Delhi to Varanasi is one of the easiest long trips in North India. It's also one of the easiest to plan badly. Pick the wrong train and you land at 3 am with no check-in. Pick the wrong flight time and the airport transfer eats half your first day.
This guide covers how to reach Varanasi from Delhi by train, flight, bus and car, with realistic timings, fares and arrival tips. Distances are about 760 to 820 km depending on whether you go by rail or road. And if you'd rather not sort out tickets and transfers yourself, you can also look at our Varanasi tour packages from Delhi, which bundle travel, stay and sightseeing.
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Delhi to Varanasi at a Glance
Here’s the short version before we go deeper. Times and fares are approximate and change by date, so always check the live price before you book.
| Option | Travel time | Typical one-way cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | About 1 hr 20 min to 1 hr 35 min in the air | About ₹4,500 to ₹12,000+ | Short trips, tight schedules |
| Vande Bharat Express | About 8 hours | About ₹1,500 to ₹3,600 (meals included) | Comfort, daytime travel |
| Rajdhani or overnight train | About 10 to 14 hours | From around ₹430 to ₹3,600 | Budget, saving a hotel night |
| Bus | About 14 to 16 hours | Varies by operator | Last-minute plans |
| Car or cab | About 12 to 14 hours | Fuel and tolls, or a cab quote | Families, groups, stops en route |
If you only remember one line: fly if time matters, take the Vande Bharat if comfort matters, and take an overnight train if budget matters.
Delhi to Varanasi by Train
Trains are how most people go, and for good reason. The route is well served, and you land right in the city.
Vande Bharat Express (the fastest train)
This is the quickest rail option. Two Vande Bharat services run between New Delhi and Varanasi Junction. One leaves New Delhi around 6 am and reaches Varanasi around 2 pm. The other leaves around 3 pm and arrives around 11 pm. Both stop at Kanpur Central and Prayagraj along the way.
Each service runs six days a week, but the off day isn’t the same for both, and schedules do shift. Check IRCTC for your exact date.
There are two classes, Chair Car and Executive Class. Published fares vary by source and date, but expect roughly ₹1,500 to ₹1,800 for Chair Car and ₹2,900 to ₹3,600 for Executive, with food included.
My honest take: the morning train is the better one. You arrive mid-afternoon, drop your bags, and still catch the evening Ganga Aarti. The late train gets you in at 11 pm, which means a tired check-in and a wasted first evening.
Rajdhani and overnight trains
Overnight trains are the budget-friendly choice, and there are plenty. Delhi to Varanasi has around ten direct departures a day across New Delhi, Old Delhi and Anand Vihar stations. Names you’ll see include the Rajdhani Express, Shiv Ganga Express, Kashi Vishwanath Express and Mahamana Express.
Journey times run roughly 10 to 14 hours, and some slower trains take longer. Fares start from about ₹430 in the lowest class and go up to around ₹3,600 in the top class.
One catch worth knowing: direct Delhi to Varanasi trains mostly offer sleeper and AC classes, not plain sitting seats. So book early, because last-minute berths vanish fast.
Which Varanasi station will you arrive at?
Most trains end at Varanasi Junction, which locals call Varanasi Cantt. That’s the most convenient stop for hotels.
Some trains also stop at Mughal Sarai Junction, about 14 km from Varanasi. If your preferred train is full into Varanasi, a ticket to Mughal Sarai plus a short taxi ride can be a workable backup.
Train booking tips
- Tickets open 60 days before travel, and popular trains sell out early.
- Around big festivals, book the day bookings open. Dev Deepawali falls on 24 November 2026, and trains for that week fill up quickly.
- Check the arrival time before you book. A 4 am arrival sounds fine until you’re standing outside a hotel that doesn’t allow check-in until noon.
Delhi to Varanasi by Flight
If you’re short on time, flying is the clear winner.
Flight time and airlines
Direct flights take roughly 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes. IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express fly the route, with around six direct flights on a typical day. Flights depart from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and land at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi.
Fares and when to book
Fares swing a lot. Advance bookings have been seen from about ₹4,500 one way, while last-minute or festival-week tickets can go past ₹12,000. Booking early, and flying midweek, usually helps.
From the airport to the city
The airport sits about 24 km from the city, so factor in the drive. Door to door, a flight realistically takes around five hours once you add check-in, security and the road into town. That’s still far faster than any other option.
For fares and pickup details, see our guide to Varanasi airport taxi fares and transfers.
Delhi to Varanasi by Road
Road trips make sense for families and groups, mostly because you control the stops.
The route and drive time
The distance by road is about 820 km, and the drive takes roughly 12 to 14 hours. Most drivers take the Yamuna Expressway to Agra, then the Agra to Lucknow Expressway, then continue east either on the Purvanchal Expressway or the older highway through Sultanpur and Jaunpur. Roughly 550 km of the trip is on expressway.
Plan for FASTag toll payments at several plazas. The total depends on your vehicle and route, so ask your operator for an estimate.
Bus options
Buses run daily from Delhi. UPSRTC operates services from Anand Vihar, and private operators run seater and sleeper coaches. There are also FlixBus services from Kashmere Gate ISBT that arrive at Mohansarai on the Varanasi side. Expect 14 to 16 hours on the road.
I’d treat the bus as a backup. It’s cheap, but by the time you arrive you’ll want a full day of rest.
Self-drive or hire a cab?
Self-driving 800 km in a day is a lot. If you do it, start by 4 am, and plan an overnight halt in Lucknow or Agra to break the trip. For a family or group, a private cab or tempo traveller is easier. You also get a driver who knows where cars can and can’t go once you reach the old city.
Which Is the Best Way to Reach Varanasi from Delhi?
There’s no single winner. It depends on who’s travelling and how much time you’ve got.
- Solo travellers on a budget: An overnight train. You save a hotel night and wake up near the ghats.
- Couples and short breaks: Fly in, or take the morning Vande Bharat. Both keep your first day usable.
- Families with kids or seniors: The Vande Bharat in daytime, or a private cab with stops. Long overnight journeys are tiring for older travellers.
- Groups of 8 or more: A tempo traveller can work out cheaper per person, and everyone stays together.
- Business or tight schedules: Fly.
Three ways to line it up
Here are three combinations we’d suggest, depending on how your days are set.
- Maximum time in the city: Take the morning Vande Bharat in, arrive around 2 pm, and head straight to the evening Aarti. Fly back from Varanasi on your last day.
- Budget weekend: Board an overnight train on Friday, arrive Saturday morning, and use the weekend fully. Take an overnight train back on Sunday night.
- Comfort first: Fly in early morning, rest, and explore from the afternoon. Return by the afternoon Vande Bharat.
Not sure how many days to plan? Our Varanasi 2-day trip plan shows how to split your time.
What to Expect When You Arrive
The journey doesn’t end at the station or airport, and this is where many first-timers get caught out.
The lanes around Dashashwamedh Ghat and Kashi Vishwanath Temple are too narrow for most cars. Your driver will drop you at the nearest point, and you’ll walk the last stretch. If you’re staying near the ghats, confirm the drop point with your hotel before you arrive and travel light.
Check-in times matter too. If you land early, ask the hotel about holding your bags or an early check-in. And if you reach in the afternoon, don’t skip the evening Aarti. It’s one of the best parts of the trip.
For a wider overview of getting to the city from other parts of India, you can also read our general guide on how to reach Varanasi.
Skip the Planning: Let Us Handle It
Juggling train tickets, transfers and hotels is doable, but it takes effort, and it gets messy around festivals. If you'd rather have everything lined up, a ready-made package settles your travel, stay and sightseeing before you leave home. Tell us your dates and group size, and we'll suggest the right mix of train or flight, hotel and local guide.
Conclusion
Now you know how to reach Varanasi from Delhi, and the choice really comes down to time versus budget versus comfort. Fly if you’re rushed, take the morning Vande Bharat for the best balance, and go overnight by train if you want to save money.
Whatever you pick, book early, especially around festival dates. And if you’d like us to sort out the tickets, stay and sightseeing so you can just show up, we’re happy to help. Contact us here and we’ll build a plan around your dates.
