Chennai, India: travel guide
Marina Beach, Fort St George and the home of Carnatic music
Tamil Nadu's capital — a grand Dravidian metropolis of towering gopurams, Marina Beach, colonial Fort St. George, and classical Carnatic music.
About Chennai
Chennai is a southern gateway city with a distinct character: a long coastline, a strong tradition of classical music and dance, and old temples that sit beside colonial buildings. It is a place where Tamil culture feels very much in the foreground.
Take in Fort St George, one of the oldest British fortifications in India, walk the Marina Beach promenade in the evening, and visit the old temples of Mylapore. Cholamandal Village is a short trip to see an artists' community, and filter coffee and tiffin are an everyday pleasure.
Chennai suits culture and music lovers, and works as a base for Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry. The cooler months, November to February, are the most comfortable.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- MAA
Last updated
Top places to visit in Chennai
Government Museum
museum · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · entry ₹250
Second oldest museum in India, famous for its Bronze Gallery and Indo-Saracenic style.
Connemara Library
library · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · free entry
One of the four National Depository Libraries of India, known for its old-world charm.
Marina Beach
beach · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The longest natural urban beach in India and second longest in the world.
T. Nagar Market
district · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The shopping nerve center of Chennai for silks and gold.
Phoenix Marketcity
luxury-mall · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Massive luxury mall with cinema and global brand stores.
Express Avenue
mall · 4.5 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Largest gaming zone in South India and high-end shopping.
Vandalur Zoo
zoo · 4.3 rating · about 5 h · entry ₹200
One of the largest zoos in SE Asia, known for its tiger and lion safaris.
Elliot’s Beach
beach · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Cleaner and quieter than Marina, popular with the youth.
Kapaleeshwarar Temple
temple · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Classic Dravidian temple dedicated to Lord Shiva with a grand gopuram.
VGP Theme Park
theme-park · 4.3 rating · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate
One of Chennai’s oldest theme parks and home to VGP Marine Kingdom.
Guindy National Park
park · 4.1 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
One of the few national parks located inside a city.
ISKCON Chennai
temple · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Large spiritual center on the ECR with modern architecture.
Things to do
- Mahabalipuram Day Trip Day Trip · 8 h · from INR 2,500 per person
- Mylapore Heritage Walk Walking Tour · 2.5 h · from INR 800 per person
- Chennai Food Trail Food Tour · 3 h · from INR 1,500 per person
- Marina Beach Morning Walk Leisure · 1.5 h · from INR 400 per person
- Kanchipuram Silk & Temples Day Trip Day Trip · 9 h · from INR 2,500 per person
- DakshinaChitra Heritage Village Cultural · 3 h · from INR 800 per person
- Kapaleeshwarar Temple Tour Sightseeing Tour · 1.5 h · from INR 600 per person
- Fort St George & Museum Tour Sightseeing Tour · 3 h · from INR 1,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Mahabalipuram & ECR Day Trip 9 h · from INR 2,500
- Chennai City Heritage Full-Day Tour 8 h · from INR 2,000
- Kanchipuram Temples & Silk Day Trip 10 h · from INR 2,500
Where to stay in Chennai
- Marina Beach about INR 4,000 per night
Beachfront area with mid-range and luxury hotels
- T. Nagar about INR 3,000 per night
Shopping and commercial district with mid-range accommodation
Hotels
- ITC Grand Chola 5-star · INR 12,000 to INR 25,000 per night
- The Leela Palace Chennai 5-star · INR 14,000 to INR 28,000 per night
- Taj Coromandel 5-star · INR 11,000 to INR 22,000 per night
- Taj Fisherman's Cove 5-star · INR 12,000 to INR 22,000 per night
- Park Hyatt Chennai 5-star · INR 9,000 to INR 17,000 per night
- The Park Chennai 5-star · INR 7,000 to INR 13,000 per night
Where to eat
- Saravana Bhavan South Indian, North Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 350 per person
- Murugan Idli Shop South Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 200 per person
- Ratna Cafe South Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 200 per person
- Buhari Hotel Mughlai, Biryani, South Indian · about INR 450 per person
- Anjappar Chettinad Chettinad, South Indian, Biryani · about INR 600 per person
- Sandy's Chocolate Laboratory Cafe, Bakery, Continental · about INR 600 per person
- Mathsya North Indian, Gujarati, Vegetarian · about INR 450 per person
- Annalakshmi South Indian, North Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 700 per person
Getting to Chennai
Airport: Madras (MAA)
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw
- Metro
- Ride Hail
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"
Airports, train stations, popular squares
Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.
How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.
More in India
Frequently asked questions about Chennai
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Chennai?
- The highest-rated places in our Chennai guide are Kapaleeshwarar Temple, ISKCON Chennai, Connemara Library, Phoenix Marketcity, Elliot’s Beach.
- Where should I stay in Chennai?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Chennai: Marina Beach, T. Nagar.
- How do I get around Chennai?
- Ways to get around Chennai covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Metro, Ride-hailing app, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Chennai?
- Scams reported to us for Chennai include Pre-paid taxi "broken meter". Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Chennai?
- The nearest airport to Chennai has the code MAA.