Kochi, a city in southwestern India formerly known as Cochin, has been named one of the top trending destinations of 2026 by Booking.com. The city offers a slower-paced, relaxed vibe while still providing incredible food, hospitality, weather, and shopping. It is described as the “perfect soulful gateway to southern India’s natural beauty and cultural riches” and is easily accessible via Cochin International Airport.
One of Kochi’s most popular attractions is its huge Chinese fishing nets along the coast and backwaters. These nets, unique to Kochi, are about 10 meters high and made of teak wood and bamboo poles, with large stones used as counterweights. While most are operated manually, some have been upgraded with motors. Visitors can see them at Vasco D’Gama Square in Fort Kochi.
Ayurveda, a traditional Indian holistic health practice, is prominent in Kerala, and Kochi has many Ayurveda clinics offering massages and other treatments. Ayurvedic medicine includes yoga, massage, acupuncture, and herbal medicine. The practice began in India more than 3,000 years ago.
Kochi is also an arts and culture hub, home to numerous art cafes such as Lila Art Cafe and Kashi Art Cafe in Fort Kochi. The city hosts the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Asia’s biggest contemporary art festival, held every two years from January to March. The festival began in 2012 and showcases art from over 400 local and international artists.
For shopping and dining, visitors can explore Princess Street, Burger Street, and Bastian Street in Fort Kochi, as well as Jew Town in Mattancherry. A must-visit is the IRS Perfume Factory in Mattancherry, which offers a range of in-house perfumes and incense. The factory has the largest alcohol-free perfume bottle in the world, standing 3 meters tall and holding 3,600 liters of jasmine perfume, as well as the world’s largest incense stick at 21 meters long.
