Kerala, India’s lush southwestern state, has lured explorers for centuries with cardamom-scented hills, monsoon-green canals, and a coast shaped by traders from China, Arabia, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain. Today its heart beats calmly in Kochi (Cochin), where fishing nets silhouette the sunset and synagogues, churches, and palaces share the same sea breeze.

In three days, you’ll taste Kerala cuisine—from appam with stew to peppery karimeen—stroll past centuries of history in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, and spend a day drifting through the famed Kerala backwaters. Expect a relaxed rhythm: long lunches, golden-hour walks, and evenings by the water.

Practical notes: The best time to visit is October–March. Dress modestly for temples and churches. Cashless payments via UPI are widespread, but carry some cash for small vendors. Plan airport transfers with extra time—traffic between COK and Fort Kochi can be slow, especially at rush hour.

Kochi (Cochin)

Base yourself in Fort Kochi or Willingdon Island for easy access to heritage sights and harbor views. The neighborhood’s lanes are lined with pastel bungalows, art cafes, spice warehouses, and galleries, perfect for unhurried walks.

• Top sights: Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church (oldest European church in India), Santa Cruz Basilica, Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace), Paradesi Synagogue, and the waterfront promenade.
• Local culture: Book a Kathakali performance or Kalaripayattu (martial arts) show in the evening; arrive 60–90 minutes early to watch the intricate makeup ritual.
• Food highlights: Syrian Christian seafood specialties, crisp Kerala parotta with beef fry, biryani at century-old institutions, and toddy (palm wine) in countryside shops.

Where to stay (curated areas + easy booking): For boutique charm and walkability, choose Fort Kochi; for resort amenities and harbor views, pick Willingdon Island; for business-friendly access to malls and Metro, consider MG Road/Kaloor.

• Browse boutique homestays and villas on VRBO Kochi.
• Compare hotels—from waterfront classics to modern high-rises—on Hotels.com Kochi.

Getting to Kochi (COK): Fly into Cochin International Airport (COK). Search routes and prices on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From Delhi/Bengaluru, nonstop flights are typically 1.5–3 hours and $50–$140+ depending on season.

Trains (if arriving from within South India): Ernakulam Junction (ERS) is the main rail hub. Overnight trains from Bengaluru/Chennai and day trains from Trivandrum are frequent; check schedules on Trip.com Trains. Airport to Fort Kochi takes 1–1.5 hours by car (₹1,200–2,000). Autos and ride-hailing work well for short hops.

Day 1: Arrival, Artful Cafes, and a Tuk-Tuk Spin through Fort Kochi

Morning: Fly or train into Kochi and transfer to your hotel. Drop bags and stretch your legs with a coffee at Kashi Art Café (gallery-meets-courtyard; try the chocolate cake and cold coffee) or Qissa Café (hearty breakfasts, shakshuka, and South Indian filter coffee). If you’re hungry, Oceanos serves Syrian Christian seafood; order karimeen pollichathu (pearl spot baked in banana leaf).

Afternoon: Orient yourself with a nimble, open-air ride on the Adventure Tuk Tuk Tour in kochi - A Private Guided Tour with Hotel Pick up (3–4 hours; a fun way to weave between lanes and markets).

You’ll hit the Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church, Dutch Cemetery, and the aromatic Mattancherry spice market. Ask your guide to pause at Paradesi Synagogue and the Dutch Palace to appreciate Jewish and Portuguese-Dutch legacies.

Evening: Catch sunset by the fishing nets—snack on banana fritters and spiced tea from waterfront stalls. For dinner, choose Malabar Junction (courtyard dining; refined Kerala plates), Mary’s Kitchen (home-style thali and seafood fry), or The Rice Boat at Taj Malabar (elegant seafood in a boat-themed setting). For a nightcap with a view, head to SkyGrill Lounge at Crowne Plaza (smoky grills, mocktails/cocktails, harbor skyline).

Day 2: The Kerala Backwaters—Village Life by Canoe

Trade streets for palm-fringed canals on the Full Day Backwater Village Punting Boat Cruise (typically 8–10 hours including transfers). Expect serene, narrow waterways unreachable by bigger boats, village stops to watch coir-making and toddy tapping, and a banana-leaf vegetarian lunch.

It’s an unhurried window onto daily life: schoolchildren ferrying home, kingfishers flashing blue, and women weaving coconut fiber ropes in shaded yards. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and small notes for handicraft purchases. You’ll be back in Kochi by early evening.

Dinner back in Kochi: Fort House Restaurant (jetty-side tables; try prawn mango curry), Fusion Bay (family-run, excellent fish molee), or Kochi Kitchen at Kochi Marriott (buffet with broad South Indian choices if you’re extra hungry after the day).

Optional upgrade (if you’d like an overnight on the water): Swap the day cruise for the Kochi Private Tour: Overnight Alleppey Backwaters Houseboat Cruise. You’ll dine onboard, sleep to the sound of water lapping the hull, and disembark next morning—a romantic classic of Kerala.

Day 3: Fort Kochi Deep Dive, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Fuel up at Pandhal Café & Deli (since 1939; pastries and South Indian breakfasts) or try a classic puttu-kadala combo at Dhe Puttu (Edappally; rice cakes with black chickpea curry). Then join Best of kochi ! A private tour in kochi with a local guide ! to connect the historical dots across Fort Kochi and Mattancherry.

You’ll visit St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, the Dutch Palace’s murals, the Paradesi Synagogue (note: closed on Fridays/Saturdays and on Jewish holidays), and antique shops in Jew Town. Ask to drop by the Kerala Kathakali Centre to peek at costumes or book a future show if your schedule allows.

Afternoon: Savor a farewell lunch: Kayees Rahmathullah Hotel for iconic Kozhi (chicken) or mutton biryani, or Oceanos for one last seafood feast. Pick up spices (tellicherry pepper, cardamom) and handloom stoles from Mattancherry’s family-run shops, then transfer to COK for your flight.

Evening: If you have a late departure, unwind with sunset on the Fort Kochi promenade or a quick ferry hop to Vypin Island for wide-angle views of the harbor. Grab a light bite—Calicut-style banana chips and chai—before you go.

Good to know: Many heritage sites have modest entry fees and midday closures; start early when possible. Autos are ideal for short rides (use meter or agree on a fare), while taxis or ride-hailing work best for cross-town trips and airport transfers.

If you want to add a bonus excursion on a future visit: Nature lovers can spend a full day at Athirappilly and Vazhachal Waterfalls (about 2.5 hours one-way), best with an early start; culture fans can tack on a tea-country escape to Munnar for misty viewpoints and plantation walks.

Alternative or Add-On (Walking Focus)

If you prefer exploring entirely on foot on Day 1 or Day 3, consider the Kochi Tour Guide -A Heritage walking tour in Fort kochi and Mattancherry ! for in-depth storytelling and photo stops at murals and heritage homes.

Booking pointers: For flights and trains, compare options on Trip.com Flights, Kiwi.com, and Trip.com Trains. For stays, check VRBO Kochi and Hotels.com Kochi for the best fit near Fort Kochi sights.

In three days you’ll sample the essence of Kerala: layered history, spice-forward cuisine, and a day adrift in emerald waterways. Kochi makes it easy to slow down, look up, and let the sea air carry you from one discovery to the next.