Chennai, the former Madras, is the “Gateway to South India” and a cradle of Dravidian culture where ancient temples sit beside colonial-era boulevards. On its breezy Coromandel Coast, Marina Beach stretches for miles, holding the rhythm of the city’s mornings and evenings.

Founded around Fort St. George in the 17th century, Chennai grew into a center of Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam dance, and Tamil literature. Its neighborhoods—Mylapore, George Town, Besant Nagar—each tell a different chapter, from sacred processions to spice-laden markets.

Expect idlis cloud-soft, dosas paper-thin, and filter coffee strong and caramel-dark. Dress modestly for temples, remove footwear before entering sanctums, and brace for heat from March–June and northeast monsoon showers Oct–Dec. This itinerary balances icons with local life, and day trips that illuminate the Pallava and Chola story.

Chennai

Chennai rewards curiosity: pray alongside devotees at Kapaleeshwarar Temple, trace colonial intrigue at Fort St. George, and chase the sea breeze down the East Coast Road to Mahabalipuram. Between sights, pause for a steel tumbler of filter coffee and the kind of sambar that inspires poetry.

• Top sights: Kapaleeshwarar Temple, San Thome Basilica, Fort St. George, Government Museum (Egmore), Marina Beach, Elliot’s Beach (Besant Nagar).
• Don’t miss: a cemetery-silent dawn at Pallikaranai Marsh for birdlife, a chaat crawl through Sowcarpet, and silk-weaving demonstrations tied to centuries-old temple patronage.
• Food to try: ghee podi idli, kal dosai, Chettinad pepper chicken, nethili (anchovy) fry, jigarthanda, and palm-jaggery sweets.

Getting there: Fly into Chennai International Airport (MAA). Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com (2–3 hours from Mumbai/Bengaluru; 2.5–3.5 hours from Delhi; $40–$140 one-way). For regional rail into Chennai Central/Egmore, search Trip.com trains (typical fast intercity fares $5–$20).

Where to stay (book with our partners):

• Seafront splurge: The Leela Palace Chennai – palatial rooms, bay-view pool, refined South Indian dining.
• Beach resort vibe (great for Mahabalipuram day): Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort & Spa at Covelong.
• City-center comfort: Taj Club House (Nungambakkam/Anna Salai).
• Good-value base: Treebo Trend Nestlay Casa.
• More options: Hotels.com – Chennai or private stays via VRBO – Chennai.

Day 1: Arrival, Mylapore’s Sacred Mile, and Marina Beach Sunset

Afternoon: Land in Chennai, check in, freshen up. Begin at Mylapore’s 7th-century Kapaleeshwarar Temple: watch kolam rice-flour drawings, brass lamps, and the temple tank shimmer. Continue to the 16th-century San Thome Basilica, built over the apostle St. Thomas’ tomb—Gothic spires, rose light, and a small but evocative museum.

Evening: Head to Marina Beach as the sky turns coral. Snack on molaga bajji (chili fritters) from licensed carts; fly a kite, or simply people-watch as cricketers and chai-sellers sketch the city’s daily ballet.

Dinner: Choose Chettinad heat at Kumar Mess (try pepper chicken and egg kalakki), or a refined thali at Dakshin (Crowne Plaza) showcasing Tamil, Kerala, and Andhra classics with live veena. For something atmospheric, dine in the garden at Amethyst – Wild Garden Cafe (colonial bungalow, pasta and grills, excellent coffee).

Day 2: Fort St. George, Egmore Museum, and Sowcarpet Street Food

Morning: Explore Fort St. George, the 1644 British stronghold that birthed Madras. Step into the Fort Museum for treaties, coins, and portraits; St. Mary’s Church here is among India’s oldest Anglican churches. Coffee break: The Brew Room (Savera Hotel) for cold brew and butter croissants.

Afternoon: Dive into the Government Museum, Egmore—its Bronze Gallery (Chola Nataraja, Somaskanda) is a crash course in South Indian iconography. Late lunch nearby at Ratna Cafe (since 1948): sambar-idli that arrives like a lava-lake of lentils; or crisp rava dosa at Sangeetha Veg.

Evening: Join a guided food walk in Chennai’s North Indian mercantile quarter.

Sowcarpet Street Food Walking Tour in Chennai with guide

Wind through George Town lanes for jalebi hot from the kadhai, pani puri, pav bhaji, and kulfi. Legendary stops often include Kakada Ramprasad for chaat and sweets. It’s a multi-sensory feast and a safe way to navigate the bustle after dark.

Day 3: Day Trip to Mahabalipuram’s UNESCO Rock Temples

Follow the palm-lined East Coast Road to the Pallava port-city of Mahabalipuram (60 km; 1.5–2 hours each way). Expect wave-lashed stonework and 7th–8th-century sculpture that shaped South Indian temple art. A private tour simplifies the logistics and storytelling.

Mahabalipuram Private tour from Chennai by car with guide and lunch by Wonder

Highlights: the wave-facing Shore Temple, the monolithic Pancha Rathas, and the vast bas-relief Descent of the Ganges/Arjuna’s Penance. Try seafood lunch near the beach (pepper-fry calamari, fish curry). If time allows, add the folk craft campus of DakshinaChitra en route for house-architecture exhibits and crafts demos. Estimated car/driver day hire: $45–$70; round-trip taxi: $30–$55.

Day 4: Besant Nagar, Adyar Greens, and Artsy ECR

Morning: Start at the Theosophical Society in Adyar—sprawling riverside groves and the famed (and storied) banyan; check visitor hours. Brunch at Chamiers Cafe (retro-chic, pancakes and eggs) or Murugan Idli Shop (Besant Nagar branch—podi idli, sweet pongal, jigarthanda).

Afternoon: Drive to DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum on the ECR. Wander transplanted Tamil, Kerala, and Chettinad homes, craft workshops, and folk performances. Coffee stop at their in-house cafe or return city-side for an affogato at Amethyst.

Evening: Sunset at Elliot’s Beach (Bessy). Dinner choices: The Marina (sustainably sourced seafood—nethili fry, meen moilee) or Buhari on Anna Salai, reputed birthplace of Chicken 65 circa 1965. Nightcap gelato at Amadora (Madras Filter Kaapi flavor is a wink to the city).

Day 5: Day Trip to Kanchipuram—Temples and Silk Weaving

Head inland to Kanchipuram (75–80 km; 2–2.5 hours). Once a Pallava capital and a major learning center, it is famed for shrines and handloom silk sarees with intricate zari borders.

Private Day Tour Explore Silk city Kanchipuram from Chennai

Marvel at Kailasanathar’s sandstone carvings and Ekambareswarar’s thousand-pillared halls. Visit a weaving unit to see the jacquard looms at work; buying from co-ops supports artisans. Typical car/driver day hire: $50–$75; train alternative possible (1.5–2.5 hours) via Trip.com trains, then local auto-rickshaws.

Day 6: Markets, Cooking at a Local Home, and Mylapore by Night

Morning: Early risers can visit the Royapuram fishing harbor as boats unload the morning catch—photography etiquette and closed shoes recommended. Breakfast at old-school Rayar’s Mess (tiny, beloved; get there early) for ghee-soaked pongal and vadai with coconut chutney.

Afternoon: Shop for spices, plantains, and fresh curry leaves on a guided market wander, then master Tamil vegetarian staples in a local kitchen.

Chennai Market Tour & Cooking Class in a Local Home with Meena

Expect rasam, poriyal, and a banana-leaf meal, plus the secrets of frothy filter coffee. It’s convivial, hands-on, and deeply local.

Evening: Circle back to Mylapore’s Kapali streets for temple lamps at dusk and a snack-hop: kuzhi paniyaram, piping-hot bajjis, and Karpagambal Mess for curd rice with mango pickle. If you enjoy live arts, look for Bharatanatyam or Carnatic recitals—venues often post weekly programs.

Day 7: Shopping, Galleries, and a Grand Farewell

Morning: Browse silk and gold at T. Nagar—from co-op weaves to designer boutiques. For gifts, hit Pondy Bazaar for brass lamps, kolam stencils, and copperware. Coffee at Madras Coffee House (degree filter kaapi) to keep you fueled.

Afternoon: Contemporary art at Cholamandal Artists’ Village (if you haven’t visited DakshinaChitra), or linger in bookstores around Nungambakkam. Lunch at Junior Kuppanna (Kongu-style meals and mutton biryani) or a vegetarian North-meets-South thali at Annalakshmi (run by volunteers; wholesome, homestyle flavors).

Evening: Farewell dinner: go coastal at The Marina or book a South Indian degustation at Dakshin. Stroll Anna Salai’s colonial facades lit up at night, or decompress with a final beach walk if time allows before your afternoon departure tomorrow.

Getting around and practical tips

• Metro and suburban rail are fast for core corridors; autos and app cabs work well for short hops. Typical intra-city rides: $2–$8. For day trips, a car with driver runs ~$50–$75/day.
• Temple etiquette: shoulders/knees covered; remove footwear; no flash in sanctums. Fridays and festival days draw big crowds.
• Weather: hydrate and carry sun protection. During monsoon (Oct–Dec), build buffer time for rain.

Optional swaps/extra ideas: If you crave more heritage, add a twilight walk through colonial lanes or Fort St. George with a specialized guide. If you love birding, consider Pallikaranai Marsh at dawn on a guided outing.

One-click planning:

• Flights: Trip.com flights | Kiwi.com
• Trains (regional): Trip.com trains
• Hotels: The Leela Palace Chennai | Taj Fisherman’s Cove | Taj Club House | Treebo Trend Nestlay Casa | Hotels.com – Chennai | VRBO – Chennai

In seven days, this Chennai itinerary layers temple bells and sea breeze with Pallava stonework and the perfume of roasted chicory coffee. You’ll leave with a suitcase of silk, a phone full of sunsets, and a deeper sense of Tamil culture’s warmth and continuity.