City in Uttar Pradesh, India
Is Varanasi safe?
Safe from violent crime, but touts, boatmen who overcharge and fake priests at the ghats are persistent.
Is Varanasi safe?
Safe from violent crime, but touts, boatmen who overcharge and fake priests at the ghats are persistent. Dark alleys and crowds need care.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-06-15.
- Homicide rate in India: 2.8 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in India: 15.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 100 · Ambulance 108 · Fire 101 · Tourist police 1363 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Varanasi at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Overcharging, pickpocketing in alleys and at festivals, fake guides and priests, and harassment of women in crowded lanes. |
| At night | The ghats and Assi area stay lively until about 10 pm. Alleys are dark and narrow after that; use a cab or e-rickshaw rather than walking alone. |
| Solo women | Staring and unwanted comments are common in alleys. Dress modestly, avoid empty ghats and lanes at night and book guesthouses with female-friendly reviews. |
| Other risks | Stomach infections from street food and river water; Slippery wet steps on the ghats; Fog delays to trains and flights Dec–Jan |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake priests demanding large 'donations' for rituals at the ghats
- Boatmen quoting inflated prices; agree the fare before boarding
- Touts claiming your hotel is closed and steering you to another
- Silk shops that pay guides and rickshaw drivers commissions
Take care
- Narrow old-city alleys at night: cows, scooters and poor lighting
- Cremation ghats: photography is forbidden and touts demand money
- Swimming in the Ganges: pollution and strong currents
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Satellite phones and satellite messengers like Garmin inReach are illegal without a licence; travelers have been arrested at airports.
- Alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland and Mizoram; beef is illegal in many states.
- Drones need registration and permission; photographing military sites, airports and bridges can lead to detention.
How Varanasi compares in India
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Rishikesh | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kochi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kolkata | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hyderabad | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Dharamshala | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Leh | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chennai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pondicherry | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Varkala | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hampi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Amritsar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jodhpur | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jaisalmer | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pushkar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Palolem | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Darjeeling | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Munnar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Alleppey | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Andaman Islands | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Shimla | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Delhi | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Goa | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Mumbai | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Jaipur | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Agra | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Varanasi | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Bangalore | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Udaipur | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Manali | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Anjuna | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Varanasi safe for solo female travelers?
Staring and unwanted comments are common in alleys. Dress modestly, avoid empty ghats and lanes at night and book guesthouses with female-friendly reviews.
Is Varanasi safe at night?
The ghats and Assi area stay lively until about 10 pm. Alleys are dark and narrow after that; use a cab or e-rickshaw rather than walking alone.
What is the crime rate in Varanasi?
Overcharging, pickpocketing in alleys and at festivals, fake guides and priests, and harassment of women in crowded lanes. Nationally, India records 2.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Varanasi?
Police 100 · Ambulance 108 · Fire 101 · Tourist police 1363 · All emergencies 112.
More about Varanasi
Going to Varanasi solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Uttar Pradesh Tourism
- Indian Railways (IRCTC)
- Varanasi Airport (Airports Authority of India)
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.