There are some really good hotels in Ernakulam where you can make a booking if you wish to stay close to the railway station and other landmarks of the city. Some of the best options are FabExpress Blue Orchid, FabExpress Pinpoint Inn, FabHotel Castle Rock and FabHotel New Kochi Residency.

Kochi’s restaurants have aplenty food options that offer authentic Kerala cuisine. You can sample the local delicacies prepared in coconut oil and served in customary banana leaves at Malabar Junction (Parade Road), Kayees Biryani (multiple locations), Rappai's Thattinpuram (Palarivattom), Kashi Art Café (Fort Kochi), Iftar (Edappally) and Gokul Oottupura (multiple locations).

With a large number of religious sites, museums, heritage attractions and whatnot, Kochi offers a lot of exciting sightseeing opportunities. If you’re already done visiting its points of interest or don’t have the time for sightseeing, you can go for many things to do in Kochi such as boating on Kochi backwaters, indulge in birdwatching at Managalavanam, play water sports at Cherai Beach or have a fun-filled day at Wonderla. Don’t miss out on shopping for souvenirs at the local bazaars and sampling the authentic Kerala cuisine.

Cochin Carnival (December-January), Onam (August-September), Shiva Temple Festival (January), Thripunithura Vrishikolsavam (November-December) and Fireworks Festival (March-April) are some of the best events and festivals celebrated in the city with great vigour. The city also hosts India’s 1st art biennale – the Kochi-Muziris Biennale – that attracts tourists and artists from the world over.

Kochi, unlike its neighbouring cities of Bangalore or Chennai, is not known for its party spots. But if you wish to indulge in some drinking and dancing, you can head to Couchyn (MG Road), Glow (MG Road), Matancherry Bar (Willingdon Island), Ava Lounge (Kadavanthra) and Swirl (Marine Drive).

Kochi has a pleasant weather throughout the year. However, the best time to visit this coastal city is December-January. Summer and monsoon are quite extreme, but if you do not mind muddy roads and getting drenched, you can plan a trip to Kochi between July and September. Thanks to the heavy downpour, nature is at its best during this period, presenting captivating scenery to tourists.