Kolkata, the “City of Joy,” once the capital of British India, still wears its history on its sleeve—marble memorials, grand avenues, and old-world clubs meet revolutionary bookstores and a thriving arts scene. It is a city that wakes before sunrise with flower sellers on the Hooghly and winds down late over music and mezze on Park Street.

Come hungry. Kolkata is the capital of gentle spice and layered sweetness—think mustard-laced fish (shorshe ilish), biryani with a whisper of saffron, paper-thin kathi rolls, and rosogolla so light they seem to float. Street food is an art form here, and the evening adda (unhurried conversation) is a beloved local sport.

Practical notes: Summers are humid; the monsoon peaks June–September—carry water and a light rain layer. Dress modestly for temples, and keep small bills for markets (cards are widely accepted in mid–high-end venues). Metro and app cabs make getting around easy; ferries offer scenic shortcuts across the Hooghly River.

Kolkata

Expect a kaleidoscope: colonial architecture around the Maidan, tramlines and coffee-house debates on College Street, riverside sunsets at Prinsep Ghat, and labyrinthine markets selling flowers, fabrics, and books by the kilo. The rhythm is unhurried but never dull.

• Top sights: Victoria Memorial and gardens, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Howrah Bridge and the Mullik Ghat Flower Market, Prinsep Ghat, Kalighat Kali Temple, College Street’s bookshops, and the artisan quarter of Kumartuli.
• Essential experiences: Ferry ride on the Hooghly, a Park Street dinner, Bengali sweet-tasting (try mishti doi and sandesh), and if timing allows, a tram ride on the heritage route.
• Food to try: Kathi rolls (Kusum/Nizam’s), Kolkata biryani (Arsalan or Royal), kosha mangsho (slow-cooked mutton), fish fry, phuchka (pani puri), and fried chillies (jhal muri snack).

Where to stay (curated options):

• Search apartments and homes: Kolkata stays on VRBO — great for families and longer stays.
• Compare hotels: Kolkata hotels on Hotels.com — filter by neighborhood (Park Street/Maidan for sightseeing, Salt Lake/New Town for business).
• Specific picks: Boutique value near central sights at Hotel Cecil. For resort-style serenity with a spa and gardens, book ITC Sonar, a Luxury Collection Hotel.

Getting there and around:

• Flights to Kolkata (CCU): From Delhi ~2h15m (typical $55–$120), Mumbai ~2h50m ($65–$140), Bengaluru ~2h30m ($60–$130). Compare on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com.
• Trains: Overnight Rajdhani and premium expresses connect major cities (Delhi–Kolkata ~17–20h; 1AC/2AC roughly $45–$90). Check schedules on Trip.com trains.
• Local transport: Kolkata Metro (Line 1 and the East–West Line) is fast; ferries cross the Hooghly in minutes; yellow taxis and app cabs are plentiful. Typical metro rides cost ₹10–30; 15–25 min taxi hops are often $2–6.

Day 1: Arrival, Park Street Flavor, and Riverfront Twilight

Morning: Travel to Kolkata. Use Trip.com or Kiwi.com to snag a morning flight so you land around midday. Expect 45–75 minutes from the airport to central hotels depending on traffic; prepaid taxi or app cab is easiest.

Afternoon: Check in and freshen up. For a late Bengali lunch, try 6 Ballygunge Place (classic thalis—luchi, cholar dal, shorshe fish) or Oh! Calcutta (refined regional plates; seasonal hilsa when available). If you prefer something quick, Arsalan’s iconic Kolkata biryani comes with a signature potato and egg. Coffee fix: 8th Day Café & Bakery (small-batch roasts, cinnamon rolls) or Roastery Coffee House (leafy courtyard, excellent cold brew).

Evening: Ease into the city with a heritage-and-culinary deep dive on this guided food walk:

Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings — Taste phuchka, kathi rolls, Mughlai specialties, sweets, and sherbets while threading through old neighborhoods and the metro. Book on Viator.

After the tour, stroll Park Street’s neon glow. If you still have room, Peter Cat’s chelo kebab and Mocambo’s sizzlers are local legends; for live music, Trincas and Someplace Else (at The Park) keep the vibe going. Cap with signature pastries at Flurys—est. 1927—and a riverside walk at nearby Prinsep Ghat if time allows.

Day 2: Dawn on the Hooghly, Artisans of Kumartuli, and Victoria by Sunset

Morning: See the city wake up on an early, story-rich excursion:

Magic Hour Tour — Catch sunrise hues on the Hooghly, ride local transport, visit the Mullik Ghat Flower Market, and watch daily life unfold under Howrah Bridge. Book on Viator.

Post-tour breakfast options: Tiretti Bazaar’s early-morning Chinese stalls (steamed buns, rice dumplings, chili oil) on select days; or the vintage Indian Coffee House on College Street for strong filter coffee and adda. Swing by Paramount for syrups-and-ice sherbets, then browse the bookshops—bargains abound.

Late Morning to Lunch: Meet the makers in the city’s storied idol quarter:

Kolkata 3-Hour Tour of Kumortuli – The Goddess Beckons — Walk lanes where artisans hand-sculpt Durga and other deities from straw and clay, learning how mythology, river clay, and craftsmanship entwine. Book on Viator.

For lunch, go homestyle at Bhojohori Manna (excellent kosha mangsho and mochar ghonto) or Suruchi (women-run canteen serving soulful Bengali veg thalis). Sweet stop: Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick for baked rosogolla, nolen gur sandesh (seasonal), or mishti doi.

Afternoon: Choose your adventure:

• Heritage and green lungs: Explore Victoria Memorial’s gleaming marble and lush gardens; step into St. Paul’s Cathedral next door. If you’re a museum buff, the Indian Museum’s antiquities and natural history galleries merit a detour. Later, wander the Maidan or ride a short heritage tram segment if operating that day.
• Nature and community (guided): Stretch your legs in the city’s fascinating peri-urban ecosystem on Walk the Kolkata Wetlands: Green Eye Candy — a look at fish farms, wetlands landscapes, and local life on the fringe. Book on Viator.

Temple-time alternative: Visit Kalighat Kali Temple (mind the queues) or pair Dakshineswar Kali Temple with a ferry to Belur Math for a contemplative river crossing and serene grounds.

Evening: Catch golden hour at Prinsep Ghat and take a short rowboat on the Hooghly for postcard views of the Vidyasagar Setu as lights blink on. Dinner on Park Street: choose Peter Cat (buttery chelo kebab with saffron rice), Mocambo (retro Continental sizzlers), or The Bhoj Company (robust Bangal flavors). Nightcap options include craft pints at The Grid (Topsia) or live bands at Someplace Else; end sweetly with Nahoum’s (New Market) pastries if you swing by earlier.

Insider tips: Phuchka is a must—ask for a balance of jhal (spice) and tok (tamarind). For pice-hotel nostalgia (no-frills, home-style rice meals), look for old-school canteens around College Street. Metro Line 2 now zips under the Hooghly—use it to cut cross-river travel time.

Optional Add-ons (if you extend your stay)

• Spiritual circuit in one day: Kolkata: Full-Day Spirituality & Temples Tour for synagogues, churches, and temples across the city.

Where to book/compare quickly: Stays on VRBO and Hotels.com; flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; India rail on Trip.com trains.

In two days, you’ll feel Kolkata’s essence: river and gardens, books and debates, temples and tramlines, and food that wins you over one bite at a time. This itinerary blends headline attractions with lived-in lanes so you leave already plotting a return during Durga Puja.