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Free things to do in Kochi

7 places in Kochi with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Free things to do in Kochi

  1. SeeErnakulam

    Durbar Hall Ground

    The venue for many fairs during festivals and regular evening concerts and other programmes.

    Free

  2. SeeOld Kochi

    Holy Cross (Coonan Kurisu) Church

    Pradhankuriyacha Palli

    Historic church where native Christians had once received the Bishop of Persia and declared their affinities to the Orthodox Eastern Church. Here, Malayali Christians in the 17th century revolted against Portuguese Jesuit missionaries' attempts to convert them to the Latin church. This was the first recorded revolt against Europeans in India, forcing the Pope to recognise native Christians and establish a new church, the Syro-Malabar Church.

    Open now · open 24 hoursFree

  3. SeeOld Kochi

    International Pepper Exchange

    Kochi's answer to New York's Wall Street, but instead of money, it's all about pepper trading. This is the world's only pepper exchange. Nowadays, trading all happens online, so there is not much to see any more except the historical place.

    Free

  4. DoErnakulam

    Kerala Fine-Arts complex

    This is one of the oldest centres, with regular cultural performances. Many require prior booking, as they are organised by prestigious societies and groups. There are some performances that have free entry, and the monthly cultural programs of Bank Employees Union is one such.

  5. SeeErnakulam

    Pareekshith Thampuran Durbar Hall Art Gallery

    Contains oil paintings, old coins, sculptures, Mughal paintings plus models of temples and traditional Kerala buildings. It was the official Durbar Hall of Kochi Maharajas, now converted into a large fine arts gallery. It is named after last Maharaja of Kochi, who was an oil painter. A small studio nearby promotes young artists.

    Free

  6. SeeOld Kochi

    Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica

    The first European church built in Asia, by the Portuguese in 1502, also the first Cathedral of Asia and the seat of the second Catholic Diocese in India. The British modified the structure and added oil paintings. Today, it serves as the primary seat of the Latin church of Kerala. Pope John Paul II declared it a basilica in 1984. It houses several historical paintings, decorations and artefacts.

    Daily 7AM-5:30PMFree

  7. SeeOld Kochi

    St. Francis Church

    CSI Pally

    Constructed by the Portuguese in 1503, and the burial place of Vasco da Gama (his remains were later transferred to Lisbon). His tombstone can be seen inside the church. The church has a large cemetery which serves as the resting grounds of many Portuguese army officials and soldiers. The church is the only Catholic Church not demolished by the Dutch, which was handed over to the British to re-establish an Anglican church. A large war memorial is at the back and honours the unknown soldiers who died in World War I.

    Daily 7AM-5:30PMFree

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Kochi (CC BY-SA 4.0).