In short
A pre-paid or app taxi from Cochin International Airport to Fort Kochi takes about an hour and a half and is what most visitors take. The cheaper route is an airport bus or train to Ernakulam and then the ferry across, which is slower, far more interesting, and only runs during daylight.
Cochin International Airport, code COK, sits at Nedumbassery, north-east of the city. Fort Kochi is on the coast at the far south-western end — a different world from the airport, and a longer drive than the map suggests, because you cross the whole of Ernakulam to get there.
The short answer
- Simplest: pre-paid taxi from the counter in arrivals, or an app cab. Around 90 minutes.
- Cheapest: bus or train to Ernakulam, then the ferry to Fort Kochi. Two to three hours, and a much better story.
- Late at night: taxi, arranged in advance if you can.
By taxi
Inside arrivals there is a pre-paid taxi counter where you pay a fixed fare at the desk and hand the slip to the driver. This avoids negotiating at the kerb, and is the easy option after a long flight. Ride-hailing apps also work at the airport, and quote the fare before you book, though the pickup point is not always obvious late at night.
The drive runs about 45 kilometres. Allow ninety minutes, and rather more in the evening rush or heavy monsoon rain. Any hotel or guesthouse in Fort Kochi will also arrange a pickup for you if you send them your flight number — worth doing for a first visit.
By bus, train and ferry
The frugal route has three legs, and Indian travellers use it constantly:
- Airport to Aluva. Regular buses run between the airport and Aluva, a short distance away.
- Aluva to Ernakulam. The Kochi Metro runs from Aluva into the city, and trains run to Ernakulam stations too. Get off in the city centre, near the boat jetty.
- Ernakulam to Fort Kochi. The public ferry from Ernakulam boat jetty crosses to Fort Kochi in about twenty minutes for a few rupees.
There are also direct buses from the airport towards the city. Timings change, so check locally on the day rather than trusting any schedule you read online — including this one.
The ferry
The Ernakulam to Fort Kochi ferry is the nicest arrival in the city: twenty minutes across the harbour, past the container ships, with the old town appearing slowly. It runs frequently through the day and stops in the evening, so it is a daytime option only. Travelling light makes it much easier — there are steps and gangways, and nobody enjoys carrying a large suitcase onto a boat.
If you land late
Many international flights arrive in the small hours. Take a taxi; the ferry will not be running and the buses thin out. If your guesthouse is expecting you, message them your arrival time so somebody is awake to let you in — Fort Kochi goes to bed early.
Finding the school
We are at House No 1/1790, Chirattapalam Road, Fort Kochi, Kochi, Kerala 682001, India, walking distance from most guesthouses in the old quarter and a short auto-rickshaw ride from the Chinese fishing nets. Classes run every day at 7:30–9:30 in the morning and 3:30–5:30 in the afternoon, and there is no need to book.
If you land in the morning, plenty of students come straight to the afternoon class — yoga after a long flight explains why that is usually a good idea. For everything else about the town, a local's guide to Fort Kochi is the place to start, and you can tell us when you are arriving if you would like a mat kept for you.
Common questions
How far is Fort Kochi from Cochin International Airport?
About 45 kilometres. The drive normally takes around an hour and a half, longer in evening traffic or heavy monsoon rain.
What is the cheapest way from Kochi airport to Fort Kochi?
Bus or metro to Ernakulam, then the public ferry across to Fort Kochi, which takes about twenty minutes and costs a few rupees. Allow two to three hours in total, and note that the ferry only runs during the day.
Is there a ferry to Fort Kochi?
Yes. Public ferries cross regularly from Ernakulam boat jetty to Fort Kochi in around twenty minutes during daylight hours. It is the most pleasant way to arrive if you are travelling light.
How do I get to Fort Kochi late at night?
Take a taxi — the pre-paid counter in arrivals or a ride-hailing app. Ferries do not run at night and buses are infrequent. Tell your guesthouse your arrival time so someone is expecting you.
Known to his students as Achu, Aksharanand trained in the Sivananda tradition and holds an Advanced Teacher Training Certificate. He has taught Hatha Yoga, pranayama, meditation and Vedanta philosophy in Fort Kochi for over fifteen years, across more than 5,000 group classes and seventy international teacher training batches.
More about Achu and the school · Book a class or ask a question