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Major city · India

Kolkataকলকাতা

Give Kolkata two nights for colonial architecture, food and literary culture, travel between November and February, and book hotels early if your visit lands on Durga Puja.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal and was the capital of British India until 1911. It has colonial-era buildings, a large tram and metro network, and a strong food and arts tradition. It sits on the Hooghly river in eastern India.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Best months
Nov–Feb (cool and dry, best for walking)
avoid Apr–Jun (hot and humid), Jul–Sep (monsoon and waterlogging)
Airport
CCU
Nights
2
Rules in force · 6
  • South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
  • South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
  • India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
  • India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
  • India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
  • India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
What is in this basic guide5 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Kolkata, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 11 answers
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Victoria Memorial marble monumentHowrah BridgeVintage tram networkBengali sweets (roshogollamishti doi) and fish dishesDurga Puja festival pandalsCollege Street second-hand book market
Airports
CCU Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (About 17 km (11 mi) northeast of the centre; metro or taxi into the city.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

  2. Feb

    Best

  3. Mar

    not flagged

  4. Apr

    Avoid

  5. May

    Avoid

  6. Jun

    Avoid

  7. Jul

    Avoid

  8. Aug

    Avoid

  9. Sep

    Avoid

  10. Oct

    not flagged

  11. Nov

    Best

  12. Dec

    Best

Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: Apr–Sep. Month by month →

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Kolkata: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The metro is quick along its lines; yellow taxis and app cabs fill the gaps. Trams still run on a handful of routes and are worth riding once for the experience rather than speed.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Park Street area

Central, restaurants and easy taxis.

Near Maidan and Victoria Memorial

Green space and main colonial sights.

Salt Lake (Bidhannagar)

Modern business district, closer to the airport.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Watch out

  • Heat and humidity are intense before the monsoon.
  • Heavy Durga Puja crowds fill hotels and roads in autumn: book well ahead.
  • Agree taxi fares or use the meter/app.
  • Low-lying streets can waterlog quickly in monsoon downpours.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kolkata. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Feb (cool and dry, best for walking) · avoid Apr–Jun (hot and humid), Jul–Sep (monsoon and waterlogging)
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast
  4. 4 things to watch out for

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to India

Sources