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Where to stay
Hand-picked hotel shortlists for 1 places, by hotel class and guest rating, each linking to the hotels' own pages.
Kolkata rewards travellers who choose a base before they book. The city spreads wide, and each quarter has its own character. The colonial core around Park Street and Esplanade puts the metro interchange, New Market and the old office quarter within walking distance of each other, and it is the easiest base for a first trip. North of the centre, the old city offers rajbaris, idol workshops, river ghats and Tagore's birthplace, all within reach of two metro stops. South Kolkata is greener and more residential, with two markets, a lake and some of the city's best everyday Bengali food.
Other bases suit other trips. Kalighat is devotional and busy, with temple crowds, a Mother Teresa home and a metro stop on Line 1 close to the centre. Salt Lake, east of the centre, has wide roads and a Green Line metro link into the city, while New Town on the eastern edge is useful for early flights and conferences. The west bank around one of India's busiest railway stations works for early departures and sits a short metro ride from Park Street. Airport and Dum Dum stays are handy for late arrivals and early flights.
3-star or 4- and 5-star: which to choose
Kolkata's 248 places to stay divide clearly by class. The 20 five-star hotels lead every list, followed by 4-star, then 3-star and other stays, so the top tier is small and highly reviewed. Choose 4- and 5-star for full service and a central or business address, and 3-star for a simpler, well-located room. The lists on the 4- and 5-star and 3-star guides show both tiers as live options across the city, so match the class to your trip rather than to a single district.
Hotel guides by place
Kolkata
Questions, answered
Which area of Kolkata has the most hotels?
Salt Lake (293), Park Street (241) and Airport & Dum Dum (208) have the most stays. First-time visitors usually prefer Park Street or Esplanade for the sights, while Salt Lake and New Town suit business trips and the airport.
Where should a first-time visitor stay in Kolkata?
Park Street or Esplanade is the easiest base for a first trip. The metro interchange, New Market and the old office quarter sit within walking distance of each other, and the colonial core holds tearooms, jazz-age restaurants and Georgian tombs.
Which part of Kolkata is best for families?
South Kolkata works well for families: it is a green, residential quarter with two markets, a lake and easy metro access, plus some of the city's best everyday Bengali food.
Where should I stay with a car in Kolkata?
Salt Lake suits travellers who want fast airport access and wide roads, with a Green Line metro link into the city. The Eastern Metropolitan Bypass near Tangra, Science City and Kasba gives quick roads to Salt Lake, New Town and the airport.
Which area is best for an early flight from Kolkata?
Stays around Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and Dum Dum are handy for late arrivals and early flights. New Town, on the eastern edge, is also useful for early flights and conferences, though it is a long way from the sights of the old city.
Which Kolkata neighbourhood has the most 5-star hotels?
The city has 20 five-star hotels, led by names such as ITC Royal Bengal a Luxury Collection Hotel Kolkata, ITC Sonar a Luxury Collection Hotel Kolkata and Taj City Centre New Town Kolkata. Every list starts with 5-star hotels, then 4-star, then 3-star and other stays.