15 fun things to do in Kochi (2024)- Kerala India

Gateway city to the lush, tropical state of Kerala in southern India, Kochi offers a mix of heritage charm, waterfront views and modern Indian bustle. We share the best things to do in Kochi, from Chinese fishing nets and beachfront promenades, to layers of Keralan history, street art and Kathakali culture.

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An introduction to Kochi

Kochi (formerly Cochin) is a collection of islands and peninsulas on the south west coast of India, surrounded by lakes and inland waterways. Most of the best places to visit in Kochi are in the peninsula of Old Kochi, while across the water is the bustling modern city and port of Ernakulam.

A succession of Roman merchants, Arab traders, Portuguese explorers, Dutch and British colonists, were drawn to Kochi by the spice trade that flowed through its port. In the early 15th century, local rulers moved their capital to the city, after other routes to the sea silted up, making this the principle port of the region.

The second city of Kerala, Kochi remains a thriving harbour to the present day, with a modern economy based on IT services, shipbuilding, gold trading and tourism.

As a visitor you’ll spend most of your time in the Old Kochi neighbourhood, where the layers of Dutch, Portuguese, British and Jewish influence can be seen in the old mansions and waterfront warehouses or godowns.

Many of these have been converted into hotels and restaurants, offering a charming glimpse of the open sea and harbour on both the Fort Kochi and Mattancherry side of the peninsula.

Our Top things to do in Kochi

Here’s a quick overview of the best things to do in Kochi, especially if you only have one day.

• Starting in Fort Kochi, admire the Chinese fishing nets in action and wander along the beach promenade.
• Visit the two historic churches within Fort Kochi: Santa Cruz Basilica and Church of St Francis.
• Take a break in one of the shady art cafes, like David Hall Gallery or Kuchi art cafe, and notice the street art as you wander around.
• Hop in an auto rickshaw to visit Mattancherry Palace on the other side of Old Kochi peninsula
• Nearby wander around atmospheric Jew Town (great for shopping) and visit the Pardesi Synagogue
• Take a tuk tuk back to Fort Kochi for an evening Kathakali show, at the Kerala Kathakali Centre.

If you are short of time, we recommend this 3 hour walking tour that covers the highlights of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry.

Where is Kochi?

Kochi is located on the south west coast of India, within the state of Kerala. Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) is the port city of Kerala, while the state capital of Thiruvananthapurum (Trivandrum) lies further the south.

Offering access to both the sea and the inland waterways known as the Backwaters, Kochi is the gateway to “God’s own country” of Kerala. Follow the coastline north, and you’ll pass through the state of Karnataka, whose principle city is Bengaluru (Bangalore), and beyond to the beaches of Goa.

To the south and east is the state of Tamil Nadu, divided from Kerala by the Western Ghats, a mountain range offering tea estates and cooler temperatures.

Things to do in Kochi -around Fort Kochi

Named after the the area where the Portuguese first built Fort Emmanuel in the 16th Century, Fort Kochi is located on the north west tip of the Old Kochi peninsula, facing the sea. This is where many of the tourist attractions in Kochi are located and it’s the best place to start exploring.

1. Chinese fishing nets

Watch the fishermen at the Chinese nets, and help to operate them if you are happy to offer a tip. From a frame of bamboo poles, the elegant nets are lowered from a series of jetties close to Vasco da Gama Square and require several fishermen to operate each one.

Said to be introduced to the region by traders from China, the much photographed nets in Fort Kochi operate mainly for the benefit of the tourists.

You’ll get the best photos of the Chinese fishing nets either from the shore near Vasco da Gama Square, or by walking a little south to look back at them from one of the stone jetties. Feel free to venture onto one of the wooden jetties, to take a closer look at the nets, indeed you may be encouraged to do so by the fisherman.

However, a tip to each of the fishermen is expected, so you may want to check with other tourists what the ‘going rate’ is and make sure you have some small change.

Similar nets can be seen on other parts of the coast or in the backwaters, usually operated at night with lights used to attract the fish. Stalls set up nearby to sell fresh fish, which we heard you can take to a nearby food stall to be cooked.

2. Sunset walk on the beach promenade

Walk along the beachfront promenade overlooking Riverside Beach, from Vasco da Gama Square to Old Lighthouse Beach. This is one of the top things to do in Kochi at night, with street food stalls and cafes open near the beach throughout the day and at sunset.

If you make the walk during the daytime, you may see the remains of the walls of the Portuguese fort and pass the 18h century Dutch cemetery, although this is not generally open except by arrangement.

Just behind the beach promenade is the English Parade Ground, once used for drilling British soldiers, but now used as a cricket pitch.

A lovely place to stop for coffee or lunch is the Pandhal Cafe in the garden of David Hall Gallery, housed in an old Dutch bungalow, which is now an arts centre.

Unfortunately the beaches of Kochi are not suitable for swimming, due to the large amount of weed that is washed up, and the water pollution from the busy lake channel. Better to save your beach time for the end of the trip, when you can relax along the sandy shores south of Kochi, in resorts such as Mararikulam or Varkala.

Check out my article with our recommended itinerary for visiting Kerala.

3. Church of St Francis Fort Kochi

Just north of the Parade Ground is the Church of St Francis, which dates back to the 16th century and was built by the Portuguese who had set up the fort nearby. As the trading and colonial landscape changed over the years, the church was later used by the Dutch, then the British.

The interior of St Francis church is simple and austere, but it’s notable for the swinging fans or punkahs, which hang down from the ceiling and were used to cool the congregation. To one side of the church is the empty tomb of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who was originally buried here in 1524, before his body was returned to Portugal.

If you are short of time, we recommend this 3 hour walking tour that covers the highlights of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry.

3. Santa Cruz Basilica in Fort Kochi

Another much visited church is the imposing Santa Cruz Basilica, built in 1887 on the site of a much older Portuguese cathedral. The original cathedral was used by the protestant Dutch as an arms store, and was demolished by the British when they took over Fort Kochi in the 18th century.

Although it’s not as old as the Church of St Francis, Santa Cruz Basilica has pretty, painted interiors and stained glass windows. With its twin spires and attractive whitewashed decoration, the church is set on a spacious campus and is a much loved and visited attraction in Fort Kochi.

5. Relax in an art cafe

For a dip into the arty side of Kochi, check out the art exhibitions on display at art cafes such as David Hall Gallery or Kashi Art Cafe. Both host displays of art and sculpture by local and regional artists, as well as selling great coffee, brunch and lunch dishes.

Kashi Art Cafe looks unremarkable from the narrow side street, but through the doorway you’ll pass through the exhibition space to a series of small covered courtyards beyond. The menu wouldn’t be out of place in an achingly trendy London cafe (with prices to match!).

On offer are plenty of vegan and veggie options, good coffee or smoothies and all the usual brunch dishes. You’ll eat surrounded by art and sculpture, and this is a cafe that’s popular with international travellers.

David Hall Gallery is located in a 17th century Dutch bungalow, the remaining one of three built around here by the Dutch East India Company. The house was later named David Hall after the wealthy Jewish Koder family who lived here.

Within the bungalow are three large gallery rooms, devoted to exhibitions of contemporary local and international art. The cultural centre also hosts music, art and film events and workshops.

Walk through the gallery spaces to find Pandhal Cafe, set in a leafy walled garden. The cafe is open for brunch, lunch and dinner, serving western style dishes and pizzas, open daily except Monday.

Both gallery and cafe are run by sustainable boutique hotel group CGH Earth, whose hotels we stayed in while in the Kerala backwaters. You can also stay in their boutique hotels Brunton Boatyard and Eighth Bastion in Fort Kochi.

Other art cafes in Old Kochi to look out for include:

• Mocha Art cafe – located in Jewtown, close to the Pardesi Synagogue

• Qissa Cafe – in Fort Kochi on the ground floor of No 18 Hotel

• Teapot Cafe – close to Santa Cruz Basilica on Peter Celli Street, decorated with vintage teapots

A fun way to explore Fort Kochi is on this half day cycle tour that covers all the sightseeing highlights, with a chance to explore local neighbourhoods.

6. Street art in Kochi and the Kochi-Muziris Biennale

Wandering around Fort Kochi, we noticed some street art, especially in the Mattancherry neighbourhood around Pepper House and Bazaar Road. While the murals are not on the scale of some cities where street art festivals have been held (like Bristol where we live), they still make a charming addition to the streets of Old Kochi.

Most of the street art was created as part of the Kochi – Muziris Biennale exhibition of contemporary art, which is held every 2 years. During the event, exhibitions and installations are set up in public spaces, heritage buildings and art spaces throughout Old Kochi, together with a programme of music, film and performance events.

Pepper House was used in the past as a base for the Biennale, hence there are quite a few murals on the streets around this part of Kochi. The last Biennale event was held in 2022-2023.

7. Shopping for authentic souvenirs in Old Kochi

If you enjoy shopping for authentic souvenirs, both Fort Kochi and Jew Town have a wide range of shops with items you’ll want to take home.

In Fort Kochi, Princess Street and the roads around it are a good place to shop for textiles, especially block print clothing designs. While this style of textile printing is traditionally more of a North India craft, we still enjoyed buying some colourful shirts and tops to wear on our holiday.

In Jew Town, especially the streets leading to the Pardesi Synagogue, you’ll similarly find lots of shops selling clothing and other souvenirs aimed at tourists. This is also the area where there were traditionally lots of antique shops.

They were set up when most of Kochi’s Jewish community left India and needed to sell off their possessions. Don’t expect to find many genuine antiques from that era, but it’s still worth a browse if antiques appeal to you.

We also enjoyed a walk along the long stretch of Bazaar Road, where there are numerous shops selling sacks of spices and chillis. While most of them are for the local wholesale market, you’ll find some woman’s co-operatives that you can support by buying spices to take home.

We bought some more arty gifts at the Pepper House shop, which was full of covetable items and trendy clothes from Indian artists.

If you are looking for modern shopping malls, you are better to take the ferry from Mattancherry across to Kochi’s modern city of Ernakulam. Here you’ll find all the shopping you’d expect from a bustling Indian city, including sari shops, sparkling jewellery and air conditioned malls with brands you’ll recognise from back home.

8. Kathakali Show – a cultural highlight of Kerala

Take in a Kathakali Show to experience this south Indian dance form which is performed in Hindu temples, telling the stories of the gods. The ritual theatre form takes place in long sessions over many hours, during the religious festivals held during the winter months. For visitors, shorter shows designed to showcase the art form are held all year round.

There are a number of different venues in Kochi that offer Kathakali shows, the best known being the Kerala Kathakali Centre opposite Santa Cruz Basilica. This is the show that we attended, since they offer nightly performances throughout the year.

Ask your hotel to prebook your ticket and request a seat near the front so that you get a good view during the performance, or otherwise arrive early to buy tickets on the door.

We really enjoyed the show performed in a small theatre, with live music and three Kathakali dancers. The evening was enhanced by the hour before the show, during which we could watch the performer’s make up being applied on the stage in front of us.

This was followed by a demonstration of the different Kathakali eye and hand movements, with explanations of the emotions they conveyed, such as love, fear and surprise.

Finally we watched the performance itself, a tale of good and evil, during which a Prince comes to the aid of a Brahmin (holy man) who is being terrorised by a Demon. The Prince provokes the Demon by eating all the food that has been left as an offering, but in the ensuing fight the Prince overcomes and kills the Demon.

Each of the characters is signified by a different coloured face and costume, with the story being conveyed through hand and eye movements as well as the dance, since the characters do not speak. The Kathakali show was followed by another show, displaying the Kalaripayattu Martial Arts, another art form that is traditional to Kerala.

Things to see in Kochi – Mattancherry

The neighbourhood of Mattancherry is located on the north eastern side of the Old Kochi peninsula, and was the spice trading neighbourhood. The waterfront here is lined with paint peeling warehouses or Godowns that overlook the inland lagoon, separating Old Kochi from Willingdon island and the modern city of Ernakulam.

If you are short of time, we recommend this 2 hour walking tour of Jew Town, which covers all the highlights of the vibrant neighbourhoods of Mattancherry and Jew Town.

9. Mattancherry Palace

Mattancherry Palace is also known as the Dutch Palace and was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century as a gift for the Raja of Cochin. It later become known as the Dutch Palace following renovations made by the Dutch traders during their period of control over Kochi.

The palace is known for the original wall murals illustrating ancient stories of the gods from the Hindu Ramayana. These wall paintings are well preserved and richly coloured, but unfortunately photos are strictly forbidden, so I’m not able to show you them here.

In other rooms of the palace you can see old maps from the Dutch colonial period of Kochi’s history, as well as robes, weapons and furniture belonging to the royal family. One gallery houses life sized portraits of all the kings of Kerala from 1864. The palace is open daily except Friday with a small entrance fee.

10. Jew Town

Walk along the pretty streets of Jew town, where there are numerous antique and souvenir shops. There was a large Jewish population in Kochi from the 1500s, when the Jewish community in a coastal settlement north of Kochi came under attack, moving here under the protection of the Raja of Cochin.

The community numbers were further increased by the Pardesi (literally foreign) Jews who arrived, fleeing persecution in the 16th century from Spain and Portugal. Their European connections help them set up as merchants in the booming spice trade, with wealthy Jewish families such as the Koders becoming closely connected with the Raja.

The Jew Town neighbourhood has many old style houses and warehouses, that now mainly serve as tourist shops and cafe, attracting visitors as they head towards the Pardesi synagogue. Most of the Jewish population of Kochi left India for Israel after independence, and there are plenty of shops selling antiques, a legacy of all the goods sold off by those who departed India.

You’ll also find plenty of cafes and restaurants here, and we can recommend the Ginger House restaurant where we had lunch. A walk past the hotel’s antique shop will bring you to a pretty green courtyard and lovely setting for the restaurant overlooking the lake.

11. Pardesi Synagogue

Visit the Pardesi Synagogue, erected in the 17th century, with its beautiful chandeliers and hand painted blue and white willow pattern tiles. It was the Pardesi Jewish community who built their synagogue close to the Mattancherry palace, rebuilding it after the Portuguese threw out the Dutch and burned the synagogue to the ground in 1662.

Most of the Pardesi community emigrated to Israel after Indian independence, a reason why many antique shops grew up in this neighbourhood to sell off their possessions. The synagogue is decorated with coloured glass lamps and numerous sparkling crystal chandeliers, suspended from the coffered ceiling.

On the floor are blue and white hand painted tiles in a willow pattern imported from Canton in China. Around the walls of the synagogue are interesting information boards to help you understand the history of the Jewish community in Kochi.

There is a small charge to visit the synagogue, which is closed on Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath and on occasions when there is a service.

If you are short of time, we recommend this 2 hour walking tour of Jew Town, which covers the highlights of the vibrant neighbourhoods of Mattancherry and Jew Town.

12. Soak up the atmosphere of Bazaar Road

From Mattancherry Palace, walk north along Bazaar Road, with its atmospheric but crumbling riverfront warehouses and wholesalers of pepper, chillis and other spices. There aren’t any particular tourist sights here, but it’s a pleasant place to wander, just to absorb the feeling of daily life and sense the former prosperity of Mattancherry.

For every one of the warehouses that have been restored (Like Bloom boutique waterfront hotel where we stayed) there are three more that look as if they could fall down at any minute. Yet the peeling but vibrant paint colours and glimpses through doorways to the river beyond, make this a charming location.

Bazaar Road is full of spice traders and grocery shops, their open sacks overflowing with red chillis, cinnamon and beans making an attractive picture. This is still an area of spice wholesalers, and if you walk beyond the Eraveli Canal bridge, you’ll arrive at the jetty to take the ferry to Erakulam.

A little further and the road turns into Calvathy Road, where we recommend the fish and seafood for lunch at the waterfront Seagull Restaurant.

A great way to see Old Kochi is on this private half day tuk tuk tour, where you’ll visit all the main sights and get the insights of a knowledgeable driver / guide.

13. Ferry from Old Kochi to Ernakulam

Take the ferry across the lake to Ernakulum, the modern part of Kochi. The ferries are inexpensive and run several times an hour, taking commuters back and forth from one side of the lake to the other. You can also stop off halfway at Willingdon Island, to wander around the lakeside park.

Although you can also reach Ernakulum by auto rickshaw, it’s a less expensive and more relaxing journey to cross by the ferry. Just turn up at the ferry terminal north of the Eraveli canal in Mattancherry and check the times for the next ferry, which are posted there.

Shortly before the ferry arrrives, the ticket window will open to sell tickets and as the cost is just a few rupees, you need to pay in cash. There is a separate ticket window for ladies, who can buy tickets for several people. The queue is often shorter, so you can send the lady of your party to purchase all your tickets. Board the ferry as early as you can, in order to bag a window seat, with a great view over the water.

14. Museums in Fort Kochi

There are a few interesting museums that you may be interested in visiting, if you have a bit of extra time in Kochi.

Kerala Folklore Theatre and Museum

This is located on the Ernakulam side of Kochi, a 20 minute tuk tuk ride from Fort Kochi. The privately owned museum is housed in a traditional Keralan building of wood and laterite stone, which was constructed by combining several heritage buildings. Inside is a huge display of antique artefacts from all over Kerala, including temple carvings, jewellery and household objects. There is also a shop selling antiques, artisan objects and textiles.

Hill Palace Museum at Thripunitra

Just outside Kochi on the road to Munnar you’ll pass the Hill Palace Museum, which was built in 1865 as the main residence of the rulers of Kochi. The large palace complex is set in 52 acres of land, and now houses a heritage museum for the collections of the royal family. If heading to Munnar, you could arrange a stop here with your driver, although you’d probably need at least a couple of hours to do it justice.

Indian Maritime Naval Museum

A small museum in Fort Kochi which is run by the Indian Navy, with models and information about maritime history within Kochi and Kerala. The grounds house a helicopter, missiles and other military artefacts.

Indo Portuguese Museum

This small museum in Fort Kochi is housed in the former Bishop’s Palace built in 1557 and houses the Catholic artefacts collected from the churches of Kochi. Some of the ruins of the Portuguese fort can be seen in the basement and there are pleasant gardens.

15. Boat trip on the backwaters

A fun thing to do near Kochi is to spend some time in the Kerala backwaters, the network of lagoons and canals that run south of Kochi. We enjoyed a night on one of the houseboats that take guests around the area of Vembanad Lake as well as a night at one of the lakeside hotels. Read about our experience in the backwaters in my article: Our Kerala itinerary – amazing 10 day trip in Southern India.

However, if your time is short, you can also experience the backwaters by taking a day trip from Kochi. Many tours will drive you down to Alleppuzha (Alleppey) which takes up to 2 hours. But some like this half day backwaters tour start just outside Kochi and take you around the areas of backwaters closer to the city.

We really enjoyed our time on the backwaters, observing people going about their daily lives on the side canals and spotting plenty of bird life. Whether you experience it on a 1-2 day houseboat cruise or on a shorter day trip, the Kerala Backwaters are an unmissable part of your trip to southern India.

If you have time, we recommend booking 1 night on the Spice Coast Cruises houseboat and 1 night at Coconut Lagoon luxury eco-resort, both run by CGH Earth. You can also check out other houseboats and hotels near Allepuzzha in the Kerala Backwaters.

Where to stay in Kochi

As most visitors to Kochi will only spend a couple of days there, we recommend staying close to the main sites of Old Kochi. There are numerous hotels and homestays in Fort Kochi, with a good range in Mattancherry and on the northern tip of the peninsula between them.

Staying in Fort Kochi will give you access to most of the tourist attractions within an easy walk, as well as a wide range of restaurants. Fort Kochi is where I would recommend you stay as a solo traveller, since you can safely walk around on well lit streets at night to find places to eat.

Our 10 day itinerary for Kerala allows 2 nights in Kochi and we recommend Bloom Boutique Waterfront (boutique heritage hotel where we stayed) or Old Harbour Hotel (luxury heritage hotel).

We stayed at Bloom Boutique Waterfront Hotel in Mattancherry, which was full of atmosphere with lakeside views, a 15 minute tuk tuk ride away from Fort Kochi.

There are a few hotels on Willingdon Island, but for a short visit this is a less convenient location, since you will need to take a ferry and tuk tuk to reach the tourist sites of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry.

Another possibility is to stay in the modern city of Ernakulam just across the water from Old Kochi. While this is conveniently close for the airport and train stations, it’s a noisy and bustling area that cannot match the heritage charm of Fort Kochi.

If staying in Fort Kochi or Mattancherry, we recommend staying in one of the many heritage hotels or homestays / guest houses that have been converted from old mansions or warehouses, sometimes overlooking the lake. Check out all the hotels in Kochi.

Hotels in Kochi

Check our top picks for hotels in Kochi below. If you are on a tight budget, we recommend booking one of the numerous guest houses or homestays within the Fort Kochi area.

How to get to Kochi

Arriving by air

Many travellers arrive at Kochi Airport, on an internal flight from one of the larger airport hubs in India or via the Gulf States. Cochin international airport is located outside the city, around 45 minutes drive from Fort Kochi.

If you want to take a taxi to your hotel, go to the pre-paid taxi stand outside the airport. Here you will be informed of the price and handed a ticket with this rate to give to the driver. You then pay the driver directly at the end of your journey. Buses are also available from the airport to both Fort Kochi and Ernakulum.

Arriving by train

Another popular way to arrive in Kochi from other cities in India, is by long distance train. We travelled on the overnight train from Bangalore, which arrived in Kochi early in the morning.

Be aware that reserved seats and sleeper compartments, for long distance trains in 1st and 2nd class, tend to book up well ahead. It’s best to ask your travel agent to book a seat / sleeper compartment in advance, or to make a reservation at any major station, as soon as you arrive in India.

Map of things to do in Kochi

Check out our interactive map of Kerala, showing the places we recommend in Kochi. Click on the link to our map of Kochi in Kerala or on the image below.

Places to visit after Kochi

Travelling on to Munnar – misty tea estates

After Kochi, we took a private taxi for the 4 hour drive up into the foothills of the Western Ghats and the town of Munnar. The cooler temperatures are a refreshing change from the steamy heat of the coast, and you can hike through tea estates, stop at waterfalls and reservoirs or just enjoy the views.

We recommend you book at the Windermere Estate (heritage tea bungalow) or Green Valley Vista Guest House (budget guest house), although there are many more hotels in Munnar.

Travelling on to Alleppey – the Kerala Backwaters

Another popular location just south of Kochi is the Kerala Backwaters, the network of inland canals and lakes that sit just behind the coast. If you’d like to try the iconic Kerala experience of staying on a houseboat, head to Alleppey where most are based, or take tours of the backwaters on smaller boats from a lakeside hotel.

In order to tread as lightly as possible in this delicate eco-system, we decided to book our houseboat through Spice Coast Cruises, owned by luxury operator CGH Earth, who are known for their sustainable practices. There are a also homestays and luxury hotels like Coconut Lagoon eco-resort ( also by CGH Earth) along the banks of Vembanad Lake, many of which have heritage style wooden cottages and buildings.

Travelling to Mararikulam – beach resort

For some beach time, one of the most popular beach resorts is at Mararikulam, with lovely sandy beaches and swaying palms, around 45km south of Kochi. We recommend treating yourself to an eco-friendly and luxurious stay at Marari Beach Hotel with CGH Earth.

Read Next

For more places to visit in Kerala, read about this Kerala Itinerary – our amazing 10 day trip in southern India

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This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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