What to expect
Highlights
- The beach promenade, shacks and water sports.
- The boat jetty for St Mary’s Islands.
- Fresh seafood and the fishing harbour.
Malpe Beach
Malpe, about 5 km west of Udupi, is both a busy fishing harbour and a clean, lively beach with a promenade, shacks and water sports. It is one of the best-known beaches on the Karnataka coast.
Practical guide
Plan Malpe Beach
Typebeach
Nearest baseMalpe
Best timeOctober to February
Time needed1 to 2 hours (more with the island trip)
EntryFree (activities/boat charged)
Nearest town/baseMalpe
DistrictUdupi
Place typebeach
Time needed1 to 2 hours (more with the island trip).
Malpe, about 5 km west of Udupi, is both a busy fishing harbour and a clean, lively beach with a promenade, shacks and water sports. It is one of the best-known beaches on the Karnataka coast.
It is above all the gateway to St Mary’s Islands, with boats running out to the basalt-pillar islets, and a fine place for a seafood meal by the sea.
Visiting
Malpe Beach — at a glance
TimingsDaylight; boats in season and daylight
Best timeOctober to February; calm sea
Entry: Free (activities/boat charged)
Getting here
How to reach Malpe Beach
~5 km from Udupi; auto/bus/taxi
Swim only where flagged; use the official island-boat counter and note the last return.
Getting there
How to visit
- ~5 km from Udupi; reach it by auto, bus or taxi.
- Swim in the safer, flagged areas; buy the St Mary’s Islands boat ticket at the official counter and note the last return boat.
Distance by road
- Mangaluru60 km
- Shivamogga145 km
- Chikkamagaluru145 km
- Karwar175 km
- Bengaluru400 km
Road km to Udupi; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
October to February; the sea is calmest and boats to the islands run more reliably.
Weather in Malpe BeachSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Visitor notes
- Swim only where it is safe and flagged; use only the official island boats and wear the life jacket.
Safety
Good to know
On the map
Where Malpe Beach is
Photos
Malpe Beach in pictures
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What’s near Malpe Beach
Good to know
Malpe Beach — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Malpe Beach?
October to February; the sea is calmest and boats to the islands run more reliably.
What are the entry fee and timings at Malpe Beach?
Entry: Free (activities/boat charged). Timings: Daylight; boats in season and daylight. Fees and timings are indicative — confirm on site before you travel.
How do I reach Malpe Beach?
~5 km from Udupi; reach it by auto, bus or taxi. Swim in the safer, flagged areas; buy the St Mary’s Islands boat ticket at the official counter and note the last return boat.
How much time do I need for Malpe Beach?
1 to 2 hours (more with the island trip).
What else is near Malpe Beach?
Nearby you can pair St Mary's Islands (3.3 km), Anantheshwara Temple, Udupi (6.3 km), Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi (6.3 km), Manipal End Point (9.5 km).
Read next
More stories, legends & guides from Udupi
Image credits
- Malpe Beach:Raghavan2010, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0