15 Best Places to visit in Kochi (Cochin) – Queen of Arabian Sea

Kochi is the capital city of Kerala and is also known as Cochin. It is situated near the Sea & has many beaches, and adventure parks to visit. Kochi is basically famous for its Water Activities that’s why Kochi is also known as the Queen o the Arabian Sea. The place has many beautiful beaches where you can go for the sunset view, fishing, and relax on the seashore with your close ones. In this blog article, I am sharing a list of some of the Best Places To Visit in Kochi.

Best Visiting Places at Queen of Arabian Sea – Kochi

• Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
• Cherai Beach
• Indo-Portuguese Museum
• Kashi Art cafe
• Veeranpuzha Museum
• Hill Palace
• Shiva Temple
• Elephant Training Centre
• Kadalkkara Lake Resort
• Athirapally Falls
• Marine Drive
• Willingdon Island
• Fort Kochi Beach
• Kathakali Centre
• Mattancherry Palace

1. Bird-Watching at Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary

Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary is spread in over a large area and the sanctuary is home to 32 different species of birds. Within the sanctuary, there is a lake that is surrounded by many species of plants and trees. At this bird the sanctuary you can do free camping which is conducted by the wildlife department. You can do photography here and there are no extra charges for it.

Note: Do not forget to carry your snacks and water bottles.

Visiting Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Entry Fee: Free

Trip Duration: Around 1-2 hours

Must Read: Make Trip Beautiful with these Activities in Kochi

2. Admire the beauty of Cherai Beach

Cherai Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Kochi and is visited by many people from all over the world. The beach is around 15 km long and you will see a lot of people here indulging in various water activities such as underwater swimming, boating, or jet-ski ride. Not just activities but the Cherai beach is also famous for its scenic beauty and you will see locals here enjoying the sunset and flying kites. Near Cherai beach, you can easily find accommodation as there are many resorts and hotels.

Visiting hours: All-day

Entry fee: Free

Trip Duration: Around 1-2 Hours

3. A visit to Indo-Portuguese Museum

The Indo-Portuguese Museum was built by former bishop Dr. Joseph Kureethra and the place shows the culture and architecture of both India and Portuguese. The museum is divided into 5 sections namely Civil life, cathedral, treasure, and Furniture. Inside Museum you can see the artifacts, sculptures, and metal objects which show the heritage culture. The museum is open every day except Wednesday and exploring takes around 1 hour.

Visiting hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Trip Duration: Around 1-2 hours

Entry Fee: INR10 for Indians, INR25 for foreigners

Suggested Read: Tourist Places at Munnar the Stunning Landscapes of Kerala

4. Kashi Art Cafe

The Kashi Art Cafe is one of the best places to eat in Kochi as this place is modern and classic. Within the Cafe, there is an art gallery that showcases the art of local artists. The place is best for a quick snack or lunch they have many western items on the menu. Many coffee lovers have reviewed that Kashi Cafe serves strong coffee and you will love the ambiance of the cafe.

Visit timings: 8:00AM – 10:00PM

Location: Fort Cochin

Ideal Duration: Around 1 hour

5. The beauty of the Sea from Veeranpuzha Beach

Veeranpuzha Beach is one of the beautiful beaches in Kochi and the sunset from this place looks refreshing. The Golden sand beach with blue water looks more beautiful during sunset. On visiting here, you will get the vibe of rural and you will see numbers of fishermen at work. People mostly visit this beach to spend some time in peace and some people come here for the beautiful sunset.

Visiting Timings: Accessible 24*7

Entry fee: Free

Ideal Duration: Around 1-2 hours

6. Heritage Museum – Hill Palace

Hill palace was constructed by the maharaja of Kochi in 1865 and the palace has around 49 buildings on the premises. The palace has now been used as a heritage museum and you can also witness the beautiful gardens. Inside the Museum you can see a modern art gallery, memorials, ornaments, replicas of the wood temple and many items that show the history.

Visiting hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Mondays are weekly off

Entry Fee: INR 30 per person

Trip Duration: Around 1-2 Hours

Suggested Read: Famous Tourist Places in Idukki for An Eco-Tour

7. Royal temple of Kochi – Shiva Temple

Shiva temple in Kochi is popularly known as Ernakulathappan Temple and the temple is often visited by visitors and locals. Maharaja of Kochi had seven royal temples and Shiv temple is one of them. The temple is made with Vaastu- Shastra and the statue of Lord Shiva are in the west or towards the sea.

Entry Fee: Free

Visiting hours: 3:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Trip Duration: Around 2-3 Hours

8. Elephant Training Centre

The elephant training center is in Kodanad, it is a small village where adult elephants are trained and washed. After the ban on capturing elephants, this village serves as the largest training center of elephants in the state. The place is a paradise for animal lovers because you will see here around 40 elephants and you can also play with baby elephants and wash them.

Visiting hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Trip Duration: Around 1-2 hours

Entry Fee: INR25 and extra cost for cameras

9. Stay at Kadalkkara Lake Resort

Kadalkkara lake resort is a budget hotel and is near Cherai Beach. On the side of the hotel, there is a small water body which makes the place more beautiful at night. Visitors have reviewed that the hotel becomes more beautiful during monsoon season as you will be hearing the music of nature. You must carry cash while booking as there is no else type of payment accepted in this hotel and the hotel also has a 7-day free cancellation policy.

Visiting hours: 12:00AM – 12:00PM

Mode of payment: Cash only

Location: Near Cherai Beach

Suggested Read: Famous Tourist Places at Thekkady for Incredible Experience

10. Largest Waterfall of Kerala – Athirapally Falls

The Athirapally is the largest waterfall in Kerala and it is also considered as the “Niagara Falls of India”. Around the waterfall, there is plenty of sightseeing and you can also enjoy various activities here. You must trek to the mountain to get the magnificent view of the waterfall. Near the waterfall, there is a number of water parks and resorts. Be careful while trekking as the terrain is slippery so you must wear trekking shoes for safety and comfort.

Visiting hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Trip Duration: Around 4-5 hours

Entry Fee: INR15

11. Spend some time at Marine Drive

Marine Drive is a 3 km long walkway and the place offers many sightseeing, shopping malls, and eateries. The place is always crowded as the view of the sea from here is spectacular and there are many activities to do in marine drives like boating, shopping, and a walk at the rainbow bridge. The boating service is provided by many government and private operators. If you are willing to come here then the best time to visit the place is during sunset.

Visiting hours: Open 24*7

Entry fee: Free

Location: Marine drive walkway, Marine Drive, Ernakulam, Kerala

12. Willingdon Island

Willingdon Island is one of the most visited places in Kochi, it is one of the largest man-made islands and on the island, you can see many luxury hotels and is the headquarter of the Naval command. You can visit the place to explore the museums that tell the history of this place, and for enjoyment, you can take a ferry ride from the island to Kochi beach.

Visiting hours: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Ferry Ride: INR 100 onwards

Ideal trip duration: Around 2-3 hours

Suggested Read: Charming Tourist places at Venice of East – Alleppey

13. Fort Kochi Beach

This beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Kochi and is famous among people who like to walk around the beach and listen to the voice of nature. For some people, the bird’s chirping wind voice is a sweet melody and for those, this place is a must to visit in Kochi. The place is also famous among couples who visit the place for an evening walk under the stars.

Visiting hours: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Charges: Free

Ideal trip duration: Around 1 hour

14. Kathakali center

It is popular all around the world & Kathakali is a classical form of dance and is practiced by the people of Kerala. In Kochi, there are a lot of Kathakali centers, where you can see dance performances performed by professionals and if you are planning to stay for long in Kochi then you can join the classes to learn the Kathakali dance. Other famous dance forms that you can learn here are Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam, classical instruments, and classical music too.

Visiting hours: 9:00AM – 8:00PM

Ideal trip duration: Around 1-2 hours

15. Mattancherry Palace

The palace architecture was inspired by Europeans and on the premises of the building, there are three temples dedicated to a Protective Goddess of the royal families of Kochi. Mattancherry Palace is popularly known as Dutch Palace and was built by the Portuguese in 1557. Inside the palace, you can see many paintings of gods and goddesses and murals that illustrate the Ramayana and there is a small museum section in the palace that showcases the weapons, map of old Kochi, royal items, and many everyday use items.

Visiting hours: 10:00AM – 8:00PM

Ideal trip duration: Around1-2 hours

Charges: Free for children, INR 20 for adults

Suggested Read: Tourist places at Gemstone of Kerala – Kumarakom

Frequently Asked Questions?