Kochi is a stunning port city in South India that is one of the most popular among tourists. This city has made a name for itself in the tourism industry for its shorelines, art galleries, historical landmarks, upmarket stores, temples, and heritage sites.
If you're someone who's on a work trip or a short trip in the city, there are ample places that you can cover on foot. Here is an itinerary for a Kochi 1 day walking tour that will help you visit all the prominent touristy places in the city. You can enjoy this tour by yourself or with a group of friends if you like. Check it out!
Route: Fort Kochi Beach - Chinese Fishing Nets - St. Francis Church - Santa Cruz Basilica - Indo Portuguese Museum - Mattancherry
Kochi Walking Tour Distance: 4.7 km.
Tour Duration: 3 or more hours
Fort Kochi Beach, also known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, is a popular tourist destination in Kochi. When you start off with your walking tour, this is the first place you visit early in the morning. The clean premises, the tranquil atmosphere, and the sound of the waves make it one of the most relaxing and enchanting spots in the city. The best time to visit this beach is early morning as it gets flooded with people during the day.
When you get to Fort Kochi Beach, you can also explor Fort Emmanuel. The sunrise and sunset from this fort are immaculate to watch. The scenic view of the city and the Arabian Sea from the top of the fort is going to be the best start to your Kochi 1 day walking tour. Once you spend a good 15 minutes at this fort, you can then start walking further to your next point.
Things to do here: Explore the Kochi Fort, and take a walk along the beach.
How much time to spend here: 30 minutes is more than enough time to spend at Fort Kochi Beach. But, if you’re a beach person and want to soak in the sound of the waves and cold breeze, you can wait a bit longer.
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Once you’ve explored Fort Kochi Beach enough, you need to walk towards the Chinese fishing nets which is roughly 10 mins away. This one is also a popular tourist attraction that you must visit just to simply walk around and explore the Chinese fishing technique. Even though this technique of fishing is rarely used, you’ll get to learn a lot about it here. The fishing nets are fixed land installations with nets fixed on teak and bamboo poles.
This place is going to be a unique one to visit and you’re not going to regret it at all. Besides, there are ample restaurants, cafés and food joints along the way. So you can wait back at one of these spots and have some tea and breakfast.
Things to do here: Check out Chinese fishing nets and walk along the beach. You can also grab breakfast at the numerous food joints at the beachside.
How much time to spend here: You will spend some 20 minutes of your time here. Unless you stop to eating breakfast, it would eat into your time a bit more.
Also Read: Kerala Travel Guide
Your next stop is the marvelous St. Francis Church. This is one of the most iconic churches in the country as this is where the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama was buried after his death. His remains were later removed and moved to Lisbon about 14 years after. This has made this church a popular place to visit among tourists and locals alike, but that's not all. The architecture of the church is also worth admiring. The regal Dutch and Portuguese architectural influence that you see here is a marvelous work of art.
This place is open for visitors every Monday to Saturday from 7.00 am to 6.30 pm and every Sunday from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm. Alongside all of this, the church also has historical significance. Originally, there were a few more churches in this city that were demolished by the Dutch. But the St. Francis Church was not touched and remains standing to date.
Things to do here: You can walk around the St. Francis Church, offer a prayer, light a candle and sit in the calming atmosphere for some time.
How much time to spend here: You will not need more than 20 minutes to explore the church and enjoy its architectural beauty.
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Another church that you shouldn’t skip on your walking tour of Kochi is the Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, is one of the oldest churches in Kochi. It was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and is also among the few churches that were not demolished by the Dutch. This is one of the eight basilicas of India that portrays the historical and architectural influence of the Portuguese.
The gothic architecture of the Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica is absolutely beautiful. You’ll see arches, spires, columns, large and small paintings, and a lot more once you enter. The columns at Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica are adorned with intricate murals by the acclaimed Italian painter Fr. Antonio Moscheni and his disciple De Gama.
This cathedral was given the status of a Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984. This is one of the reasons, this cathedral is always bustling with pilgrims, locals, and tourists alike. Once you enter the Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, you’ll feel at peace with yourself. It has a very soothing and zen atmosphere which makes you want to just sit and relax.
Things to do here: Visit the tranquil worship place and admire its architecture and overall beauty.
How much time to spend here: Strolling for 20 minutes at the Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica is going to be enough to marvel at the architecture.
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The Indo-Portuguese Museum is one of the best spots in the city to rediscover and explore the influence that the museum is home to some of the most amazing artifacts that are proof of the Indo-Portugal bond. All of the artifacts are divided into sections and each section has something unique to tell you about the culture and history that has been shared.
As you walk around, you will get to explore all five sections of the museum. The Altar, Treasure, Procession, Civil Life, and Cathedral are the divided sections and you’ll come across artifacts that date back to the 16th century. Visiting the Indo-Portuguese Museum is a great way to learn more about the history of the city and get a better understanding of its rich heritage and culture.
This museum is open for visitors every Tuesday through Sunday and remains closed on Mondays. You can visit this place anytime between 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and again from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The museum also has an entry fee charged for adults, kids, and foreign tourists which is INR 10, INR 5, and INR 25 respectively. But, if you happen to visit the museum on the first Thursday of every month, you'll get free admission.
Things to do here: Get around the museum and be in the presence of some of the most unique pieces of artifacts that have existed since the 16th century. Queen’s Kitchen, The Food Mill Restaurant, and Tibetan Chef’s Restaurant are some of the places you can grab a quick lunch before you move ahead with the walking tour.
How much time to spend here: 1 hour at this museum will give you plenty of time to get to know more about the city of Kochi.
Also Read: Best Beachside Hotels And Resorts In Kochi
Getting from the museum to Mattancherry is a long walk so ensure you make a couple stops at the many eateries you see en route. Even though the walk will put your legs to work, the upside is that you get a street view of life in Kochi while reaching Mattancherry.
The main attraction at this stop of your walk is the 19th century Mattancherry palace which also houses a museum. Once you spend time soaking in the murals in the palace you should also head to Jew town. It’s the little artistic corner of Kochi with plenty of art cafés and nooks where you will find the most unique artifacts. Don’t forget to also explore the Jewish Synagogue when you’re here and marvel at the huge crystal chandeliers.
Things to do here: Explore the antique shops in Jew town, stop by by the Paradesi synagogue, and check out the exhibits in Mattancherry Palace.
How much time to spend here: An hour or more.
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Summing Up
A walking tour of the city is definitely a unique experience that you need to explore. You’ll come across the most friendly people in the city while also getting to know more about the culture, heritage, history, and more about it. It's best to get to know the city up close and also get your cardio done at the same time. We hope that this Kochi 1 day walking tour helps you find some of the best spots in the city and you love the tour as much as we loved curating it for you.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Kochi?
The best time to visit Kochi is anytime between the months of October and February. The weather is pleasant and you get to enjoy the beauty of the city to the fullest.
How Can I Travel Within Kochi?
Traveling within Kochi is very convenient as it's well-connected by a vast network of buses, autorickshaws, ferries, and more.
How Many Days Are Enough For Kochi?
When you’re visiting Kochi, you can easily explore most of its prominent tourist places in 2 days. Most of the town can be explored by foot and if you’d like to capture the place slowly, at the most you can spend 4 days.
What Is The Famous Food In Kochi?
When you visit Kochi, you must definitely try their chicken or beef curry with parathas, Appan, seafood dishes, and stew.
How Can I Have Fun In Kochi?
Taking a ferry to different islands in Kochi like Vypin where you can also spot dolphins on a boat ride is one way to have fun in Kochi. You can also have a fun time exploring the various boutique art cafés of Kochi.
What Is Kochi Famous For?
Kochi is famous for its tranquil beaches, Indo-Portuguese culture, Chinese fishing nets, forts, churches, and art museums that are spread across the city.
How Can I Spend One Day In Kochi?
Fort Kochi Beach, the Chinese fishing nets, Thrikkakara Temple, St. Francis Church, and Princess Street are some of the places you can visit on your 1 day trip to Kochi.
Is Fort Kochi Worth Visiting?
Fort Kochi is the entry gate to the vast expanse of places to explore in Kerala. You should spend a day or two here to let the enchanting art and architecture of the place keep you amused.
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