Are you in Kochi or planning to visit it soon? Looking for the best places to visit in a day or the list of places in Kochi for a one-day trip? This article is for you.

If this is your first visit, here is the brief about Kochi:

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Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, is a vibrant cosmopolitan and prime tourist destination in India. Kochi is Situated on the coast of Kerala, this bustling port-side city is the financial capital of the state. Also famously known as the Queen of Arabian Sea, the city boasts of picturesque backwaters made up of lagoons and lakes, including Lake Vembanad, the longest lake in India. In a history steeped in tradition with a perfect mix if Portuguese, Dutch, British and Indian culture; Kochi houses a number of beautiful churches, forts, museums and many other tourist places to visit in Kochi.

Top Places to Visit in Kochi with Family:

Actually, Kochi is famous for various historical places and if you really like to experience the culture, Kochi can be the best place for you. Moreover, most of the tour towards Munnar starts from Kochi (if you are looking for more options to explore). Here you will find all different type of places to visit but you can choose the itinerary depending upon your choice. Here we go!

1. Wonderla Amusement Park

Enjoy the day at Wonderla Amusement Park with the hardest and the most thrilling rides. The park is one of the best places to see in Kochi. It amuses you with different rides by offering a ride for every fun enthusiast. You can opt for high-thrill, land, water, and kids’ rides. 

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The park welcomes its visitors every day from 11 am to 7 pm. The entry tickets start from Rs. 800 per child and Rs. 1016 per adult. There are different packages, and they are worth the deal.

2. Lulu Shopping Mall – Things to buy in Kochi

This mall of happiness brings all the shopping needs under one roof. It has become the greatest tourist attraction in Cochin. You can shop for fashion, beauty and wellness, books, accessories, footwear, health and wellness, bags, eyewear, jewelry, kids’ wear, men’s fashion, lingerie and innerwear, banking, entertainment, and food court. Tourists buy anything that they want and also buy gifts as a souvenirs.

You can visit all the days from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. For Hypermarket & Cinema, it is from Monday to Sunday, 09.00 am to 11.00 pm, and for the Food court timings- from Monday to Sunday, 10.00 am to 10.00 pm.

3. Cherai Beach

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The name of the Cherai beach prompts when the itinerary of Kochi tourist places drops in. Cherai beach is a beach with ocean waves napping over the shiny sand. The coastline stretches as long as 15 km. The beach is famous for family picnics, outings, sports activities, photography sessions, sunbathing, bird-watching, and more. It offers a breathtaking view to see dolphins in their paradise. Enjoy water activities such as snorkeling, water scooters, speed boats, and canoeing. There are no specific beach timings. The sunset of Cherai beach is worth the wait.

4. Veeranpuzha Beach

Veeranpuzha Beach is the most searched Kochi tourist place on the web. It is known for its blue water and golden sand with a beautiful line of lush green vegetation on the beachside. It is a fisherman’s den. Tourists can enjoy a glimpse of rural life and fishermen’s life. It is a sheer delight to watch the sunset, and the greenery around is a bonus. There is no fixed time to visit Veeranpuzha Beach.

5. Fort Kochi Beach

You are here to witness the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea. The beach is serene and offers a picturesque scene. The beach has a historic fort. The beach hosts the Annual Kochi festival, making tourists allure to the spot. It is one of the best places to visit in Kochi for couples. The carnival is mainly during the New Year. The beach offers many food restaurants and beachside joints. It is a place to rejuvenate and be a part of a peaceful world. 

You can visit the beach on all days between 9:30 to 7 pm for the fort. The entry fee for adults is Rs. 100 and for kids Rs. 50.

6. Kuzhupilly Beach

Kuzhupilly Beach is the place to be if you want to enjoy swimming. The sandy beach hosts the Kite festival occasionally. Going further, you will enjoy the paddy fields and the backwaters. The beach offers a safe and relaxing environment.

7. Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary

Suppose you get a list of Places to visit in Cochin in 1 day; opt for Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary; it has many migratory birds. The sanctuary is located near the Mangrove forests. The shelter is said to hold 194 birds with over 32 species, per the 2006 survey. It attracts spiders and bats. Children will remain in complete awe to see different kinds of butterflies. 

You can visit the sanctuary any day between 9 am to 6 pm. They charge a nominal fee for the visit.

8. St. Francis Church

St. Francis Church of Kochi is known as one of the oldest European churches in India which was built in 1503 by Portuguese traders. It is a famous landmark and holds regular worship services on Sundays. It also has a large cemetery as well a war memorial in honour of the soldiers of World War-I. The church is especially famous as the burial place of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. Although his remains were later moved to Lisbon, his tombstone is still present within the church.

Located at Fort Kochi, this can be best place to visit during your visit to Fort Kochi area where you can easily spend one full day exploring other places we have listed below.

9. Indo-Portuguese Museum

Indo-Portuguese museum is another place located in Fort Kochi area, within the compound of the Bishop’s House. It was built with the main aim to exhibit the rise and fall of the Portuguese civilization in Kochi. Through its extensive and beautiful collections, divided into 5 categories:

• Altar,
• Treasure,
• Procession,
• Civil Life and
• Cathedral,

The Indo-Portuguese museum showcases the artistic and architectural influence of the Portuguese on the overall culture of Kochi.

10. Mattancherry Palace

This is 3rd place in our list of places to visit in Fort Kochi and a great example of ancient Portuguese architecture. Mattancherry palace was built by them in 1545 and presented to the king of Kochi, Veera Kerala Varma. On its courtyards stand temples of Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva as well as a shrine to the guardian deity of the royal family.

The palace is also called as the ‘Dutch Palace’ owing to the major renovations in structure carried out by the Dutch in later periods. Presently, the palace houses a museum displaying murals, life sized portraits of Kochi kings and various other impressive artifacts.

11. Marine Drive

This is a scenic front built along the backwaters of Kochi, and in contrast to its name, is off limits to all vehicles. The entire stretch is made up of a long walkway and the Rainbow Bridge and the Chinese Fishing Net Bridge. It is lined with a number of shopping centers and food joints, making it a very popular retreat to catch the sunset with friends.

Located at a walking distance from Mattancherry palace in Fort Kochi area, you can have a great experience of sunset if you visit during evening time. Sadly, I could not see the Chinese fishing net bridge during my visit as it was damaged at that time.

Read more: 12 Stunning Beaches in Kerala You Probably Didn’t Know About

12. Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica

Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica of Kochi is one of those eight basilicas in Kerala which was built in 1505 by Francesco de Almeida, the first Portuguese viceroy. The grandiose of the basilica lies in its majestic structure which is a combination of European and Gothic style of architecture.

Explore this place during your visit to Fort kochi without fail and you will amaze to see the architecture.

13. Kathakali Centre

Kathakali center of Kochi is a theater for performing arts established in 1994. The centre provides training in the art form of Kathakali, a classical Indian dance-drama. It also organizes regular performance of Kathakali, classical dance, martial arts and traditional music.

Located at Fort Nagar in Fort Kochi Area, Kathakali centre can give you glimpse of a famous dance form of Kerala. Make sure you inquire about show timing before you visit this centre.

14. Jewish Synagogue

Popularly known as the Paradesi Synagogue, this has been declared as the oldest Synagogue amongst all the Commonwealth Nations. It is a cultural heritage site and the only active and functioning Synagogue in all of Kochi.

Read more: Don’t Miss These Historical Places of Kerala During Your Kerala Visit

15. Willingdon Island

Named after Lord Willingdon, an erstwhile Viceroy of India, Willingdon Island is the largest manmade island in India. It houses the Port of Kochi as well as the Indian Navy’s Kochi naval base. The island is the centre of activity with its huge array of offices, organizations, hotels and shops. It is connected to the mainland by road as well as railway.

16. Bhoothathankettu:

Located 50kms away from the main city of Kochi, Bhoothathankettu is a dam site and a very popular picnic place. It is situated inside a forest and has boating facilities and a children’s park. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary also lies in close vicinity of the dam.

17. Kalady

It is a small village situated near Kochi. It is famous for being the birthplace of renowned Indian Philosopher, Sri Adi Sankaracharya. There are temples dedicated to Sankaracharya, Lord Krishna and Goddess Sharda, making it a popular pilgrim centre.

18. Chottanikkara Temple

Located about 15kms outside Kochi city, the Chottanikkara Temple is a famous and ancient tourist place of worship. It has two main temples, the Chottanikkara temple housing Goddess Bhagwathy; and the Keezhkavu temple housing Goddess Bhadrakali, along with a number of smaller temples. The temples attract a vast number of devotees and are a well-loved tourist destination.

The city of Kochi is blessed with a rare combination of modern infrastructure as well as a rich colonial heritage. The city has deep roots in history which is evident in all of its grand old buildings. From its churches to its temples, from its forests to its backwaters, Kochi seems to have something for everyone, making it a true vacation paradise. Do you want to visit these places in Kochi, Kerala? Contact us here to book your Kerala tour package at best prices.

FAQs

1. What are the fun things to do in Kochi at night?

Ans: You can do several fun things in Kochi at night, such as-

• Clubbing at Club 18, Mattancherry Bar, Sky Grill Lounge, Ava Lounge, Swirl, Taj Gateway, Longitude 76, and several others.
• View the moonlight at Marine drive.
• Watch the traditional Kathakali dance show at Kerala Kathakali center.
• Enjoy your favorite meal at restaurants.

2. Which are the nearby places to visit Kochi?

Ans: Some of the nearby places to visit Kochi are as follows-

• Vembanad Lake in Kumarakom
• Alleppey backwaters
• Athirapally Waterfall
• Thrissur, a home for temples
• Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
• Vazhachal Falls
• Idamalayar Dam
• Guruvayur
• Kottayam
• Thommankutthu Falls
• Bhoothathankettu Dam
• Keezharkuthu Falls
• Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
• Kanjirappally

3. What is the best time to visit Kochi?

Ans: The best time to visit Kochi is between October to February.

Image Courtesy: Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary,  St_Francis_Church, Indo-Portuguese Museum, Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Marine_Drive, Jewish_Synagogue, Chottanikkara_Temple, Bhoothathankettu