Beaches, hills, backwaters, waterfalls, forests, wildlife sanctuaries – there’s no dearth of lovable tourist places in Kerala that will melt your heart!

Blessed with endless natural beauty, diverse landscapes, vibrant culture, intriguing history, and bewitching ancient architecture, Kerala is a power package of beauty, fun, and entertainment.

So, before you book a trip to Kerala, dive into our list of the top 5 Kerala tourist places and discover what sweet surprises lay waiting!

Top 5 tourist places in Kerala: Most popular picks

Whether you’re looking for a magical houseboat ride on the backwaters, a fun ride through tea plantations, a dauntless Jeep safari in the jungle, a relaxing Ayurvedic massage on the beach, a thrilling trek to a hilltop, or a dazzling Kathakali performance, these fabulous places to visit in Kerala offer it all!

Need More Kerala Tourist Destination Suggestions? – 📍Top 15 Places To Visit In Kerala  (With Map)

Make sure you include these 5 top Kerala destinations in your itinerary when you browse our Kerala holiday packages.

1. Munnar

Munnar is synonymous with tea estates.

With landscapes dreamier than those you’d find in a fairytale, Munnar tops every list of the top 5 tourist places in Kerala.

Munnar is blessed with resplendent greenery in the form of fragrant tea plantations stretching into the horizon, winding roads, rolling meadows, lofty mountain peaks, year-round cool weather, and a light haze enveloping it all!

Its most popular attractions are perhaps the Eravikulam National Park, the home of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, and the bluish-purple Neelakurinjis that bloom once every 12 years!

Tucked at an elevation of 1,600 meters above sea level in the majestic Western Ghats, Munnar is among the most sought-after tourist places in Kerala that you must visit at least once in your lifetime!

Best time to visit Munnar: Year-round
Munnar tourist attractions: Eravikulam National Park, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Mattupetty Dam, Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, Pothamedu Viewpoint, Tea Museum, Kundala Dam, Lakkom Waterfalls
Nearest airport to Munnar: Cochin International Airport (107 km)
Nearest railway station to Munnar: Aluva Railway Station (108 km)

ALSO SEE – Top 17 Best Things To Do In Munnar

2. Alleppey

Often called the ‘Venice of the East’, Alleppey, or Alappuzha, is famous for its complex network of canals, rivulets, and lagoons flanked by swaying palm trees, rustic villages, paddy fields, and ancient churches.

It is so idyllic that you’re bound to come across tons of pictures of Alleppey’s beautiful houseboats sailing on its amber-colored backwaters whenever you Google “top 5 tourist places in Kerala”!

Its labyrinth of canals, dreamy houseboats, clean beaches, scenic lakes, lush paddy fields, and vibrant local culture have made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kerala.

Other than backwaters, travelers also love to explore Alleppey’s hidden villages like Kuttanad, choir handicrafts, ancient temples, snake boat races, and Ayurvedic resorts.

Best time to visit Alleppey: October to March
Alleppey tourist attractions: Alappuzha Lighthouse, Alappuzha Beach, Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, Marari Beach, Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple, Arthunkal Church, Punnamada Lake
Nearest airport to Alleppey: Cochin International Airport (83 km)
Nearest railway station to Alleppey: Alappuzha Railway Station

ALSO SEE – Munnar Distance Chart- A Traveler’s Guide to Other places from Munnar

3. Kochi

Popularly known as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’, Kochi, or Cochin, is a coastal town perched on the Malabar Coast.

Believed to have been an important trading center of the Dutch, Portuguese, and British for over 600 years, this port city is now the industrial and commercial capital of Kerala!

Today, it is among the most popular Top 5 tourist places to visit in Kerala courtesy of its attractive blend of backwaters, beaches, grand colonial architecture, rich history, and an irresistible old-world charm!

In addition to beaches and ports, Kochi also lures travelers with its fascinating balance of history and modernism.

Everything from the ancient Fort Kochi and Jew Town to the city’s modern shopping malls, lavish restaurants, heritage hotels, and state-of-the-art museums have made it one of the top 5 tourist places in Kerala!

Best time to visit Kochi: October to February
Kochi tourist attractions: Chinese Fishing Nets, Mattancherry Palace, Bolgatty Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Kerala Folklore Museum, Fort Kochi, Jew Town, Santa Cruz Basilica, Willingdon Island
Nearest airport to Kochi: Cochin International Airport
Nearest railway station to Kochi: Ernakulam Junction Railway Station

ALSO SEE – Kochi To Munnar- Sightseeing, Distance, Travel Time & Tips

4. Wayanad

Nestled in the Western Ghats, Wayanad is a biodiversity hotspot famed for its lush hills and valleys, forest reserves, spice plantations, waterfalls, diverse wildlife, prehistoric caves, and adventure activities like trekking, paragliding, mountain climbing, and ziplining.

This picture-perfect destination in Kerala beckons nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts with its boundless natural beauty, year-round blissful weather, rich cultural heritage, and plenty of wildlife reserves fit for jungle safaris!

Often referred to as the ‘Land of Paddy Fields,’ Wayanad is blessed with fertile valleys where everything from tea, coffee, pepper, nutmeg, cocoa, plantain, rice, coconut, vanilla, cardamom, and ginger are grown!

But what truly makes it one of the best tourist places in Kerala is its bounty of wildlife reserves and national parks like the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary that shelters bison, Asian elephants, leopards, Malabar Giant Squirrels, and Royal Bengal Tigers among other species.

Best time to visit Wayanad: Year-round (except the monsoon)
Wayanad tourist attractions: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Thirunelli Temple, Banasura Sagar Dam, Chembra Peak, Edakkal Caves, Soochipara Falls, Kabini River, Lakkidi Viewpoint, Kuruvadweep, Pookode Lake
Nearest airport to Wayanad: Calicut International Airport (91 km)
Nearest railway station to Wayanad: Kozhikode Railway Station (86 km)

5. Varkala

Varkala is a picturesque blend of clean shores, scenic beachside cliffs, lush greenery, a spiritual vibe, great seafood, and a fun hippie culture.

Popular mostly for its 15-meter Arabian Sea-facing ‘Northern Cliffs’, Varkala is a gorgeous seaside town and one of the most popular tourist places in Kerala!

Its beaches are lined with several high-end restaurants, cozy beach shacks, Ayurvedic massage centers, artsy cafes, shops, beach resorts, and homestays that have made Varkala a sought-after beach destination in Kerala.

In addition to Ayurveda, night-long beach parties, and surfing schools, Varkala also lures in wanderers with its  cliff beach, fortresses, lakes, lighthouses, and ancient holy shrines like the samadhi of saint Sree Narayana Guru.

Best time to visit Varkala: October to March
Varkala tourist attractions: Varkala Cliff, Varkala Beach, Sivagiri Mutt, Janardanaswamy Temple, Edava Beach, Mangrove Forest, Kappil Beach, Anjuthengu Fort, Anjengo Lighthouse
Nearest airport to Varkala: Trivandrum International Airport (42 km)
Nearest railway station to Varkala: Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station

ALSO SEE – Solo Trip to Munnar, Kerala- The Complete Guide

While Kerala has several popular places to visit, we bet a visit to these top 5 tourist places in Kerala will make your holiday all the more memorable! Happy tripping!