and EC (executive chair) seats, and catering is chosen when you book. You are in Varanasi by mid-afternoon, with the evening free.
• 12560 Shiv Ganga Express: New Delhi 20:05 → Banaras (BNRS) 06:10, daily, about 755 km. It carries AC First Class (1A), AC 2-tier (2A), AC 3-tier (3A) and sleeper coaches, but no pantry car, so eat before boarding (ConfirmTkt; Wikipedia). It is the classic overnight choice, because you save a hotel night and wake up in Varanasi.
• 12562 Swatantrata Senani Express: New Delhi 21:15 → Varanasi Junction 08:05, daily, according to the Yatradham timetable. It is a useful back-up when the Shiv Ganga is full.

Not sure what 1A, 2A or CC mean? Our guide to Indian train classes explains each one, with what the berths look like and who each class suits. For an overnight trip, most foreign visitors book 2A, or 1A for a lockable cabin.

Booking as a foreigner: you can register on the IRCTC website with an international mobile number and email, and the Foreign Tourist Quota sets aside a few seats on popular trains. From October to March, 1A and 2A berths on the Shiv Ganga sell out early, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.

Which is better: the Vande Bharat or the overnight train?

It depends on what you would rather lose: a day or a night’s sleep.

The Vande Bharat is clean, punctual by Indian standards and easy to manage, with airline-style seats and luggage racks. The cost is an 05:00 wake-up in Delhi and eight hours sitting down, which is a full day on the move.

The overnight sleeper uses time you would spend asleep anyway. You board after dinner, sleep in a made-up berth with sheets, a blanket and a pillow (provided in the AC classes), and arrive at dawn. The catch is that sleep on a train is lighter, and in winter a fog delay can turn a 06:10 arrival into a late-morning one. Light sleepers and anyone on a tight schedule should fly.

Can you drive from Delhi to Varanasi?

You can, but not comfortably in a day. The fast route runs down the Yamuna Expressway to Agra, the Agra–Lucknow Expressway to Lucknow (about 550 km from Delhi) and then the Purvanchal Expressway towards Ghazipur, about 860 km and 12–13 hours of driving (Triveni Cabs). The shorter 820 km route through Sultanpur and Jaunpur takes about the same time.

A road trip makes sense only if you stop on the way. A common version is Delhi → Agra (the Taj Mahal, with a night there) → Lucknow (Mughal-era food and the Bara Imambara, a second night) → Varanasi. That turns a punishing drive into three good days. If you go this way, see our guide to the Taj Mahal at sunrise for gate times and the Friday closure.

Self-driving is not something we recommend to international visitors. Trucks, tractors, livestock and wrong-way vehicles are normal on Indian highways. A car with a professional driver handles tolls, parking and hotel gates for little more than a rental.

Does fog affect Delhi–Varanasi travel in winter?

Yes, and it is the one thing that can upset an otherwise simple journey. From mid-December to early February, dense fog often covers the plains of north India in the early morning. On 29 December 2025, for example, 64 flights were cancelled at Delhi airport and around 18 Delhi-bound trains were running more than three hours late (All India Radio, 29 December 2025).

What this means for your trip: in December and January, prefer a late-morning or afternoon flight to an early one, keep a buffer day before an international departure from Delhi, and do not schedule a tight connection off an overnight train. Our India in December guide covers the wider winter picture.

How many days should you spend in Varanasi?

Two nights is right for most first visits. A simple plan:

• Day 1: arrive by morning flight or the Vande Bharat, check in near the river, walk the ghats in the late afternoon and watch the evening Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, a 45-minute fire ceremony performed every night at sunset.
• Day 2: a sunrise boat ride past the bathing ghats and the cremation ghats at Manikarnika, breakfast, then the old city lanes and the Kashi Vishwanath temple area. In the afternoon, a half day at Sarnath, where the Buddha preached his first sermon.
• Day 3: a final morning on the river, then fly out.

A ghat is a flight of stone steps leading down to the river; Varanasi has more than 80 of them. The cremation ghats are open to view, but photography of funerals is not welcome. Ask before you take pictures of people, and dress modestly in temple areas.

How does Varanasi fit into a wider India itinerary?

Most international visitors add Varanasi to the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The usual sequence is the Golden Triangle by private car, back to Delhi, then a flight or overnight train to Varanasi for two nights, and a flight on or home. With Varanasi included, plan nine or ten days, or use our two-week India itinerary, which adds the Himalayan foothills or Rishikesh.

If you are travelling for pilgrimage, our Varanasi–Ayodhya–Prayagraj tour links the three holy cities by road. And for more journeys planned from Delhi, see our guides to Delhi to Rishikesh and Delhi to Jaipur.

When is the best time to visit Varanasi?

October to March is the main season, with warm days and cool to cold nights. November is especially good: the weather is pleasant and Dev Deepawali lights the ghats with lamps on the full moon of Kartik, which falls on 24 November in 2026. December and January are cold and foggy in the mornings but atmospheric. April to June is very hot. In the July–September monsoon the river rises, the lower ghats can flood and the evening aarti is sometimes held on higher steps.

Visa rules are separate from all of this. Most nationalities can use the Indian e-Visa, which is valid on arrival at Varanasi airport as well as Delhi. Rules change, so confirm on the official site via our India e-Visa guide.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Varanasi from Delhi?

Varanasi is about 670 km from Delhi in a straight line, about 760–770 km by rail and 820–860 km by road. The flight takes 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, the Vande Bharat train 8 hours, the overnight Shiv Ganga Express about 10 hours, and a car 12–13 hours of driving, which is why almost nobody does it by road in one go.

What is the best way to travel from Delhi to Varanasi?

For most international visitors it is a morning nonstop flight, which puts you on the ghats by early afternoon. If you enjoy trains, the overnight Shiv Ganga Express in an AC 2-tier or first-class berth saves a hotel night, and the 06:00 Vande Bharat is the daytime option. Driving is only worth it as part of a longer road trip.

Is the overnight train from Delhi to Varanasi safe for foreigners?

Yes, in the air-conditioned classes it is a normal way to travel, and many foreign visitors use it. Book AC First Class (1A, lockable cabins) or AC 2-tier (2A, curtained berths), keep valuables in a small bag with you, and lock larger luggage to the berth with a cable lock. Women travelling alone often prefer 1A or a lower berth in 2A.

Which station in Varanasi should I arrive at?

Check your ticket. Varanasi has two main stations: Varanasi Junction (BSB), where the Vande Bharat ends, and Banaras (BNRS), where the Shiv Ganga Express ends. Both have taxi and auto-rickshaw stands, and the drive to the ghats can be slow in city traffic, so allow extra time. A driver meeting you with a name board saves the bargaining.

How many days do I need in Varanasi?

Two nights is the sweet spot. That gives you the evening Ganga aarti, a sunrise boat ride on the second morning, a walk through the old city lanes, and a half day at Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon. One night feels rushed, especially if your train or flight is delayed by fog in winter.

Can I add Varanasi to a Golden Triangle trip?

Yes, and it is the most popular extension. The usual pattern is Delhi, Agra and Jaipur by car, back to Delhi, then a flight or overnight train to Varanasi for two nights and a flight out. Some travellers do Varanasi first and fly back to Delhi for the Golden Triangle. Either way, plan at least nine or ten days in total.