Delhi to Varanasi

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 4 min read

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Varanasi, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and the spiritual heart of the Ganges, sits around 800 km south-east of Delhi. For a distance this size, India gives you a genuine choice between a fast daytime train, a comfortable overnight sleeper, or a short flight — each suited to a different kind of traveller and itinerary.

The fastest train: the Vande Bharat Express

The Vande Bharat Express, India's newest and fastest home-built train, covers Delhi to Varanasi in around 8 hours, departing New Delhi station in the early morning and arriving in Varanasi in the afternoon — comfortably a single-day journey with time to settle in and see the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony on arrival day. It is a chair-car-only service (no sleeper berths), with Executive Chair Car and standard Chair Car classes, air conditioning throughout, and at-seat catering included in the fare.

Reservation is required, and given the train's popularity, booking as early as the 60-day advance window allows is worthwhile, especially around Indian holidays and the Hindu festival calendar, when Varanasi sees a significant influx of pilgrims and tourists. Book via IRCTC, India's official rail booking platform, or an authorised agent.

The overnight option: Rajdhani and other sleeper trains

Several overnight trains, including Rajdhani Express services and various Mail/Express trains, connect Delhi and Varanasi in around 10 to 13 hours, departing in the evening and arriving the next morning. This is the traditional way to make the journey and remains popular, particularly with travellers who would rather sleep through the distance and wake up ready to explore rather than spend a full day travelling.

Rajdhani trains are fully air-conditioned with sleeper berths across 1AC, 2AC and 3AC classes, and fares include meals. For most foreign visitors, 2AC or 3AC strikes the right balance of comfort and cost — see our India by train guide for a full breakdown of Indian Railways' class system. Slower Mail/Express trains cover the same route more cheaply but with longer, less predictable journey times.

The fastest door-to-door (usually): flying

The flight from Delhi to Varanasi takes about 1 hour 20 minutes, with multiple daily services from IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and other domestic carriers. On paper this beats every rail option, and if your time is genuinely tight — a short trip focused only on Varanasi itself — it is the practical choice. Once you add airport transfer time at both ends, security and the wait for baggage, though, the real door-to-door advantage over the Vande Bharat narrows considerably, and Varanasi's Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport is a reasonable distance (around 25 km) from the ghats and old city, adding a further taxi transfer.

Which should you choose?

The Vande Bharat Express is the best all-round choice for most travellers: fast, comfortable, scenic and timed to land you in Varanasi with the evening still ahead of you. Choose an overnight sleeper train if you would rather not lose a full day to travel, or if the Vande Bharat is sold out — booking a few weeks ahead is wise either way. Flying suits those with limited time who are treating Varanasi as a short, focused visit rather than part of a longer overland trip through northern India.

Varanasi pairs naturally with a wider North India rail itinerary — see our guides to Delhi to Agra for the Taj Mahal and Delhi to Amritsar for the Golden Temple, both easy additions on the same Vande Bharat network. Browse the routes hub for the full list of journeys we cover across India.

What to see in Varanasi

• The ghats: the riverside steps along the Ganges, especially Dashashwamedh Ghat, where the nightly Ganga Aarti fire ceremony draws large crowds of pilgrims and visitors alike.
• Sunrise boat ride: a dawn rowboat trip along the ghats is one of the most atmospheric things to do in India, watching the city wake up and the light change over the river.
• Sarnath: about 10 km from the city centre, where the Buddha is said to have given his first sermon after enlightenment — an easy half-day trip.
• The old city lanes: a dense maze of narrow alleys around the ghats, filled with temples, shops and everyday life.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Vande Bharat Express take from Delhi to Varanasi?

Around 8 hours, running as a single daytime service from New Delhi station with only chair-car seating (no sleeper berths). Reservation is required.

Is there an overnight train from Delhi to Varanasi?

Yes. Rajdhani Express and other overnight services take around 10 to 13 hours, with full sleeper accommodation across several AC classes, letting you sleep through the journey.

Is it better to fly or take the train to Varanasi?

Flying is faster on paper, at about 1 hour 20 minutes, but airport transfers on both ends narrow the advantage. The Vande Bharat is a comfortable, scenic full-day alternative that many travellers prefer for the experience alone.

How far is Varanasi's airport from the city?

Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport is around 25 km from the ghats and old city, so allow time for the taxi transfer when comparing flight times with the train's city-centre stations.