Chowrasta
First-timersThe town centre and Mall.
Darjeeling city guide
Things To Do In Darjeeling
A hill station of tea estates under Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, with a toy train climbing the hill and the Himalayas at sunrise on a clear morning.
16
Hostels in the city
7.6
Average, from 371 reviews
~2,000 m
Altitude
8,586 m
Kanchenjunga
1999
The toy train joins UNESCO
Tea and the Himalayas
Darjeeling was built by the British as a hill station in the nineteenth century, at around 2,000 metres, and it became famous for its tea. The estates still cover the slopes around the town.
On a clear morning, the view of Kanchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in the world, from Tiger Hill is one of the great sights of the Himalayas.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a narrow-gauge toy train, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Three days is right.
Where to stay
Stay near the Mall and Chowrasta, the town centre.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Darjeeling
Darjeeling, a hill station at about 2,000 metres in West Bengal, is famous for its tea, its views of Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, and its toy train.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a narrow-gauge 'toy train' built in the 1880s and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, winds up the hills; the joyride to Ghum, with the Batasia Loop's views, is a short trip, and the full line runs down to New Jalpaiguri.
Get up before dawn for sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill, when the snow peaks turn pink; on clear days, Everest is visible in the distance. Go in the dry season for the best chance of clear skies.
Visit a tea estate, such as Happy Valley, to see how Darjeeling tea is plucked and processed, with a tasting. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute has a museum on Everest expeditions, founded by Tenzing Norgay, and the zoo next door breeds red pandas and snow leopards.
The Mall and Chowrasta, the town square, are the centre of town life. Sikkim, with its capital Gangtok and monasteries, is about four hours away; foreigners need a permit, issued at the border or in advance.
Free things
Free things to do in Darjeeling
Chowrasta, the Mall and the views over the hills are free, and so is the Peace Pagoda on the edge of town.
Walking through the tea gardens around town is free; factory tours charge a small fee.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Darjeeling
Darjeeling's food is Tibetan, Nepali and Bengali: momos, dumplings, thukpa, noodle soup, and Nepali thalis. Darjeeling tea, the 'champagne of teas', is served everywhere; Keventers, on the Mall, is a colonial-era café.
A meal is €1.50 to €5.
Nightlife
Going out in Darjeeling
Darjeeling is quiet at night, with a few bars and cafés on the Mall and in hotels.
A beer is €2 to €4.
Getting around
Getting around Darjeeling
The nearest airport is Bagdogra, and the nearest major station New Jalpaiguri, both about three hours away by shared jeep or taxi. The toy train makes the full journey slowly.
The town is hilly and walkable. Shared jeeps run to Tiger Hill at dawn, and to Sikkim.
Costs
What Darjeeling costs
Darjeeling is cheap. Dorms start around €6 and a careful day is €18 to €28.
The toy train joyride is €8 to €15, the Tiger Hill jeep a few euros, and a tea estate tour a small fee.
The currency is the rupee (INR), at roughly 95 to 100 rupees to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. UPI phone payments are everywhere, and some apps now accept foreign cards; carry cash for small shops, autos and markets.
Safety
Staying safe in Darjeeling
Darjeeling is safe. From June to September, the monsoon brings landslides that can close roads; check before travelling.
Nights are cold from November to February; bring warm layers. Foreigners need a permit for Sikkim.
Drink only bottled or filtered water, and be wary of raw salads and ice; stomach upsets are common.
Most visitors need an Indian e-Visa, applied for online before travel. Since 1 April 2026, all foreign nationals flying in must also submit the free e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before landing; screenshot or download the QR code, as it cannot be retrieved later.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Darjeeling
Tea, monasteries and Sikkim.
Tiger Hill
Sunrise over Kanchenjunga.
Sikkim
Gangtok and the mountains.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The spring and autumn tea flushes are the harvests.
March to April
First flush
Tea estates
The spring harvest.
October and November
Autumn clear season
Darjeeling
The clearest mountain views.
Hostels
Where to stay in Darjeeling
The top-rated places to stay in Darjeeling right now, live from Hostelworld.
Bubble Beds
Dorms from €3 a night
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Tieedi Forest Garden
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Trippers Castlewoods
Dorms from €6 a night
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Tara Circle Hostel
Dorms from €7 a night
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Trippers Hostel
Dorms from €6 a night
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Hidden Monkey Stays
Dorms from €7 a night
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Hideout Backpackers Hostel
Dorms from €5 a night
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Sustainable
Pathfinder's Nest Hostel
Dorms from €7 a night
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Sustainable
The Bunkyard Hostel
Dorms from €3 a night
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Backpackers hub
Dorms from €3 a night
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Sustainable
Echo Premium Hostel by Tej
Dorms from €7 a night
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Escapade Hostel
Dorms from €4 a night
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When to go
October to November for clear views, and March to May for spring.
Jan
Cold
Feb
Cold
Mar
First flush
Apr
Spring
May
Good
Jun
Monsoon
Jul
Monsoon
Aug
Monsoon
Sep
Clearing
Oct
Clear views
Nov
Clear
Dec
Cold
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Much cooler than the plains.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in rupees locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Doing things—
Darjeeling travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
When can I see Kanchenjunga?
Best from October to December and in spring, on clear mornings from Tiger Hill.
Is the toy train worth it?
The joyride to Ghum and the Batasia Loop is short and scenic.
Do I need a permit for Sikkim?
Yes, foreigners need a permit, issued at the border or in advance.
How do I get there?
By shared jeep from Bagdogra or New Jalpaiguri, about three hours.
How many days do you need?
Two or three.
When is the best time to visit?
October to December and March to May.
Can I visit a tea estate?
Yes, Happy Valley and others offer tours and tastings.
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