Free walking tours in Varanasi

Good professional tour guide who knows the city and is willing to also do solo tours. Just ensure you manage time vs what you want to see as the duration of the tour was a bit fluid.

Did the tour to get a first impression of Varanasi. We were a small group which I appreciated. Started with a chai. We saw five different places and also had the chance to make a spontaneous stop at a famous Lassi shop in Varanasi. The guide explained a lot and we had chances to ask questions.

Thank you Niwas for the splendid walk through Varanasi! With your tales and info we understand a bit more the life of this city, so important for millions of people. Very informative walk. Good pace. Lots of memories and unforgettable experiences 😊

Would recommend!

Ottima esperienza. La consiglio a chi vuole visitare Varanasi

I had an absolutely wonderful experience exploring Varanasi with Balla Ji as my tour guide. In a city as ancient, spiritual, and culturally rich as Varanasi, having the right guide makes all the difference—and Balla Ji truly made my journey unforgettable. His knowledge about the history, traditions, temples, and hidden gems of Varanasi is simply outstanding. From the sacred ghats along the Ganga to the narrow गलियाँ filled with life and stories, he explained everything with such clarity, passion, and depth that it felt like I was not just visiting the city, but truly understanding its soul. What sets Balla Ji apart is his humble nature, patience, and genuine care for his guests. He never rushes, always listens, and makes sure you feel comfortable and engaged throughout the tour. Whether it’s guiding you through important religious sites, sharing local stories, or helping you experience authentic culture, he does it all with sincerity and dedication. Thanks to him, my visit to Varanasi became much more than a trip—it became a meaningful and memorable experience. If anyone is planning to visit this incredible city and wants a knowledgeable, trustworthy, and kind guide, I wholeheartedly and highly recommend Balla Ji. You won’t just see Varanasi—you will feel it!

Pradeep hat uns seine Kultur gut nahelegen können und wir haben viel Hintergrundswissen erhalten. Alles sehr professionell, freundlich und interessant. Die Tour durch die Altstadt Varanasis war eine tolle Erfahrung und ohne ihn hätten wir niemals all diese Orte besucht und uns so sicher gefühlt. Vielen Dank für alles

Badal is a wealth a knowledge and a local with a long lineage in Varanasi. His tour was super interesting and he answered a lot of questions that I and other guests had as well. Highly recommended!

Superb tour and amazing tastings! Anant has a great love for Varanasi, as well as great knowledge of Varanasi, and it makes for an altogether incredible and informative experience. Anant is the best tour guide in Varanasi, do not hesitate and book with him immediately!!

Anant was very interesting. He gave us a great overview of the history of the city and a lot of different quirky facts about it. We tasted a lot of great food and visited many hidden spots in the narrow lanes. I recommend strongly

We really enjoyed this walking tour!! Badal is a great, positive and knowledgeable guide and he very clearly taught us a lot about the history of Varanasi & Hinduism! I highly recommend doing a tour with him!

So interesting and funny, thank you Badal for shared all your knowledge!

The trip was very interesting, rich of interesting informations. I really enjoyed it

I can really recommend this tour. Anant is very professional and full of interesting information. I feel like understanding the chaos and beauty of Varanasi a lot better. He shared historical and spiritual information, gave some cultural insights and food recommendations. We also stopped for sweets and chai. Very valuable tour!

Anuj provided a thoughtful tour of the old town, including hidden alleys and temples. He was happy to answer all our questions and kept the tour fun and educational throughout.

We had a very nice Morning walk with Akash, he explained to us everything that we expect and more about varanasi. Is very interesting to get to know the city by a local Thank you very much!

Eu gostei demais do tour, o guia Niwas foi claro , didatico e criativo ao transmitir as informações , nos levou a templos turísticos e a templos menos turísticos e e minha amiga ja estávamos há 3 dias em varanassi e passamos por locais que ainda não havíamos conhecidos e recebemos informações novas , mesmo já tendo feito outros tours ; esse guru walk agregou conhecimento .

This tour is INCREDIBLE. This is a curated experience that evolves in depth and complexity as it progresses; giving deeper and deeper understand of the area, its history, and its spiritual significance. I was given access to extremely special locations, surprising access that I wouldn’t have guessed a foreign tourist would have, with emotional and eye opening looks at the people who come to Varanasi in their old age. Anant has a love and pride for his city that shows, and makes for an altogether thrilling experience. The other tours in Varanasi are quite basic and introductory, while this one is Scholarly. I want to take it again and again!!!

Gran tour en Varanasi. El guía es local y tiene toda la información que preguntes. Te lleva a sitios icónicos y conoce a toda la gente necesaria para tener una gran experiencia. Es muy amable y te mantiene seguro todo el viaje. Gran comunicación y buen fotógrafo.

I had the most beautiful and meaningful solo walking tour experience in Varanasi with Badal Pandey, and I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Varanasi is not just a place, it’s a feeling, an emotion and Badal truly knows how to bring that alive. As a solo traveler, I was hoping to experience the real essence of Varanasi not just see it, but truly feel it. Badal made that possible. From the very beginning, the tour felt very personal, warm, and thoughtfully curated just for me. It didn’t feel like a scripted walk, it felt like exploring the soul of the city with someone who deeply understands and respects it. He shared stories of the ghats, the spiritual significance of the rituals, the hidden lanes, the local life, and the deeper meaning behind traditions in such a calm and engaging way. Every place we stopped had context, history, and emotion attached to it. I never felt rushed ,he allowed me to absorb the atmosphere, ask questions, take pictures, and simply be present in the moment. What stood out the most was his genuine passion. You can tell he truly loves Varanasi and takes pride in sharing its depth with travelers. As a solo female traveler, I also felt completely safe and comfortable throughout the walk, which meant a lot to me. Varanasi is intense, spiritual, chaotic, and magical all at once and having someone like Badal guide you through it makes all the difference. This wasn’t just a tour; it was an experience that added meaning to my visit. If you’re traveling solo and want an authentic, heartfelt introduction to Varanasi, I highly recommend booking with him. It was one of the most memorable parts of my trip. Thank you so much, Badal, for making my solo experience in Varanasi so special and unforgettable.🌸✨😍🤗♥️

Akash gave us a really good tour of Varannasi with loads of historical, philosophical and contemporary information. I recommend doing his tour as soon as you get to Varannasi as it will be a good orientation around the city and also you will be able to understand why you see the things you see around the city! Great experience

I joined a walking tour around the centre of Varanasi with Akash, and it was a fantastic experience. He was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and he took the time to answer all our questions. He guided us through the labyrinth of the old city the way only a true local can. We really appreciated the tour — it helped us understand the city better and enjoy the rest of our stay even more.

The tour is a very solid start to getting to know the basics of Varanasi (plus some hidden things as well). Akash was a knowledgable guide who maneuvered us through the narrows streets with their twists and turns. He gave us a lot of detailed information on top spots you'd usually miss and also told us where taking pictures is allowed/not allowed to avoid confrontations. Overall a very good tour.

Anant was a terrific guide! He helped us understand Varanasi in ways we never would if exploring on our own. We saw lots of hidden treasures and historic places. He was personable and helpful throughout, always willing to answer any question. Note that this was a long tour, almost 5 hours, with a lot of walking. Also note that Anant called and texted us multiple times before the tour, perhaps to ensure we would actually show up

Anant is an exceptionally good guide. He paced the tour really well and brought us to places we would never have discovered ourselves. He answered all of our questions about the city and the people who live there. We come from Ireland and Varanasi is so different for us. Time spent with Anant really added to our visit. Highly recommend! Ger.