The Perfect 2-Day Kochi Itinerary: History, Cafes and Culture

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As the historical gateway to Kerala, Fort Kochi offers a slower pace of life and stunning colonial architecture. The city is home to Portuguese churches, Dutch palaces, Chinese fishing nets and a historic Jewish quarters living alongside one another connected by a thriving modern art scene.

If you’re looking at heading to Kerala then you should absolutely make sure to check out Fort Kochi for two days. I’ll share an idea of how you can spend two days here with some extra guidance to make your trip memorable.

1 – Itinerary Breakdown

2 – Where to Stay

3 – Additional Things to Do and See

4 – Pricing

5 – Things to Know Before Your Trip

Day 1 - Colonial Architecture and Coastal Walks

Morning: European Influence

Start the morning with a stroll through the main area of Fort Kochi. Check out the oldest European church in India – St. Francis Church and the gorgeous Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica.

Afternoon: Cafe Culture

Fort Kochi is home to some of the most gorgeous art cafes so be sure to grab some food and a drink from one and enjoy some time relaxing.

Evening: Coastal Walks

Head to the beach area for a stroll along the walkway. You’ll find sellers of all kinds: souvenirs, snacks, sun glasses, ice creams and more. The beach area is also home to the traditional Chinese fishing nets which you can watch or give it a go yourself (for a small tip).

Day 2 - Culture and Jewish Heritage

Morning: Jew Town & Synagogue

Start the day by heading over to Mattancherry on the east side of Fort Kochi. Here you’ll find colourful streets, antique shops, cafes and souvenir shops. Make a stop at the gorgeous Paradesi Synagogue and museum as well as the late Sarah Cohen’s home (one of the last Malabari Jews of Fort Kochi) to learn more about the Jewish community that used to live here.

Afternoon: The Dutch Palace

After grabbing a bite to eat, head over to the nearby 16th-Century Mattancherry Palace for impressive murals depicting portraits and exhibits of the Rajas of Kerala. Take a wander along the calm nearby streets after to enjoy an insight into the local life of Fort Kochi.

Evening: Traditional Arts

End your time in Fort Kochi with a traditional Kathakali dance performance at the Kerala Kathakali Centre. Head over early to witness the artists apply their unique, vibrant makeup. If you’re interested in martial arts then book the Kalaripayattu show that follows right after the Kathakali performance for some pretty impressive moves.

Where to Stay

There’s two main options for where to stay when visiting Kochi: Fort Kochi or Ernakulam. My recommendation is to stay in Fort Kochi itself as it makes most things easily accessible. However, it can be a little more pricey for food and accommodation so if you’re looking for something more budget friendly then staying a short water metro ride away on the mainland in Ernakulam is a great choice and also gives direct inward and outward travel access.

We chose to stay in Fort Kochi itself as we found a homestay in a great location for a good price. If you’re looking for something simple and well-priced I’d recommend checking out ‘Tess Holistay Fort Kochi’. We paid around 1,700 INR (£13.20 / $17.60) per night for a double room with en-suite, A/C and WiFi which in my opinion is excellent value, especially if you’re travelling as a two.

Pricing

Fort Kochi is a popular spot for domestic tourists which often means higher prices but you can absolutely keep things budget friendly. During my time in Kochi I spent on average £16 / $21.40 per day which is really good value for the amount of things I did and ate! Here’s a little guide to how much things might cost on your trip to Kochi:

Tuk-tuk: Fort Kochi to Mattancherry

Water Metro: Fort Kochi to Ernakulam

Beach Ice Cream

Street Vendor Drink

Art Cafe Coffee

Beach Momos

Paradesi Synagogue

Dutch Palace

Kathakali

Kalaripayattu

100 INR (£0.78 / $1.04)

50 INR (£0.39 / $0.52)

280 INR (£2.18 / $2.92)

100 INR (£0.78 / $1.04)

5 INR (£0.04 / $0.05)

600 INR (£4.66 / $6.26)

400 INR (£3.11 / $4.18)

Additional Things to Do and See

I’ve shared the most popular, must see and do things but there’s always plenty more to do in Kochi. In Fort Kochi itself, you can head to Dhobi Khana – a huge open-air laundry service for an insight into how locals get their laundry done.

If you have spare time or an extra day then heading over to Ernakulam is a great option. It’s the more modern, working part of Kochi. To get from Fort Kochi to Ernakulam I’d recommend taking the world’s only water metro as it’s great value and a great experience.

Once you get to the other side, there are lots of drink vendors who will give you an experience. Grab a drink from here and enjoy the little show they give. I’d recommend getting the boost shake but definitely not the mango chilli drink like Jack who instantly regretted it. If you like the popular South Indian dosa like I do then make sure to check out Pat Dosa who offers 36 variations of dosa, 36!! On this side of the water you can also enjoy typical cities amenities like malls and such.

Things to Know Before You Go

The Fishing Net Tip: Local fishermen may ask for money at the Chinese fishing nets, do not pay them for photo taking, only pay them if you’re having a go at fishing yourself (100 INR – 500 INR is sufficient).

Dhobi Khana Etiquette: When visiting the historic open-air laundry, avoid handing any money directly to workers. Use the designated, official donation box at the entrance – these funds are used to support the community fairly.

Avoid Fridays & Saturdays: The Paradesi Synagogue is closed to visitors on Fridays and Saturdays while the Mattancherry Palace is closed on Fridays.

Dress Appropriately: The Paradesi Synagogue is an active place of worship so a modest dress code is enforced. Cover your shoulders and knees before visiting.