Things to Do in Kochi After You Get Off the Train

Ernakulam Junction (ERS) sits on the mainland side of Kochi, and most of what visitors come for, the old town of Fort Kochi with its Chinese fishing nets and colonial-era streets, is across the harbour rather than a short walk from the station.

Distances from the station

Can it be covered in a single day?

Fort Kochi's old town, yes, comfortably. The Chinese fishing nets, Dutch cemetery, St. Francis Church (where Vasco da Gama was originally buried), and a walk through Mattancherry's Jew Town and spice markets all fit into a single day if you start by late morning and don't try to add a backwater trip on the same day. A houseboat or backwater excursion needs its own half or full day given the distance to Kumarakom or Alappuzha and the slower pace the backwaters are meant to be enjoyed at.

A single day in Fort Kochi

• Morning: ferry across from Ernakulam to Fort Kochi, then the Chinese fishing nets along the waterfront, best photographed in the morning or late afternoon light.
• Midday: St. Francis Church and a walk through the old Dutch and Portuguese-era streets nearby.
• Afternoon: Mattancherry Palace for its murals, then Jew Town for the spice markets and antique shops.
• Evening: if you're in Kochi on the right night, a Kathakali or Kalaripayattu performance is a good way to close the day; several venues in Fort Kochi run shows most evenings.

Shopping in Jew Town

Jew Town, next to Mattancherry Palace, is known for antique shops, spice traders and a small but historic synagogue, one of the oldest in the Commonwealth. It's a good spot to combine sightseeing with browsing, though prices at the antique shops are often negotiable and worth comparing across a couple of stores before buying anything larger.

Getting out of the station and around the city

Prepaid autos and taxis operate outside Ernakulam Junction, and ride-hailing apps also work well across the city. Kochi's ferry network, run by the state water transport department, connects Ernakulam's jetties to Fort Kochi and Mattancherry and is worth using at least once for the harbour views alone, aside from being a practical way to avoid road traffic.

Best time of year

October to February is the most pleasant stretch, with lower humidity than the rest of the year and comfortable daytime temperatures for walking around Fort Kochi. March to May turns hot and humid. The June to September monsoon is when Kerala is at its greenest, and Kochi gets heavy rain in this window; backwater trips still run but expect wetter, muddier conditions on land.

Food to try

Kochi's Chinese and Portuguese-influenced coastal food is worth seeking out in Fort Kochi specifically, fresh seafood grilled or fried right at the stalls near the fishing nets is a classic experience, choose your fish and have it cooked to order. Kerala's own food, from appam and stew to a proper Kerala sadya thali if you can find one being served, is easy to find on the mainland side around Ernakulam too.

Where to stay

Fort Kochi itself has a good spread of heritage-style guesthouses and boutique hotels, ideal if you want to be within walking distance of the old town sights and don't mind the ferry or road trip back to the station on your way out. Ernakulam, on the mainland near the station, has more conventional hotel options and is a practical base if you're catching an early train or prefer a shorter final commute to the station.

If you have a second day

A backwater trip, whether a short canoe ride closer to Kochi or a proper houseboat stay further south toward Alappuzha, is the natural second-day addition. Our guide on Munnar from the nearest station covers the tea gardens as a separate overnight trip if you have three or four days total, though it is too far for a same-day round trip from Kochi.

Which trains connect most easily to Kochi

Ernakulam Junction, along with the nearby Ernakulam Town station, has strong connections across Kerala and to major cities further north and east. Check your specific train's live running status before locking in a same-day Fort Kochi plan, particularly on a long-distance overnight service where even a modest delay changes how much of the day you'll actually have. Our trip planner also helps if you're weighing Kochi against onward travel toward Munnar or Alappuzha on the same trip.