Best Places to Visit in South Kerala for Every Type of Traveller

South Kerala could be the perfect holiday destination for almost anyone. It is part of Kerala, famously known as "God's Own Country," and it truly lives up to the name. It has something for every type of traveller, from misty hills and peaceful backwaters to beautiful beaches and cultural attractions. If you're searching for the best places to visit in South Kerala, this guide will help you plan your holiday with ease.

In this guide, you'll read about why this region deserves its own holiday, the top destinations worth visiting, a quick comparison table, the best time to visit, how to reach South Kerala, and practical travel tips before you pack your bags.

Why Visit South Kerala?

Kerala is one of the most loved destinations in South India, and it is easy to see why. Here is what makes it worth the trip:

• Backwaters: Glide through calm canals and lagoons on a houseboat in Alleppey or Kumarakom
• Hill stations: Cool weather, tea gardens and misty views in Munnar and Wayanad
• Beaches: Golden sands and clean waters at Kovalam, Varkala and Marari
• Wildlife: Spot elephants and tigers at Periyar National Park
• Ayurveda: Traditional treatments and wellness retreats found across the state
• Food: Try appam, stew, fish curry and fresh seafood along the coast
• Culture: Watch Kathakali performances and explore centuries-old temples
• Festivals: Onam and the Nehru Trophy Boat Race bring the state to life
• Easy travel: Well connected by air, rail and road, good for family trips and honeymoons

What are the tourist places in South Kerala​?

Varkala Beach

Tall cliffs and golden sandy beaches are a few of the special highlights of Varkala. You can find its red laterite cliffs (sort of reddish-brown rock formations) spread over the entire coastline. While walking over it, lively cafes packed with tourists, attractive souvenir shops, and beautiful sunset shades will come into your view.

After visiting Varkala, you will have numerous reasons to consider it one of the best places to visit in South Kerala.  Aside from families, couples, and other captivated tourists, this spot attracts surfers, backpackers, and honeymooners alike.

One more compelling thing about Varkala is that there are actually four beaches very nearby. All of those beaches, including Papanasham, Kappil, Edava, and Black Sand, can be visited at a simple walking pace.

• Best for: Beaches, cafes, surfing
• Time needed: 1 to 2 days
• Good to know: Papanasham Beach is considered sacred for ritual bathing, so keep that in mind while exploring

Kovalam

Visiting Kerala sometimes feels genuinely special because most of the places are connected with beaches and beautiful views. It's the same for Kovalam, as there are three connected beaches, which are Lighthouse, Hawah, and the main Kovalam Beach.

These beaches have attracted many tourists for decades, and it continues to even today. What sets these specific Kerala beaches of Kovalam apart from ordinary ones is their Ayurvedic massage centres and a tall lighthouse that you can climb. Similarly, there would be many exciting activities to indulge in, but that's something you can discover by only visiting it.

• Best for: Family holidays, relaxation
• Time needed: 1 day
• Good to know: The lighthouse offers genuinely great views over all three beaches at once

Alappuzha

Imagine gliding through calm backwaters on a traditional houseboat, surrounded by coconut trees and peaceful villages. That's some sort of feeling you are going to witness in Alappuzha. Cruising is the main attraction you are going to find in all of Alappuzha. Most of the tourists even choose to spend their entire night in a houseboat without missing out on tasty Kerala dishes.

While houseboats are a major tourist attraction here, backwaters and paddy rice fields are notable sights you will see. So, it's not difficult to see why Alappuzha is one of the popular tourist places to visit in South Kerala.

• Best for: Houseboat cruises, couples, slow travel
• Time needed: 1 to 2 days
• Good to know: Book your houseboat a few weeks ahead if you're travelling during peak season

Poovar

Unlike other famous tourist spots of South Kerala, Poovar is located near the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is a small beach town known for unique sand bars and backwaters, created by the Neyyar River.

So, it mostly stays uncrowded. Here, the most attractive thing is the Poovar Island resort, which has beautiful surroundings of backwater and palm trees. Its very peaceful surroundings, and exclusive facilities like  private islets and Ayurvedic treatments make it the best place to visit in South Kerala for couples and romantic outings.

• Best for: Honeymooners, quiet backwater stays
• Time needed: Half a day, or overnight for the full resort experience
• Good to know: Swimming directly in the sea here isn't advised due to strong currents

Tribe Travel Tip: Book the overnight Poovar Island Resort stay rather than a day tour if your schedule allows. Watching the backwaters at sunset from a private islet is worth the extra night.

Ponmudi Hills

Cool air, mesmerising greenery, and a break from ordinary outings, Ponmudi Hills offers something special that arguably can't be found elsewhere. It is just a couple of hours from Trivandrum. It can be a perfect place to visit in South Kerala for travellers seeking solitude, a peaceful time, far from the bustling sound of crowds, and who want to simply get absorbed in nature and enjoy themselves. The good thing is Ponmudi hills rarely get crowded even during peak travel season.

• Best for: Scenic drives, cooler weather, short treks
• Time needed: 1 day
• Good to know: The winding hill roads make this a genuinely enjoyable drive on its own

Kollam

“Gateway to backwaters in Kerala” this is how Kollam usually gets referred to. It is an ancient seaport city. Among the best places to visit in Kollam, you will find Ashtamudi Lake, Thangassery Lighthouse, and the long stretch of Mahatma Gandhi Beach.

All of these key attractions are easy to reach. This town is worth adding to your places to visit in South Kerala, as it can work as a base for continuing your holiday to further south destinations.

• Best for: Lake views, lighthouse visits, backwater boat rides
• Time needed: 1 day
• Good to know: Ashtamudi Lake connects to the backwaters, so you can combine it with a short cruise

Munroe Island

Munroe Island is just 25 kilometres away from Kollam, where the Ashtamudi Lake meets the Kallada River. This is the starting point for the famous Kallada boat race, which is a cultural festival that is held 28 days after Onam. One of the major activities you can do here is cruising through backwater and crossing narrow canals and mangrove arches.

• Best for: Backwater canals, birdwatching, a quieter alternative to Alappuzha
• Time needed: Half a day
• Good to know: Canoe rides through the narrow canals give a closer view than a regular houseboat

Thiruvananthapuram

Capital of Kerala, Trivandrum is best when explored on foot, not in a hurry. Try to spend some time in this “evergreen city of India” to slow down your holiday before it turns fast-paced. Considering it the best place to visit in South Kerala wouldn’t be wrong, since the famous Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Napier Museum, Chitra Art Gallery, and nearby Trivandrum Zoo make this spot perfect for a full-day sightseeing.

• Best for: Culture, history, families with kids (thanks to the zoo)
• Time needed: 1 day
• Good to know: Padmanabhaswamy Temple has a strict dress code, so carry something to cover up if needed

Quick Comparison Table

Here's a fast way to match each stop to what you're actually after.

​What is the Best Time to Visit South Kerala?

Timing genuinely changes what kind of places to visit in South Kerala. Here is how the seasons break down:

November through February remains the safest bet for comfortable weather across the board, though August rewards travellers specifically chasing Kerala's biggest festival.

How to Reach South Kerala?

• Fly into Trivandrum International Airport, which is the main entry point. It even has direct flights from major Indian cities and a few international routes
• Kochi airport is a good backup if you're coming from the north
• Trains connect the region well, with Trivandrum, Kollam, and Varkala all on major rail lines.
• Trains plus local transport can easily get you around the whole area

Suggested 5-Day South Kerala Itinerary

A simple route that covers the region without excessive backtracking.

• Day 1: Arrive in Trivandrum, visit Padmanabhaswamy Temple and Napier Museum
• Day 2: Travel to Kollam, explore Ashtamudi Lake and Thangassery Lighthouse
• Day 3: Munroe Island backwater cruise, then head to Varkala for the evening
• Day 4: Full day in Varkala, beaches and cliffside cafes
• Day 5: Kovalam in the morning, Poovar backwater cruise and resort stay in the afternoon

Tribe Travel Tip: Reverse this route entirely if your flights work better landing and departing from opposite ends. Both directions cover the same ground equally well.

Travel Tips for South Kerala

A few practical notes make this region far easier to navigate.

• You can easily travel between towns by taking government or private buses, which are both frequent and affordable.
• Trains link most major destinations, but if you want to visit hill areas like Ponmudi, you’ll need to use a car or an auto-rickshaw.
• Within each town, auto-rickshaws are still the easiest way to get around.
• Be sure to try local dishes along the way, such as appam with stew, karimeen pollichathu, and puttu with kadala curry.

Before You Go

Genuine places to visit in South Kerala rarely make it onto the standard India itinerary, and that's exactly what makes this region worth the detour. Cliffside beaches in Varkala, backwater cruises in Poovar and Munroe Island, cool hill air in Ponmudi, and a proper capital city day in Thiruvananthapuram all sit within a comfortable week-long loop. If you'd rather have this itinerary built around your exact dates, our advisors at Holiday Tribe can put the whole route together for you.