Getting around · Kerala · India
Getting around Kerala
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ranjith Siji, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Trains run along the coast linking Thiruvananthapuram, Varkala, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Thrissur, while the hill stations are reached by road. Most visitors combine trains for the coast with a car and driver for Munnar and Thekkady. A car with driver is the easiest way to see the hill stations and link destinations; self-driving is not recommended given heavy traffic and road conditions.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Train
- Airports
- COK, TRV, CCJ
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Train
Indian Railways trains connect Kerala's coastal towns frequently; Ernakulam to Varkala takes about 3–4 hours and to Alappuzha about 1–1.5 hours.
Reserve air-conditioned chair or sleeper classes in advance on the official railway booking site or app.
Car
Hiring a car with driver is the usual way to reach Munnar (about 4 hours from Kochi) and Thekkady, and to link them with the backwaters.
Agree the itinerary, daily kilometres and driver's accommodation costs before setting off.
Bus
KSRTC state buses run everywhere, including the hill routes, and are very cheap, though crowded and slow.
Tuk-tuk
Autorickshaws are the standard short-hop transport in towns; in Kochi many use meters, elsewhere agree the fare first.
Ferry
Government ferries and the electric boats of the Kochi Water Metro link Ernakulam, Fort Kochi, Vypin and other islands around the harbour; state water transport ferries also cross the backwaters near Alappuzha.
The Ernakulam–Fort Kochi ferry is a cheap, scenic alternative to the road.
Metro
Kochi Metro runs north–south through Ernakulam from Aluva, useful for getting between the city and the airport side of Kochi.
Ride-hailing
Uber and Ola operate in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram and are convenient for airport runs.
From the airport
Cochin International Airport (COK) at Nedumbassery is about 30 km from Ernakulam and 40 km from Fort Kochi, roughly 1–1.5 hours by taxi; prepaid taxi counters are in arrivals. Thiruvananthapuram's airport (TRV) is about 6 km from the city and 15 km from Kovalam. Kozhikode (CCJ) serves the north and Wayanad.
Do you need a car?
A car with driver is the easiest way to see the hill stations and link destinations; self-driving is not recommended given heavy traffic and road conditions. On the coast, trains and autorickshaws are enough.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Athirappilly Falls | About 2 hours by car from Kochi | Car with driver |
| Alappuzha backwater day cruise | About 1.5 hours by car or train from Kochi | Train or car, then day houseboat or shikara |
| Cherai Beach | About 1 hour by car from Fort Kochi | Car or ferry to Vypin, then road |
| Thrissur | About 1.5–2 hours by train or car | Train from Ernakulam |
| Ponmudi | About 2 hours by car from Thiruvananthapuram | Car with driver |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Kerala?
A car with driver is the easiest way to see the hill stations and link destinations; self-driving is not recommended given heavy traffic and road conditions. On the coast, trains and autorickshaws are enough.
+How do you get from the airport to Kerala?
Cochin International Airport (COK) at Nedumbassery is about 30 km from Ernakulam and 40 km from Fort Kochi, roughly 1–1.5 hours by taxi; prepaid taxi counters are in arrivals. Thiruvananthapuram's airport (TRV) is about 6 km from the city and 15 km from Kovalam. Kozhikode (CCJ) serves the north and Wayanad.
+What is the best way to get around Kerala?
Train: Indian Railways trains connect Kerala's coastal towns frequently; Ernakulam to Varkala takes about 3–4 hours and to Alappuzha about 1–1.5 hours.