Whether you're a foodie, history lover, urban explorer or a traveling family. Enjoy Varanasi to the max with the best things to do in Varanasi with a local expert. The best thing? It's private & personalized - just for you!
Whether you're a foodie, history lover, urban explorer or a traveling family. Enjoy Varanasi to the max with the best things to do in Varanasi with a local expert. The best thing? It's private & personalized - just for you!
No strangers on your tour. It’s just you and your local host.
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Let your local host tailor the tour completely to your wishes.
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Top 3 things to do in Varanasi
Make your stay in Varanasi complete with these things to do
1
Choose your favorite local
Highlights & Hidden Gems of Varanasi
26 reviews
3 hours | city highlight tours | Varanasi
Want to see the best of Varanasi? We got you covered. But as you can expect from a Withlocals experience, the real excitement is its hidden gems. Join your favorite local and get a feeling of the city's real vibe on a tour that has it all, so you can say: I experienced the real Varanasi!
Ready to taste the best food in Varanasi? Satisfy your cravings for local food and culture with highlights along the way, together with a foodie host. Enjoy 10 delicious and typical tastings that range from sweet to savory as well as drinks on a tasty food tour in Varanasi.
Ready for a jam-packed tour, full of history, culture, stories, and sights? Checkmark from your travel bucket list all your must-sees of Varanasi, because if there’s a Withlocals tour that shows you all the city's ins and outs, it’s this complete and personalized tour of Varanasi.
EdwardAbout local ShikharVaranasi, February 14, 2025
5.0
Excellent Experience
"Bhawna was an excellent guide. She expertly guided us through the massive crowds and presented a lot of fascinating facts and stories and showed us sites that only a local knows.
I highly recommend Bhawna."
"Whenever my husband and I travel to new cities around the world, we hire guides to showcase the city we’re in, and to teach us about its history and culture. In all of our travels, Anish ranks number one among guides. His language skills are impeccable, and he is super intelligent about everything. He’s a relaxed teacher who appreciates all questions. His intimacy with Varanasi’s hidden alleys made for very special experience. He also arranged for us to have excellent front row boat seats at the evening ceremony (Aarti) near or hotel. We hired him again the next day to take us to Sarnath, the site of Buddha’s first sermon, and to a silk cooperative, also enlightening. Can’t say enough good things about him. He was the best. Thanks Anish! "
JeffAbout local Anish JhaVaranasi, December 8, 2024
5.0
Bhawna is Amazing!
"Booking a tour of Varanasi with Bhawna was the BEST decision and truly the highlight of my Varanasi trip!
Bhawna is an AMAZING tour guide - the wealth of knowledge and information she has about the city, its history and culture; her impeccable storytelling skills, plus her kind, patient and friendly demeanour truly made it a wholesome and memorable experience. Bhawna has a lovely personality and it’s very easy to connect with her instantly, it truly felt like I am touring the city with an old friend and that truly made it an even more wonderful experience :) I can’t wait to be back in Varanasi and I can’t wait to tour the beautiful city with Bhawna again! Highly recommend! "
nikitaAbout local BhawnaVaranasi, November 25, 2024
5.0
Great tour of varanasi
"Amazing your sharing the hidden parts of Varanasi. Would recommend. "
"We were expecting to be told off because we were late (don’t underestimate how long it takes to get places in Varanasi!) but Bhawna was all smiles and reassurance! She took us up into the alleys to eat some of the most amazing food, sharing tables with locals and really getting a sense of the city beyond what we’d have dared to do without having a born and bred Varanasi lass with us. She answered all our nosey questions about life in the city and finished the tour with “is there anything else you’d like to see?” Her impeccable English and relaxed and humorous style meant the whole evening felt like being out with a friend rather than a tour guide. Can’t recommend Bhawna highly enough. ***** "
ClareAbout local BhawnaVaranasi, February 28, 2024
5.0
Spot-on visit with Bhawna
"Exploring Varanasi with Bhawna was an absolute delight! From the rich historical narratives to the personal anecdotes, she brought the city to life in ways we couldn't have imagined.Her expertise not only deepened our understanding of Varanasi's significance but also enriched our overall experience. Walking through the streets, every corner seemed to unveil a new layer of history, and she guide skillfully wove together the past and present, making the city feel truly alive. Her passion for Varanasi was contagious, leaving us with a profound sense of connection to this vibrant cultural hub. We left Varanasi not just as tourists, but as storytellers, thanks to the invaluable insights and warmth of our guide Bhawna,. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a truly immersive and unforgettable journey through one of India's most fascinating cities."
Burcu besteAbout local BhawnaVaranasi, February 25, 2024
5.0
Favourite experience in Varanasi
"Wir haben spontan eine Tour mit Shakhir in Varanasi gebucht. Die technische Abwicklung hat super funktioniert und schon als wir Probleme hatten an dem vereinbarten Treffpunkt anzukommen, half uns Shakhir mit konkreten Anweisungen weiter.
Während des Spaziergangs durch die Gassen der Stadt hin zu den wichtigsten Ghats erzählte Shakhir tolle facts und stories über diesen magischen Ort. Er gab uns einen Einblick in sein Leben als Einheimischer und persönliche familiäre Traditionen. Wir besuchten seinen Lieblings Lassi Laden und genossen das tolle Getränk. Auch spirituelle Orte wie die Krematorien erklärte Shakhir detailreich und vorallem respektvoll und ermöglichte uns sehr beeindruckende Erfahrungen. Wir empfehlen eine Tour mit Shakhir jedem Varanasi-Reisenden! Ein ganz großartiges Erlebnis! "
VerenaAbout local ShikharVaranasi, December 10, 2023
5.0
Great first experience with withlocals
"We booked this tour pretty last minute as a previous booking had fallen through, and luckily we got a quick response within a few minutes. We met up and he guided us through the (very busy due to Kumbh) streets and alleys of Varanasi in a way we would have never managed on our own. Excellent food choices, my favorite being the seasonal malaiyo (sp?). Would recommend booking!"
"As a female solo traveller it was really important to me to find the right guide. Shikhar was absolutely amazing, easy to communicate with, and mkre than welcoming. We walked all over town, he answered all my questions and made sure I got to experience the real Varansi by personalizing the experience.
He also helped me regain my lost luggage and helped organize more events like a boat ride for free.
Thank you so much - had the best time!! "
KristinAbout local ShikharVaranasi, January 2, 2025
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