Magic Hour Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

4 hours

Mobile ticket

An early morning adventure to watch Calcutta wake up. Experience Calcutta like Local and not just a tourist. Try different modes of transport, Local spots and blend into Calcutta's narrative just like a Local.

This tour is not the usual Heritage walk but an Anthropological experience with the city and its people. The aim of the tour is not just for you to understand the city but to fall in Love with Calcutta and its Local fabric. The tour is conducted by Soham, the founder of Calcutta Capsule walking tours, who is considered by many as the best walking tour specialist in the world ( ref reviews).

Among highlights on the tour we visit:

Old Calcutta,

Howrah Bridge,

Flower Market,

Ganges/Ganga,

Kumartuli -Idol making village,

Local traditional Breakfast.

If you're wanting to feel the vibe of the city and develop a sense of belonging with Calcutta in just a few hours ,This tour is for you.

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Dress code is smart casual

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Calcutta Capsule

Every morning, before the sun is up; as the street lamps of Calcutta go off, we start the Magic hour tour to watch Calcutta Wake up. We hop on to the first bus of the day from the oldest neighborhood of Calcutta as the city enters the enchanting Magic Hour. Meandering through the sleepy 300 year locality in full throttle ,the next few hours are spent visiting the oldest areas of Calcutta. Before the bustling giant city wakes up we’d have used all the iconic modes of transport, had breakfast in a century old hidden spot, gossiped about Calcutta like a Local, talked about its history, anthropology and fallen desperately in Love with the city. The “unguided tour” as we call it starts with Chai (tea) in a bhaad (earthen cups) and finishes with traditional Bengali breakfast, the best sweets of Calcutta. Highlights : Oldest residential area of Calcutta Local transport Howrah Bridge Flower Market Idol Making Village Traditional Breakfast no Historical overdrive Experience like a local

Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Local guide

Bottled water

Snacks

Breakfast

DSLR photography (soft copies provided after the tour)

TripAdvisor Experiences brokerage fee

Coffee and/or Tea

Food tasting

Gratuities

Options

Magic Hour Tour

Reviews

5.00

236 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

236

Kolkata in the early morning is highly recommended - especially with this competent guide
517hartmutg,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Soham is a connoisseur of Kolkata and a great guide. It was even fun to get up early because it started at 5:30 a.m. We have gained many deeper insights into life in Kolkata, away from the hustle and bustle of the day. Many stations, on foot, by authentic yellow taxi, by bus, by ferry and by motor rickshaw. The flower market in the morning is a wonderful experience. We crossed the Howrah Bridge with the desired vibes. Soham not only led a great tour but also took excellent pictures of us.
10/10 Recommend! Incredible experience
emmarC7472GR,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I had the most amazing experience with Soham on the morning light tour. The tour visited a range of places including the flower market and deity making district where Soham shared so many details about Kolkata's history and culture. It was fun to travel across the city using different modes of transport, we tried some local foods, and all in all it was a fantastic way to experience to the city. Soham is a knowledgeable and passionate guide, and I'd recommend Calcutta Capsule tours to anyone looking for a unique way to experience and understand parts of the city that you might not be able to see alone.
A great way to get a taste of the city
JudyS2782,,Dec 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a great introduction to Kolkata. Soham is very articulate and knowledgeable, and I learned a lot about the city, past and present. Walking in the early morning means you avoid crowds and heat. I highly recommend this tour.
Lovely walking tour!
AanchalS,,Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Loved this walking tour. 100% recommend. It was one of the highlights of our trip to Kolkata. Thank you Soham for showing us your beautiful city.
Amazing
Nomad30909778357,,Nov 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I did the Magic Hour tour the day I arrived in Kolkata & it was such brilliant introduction to the city. I had booked based on what other reviews said & it was all true! I loved seeing the different areas of the city, hearing some of the history & the travel between the areas. Soham was a perfect guide & amazing photographer & answered my endless questions about Kolkata & life in India generally:) The tour is definitely worth getting up early for, I’ll be recommending it to anyone I know visiting Kolkata.
Don’t miss Magic Hour tour!
taniao480,,Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This is hands down the best city tour I have ever had, and I’ve been on a few. Soham brings Calcutta to life as the city is waking up, in a carefully curated and very enjoyable tour. He loves his city and is a magnificent story teller, exposing you to different parts of the city as it is today and utilising all forms of transport to get to the next stop. I learnt so much about the city’s history and how it functions. Soham tells you just enough and is very attentive to everyone’s needs. Don’t miss this tour! Next time I visit Calcutta I will try one of Soham’s other tours.
A great introduction to Kolkata
Catriona G,,Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
I took this tour after arriving in Kolkata the night before, so it was the very first thing I did, and it was a fantastic introduction to the city. It was well worth the early start, and Soham's approach of sharing his own experience as a local is very effective. We covered a lot of ground, but the pace also allowed for several stops where we could pause and take in our surroundings. I combined this with Soham/Calcutta Capsule's other tours, and also stayed at his family's accommodation, which all worked really well together, but of course you can pick whatever works for you. In any case, I would highly recommend this tour.
Amazing tour! I wholeheartedly recommend!
Florence30-04,,Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Soham was the best host one could wish for to discover Kolkata and experience the heartbeat of the city. He was incredibly kind and made me feel at ease right away — knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and genuinely passionate about sharing his city. I don’t want to spoil too many surprises, so I’ll just mention a few highlights: the flower market, the bridge, the idol-making workshop… but there’s so much more in between! Every stop revealed something new, unexpected, and full of life. This tour is rich, fun, and incredibly beautiful. I learned so much and felt truly privileged to witness, listen, and take part in the daily rhythm of Kolkata. Soham also helped me capture some of the most beautiful images of the morning — a wonderful surprise that allowed me to bring home precious memories of this unique experience. It’s absolutely worth waking up early for — don’t hesitate for a second. This tour is an exceptional opportunity to discover the city’s history, culture, and soul in the most authentic way. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kolkata!
Nothing like watching a city wake up
780rumanar,,Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Soham took me on a journey to experience Kolkata as the woke up on a Monday morning. So much different things I learned from historical, architectural standpoint, uniqueness about Kolkatas daily livelihood. What a thoughtfully put together itinerary to experience an iconic city. HIGHLY RECOMMEND if you are visiting Kolkata. Enjoyed the food selection, the variety of modes of transportation. It was such a pleasure to meet Soham.
Oh kuch pal
kaushikdelhi677,,Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Wonderful one... Thanks to Soham for making this 4 hours valuable with sweet memories. Will surely get back with long hours. Last but not least, Kolkata wishes you to live long like a city of memory and nostalgic place.