Xi’an to Varanasi flights
Varanasi lies 2,682 km (1,666 mi) west of Xi’an, -2.5 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 4 h 11 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Xi’an | Varanasi | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | China | India |
| Population | 13 million | 1.2 million |
| Elevation | 416 m (1,365 ft) | 86 m (282 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+8 (Asia/Shanghai) | UTC+5:30 (Asia/Kolkata) |
| Nearest large airport | XIY, 26 km out | VNS, 21 km out |
Clocks in Varanasi are 2 h 30 min behind Xi’an right now, so a 4 h 11 min journey lands only 1 h 41 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Varanasi
Crossing from China into India: money changes from the Yuan Renminbi to the Rupee (INR); traffic switches to the left; sockets are AC power s and sockets: British and related types, BS 546, Euro; the dialling code becomes +91; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648793.
Airports at each end
Leaving Xi’an
Xi’an is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY), 26 km (16 mi) from the centre, whose 12,467-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Arriving in Varanasi
Varanasi is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS), 21 km (13 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 9,006 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport | VNS | 21 km (13 mi) | 9,006 ft | 266 ft |
Book a flight to Varanasi
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Staying in Varanasi
Our booking partner lists 1,983+ places to stay in Varanasi (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 661 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (342), and 11 are five-star. Across 219 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 7.9 out of 10. Guests have left 48,429 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Varanasi
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Varanasi from Xi’an?
2,682 km (1,666 mi) in a straight line, west of Xi’an.
How long does it take to get from Xi’an to Varanasi by air?
About 4 h 11 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Xi’an and Varanasi?
Varanasi is 2 h 30 min behind at the moment (Asia/Kolkata against Asia/Shanghai).
Which airports are used for Xi’an to Varanasi flights?
Typically Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) to Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS).
What currency do I need in Varanasi?
The Rupee (INR).
Where can I stay in Varanasi?
Our booking partner lists 1,983+ places to stay in Varanasi, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.