Top places to visit in Kochi

• Fort Kochi & Chinese Fishing Nets

  heritage-quarter · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry

  The historic seafront quarter where iconic cantilevered Chinese fishing nets line the shore amid colonial streets, art cafes and a famous sunset promenade.

• Marine Drive Kochi

  promenade · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · free entry

  A breezy waterfront promenade in Ernakulam facing the backwaters, ideal for evening strolls, ferry rides and watching the sunset over the harbour.

• Lulu Mall Kochi Shopping

  district · 4.2 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  Kerala largest shopping mall with over 400 stores, a hypermarket, an indoor ice skating rink, and IMAX cinema. A comprehensive rainy day entertainment option.

• Cherai Beach

  beach · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · free entry

  A long golden-sand beach on Vypin Island where the sea meets backwaters, known for calm waters, dolphin sightings and spectacular sunsets.

• Kochi Public Ferry System

  transport · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · entry ₹5

  The public ferry system connecting Fort Kochi, Ernakulam, Mattancherry, and Vypeen Island. Using the local ferries is the most authentic and scenic way to navigate Kochi, with unmatched harbour views.

• Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)

  palace-museum · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · entry ₹5

  A 16th-century palace built by the Portuguese and renovated by the Dutch, famed for its remarkable Kerala murals depicting Hindu epics and royal portraits.

• Fort Kochi Colonial Architecture

  district · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  A self-guided walk through Fort Kochi reveals an extraordinary density of colonial architecture — Portuguese, Dutch, and British buildings spanning four centuries. The Indo-European hybrid style is unique in India.

• MG Road Shopping Ernakulam

  market · 4.2 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The commercial heart of modern Kochi — MG Road has the best concentration of textile shops, jewellery stores, and shopping. Kerala gold jewellery and handloom fabrics are the prime buys.

• Kochi Junction Food Street

  district · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The area around Ernakulam Junction station has excellent Kerala street food — puttu and kadala curry, appam, idli, and the famous Kayees mutton biriyani. Authentic, cheap, and popular with locals.

• Kerala Houseboat Overnight Cruise

  cruise · 4.7 rating · about 24 h · entry ₹5,000

  An overnight houseboat cruise on the Kerala backwaters — the quintessential Kerala experience. Kettuvallam houseboats cruise through Vembanad Lake and backwater channels, stopping at sunset in remote waterways.

• Kerala Fine Dining Heritage Restaurants

  district · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Kochi has the finest Kerala cuisine restaurant scene in the state — from the River Bistro at Brunton Boatyard to the heritage restaurants of Fort Kochi serving crab curry, karimeen, and malabar biryani.

• Paradesi Synagogue

  synagogue · 4.4 rating · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate

  The oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth (1568) in atmospheric Jew Town, known for its hand-painted Chinese floor tiles and Belgian chandeliers.

Things to do

• Kochi Chinese Fishing Nets Sunrise Experience Nature · 1 h
• Kathakali Performance Show · 1.5 h · from INR 500 per person
• Alleppey Backwater Houseboat Day Trip Day Trip · 10 h · from INR 4,000 per person
• Kochi Backwater Sunset Cruise Leisure · 2 h · from INR 800 per person
• Kochi Sunset Dhow Cruise Arabian Sea Boat · 2 h · from INR 1,200 per person
• Cochin Jewish Quarter and Mattancherry Heritage Heritage · 2.5 h · from INR 700 per person
• Kochi Jewish-Dutch-Portuguese Heritage Cycle Heritage · 3 h · from INR 1,000 per person
• Kochi Spice Tour and Tasting Kerala Heritage · 3 h · from INR 800 per person

Day trips and tours

• Alleppey Backwater Houseboat Day 10 h · from INR 4,000
• Fort Kochi Heritage & Kathakali Day 9 h · from INR 2,000
• Kochi City & Marine Drive Day 8 h · from INR 1,800

Where to stay in Kochi

• Fort Kochi about INR 4,500 per night

  Historic area with colonial architecture, art galleries, and cultural vibe

• Ernakulathappan about INR 3,000 per night

  Central business area with mid-range hotels and good connectivity

Hotels

• Brunton Boatyard Kochi 5-star · INR 15,000 to INR 45,000 per night
• The Postcard Canna Kochi 5-star · INR 12,000 to INR 36,000 per night
• The Brunton Boatyard Hotel 5-star · INR 15,000 to INR 45,000 per night
• CGH Earth Spice Village Thekkady 5-star · INR 12,000 to INR 35,000 per night
• Forte Kochi Heritage Hotel 5-star · INR 12,000 to INR 35,000 per night
• Old Harbour Hotel Fort Kochi 5-star · INR 9,000 to INR 27,000 per night

Where to eat

• Kashi Art Cafe Fort Kochi Cafe, Continental, Kerala · about INR 400 per person
• Sree Krishna Cafe Kochi South Indian, Breakfast, Vegetarian · about INR 200 per person
• Chinese Fishing Nets Seafood Stalls Kerala, Seafood, Street Food · about INR 600 per person
• Marine Drive Food Walk Kochi Kerala, Street Food, Snacks · about INR 200 per person
• Paragon Restaurant Kochi Branch Malabar, Biryani, Muslim Cuisine · about INR 450 per person
• Dal Roti Fort Kochi Kerala, North Indian, Multi-cuisine · about INR 400 per person
• Kayees Biryani Mattancherry Malabar, Biryani, Muslim Cuisine · about INR 250 per person
• Pai Brothers Ernakulam South Indian, Udupi, Vegetarian · about INR 250 per person

Getting to Kochi

Airport: Cochin (COK)

How visitors arrive in Kochi

• Fly into Cochin International Airport By air from Gulf and Indian cities · common

  Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery, north of the city, takes flights from other Indian cities and the Gulf; taxis and buses run into Kochi. Source: ernakulam.nic.in

• Train to Ernakulam Junction By train from Major Indian cities · common

  Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town stations connect Kochi with major Indian cities. Source: ernakulam.nic.in

• KSRTC bus from Kerala and neighbouring states By road from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka · common

  State buses link Kochi with major cities in Kerala and with some in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, arriving at Ernakulam and Vyttila. Source: ernakulam.nic.in

From the airport to the centre

• KSRTC AC bus from Cochin Airport

  KSRTC low-floor air-conditioned buses run from Cochin Airport via Aluva, Vyttila and Thoppumpady to Fort Kochi. Confirm the service and boarding point with KSRTC or the airport on arrival. Source: m.cial.aero

• Prepaid taxi from Cochin Airport

  The Cochin Airport Taxi Society is the only taxi group allowed to pick up at the airport; a prepaid taxi service is listed on the airport's website. Source: cial.aero

From the railway station to the centre

• Train to Ernakulam Junction

  Ernakulam Junction is the main station for long-distance trains; Ernakulam Town and the suburban stops of Aluva and Angamaly are also used. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Auto Rickshaw
• Ferry

  Boat services run from Ernakulam jetties to islands and other points, and the Kochi Water Metro adds an integrated water transport network.

• Ride Hail

  Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Ola operate in Kochi, covering both taxis and auto rickshaws.

  Get Ola Cabs

• 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.

Best time to visit Kochi

• Jan 34°C
• Feb 35°C
• Mar 35°C
• Apr 34°C
• May 33°C
• Jun 31°C
• Jul 30°C
• Aug 30°C
• Sep 31°C
• Oct 32°C
• Nov 33°C
• Dec 33°C

More in India

• New Delhi
• Agra
• Jaipur
• Panaji
• Mumbai
• Varanasi

Frequently asked questions about Kochi

What are the top-rated places to visit in Kochi?

The highest-rated places in our Kochi guide are Kerala Houseboat Overnight Cruise, Fort Kochi Colonial Architecture, Kerala Fine Dining Heritage Restaurants, Fort Kochi & Chinese Fishing Nets, Kochi Public Ferry System.

Where should I stay in Kochi?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Kochi: Fort Kochi, Ernakulathappan.

How do I get around Kochi?

Ways to get around Kochi covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Ferry, Ride-hailing app, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Kochi?

Scams reported to us for Kochi include Pre-paid taxi "broken meter". Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Kochi?

Average daytime highs in Kochi run from 30°C in Jul to 35°C in Mar.

Which airport is nearest to Kochi?

The nearest airport to Kochi has the code COK.