Kerala stretches about 600 km down India’s southwest coast, rarely more than 120 km wide. That shape makes it simple to travel: a single railway and the NH66 highway run the length of the coast, four international airports are spaced along it, and the famous backwaters and hill stations sit just inland. This guide covers how to arrive and how to get around once you’re here.
Getting to Kerala by air
Kerala has four international airports along the coast. Which you fly into depends on where you’re heading.
Kerala's international airports
| Airport | Code | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cochin (CIAL) | COK | Kochi, Munnar, Alleppey & Kumarakom backwaters, Thekkady — the busiest, and the handiest for most first trips |
| Trivandrum | TRV | The capital, Kovalam and Varkala in the south |
| Calicut | CCJ | Malabar — Kozhikode, Wayanad, Beypore |
| Kannur | CNN | North Malabar — Kannur, Kasaragod, Bekal |
- Cochin (COK) handles the majority of Kerala’s air traffic and is the world’s first fully solar-powered airport.
- For a classic Kochi + backwaters + Munnar trip, fly into and out of Cochin.
- With four airports along the coast you can also take a short domestic flight between the far ends of the state — useful for the south coast to the Malabar north.
- Prepaid taxi counters and app cabs both operate at the airports — use the prepaid counter or an app for a fair, fixed fare.
By train
Indian Railways runs the length of Kerala along the coast, and trains are the most comfortable way to cover longer distances. Reserved tickets are booked on IRCTC (the official Indian Railways site and app) — book a few days ahead for popular routes, as trains fill up. The quick-release Tatkal quota opens one day before travel and sells out within minutes.
These are the main railway gateways for travellers. They aren’t the only stations — Kerala has them in most towns — but they’re the ones you’ll most often start or end a journey at:
Major railway gateways
| Station | Code | Serves |
|---|---|---|
| Ernakulam Junction | ERS | Kochi, central Kerala & the backwaters — the busiest junction in South India |
| Thiruvananthapuram Central | TVC | The capital, Kovalam & Varkala |
| Kozhikode (Calicut) | CLT | Malabar; nearest railhead for Wayanad (~80–100 km onward by road) |
| Kottayam | KTYM | Kumarakom (~16 km), Thekkady & Sabarimala |
| Kollam Junction | QLN | Ashtamudi Lake & the Kollam backwaters |
By bus
KSRTC — the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation — is the state bus network, and it reaches almost everywhere the train doesn’t, including the hill stations. Long-distance and interstate (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka) services can be reserved in advance through the government’s Ente KSRTC app; ordinary and local buses you simply board and pay onboard. Private operators also run AC sleeper coaches between the bigger cities.
Around Kochi: Metro & Water Metro
Kochi has a 28 km Metro (opened 2017) running from Aluva to Thripunithura, and India’s first Water Metro (launched 2023) — air-conditioned electric boats linking the city’s islands. Both use QR tickets from the official Kochi1 app, and the Kochi1 card gives a fare discount. It’s a cheap, scenic way to move around the city and avoid traffic.
The backwaters: houseboats & ferries
No trip to Kerala is complete without time on the water. Traditional kettuvallam houseboats cruise the backwaters from Alleppey (Alappuzha) and the quieter Kumarakom. For a couple or a calm overnight, book a private boat direct rather than a shared cruise. Public and tourist ferries also cross the backwaters cheaply if you’d rather not stay aboard.
Taxis, autos & ride apps
For short hops, autorickshaws are everywhere — agree the fare or ask for the meter. For cabs and longer trips, app-based options give you an upfront, fair price and save haggling. Uber and Ola operate in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram; Ola, Rapido and the zero-commission community apps also book autos. App coverage thins out in smaller towns and the hills, where a pre-arranged car or a local auto is the norm.
By road
NH66 is the coastal highway spine, running north–south the length of the state. NH544 is the main inland route in from Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore/Salem) via Palakkad and Thrissur. Self-drive and chauffeur cars are easy to hire for hill-station and backwater trips, where having your own vehicle helps — but mountain roads to Munnar and Wayanad are slow and best not driven after dark.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport should I fly into for Kerala?
For most first trips — Kochi, the backwaters and Munnar — fly into Cochin (COK), the busiest and most central airport. Choose Trivandrum (TRV) for the southern beaches (Kovalam, Varkala) and Calicut (CCJ) for Wayanad and the Malabar north.
What’s the best way to get around Kerala?
Trains for longer distances along the coast, KSRTC buses to reach the hills, app cabs and autos within cities, and a houseboat or ferry for the backwaters. A hired car with a driver is popular for hill-station and backwater legs.
How do I book train tickets in Kerala?
Reserved tickets are booked on IRCTC, the official Indian Railways site and app. Book a few days ahead for popular routes; the same-day Tatkal quota opens one day before travel and sells out fast.
Is there a metro in Kerala?
Yes — Kochi has a 28 km Metro and India’s first Water Metro, both ticketed through the official Kochi1 app. The other cities rely on buses, autos and app cabs.