How many days in Kochi? 3 days, Fort Kochi on foot and a day on the backwaters
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Kochi (Cochin) is a port city on a string of islands and peninsulas on the coast of Kerala, and for centuries one of the great harbours of the spice trade. Arab, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and British traders all left traces, and the old quarters of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry still have churches, a 16th-century synagogue, Dutch houses and warehouses that smell of pepper and ginger. Modern Ernakulam, across the harbour, is the business side. Give it three days: two on foot in the old quarters, with an evening of Kathakali, and one on the backwaters.
Short answer
Two days covers Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Jew Town and a Kathakali show. The third day takes you to the backwaters, by village canoe nearby or on a houseboat day trip towards Alappuzha.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Fort Kochi: nets, churches and the waterfront
Morning. Start at the Chinese fishing nets on the beach at the tip of Fort Kochi around 7:00, when fishermen lower and raise the huge cantilevered nets; for a small tip they may let you help. Walk 5 minutes to St Francis Church, among the oldest European churches in India, where Vasco da Gama was first buried before his remains were taken to Portugal.
Afternoon. Visit the Santa Cruz Basilica, with its painted ceiling, and the small Indo-Portuguese Museum. Walk along Princess Street and the lanes of colonial houses, many now cafés and galleries; the walled Dutch Cemetery is near the beach.
Evening. Watch the sunset by the nets, then buy fish from the stalls nearby and have it cooked at a small restaurant behind them (the fish is weighed and charged by the kilo, plus a cooking fee; agree the price first). A seafood dinner costs roughly ₹600-1,200 per person.
Fort Kochi is best seen on foot or by bicycle; rental bikes cost about ₹150-300 a day. Start early: by noon the humidity is heavy all year.
Day 2: Mattancherry, Jew Town and Kathakali
Morning. Take an auto-rickshaw (about ₹100-150) or walk 30-40 minutes to Mattancherry Palace, also called the Dutch Palace, built by the Portuguese for the Raja of Kochi and later renovated by the Dutch. Its Hindu mural paintings are the main reason to visit (closed on Fridays; check current hours and fees).
Afternoon. Walk 2 minutes to Jew Town, a street of antique shops and spice warehouses leading to the Paradesi Synagogue, built in 1568, with blue-and-white Chinese floor tiles. It closes on Fridays and Saturdays and on Jewish holidays; dress modestly. Then visit the old spice market warehouses, where ginger, pepper and turmeric are sorted and dried.
Evening. Go to a Kathakali performance at a cultural centre in Fort Kochi. Arrive about an hour early to watch the actors apply their elaborate make-up; the show itself, with an explanation for visitors, lasts about 1-1.5 hours and costs roughly ₹400-600. Some centres also stage Kalaripayattu, Kerala's martial art.
If you are in Kochi from December to April in a Biennale year, look for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, a major contemporary art festival in old warehouses in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry.
Day 3: The backwaters
Morning. Leave by 8:00 for the backwaters. A popular option is a day houseboat or shared boat from Alappuzha (Alleppey), about 1h30-2 hours by car or train south of Kochi; day cruises with lunch cost roughly ₹1,500-3,000 per person shared or ₹7,000-12,000 for a private boat. A closer option is Kumbalangi or similar villages near Kochi, where small canoes glide through narrow canals.
Afternoon. Lunch on board or in a village: rice, fish curry, vegetables and karimeen (pearl spot fish) fried with spices. Watch toddy tappers climb the palms, ducks herded along the canals and small ferries carrying schoolchildren and shoppers.
Evening. Return to Kochi and take the ferry from Fort Kochi to Ernakulam, about 20 minutes for a few rupees, or the newer Kochi Water Metro. Walk Marine Drive in Ernakulam for the evening crowds and dinner in a local restaurant.
Overnight houseboats are popular, but a day trip is enough for most people. Choose a boat that turns off its engine on quiet canals, and avoid the busiest routes on weekends.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 in the morning and Mattancherry and Jew Town in the afternoon, then the backwaters on Day 2. Watch Kathakali on the first evening.
Got extra days?
Extra days fit well in Munnar, the tea hills about 4-5 hours by road, in Thekkady for the Periyar reserve and spice gardens, or at the beaches of Marari (about 1h30) and Varkala (about 4 hours).
Where to stay in Kochi
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Fort Kochi homestays | Family guesthouses in old houses, walk to the nets and churches. | ₹1,500-3,000 |
| Mid-range | Fort Kochi | Boutique hotels in colonial and Dutch-era buildings, the best area to walk at night. | ₹4,000-8,000 |
| Mid-range | Ernakulam | Business hotels near the metro, train stations and Marine Drive; better for onward travel. | ₹3,500-7,000 |
| Comfort | Heritage hotels in Fort Kochi and Willingdon Island | Restored mansions and harbour-view resorts with pools. | ₹10,000-25,000 |
Getting around
Fort Kochi and Mattancherry are walkable or 10 minutes apart by auto-rickshaw (₹100-150; agree the fare or use an app). Government ferries and the Kochi Water Metro link Fort Kochi, Vypeen and Ernakulam across the harbour in about 15-25 minutes for very little. The Kochi Metro runs through Ernakulam. Cochin International Airport is about 40-45 km from Fort Kochi; a taxi takes 1-1.5 hours and costs roughly ₹1,200-1,800. Trains to Alappuzha from Ernakulam take about 1-1.5 hours.
What to eat in Kochi
Kerala food is built on coconut, rice, fish and spices. Order appam (lace-edged rice pancakes) with vegetable or chicken stew for breakfast, meen curry (fish curry, red with tamarind or yellow with coconut), karimeen pollichathu (pearl spot grilled in banana leaf), prawn moilee and Kerala parotta with beef fry. A traditional sadya, a vegetarian feast of 15-20 dishes served on a banana leaf, is eaten at festivals and lunchtimes in some restaurants. A meal in a local restaurant costs ₹200-400, in a Fort Kochi café ₹600-1,200.
Best time to visit
November to February, with highs around 30-32°C and lower humidity. March to May are hot and humid, around 33-35°C. The southwest monsoon from about June to September brings heavy rain; it is green, cheaper and popular for Ayurveda, but boat trips can be cancelled. Christmas and New Year are busy in Fort Kochi, with the Cochin Carnival around the end of December.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | ₹1,200 | ₹3,000 | ₹8,000 |
| Food & drink | ₹700 | ₹1,500 | ₹3,500 |
| Sights & tickets | ₹400 | ₹1,200 | ₹3,500 |
| Local transport | ₹200 | ₹600 | ₹2,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about ₹2,500 | about ₹6,300 | about ₹17,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Indian rupees; the sights row includes a shared backwater trip spread over the stay. Hotels add GST to the room price, at a lower rate for cheaper rooms and a higher one for expensive rooms; check whether quotes include it.
Before you go
Common questions
Should I stay in Fort Kochi or Ernakulam?
Stay in Fort Kochi for the atmosphere: old houses, the waterfront, cafés and the sights within walking distance. Ernakulam is better for business, shopping and quick connections to trains, buses and the airport. The two are linked by ferry and Water Metro in about 20 minutes, so you can stay in Fort Kochi and still use Ernakulam's stations for onward travel.
Is an overnight houseboat worth it?
It can be relaxing, but the boats spend much of the evening moored and many follow the same busy routes. A day cruise or a half-day canoe trip through narrow canals often gives a better feel for village life. If you choose an overnight boat, book through a licensed operator, check that the boat has air conditioning at night and agree what meals are included.
What should I wear in Kochi?
Light cotton or linen clothes that cover shoulders and knees, especially for churches, the synagogue and temples. Kerala is fairly conservative outside the tourist cafés. Carry an umbrella in the monsoon and good sandals; streets flood quickly in heavy rain. Many temples in Kerala do not admit non-Hindus beyond the outer areas; follow the signs.
How do I get from the airport to Fort Kochi?
A prepaid taxi from the airport counter is the simplest, about 1-1.5 hours depending on traffic, for roughly ₹1,200-1,800. Airport buses go to Ernakulam and some to Fort Kochi, and are much cheaper but slower. App taxis also work. Avoid arriving in the evening rush hour if you can; traffic through Ernakulam can be slow.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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