When is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Cochin?
The peak tourist season in Cochin is between October and February. Flights to Cochin can be more expensive at this time, so book at least two months in advance. March to June sees higher temperatures, while the months from July to September are known for the monsoon rains; these months can be great times to find cheap flights to Cochin. With Netflights, you can compare all flights to Cochin from top airlines month-by-month and choose the best routes and rates for your budget.
When is the Best Time to Book your Flight to Cochin?
Although great prices on return flights are available all year, it’s especially easy to find them during the low season and outside the main European and Indian holidays. Booking flights to Cochin as soon as the travel bug hits is the ideal way to save money on airfare. Make sure to pack an umbrella for the rainy season and sunscreen for the summer and keep your eyes open for off-season last-minute flight bargains.
Flying to Cochin International Airport COK
Cochin International Airport (COK) is the world’s first and only fully solar-powered airport. It’s also the first airport in India to be developed under a public-private partnership, funded by 10,000 non-resident Indians from 30 countries. Located in Nedumbassery, about 28 kilometres north-east of the city, the airport is the busiest in the state of Kerala and ranks number four in India for international traffic. Currently, there are no direct flights from the United Kingdom (UK), but there are many airlines offering one-stop Cochin flights, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Flybe, Gulf Air, Jet Airways, Lufthansa, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines and Virgin Airlines. Check-in at airports around the UK, including London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Compare last-minute flights, return flights and one or two stop journeys with Netflights.
On Arrival and Getting Around the Airport
Cochin International (COK) has three terminals: one domestic and two international. Terminal 1 is transitioning from an international to domestic terminal. Terminal 2 is for domestic Cochin flights only, and Terminal 3, which opened in 2017, is a cutting-edge international terminal built to handle 4,000 passengers at peak hours. Terminal 3 is comprised of two levels and 15 aerobridges. This eco-friendly airport also features an outside terrace lounge with tropical plants. There is a large selection of shops and restaurants in both the arrivals and departure areas, offering traditional items from Kerala as well as travel necessities.
Getting to the City from Cochin International Airport COK
Taxis and rickshaws are practical ways to get from Cochin International Airport to the city centre and are available outside the arrivals lounge. It’s a good idea to confirm the price of the journey before you begin. Buses just outside the airport leave every few minutes for Fort Kochi. Buses JNK 1, 2, 3, 14 and 19 all run from the airport to the city centre. There are also car hire offices and prepaid private transfer services running 24 hours a day.
Why Visit Cochin?
Cochin began as a trading post for pepper and cardamom over 600 years ago. Since then, the sunset shores of Cochin have welcomed Arab, Dutch, Phoenician, Portuguese, Chinese and British seafaring merchants. The one-time gateway to India is a captivating mix of cultural influences with the Paradesi Synagogue, the Dutch-renovated Hindu Mattancherry Palace and the oldest European-built St. Francis Church among the testaments to Cochin’s historic cultural exchange.
Kochi’s iconic fishing nets were given to the city by a 14th-century Chinese emperor. The Hill Palace Museum, once the residence of the Kochi Royal Family, is now a museum with 29 buildings spread throughout the palace complex. Visitors to Cochin can enjoy people-watching at the promenade and beaches of Fort Cochin and browsing the spice shops of the old bazaar district, Mattancherry. For those looking to soak up the sights and sounds of India, the tea shops and seaside restaurants of Cochin are hard to beat.
Don't Forget Before you Fly
British passport holders need a visa, which can be obtained via the Indian High Commission website, to enter India for tourism purposes. These e-visas are valid for a maximum of 60 days. Your passport will have the required day of departure written in upon arrival. It’s important that your passport is machine readable, or you may be denied entry. Indian rupees are available from ATMs and currency exchanges, but it’s advisable to already have some with you for your onward journey when you arrive.
