Kolkata—once the capital of the British Raj—remains India’s intellectual salon and a feast for the senses. Poets, revolutionaries, filmmakers, and bookmakers shaped its identity; the old and the experimental coexist on every corner. You’ll feel that spark at daybreak on the river, in a Park Street cabaret, and over a plate of mustard-laced fish curry.

Known as the City of Joy, Kolkata is defined by its tramlines, grand museums, and a fierce devotion to food. From the marble dome of Victoria Memorial to the creaking timber of College Street’s bookstalls, it’s a city best explored on foot and by taste bud. Plan for slow mornings, long lunches, and a swirl of history in the afternoon light.

Practical notes: Summers are hot and humid; monsoon runs June–September with heavy showers. Durga Puja (Sep/Oct) brings electric energy and big crowds—book early. Dress modestly at temples, carry small cash for street snacks, and use app cabs or pre-paid taxis; UPI payments are widely accepted.

Kolkata

Part port city, part open-air library, Kolkata’s highlights cluster around the Maidan, the Hooghly riverfront, and the old north neighborhoods. Ride a century-old tram, sip coffee where movements were born, and browse sweet shops as storied as the city itself.

• Top sights: Victoria Memorial, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Indian Museum (closed Mondays), Howrah Bridge, Mullik Ghat Flower Market, College Street book market, South Park Street Cemetery, Kalighat Temple, Kumartuli artisans’ quarter.
• Fun facts: India’s oldest running tram system still rattles through Kolkata; the city launched India’s first metro in 1984; Eden Gardens is among cricket’s great cathedrals.

Getting there (estimates from major hubs):

• Flights to CCU (Kolkata): 2–3 hours from Delhi/Mumbai; typical fares ~$45–$150. Search and book on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.
• Trains: Overnight Rajdhani/express services from Delhi (~17–19h, ~$15–$40) and Mumbai (~26–30h, ~$20–$55). Check schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Where to stay (book with our partners):

• Classic luxury by the greens: ITC Sonar, a Luxury Collection Hotel—lily ponds, spa, and refined dining near the business corridor. Check rates: ITC Sonar.
• Boutique on a budget: Hotel Cecil—well-reviewed, central, and great value for quick city breaks. See availability: Hotel Cecil.
• Apartment-style stays: Browse characterful flats in Ballygunge, Park Street, and Salt Lake on VRBO Kolkata or vetted hotels on Hotels.com Kolkata.

Day 1: Park Street to the Maidan—Colonial Grandeur and Night Bites

Afternoon (Arrival): Check into your hotel and stretch your legs with a stroll across the Maidan, Kolkata’s central green. Pop into the snow-white St. Paul’s Cathedral to admire neo-gothic vaulting, then circle to the Victoria Memorial gardens for postcard views of its marble dome reflected in lotus ponds. For a late lunch, choose: 6 Ballygunge Place (classic Bengali thali; try kosha mangsho—slow-cooked mutton), Peter Cat on Park Street (cult-favorite chelo kebab with saffron rice), or Oh! Calcutta (mustard-tinged bhetki paturi, daab chingri prawns cooked in tender coconut).

Evening: Warm up with coffee and a slice of rum ball at Flurys—the 1927 Park Street patisserie—then step into live-music history at Trincas (retro cabaret vibe) or slip into Someplace Else for a guitar-forward pub set. Prefer a guided deep-dive into the city’s palate? Join this excellent small-group food tour:

Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings — weave through intellectual Kolkata with stops for kathi rolls, moghlai parota, telebhaja fritters, mishti doi, and sandesh while hearing the stories behind each dish.

Dinner alternatives if you skip the tour: Mocambo (old-school continental sizzlers and prawn cocktail), Arsalan (Kolkata biryani with subtle potato and egg), or a roll crawl at Nizam’s and Hot Kati Roll. End with mishti at Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick (baked rasogolla, nolen gur delicacies in winter).

Day 2: Sunrise on the Hooghly, Bookish Lanes, and Farewell Sweets

Morning (Early): Set an alarm for a dawn immersion as the city wakes:

Magic Hour Tour — photograph saffron-draped flower sellers at Mullik Ghat Flower Market, watch priests perform river aartis, and cross under the ribs of Howrah Bridge while the sun warms the Hooghly. Expect local transport, chai stops, and rich storytelling.

After the tour, refuel at 8th Day Café & Bakery (cinnamon rolls, avocado toast, specialty coffee) or Sienna Café (seasonal salads, shakshuka; attached craft store with Bengal textiles). Coffee traditionalists should pilgrimage to the Indian Coffee House on College Street—high ceilings, waiters in turbans, adda (lively debate), and cutlets that taste like the 1950s.

Late Morning to Early Afternoon (before departure): Wander College Street, the world’s longest stretch of secondhand bookstalls, and dip into South Park Street Cemetery for mossy 18th-century tombs and quiet green paths. If faith and craftsmanship call, head to Kumartuli to see artisans sculpt clay deities (most active before Durga Puja). Museum fans can substitute the Indian Museum (Asia’s oldest) for antiquities and natural history exhibits (closed Mondays).

Lunch picks near the sights: Bhojohori Manna (homestyle Bengali thalis; try shorshe ilish in season), Kasturi (Dhakai-Bangla flavors; chitol muitha fish cakes), or a final biryani at Royal Indian Hotel in Bara Bazar (heritage joint, famed rezala gravy). Sweet send-off: Girish Chandra Dey & Nakur Chandra Nandy (subtle sandesh) or Balaram Mullick for modern takes like baked mihidana.

Practical wrap-up: From Park Street or Ballygunge to the airport (CCU) can take 45–75 minutes by app cab depending on traffic. If you’ve still got an hour, squeeze in a short tram or metro ride near Esplanade for a last, very Kolkata moment—or browse New Market for cane crafts and kantha embroidery before you go.

Optional Add-Ons if You Have Extra Time

• Tram lore and rides: Dive deeper with this guided experience: Tour of the Historical Tram Museum Including Tram and Metro Ride for stories, mechanics, and a heritage loop.
• Guided city overview: Short on time but want context? A customizable half-day is handy between meals and flights: Private Half-Day Kolkata Tour.

Insider tips: For the best photos of Howrah Bridge, go early to the Flower Market terraces; always ask before photographing artisans in Kumartuli; and when in doubt about spice levels, say “light jhaal.” Yellow Ambassadors make for iconic rides, but app cabs are cheaper and air-conditioned.

In two days, you’ll taste the city’s heart: literature on College Street, prayers over the river, and a table full of mustard and jaggery-sweet endings. Kolkata lingers—like a melody from Park Street at midnight—inviting you back for Puja season or a monsoon afternoon of books and chai.