Kochi packs more history and culture into a few square kilometers than most Indian cities manage across their entire metro area. The colonial layers (Portuguese from 1503, Dutch from 1663, British from 1795) sit alongside a thriving Keralan arts scene, one of India’s best-preserved Jewish quarters, and the ever-present Arabian Sea. This guide covers 15 things to do in Kochi, organized by area so you can build efficient walking itineraries. For more details, see our Kochi weather by month guide.
Things to Do in Kochi: Fort Kochi and the Waterfront
Chinese Fishing Nets at Vasco da Gama Square
The cantilevered Chinese fishing nets (Cheena Vala) are Kochi’s most photographed landmark. These 10-metre-tall teak and bamboo structures line the Fort Kochi shoreline and have operated since the 14th century, introduced by traders from the court of Kublai Khan. Nets operate at high tide, and fishermen sell the morning catch directly to visitors for 300 to 500 INR per kilogram depending on the species (pomfret, sardines, seer fish). Arrive at sunrise (around 06:00) for the best light and to watch the 4-man teams haul the nets using stone counterweights. There is no entry fee. The square itself has several seafood stalls where you can get your purchase cooked on the spot for 100 to 200 INR. For more details, see our best time to visit Kochi guide.
St. Francis Church
Built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars, this is India’s oldest European church. Vasco da Gama died in Kochi in 1524 and was buried here for 14 years before his remains were moved to Lisbon. His original gravestone is still visible in the nave floor. The church changed hands from Catholic to Dutch Reformed (1663) to Anglican (1795) and is now part of the Church of South India. Entry is free. Open daily 07:00 to 18:30. Sunday services at 08:30 draw a local congregation. The adjacent cemetery has Dutch and British tombs dating to the 1700s. For more details, see our Kochi neighborhoods guide guide.
Fort Kochi Beach and Walkway
The 1.5-km seafront walkway runs from the Chinese fishing nets to the Fort Kochi jetty. It is more of a promenade than a swimming beach (the water is silty and there are strong currents), but the sunset views of cargo ships entering the shipping channel are worth the visit. Street vendors sell spiced mango slices (10 INR), fresh coconut water (30 INR), and fried seafood. The walkway is busiest from 16:30 to 18:30. Public benches and shaded trees make it a comfortable hour-long walk. For more details, see our Kochi travel tips guide.
Indo-Portuguese Museum
Housed in the Bishop’s House compound near Parade Ground, this small museum holds the ecclesiastical treasures of Kochi’s Portuguese Catholic heritage: silver processional crosses, altar pieces, vestments from the 16th and 17th centuries, and a collection of Indo-Portuguese statuary. Entry costs 50 INR for Indians, 100 INR for foreigners. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00. Closed Mondays. The museum takes about 45 minutes to see fully. Photography is not permitted inside.
Kerala Kathakali Centre
On Rose Street near the Santa Cruz Basilica, this intimate performance venue runs daily Kathakali shows at 17:00 (makeup demonstration) and 19:00 (full performance). Tickets cost 500 INR. The makeup session (17:00 to 18:00) is arguably more interesting than the performance itself: you watch the artist apply the intricate green, red, and white face paint while a narrator explains the symbolism of each colour and pattern. The evening show runs 75 minutes and includes a printed synopsis in English. Arrive 15 minutes early for good seats. The centre also runs morning Kalaripayattu (Kerala martial art) demonstrations at 07:30 (400 INR).
Things to Do in Kochi: Mattancherry and Jew Town
Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)
Built by the Portuguese in 1555 as a gift to the Raja of Kochi and renovated by the Dutch in 1663, this two-storey palace houses Kerala’s best collection of Hindu temple murals. The coronation hall ceiling and bedchamber walls are covered with 17th-century paintings depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata in rich ochre, red, and black pigments. The palace also displays the Kochi royal family’s palanquins, weapons, and ceremonial robes. Entry costs 5 INR (yes, five rupees). Open Saturday to Thursday, 10:00 to 17:00. Closed Fridays. Photography is not permitted inside. Budget 60 to 90 minutes. There is no guide service inside, but the Archaeological Survey of India placards provide adequate English explanations.
Paradesi Synagogue
Built in 1568, this is the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth. The interior is striking: hand-painted blue-and-white Cantonese floor tiles (each tile unique, imported in the 18th century), Belgian glass chandeliers, and a gold-crowned Torah ark. The name Paradesi means foreigner, referring to the original congregation of Sephardic Jews from Spain and the Middle East. Today the community numbers fewer than 10 members, but the synagogue holds services when a minyan (quorum of 10) can be assembled. Entry costs 10 INR. Open Sunday to Thursday 10:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 17:00. Closed Fridays, Saturdays, and Jewish holidays. Photography is not permitted. You must remove your shoes and cover your shoulders.
Jew Town Spice Market
The narrow lanes of Jew Town, radiating from Synagogue Lane, are lined with spice warehouses that have operated since the 1500s. The air smells of cardamom, clove, black pepper, cinnamon, and star anise. Most shops are wholesale exporters, but nearly all sell retail quantities to visitors. Expect to pay around 200 INR for 100 grams of premium green cardamom, 150 INR for Tellicherry black peppercorns, and 100 INR for cinnamon sticks. Shops are open Monday to Saturday, roughly 09:00 to 18:00. Cauvery and Spice Market are two reliable names with fixed prices. Kashmiri handicraft and antique shops are mixed among the spice dealers, but prices for pashminas and furniture are inflated; bargain hard (start at 30% of the asking price).
Things to Do in Kochi: Ernakulam Mainland
Marine Drive Walkway
Ernakulam’s 3-km waterfront promenade faces the backwaters and offers a modern contrast to Fort Kochi’s colonial lanes. The walkway runs from the High Court junction to the Rajendra Maidan and is best walked at sunset (17:30 to 18:30). Two bridges, the Rainbow Bridge and the Chinese Bridge, arc over the water. Boat services from the Marine Drive jetty run to Vypeen Island (10 INR, 15 minutes) and Fort Kochi (6 INR by government ferry from the main boat jetty 500 metres south). The GCDA shopping complex at the southern end has an air-conditioned food court. Street food vendors along the walkway sell Kozhikode-style biryani (120 INR) and fresh lime soda (15 INR).
Hill Palace Museum, Tripunithura
Located 12 km east of Ernakulam in Tripunithura, this was the administrative headquarters of the Kochi royal family. The 54-acre complex includes an archaeological museum, a heritage museum, a deer park, and a children’s park. The archaeological collection holds the royal gold crown (studded with emeralds and rubies), 200 antique coins, and a collection of stone sculptures from the 10th to 18th centuries. Entry costs 30 INR for Indians, 100 INR for foreigners. Open Tuesday to Sunday 09:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 16:30. Closed Mondays. An auto-rickshaw from Ernakulam Junction costs about 250 INR. Budget 2 to 3 hours. The cafeteria on-site serves basic Kerala meals (80 INR thali).
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
This 2.7-hectare mangrove forest sits improbably behind the Kerala High Court in central Ernakulam, a green lung surrounded by skyscrapers. It shelters 72 bird species including little cormorants, black-crowned night herons, and purple herons. A wooden walkway loops through the mangroves (about 400 metres). Best visited at dawn (06:00 to 08:00) for bird activity. Entry is free. Open daily 09:00 to 17:00. The sanctuary is small: 30 to 45 minutes is sufficient. Migratory birds arrive from October to February.
Things to Do in Kochi: Day Trips from the City
Alleppey Backwater Houseboat Cruise
Alleppey (Alappuzha), 60 km south of Kochi, is the hub of Kerala’s houseboat industry. A typical day cruise (09:00 to 17:00) costs 6,000 to 10,000 INR for a 2-bedroom boat including lunch, tea, and snacks. Overnight cruises (noon to 09:00 next day) run 12,000 to 20,000 INR including all meals. Boats depart from the Alleppey finish point near the KSRTC bus stand. The route passes through Vembanad Lake and narrow canals lined with villages and paddy fields. Book through the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) or a licensed operator like Lakes and Lagoons or Rainbow Cruises. Avoid the cheapest boats (under 5,000 INR day rate): they often lack working air conditioning and reliable engines. The one-hour drive from Kochi to Alleppey costs 1,500 to 2,000 INR by taxi.
Cherai Beach
Cherai Beach, on Vypeen Island 25 km north of Fort Kochi, is the best swimming beach near Kochi. The 10-km sandy stretch has gentle surf (the beach faces the Arabian Sea but is protected by a natural sandbar). Swimming is safest from November to March. The beach has clean public restrooms (5 INR), changing rooms, and a row of seafood shacks. A fresh grilled pomfret with rice costs about 400 INR. An auto-rickshaw from Fort Kochi costs 400 to 500 INR (40 minutes). Government buses (route 201) run from the Vypeen ferry terminal to Cherai for 15 INR. Dolphins are sometimes spotted 1 to 2 km offshore; local fishermen offer 30-minute spotting trips for 500 INR per person.
Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary
Located 50 km east of Kochi near Kothamangalam, this 25-square-km sanctuary was described by ornithologist Salim Ali as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India. It hosts over 300 species including the Sri Lankan frogmouth, Malabar grey hornbill, and Wayanad laughingthrush. Entry costs 50 INR for Indians, 200 INR for foreigners. Guides at the entrance charge 300 INR for a 2-hour walk and are worth hiring: they know where specific species roost. Best months are November to February when migratory birds are present. Open daily 06:00 to 17:00. A taxi from Kochi costs 2,000 to 2,500 INR round-trip. Combine with a visit to the Bhoothathankettu Dam (8 km further) for a full-day nature outing.
Kumbalangi Integrated Tourism Village
India’s first model fishing and tourism village, 15 km south of Fort Kochi, offers a look at rural Keralan life without the artifice of a staged cultural show. You can walk through working crab farms, watch coir (coconut fibre) rope making, try Chinese fishing net operation, and eat a home-cooked Kerala meal with a local family. Day packages cost 1,200 to 1,800 INR per person including lunch. The village is spread across a cluster of islands connected by narrow bridges. An auto-rickshaw from Fort Kochi costs about 300 INR. Allow 4 to 5 hours for a relaxed visit.
