VNS Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport
Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport (VNS) serves Varanasi, about 20 km northwest of Varanasi. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.
Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport — facts & history
We pulled Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 240,018 passengers in 2022, against a peak of 311,017 in 2019.
Figures: Wikidata (CC0)
Getting from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport to Varanasi
The airport is about 20 km northwest of Varanasi, about 45 minutes by road in normal traffic.
Train & bus: Delhi: the Airport Express Metro to the centre (~20 min). Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad: metro/AC bus. Small airports: a taxi.
Taxi & apps: Book a 'prepaid taxi' from the police desk inside the terminal, or Uber/Ola (legal and cheap) from the designated pickup zone. Estimated fare to the centre: ₹406–₹645.
Tipping: Round up; ~10% appreciated.
| Way in | Time to centre | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train / bus | ~31 min | cheapest | CHEAPEST |
| Taxi | ~45 min | ₹406–₹645 | |
| Private transfer | ~45 min | fixed upfront | |
| Car rental | ~45 min + חניה | from the terminal |
Which way suits you from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport
Taxi
Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people. ~₹406–₹645 to the centre.
Private transfer
Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.
Car rental
If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.
Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.
Book your airport transfer in Varanasi ahead, no terminal surprises.
Where you can fly from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport
Non-stop flights to about 5 destinations, operated by 5 airlines. The busiest routes:
- ניו דלהי DEL · 5 airlines
- קולקטה CCU · 2 airlines
- צ'תרפאטי שיבאדי BOM
- קטמנדו KTM
- אגרא AGR
Airlines here: Air India Limited · Jet Airways · Air Sahara · IndiGo Airlines · Spicejet
Left luggage & lost and found at Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport
Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.
Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.
Hotels near Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport
For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.
Rates in Varanasi shift daily. See what your night costs now.
Reviews — Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport
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Answers to your questions
How do I get from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport to the centre of Varanasi?
How much is a taxi from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport to Varanasi?
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About this page
Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.
Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026