India
Kochi
Colonial-era port town of churches, spice markets and fishing nets. Stay 2–3 nights. Below: 4 sights, 1 activity and 2 places to eat, plus how Kochi fits into a longer trip.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Oct – Mar
- Warmest month
- March
- Coolest month
- August
- Wettest month
- June
4 See · 1 Do · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop
Kerala Backwaters & Tea Hills
from our route notes
33°C / 92°F avg high
28°C / 82°F avg high
about 494 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Kochi
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Kochi across Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and Jew Town. 2 of them are free.
Photo: Pradeepta Prady Das · GoogleSeeChinese Fishing Nets
Cantilevered shore nets on Fort Kochi beach, still worked by teams of fishermen.
Tip Come at sunset; fishermen may let you help haul for a small tip.
Photo: Sudershan Singh Gusain · GoogleSeeSt. Francis Church
India's oldest European-built church, where Vasco da Gama was first buried in 1524.
Photo: Ranjith Siji · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeMattancherry Palace
Portuguese-built palace with some of Kerala's finest Hindu temple murals.
Tip Closed Fridays.
Photo: jeem from Saint Louis, United States · CC BY 2.5SeeParadesi Synagogue
Built in 1568, with hand-painted Chinese floor tiles and Belgian chandeliers.
Tip Closed Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays; cover shoulders and knees.
Do
Hands-on ways to spend time in Kochi in Fort Kochi.
Photo: Josef Fuchs · GoogleDoKerala Kathakali Centre
Nightly Kathakali dance-drama performances with a chance to watch the elaborate makeup.
Tip Arrive early to see the makeup applied.
Eat
2 places to eat across Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: Meli · Google
Photo: Anoop Kumar · GoogleEatKayees Rahmathulla Cafe
Long-running Mattancherry canteen famed for Malabar-style biryani.
Tip Biryani sells out by mid-afternoon.
Drink
1 bar or café in Fort Kochi for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: nikhil davis · Google
Shop
1 shop in Jew Town for browsing and souvenirs.
Photo: Divyank Gupta · GoogleShopJew Town spice market
Lanes of spice warehouses, antique shops and textile stores in Mattancherry.
How to fit Kochi into a trip
Kochi is stop 1 of 3 on our Kerala Backwaters & Tea Hills route. Follow it as-is or lift Kochi into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 3
Kerala Backwaters & Tea Hills
Kochi, Munnar tea estates and houseboat canals
- Trip length
- 8 days
- Best season
- Oct – Mar
- Pace
- easy
- Next: Munnar
Getting here and onward
- Kochi to MunnarMunnar is about 91 km / 56 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Kochi month by month
Average daily highs run from 28°C / 82°F in August to 33°C / 92°F in March. June is the wettest month, with about 494 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan32° / 89°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb33° / 91°F average high, in our recommended season
- Mar33° / 92°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr32° / 89°F average high
- May30° / 86°F average high
- Jun29° / 83°F average high
- Jul28° / 82°F average high
- Aug28° / 82°F average high
- Sep28° / 82°F average high
- Oct29° / 83°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov29° / 85°F average high, in our recommended season
- Dec30° / 86°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Kochi weather and the best time to visit →
Near Kochi
2 other destinations from our guides within about 100 km (62 mi), measured in a straight line.
Kochi questions, answered
How many days do you need in Kochi?
Our route notes suggest 2–3 nights in Kochi. On our Kerala Backwaters & Tea Hills route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 8 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Kochi best known for?
Colonial-era port town of churches, spice markets and fishing nets. Stay 2–3 nights. Standouts on our list: Chinese Fishing Nets (Cantilevered shore nets on Fort Kochi beach, still worked by teams of fishermen); St. Francis Church (India's oldest European-built church, where Vasco da Gama was first buried in 1524); Mattancherry Palace (Portuguese-built palace with some of Kerala's finest Hindu temple murals).
When is the best time to visit Kochi?
Our Kerala Backwaters & Tea Hills route is best Oct – Mar. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in March (33°C / 92°F), the coolest in August (28°C / 82°F) and the most rain in June (about 494 mm).
What are the best things to do in Kochi?
Start with Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace, Paradesi Synagogue and Kerala Kathakali Centre. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.
Where should a group eat in Kochi?
Our picks: Fort House Restaurant (Fort Kochi); Kayees Rahmathulla Cafe (Mattancherry). Biryani sells out by mid-afternoon (Kayees Rahmathulla Cafe).
What is near Kochi?
The closest destinations in our guides are Alleppey & Kumarakom (about 53 km / 33 mi) and Munnar (about 91 km / 56 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Kochi with your crew
Open the Kerala Backwaters & Tea Hills route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.
Plan around Kochi
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- Kochi weather by month