City guide · Updated June 2026
AsiaIndia22.6° · 88.4°
Kolkata,India.
India's cultural heartland blends colonial history, art, and intellectual heritage.
Kolkata · IN
KolkataIndia
★
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)NEAREST AIRPORT
Population
4,631,594.8
Total residents
Global rank
#723
Wanderlust index
Best time
October to March, when…
Peak window
Time zone
Asia/Kolkata
Local time
Currency
Indian Rupee (INR)
Money in use
Language
Bengali, English
Spoken locally
01 · Overview
About Kolkata
India's cultural heartland blends colonial history, art, and intellectual heritage.
Kolkata, once India's political and cultural epicenter, captivates visitors with its colonial architecture, thriving arts scene, and literary legacy. The Ganges River flows through the city, defining its character and spirituality. Known as the City of Palaces and a hub for thinkers and artists, Kolkata offers authentic street food, vibrant markets, and a deeply intellectual atmosphere that's distinctly Indian.
02 · Wanderlust scorecard
How Kolkata scores
Ratings run 0 to 5 unless marked. They come from our AI-assisted research and are refreshed on a rolling basis.
5
/ 5
Cost of living
Affordability, 0–5. Higher means cheaper.
3.5
/ 5
Leisure
Leisure rating, 0–5.
7
Mbps
Connectivity
Median internet speed.
3.5
/ 5
Safety
Safety rating, 0–5. Higher is safer.
3.5
/ 5
Overall livability
Overall rating, 0–5.
2
/ 5
Air quality
Air-quality rating, 0–5. Higher is cleaner.
6.6
index
Index score
Wanderlust ranking, 0–10: overall, safety, internet, cost, leisure and air quality, weighted.
03 · Weather & when to go
Best time to visit Kolkata
Current weather and the forecast, and the months our research rates best for a visit.
Month by month
Best months Either side Other months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sweet spot: October to March, when temperatures are mild and the city's cultural events are in full swing..
More cities for these months: Where to go in January · Where to go in February · Where to go in March · Where to go in October · Where to go in November · Where to go in December
04 · Things to do
Things to do in Kolkata
Top sights from our AI-assisted research, and other places we have photos of.
Top sight
Top sight
Jorasanko Thakur Baari
05 · Monthly cost of living
Cost of living in Kolkata
Estimated monthly totals in USD from our AI-assisted research, one per profile. Treat them as a starting point for a budget, not a quote.
$1,200
estimated monthly spend · USDProfileExpat
Price references — vs. profile benchmarks
Nomadmonthly spend · USD
$1,100
-8%
Expatmonthly spend · USD
$1,200
baseline
Familymonthly spend · USD
$2,698.1
+125%
Localmonthly spend · USD
$657.2
-45%
Median fiber speeddownload · Mbps
7
Mbps
06 · Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Kolkata
Neighborhoods our AI-assisted research lists as popular with visitors.
Ballygunge
Alipore
Park Circus
Shyambazar
07 · Insider tips
Sights and neighbourhoods, with a tip each.
Practical tips on places from this Kolkata guide, written with AI. One is free; Pro members see the rest. Double-check details before you go.
Insider tips · Wanderlust Pro
Practical tips on the sights and neighbourhoods in this Kolkataguide — when to go, what most visitors miss. Written with AI about the guide's own places; double-check details before you go. Pro members see every tip.
08 · Practical notes
Practical information for Kolkata
The essentials from this guide's data, in one place.
01
Getting there
- Nearest airport — Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)
02
Money
- Currency — Indian Rupee (INR)
- Affordability — 5/5 on the Wanderlust index (higher is cheaper)
03
Internet
- Median speed — 7 Mbps
- Internet score — 1.8/5
04
Safety
- Safety score — 3.5/5 from our AI-assisted research
05
Language
- Primary language — Bengali, English
06
Timing
- Best window — October to March, when temperatures are mild and the city's cultural events are in full swing.
- Time zone — Asia/Kolkata
Questions
Frequently asked, plainly answered.
The quick answers travelers want before they commit to flights, neighborhoods, and how long to stay.
Is Kolkata safe for travelers?+
Kolkata has a safety rating of 3.5 out of 5.
What is the best time to visit Kolkata?+
The best time to visit Kolkata is October to March, when temperatures are mild and the city's cultural events are in full swing..
How expensive is Kolkata?+
Kolkata has an affordability score of 5 out of 5, where 5 is most affordable.
What is the internet speed in Kolkata?+
Kolkata has an average internet speed of 7 Mbps.
What currency does Kolkata use?+
The currency used in Kolkata is Indian Rupee (INR).
What language is spoken in Kolkata?+
The primary language spoken in Kolkata is Bengali, English.
Work-ready layer
Coworking spots and laptop-friendly anchors.
Real coworking spaces, laptop-friendly cafés, and libraries mapped near the center of the city — the closest, best-rated desks first.
Spots surfaced0
Categories—
Mapped0
No coworking-ready spots surfaced for this city yet.
Map pending
No mapped workspace points yet.
Pick a different category or check back once we’ve indexed more desks for this city.
Concierge
Ask the Kolkata concierge.
Share your travel style, must-see spots, or work schedule and the concierge will help turn this guide into something personal.
Personal trip brief
Tell it what kind of trip you're trying to have, and it will tighten the plan.
01
Travel style
Ask for cafés, quiet neighborhoods, date-night spots, or a first 48-hour plan.
02
Work constraints
Mention calls, Wi-Fi needs, or how much of the day has to stay laptop-friendly.
03
Real tradeoffs
Get faster answers on where to stay, when to move neighborhoods, and what to skip.
Traveler reviews
Reviews of Kolkata
Written by signed-in Wanderlust members. We don't check that a reviewer has visited.
No reviews of Kolkata yet.
Plan a trip to Kolkata.
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Wanderlust Pro
Insider tips for Kolkata, unlimited AI-built itineraries, and travel companions you can invite to plan a trip together. From $5.00/month, billed annually.