my next stop

West Bengal

Kolkata

India's cultural capital - colonial streets, great food

CityCultureHeritage

Best time to visit Kolkata

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: October to January
  • Shoulder: February to March and September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to August

Planning a specific month? JanuaryOctoberNovemberDecember

Kolkata season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Best months in the city. Cool, dry, Puja afterglow still in the air, easy all-day sightseeing.

Summer March to May Shoulder

Apr-Jun is genuinely brutal: 40C+ with punishing humidity before the rains break. Indoor days.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Waterlogged streets after heavy downpours and high humidity throughout, though the food never stops.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Durga Puja (Oct) is the city's single best reason to visit. Pandal-hopping, all-night energy.

What Kolkata is actually like

Hostel common rooms, street-food crawls, easy to meet fellow backpackers.

Getting to Kolkata

Major air/rail hub; direct flights and trains nationwide.

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Easy solo
Altitude
0 m
State
West Bengal
Coordinates
22.5726, 88.3639

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Kolkata?

October to January is peak season in Kolkata. February to March and September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to August. Durga Puja (Oct) is the city's single best reason to visit. Pandal-hopping, all-night energy.

How many days do you need in Kolkata?

3 days is the usual stay. Hostel common rooms, street-food crawls, easy to meet fellow backpackers.

How do you get to Kolkata?

Major air/rail hub; direct flights and trains nationwide. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Kolkata expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Easy solo.

Is there a festival in Kolkata?

Oct: Durga Puja. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in West Bengal

All 23 destinations in West Bengal