India · City Tours

6-Hour Kochi City Tour with Heritage Sites and Kathakali Show

6 Hours Round trip from Hill Palace Rd Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Watch local fishermen operate Kochi's iconic Chinese fishing nets
  • 02 Explore the Hill Palace Museum's royal paintings, weapons, sculptures, and ancient coins
  • 03 Visit Santa Cruz Basilica and the historic Jewish Synagogue in Jew Town
  • 04 Discover Mattanchery Palace and learn how the royals of Cochin lived
  • 05 Witness a traditional Kathakali performance with English commentary

Explore Kochi, the gateway to Kerala, on this 6-hour tour through the city's heritage landmarks and living traditions. Visit the Hill Palace Museum, Santa Cruz Basilica, the Jewish Synagogue, and Mattanchery Palace, and watch local fishermen at work with the iconic Chinese fishing nets. The experience concludes with a splendid traditional Kathakali performance, where colourful costumes, bright make-up, and expressive gestures bring mythological stories to life.

The experience concludes with a splendid traditional Kathakali performance, where colourful costumes, bright make-up, and expressive gestures bring mythological stories to life.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Hours
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
City Kochi
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Kochi Heritage Landmarks and Kathakali Performance

  • Meet your tour guide at your hotel in the morning and proceed with your tour.

  • Make your way to the Hill Palace Museum and explore royal paintings, weapons, sculptures, and ancient coins.

  • Admire the hypnotic Chinese fishing nets, said to have been brought by traders from the court of Kubla Khan between 1350 and 1450 AD. These shore-operated lift nets are a remarkable sight, and watching local fishermen fish in the Arabian Sea with them is truly memorable.

  • Visit the Santa Cruz Basilica, built in 1558 with distinct Portuguese architectural influences.

  • See the Jewish Synagogue of Kochi, dating back to 1568. Around the synagogue is Jew Town, renowned for its spice and handicraft shops, where you may shop for souvenirs.

  • Marvel at Mattanchery Palace, built and gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the king of Cochin around 1545. See beautiful Kerala-style museums, learn how the royals lived, and explore the royal temples.

  • In the evening, witness a splendid traditional Kathakali performance. Observe how dancers use bright make-up, colourful costumes, and eye and body gestures to narrate mythological stories. The entire concert is supported by English commentary.

Hill Palace Museum, Chinese fishing nets, Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica

Where this trip takes you

Hill Palace Museum, Chinese fishing nets, Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Hill Palace Rd 1 city · 6 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Pick-up and drop-off from your Kochi hotel

  • English-speaking Kochi tour guide

  • Kathakali dance show

  • All transportation in a private air-conditioned vehicle

  • All taxes

  • Parking fees

  • Driver allowances

What's Not Included

  • Personal expenses

  • Tips and gratuities

  • Meals and beverages

Know before you go

  • Please note that not all places in the itinerary are open every day of the week:

    • Hill Palace Museum - closed on Mondays

    • Jewish Synagogue - closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays

    • Mattanchery Palace - closed on Fridays

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Kochi, Kerala, India
Tour start
Hill Palace Rd, Irumpanam, Thrippunithura, Ernakulam, Kerala 682301, India
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 6 hours finish where they began, in Hill Palace Rd.

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Starting from

USD 80 /person
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