Chennai, formerly Madras, grew around Fort St George, which the East India Company built in 1644 on a stretch of coast granted by local rulers. Much older neighbourhoods such as Mylapore and Triplicane, with their great temples, were absorbed into the city. Today it is the capital of Tamil Nadu and a centre of Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam, Tamil cinema and industry.
The things to do in Chennai include long walks on Marina and Elliot's beaches, the Kapaleeshwarar and Parthasarathy temples, San Thome Basilica, the fort and its museum, and the Government Museum's world-class Chola bronzes. December brings the music and dance season. Food is a highlight, from idli and filter coffee to Chettinad curries.
Two to three days covers the city; add Mahabalipuram or Kanchipuram as day trips. November to February is the most comfortable time.
For how to get there, when to go and where to stay, see our Chennai travel guide.
Quick answer: best things to do in Chennai
- Walk on Marina beach at sunrise or sunset
- Visit Kapaleeshwarar Temple and explore Mylapore
- See San Thome Basilica
- Visit Fort St George and its museum
- See the Chola bronzes at the Government Museum
- Attend a concert during the December music season
- Watch a Bharatanatyam performance at Kalakshetra
- Visit DakshinaChitra on the East Coast Road
- Shop for silk in T Nagar
- Eat idli, dosa and filter coffee at an old tiffin house
Interested in the history? See our guide to colonial-era heritage in India.
Planning a beach holiday? Explore our guide to the best beaches in Tamil Nadu.
Beaches
Walk on Marina beach
Marina beach stretches for about 12 km along the city's shore, one of the longest urban beaches in the world. Early mornings bring joggers and fishermen; evenings bring families, snack stalls and kite sellers. The sea has strong currents and swimming is dangerous and discouraged.
The promenade is lined with memorials, statues and colonial buildings such as the University of Madras and Presidency College.
- Best time
- Sunrise or evening
- Good to know
- Do not swim
- Good for
- Everyone
Relax at Elliot's beach
Elliot's beach in Besant Nagar is smaller and calmer than Marina, with cafés nearby and the Karl Schmidt memorial. The Ashtalakshmi Temple and Velankanni Church are close by. The Theosophical Society's gardens, with a huge old banyan tree, are nearby in Adyar.
- Best time
- Evening
Temples and churches
Visit Kapaleeshwarar Temple and Mylapore
The Kapaleeshwarar Temple, dedicated to Shiva, has a towering gopuram covered in painted figures and a large temple tank. The surrounding streets of Mylapore, one of Chennai's oldest neighbourhoods, are full of flower sellers, brass shops, old houses and tiffin places. The Arubathimoovar festival in March or April is a spectacular procession.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Best time
- Morning or evening puja
See San Thome Basilica
San Thome Basilica, a white neo-Gothic church rebuilt in 1896, stands over what is believed to be the tomb of St Thomas the Apostle. A small museum and the tomb chapel are open to visitors.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
Visit Parthasarathy Temple
The Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane, dedicated to Krishna as Arjuna's charioteer, is one of the oldest temples in the city, dating back to the 8th century in origin. The streets around it are lively and traditional.
Heritage and museums
Visit Fort St George
Fort St George, the first British fortress in India, now houses the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and Secretariat. Inside, the Fort Museum displays arms, uniforms, coins and portraits, and St Mary's Church, consecrated in 1680, is the oldest Anglican church in India.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Good to know
- Museum closed on Fridays
See the Government Museum
The Government Museum in Egmore, founded in 1851, has one of the world's finest collections of Chola bronzes, including the famous Nataraja figures, along with Amaravati sculptures and archaeological, natural history and art galleries.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Good for
- History and art lovers
Visit DakshinaChitra
DakshinaChitra, about 25 km south on the East Coast Road, is a heritage museum of reassembled traditional houses from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, with craft demonstrations and workshops. Cholamandal Artists' Village, one of India's oldest artists' communes, is nearby.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Good for
- Families, culture seekers
More of Chennai
See Chennai's colonial buildings
Along the Marina and around Parry's Corner are grand Indo-Saracenic buildings: the Madras High Court, one of the largest court complexes in the world, the University of Madras Senate House, the Ripon Building and Chennai Central station. A heritage walk with a local group is the best way to see them.
- Good for
- Architecture lovers
Walk through George Town
George Town, the old 'Black Town' north of the fort, is a maze of wholesale markets, temples, churches, mosques and old merchant houses. Streets specialise in flowers, spices, paper, jewellery and more.
- Best time
- Morning
Visit Guindy National Park and the Snake Park
Guindy National Park is one of the few national parks inside a city, with blackbuck and spotted deer. The Chennai Snake Park next door has reptiles and educational talks. Vandalur's Arignar Anna Zoological Park, further south, is one of the largest zoos in India.
- Good for
- Families
See Pulicat Lake
Pulicat Lake, about 60 km north, is a large lagoon with flamingos and other birds in winter, a Dutch cemetery and fishing villages.
- Best time
- November to February
Music, dance and shopping
Attend the December music season
Every December and early January, Chennai's sabhas (music societies) host hundreds of Carnatic music and dance performances in what is known as the Margazhi season. Many morning and afternoon concerts are free or inexpensive, and sabha canteens serve excellent food.
- Best time
- December to early January
Visit Kalakshetra
Kalakshetra Foundation, founded in 1936 by Rukmini Devi Arundale, is a leading school of Bharatanatyam and the arts, on a peaceful campus in Thiruvanmiyur. Performances and festivals are held through the year; the weaving centre sells handloom saris.
Shop for silk in T Nagar
T Nagar's Pondy Bazaar and Ranganathan Street are Chennai's busiest shopping areas, known for large silk and jewellery stores. Kanchipuram silk saris are the classic buy.
- Good for
- Shoppers
Food and day trips
Eat at a tiffin house
Start the day with idli, vada, pongal and dosa with sambar and chutneys, followed by filter coffee, at one of Mylapore's or Triplicane's old tiffin places. Try Chettinad chicken, a banana-leaf meal and Chennai's own biryani for lunch.
- Good for
- Food lovers
Take a day trip to Mahabalipuram or Kanchipuram
Mahabalipuram, about 55 km south, has UNESCO-listed Pallava monuments by the sea. Kanchipuram, about 75 km west, is a temple city famous for its silk weaving.
See the Crocodile Bank
The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, on the road to Mahabalipuram, is a conservation centre with crocodiles, gharials, turtles and snakes from around the world.
- Good for
- Families
Things to do in Chennai by type of traveller
Culture seekers: Visit in December for concerts, see the Government Museum's bronzes and spend an evening in Mylapore.
Families: DakshinaChitra, the Crocodile Bank, Marina in the evening and the zoo at Vandalur.
Food lovers: A tiffin breakfast in Mylapore, a Chettinad lunch and sabha canteen food in the season.
Business travellers: With an evening free, walk Besant Nagar beach, eat dinner in Mylapore and catch a concert if it is the season.
What to do in Chennai with one day
Start with a sunrise walk on Marina beach, then breakfast in Mylapore and a visit to Kapaleeshwarar Temple and San Thome Basilica. Spend the afternoon at the Government Museum and Fort St George, and end the evening with shopping in T Nagar or dinner in Besant Nagar.
Practical tips for Chennai
- Chennai International Airport and Chennai Central are well connected; the metro and suburban trains help avoid traffic.
- Summers (April to June) are very hot; plan outdoor visits for mornings and evenings.
- The north-east monsoon (October to December) can bring heavy rain and flooding.
- Dress modestly at temples; some require men to remove shirts.
- Autorickshaws often refuse meters; use app-based autos or cabs for fair fares.
Plan the rest of your Chennai trip
Chennai things to do: FAQs
What are the best things to do in Chennai?
Walk on Marina beach, visit Kapaleeshwarar Temple, San Thome Basilica and Fort St George, see the Chola bronzes at the Government Museum, attend the December music season, visit DakshinaChitra and eat South Indian food.
Can you swim at Marina beach?
No. Currents are strong and swimming is dangerous and discouraged.
How many days are enough for Chennai?
Two to three days, plus day trips to Mahabalipuram or Kanchipuram.
When is the Chennai music season?
In December and early January (the Tamil month of Margazhi).
Things to do near Chennai
- Things to do in Mahabalipuram: Pallava monuments by the sea
- Things to do in Pondicherry: French Quarter, about three hours south
- Kanchipuram: temples and silk
- Tiruvannamalai: the sacred Arunachala hill
More things to do in Tamil Nadu
Published by the Kudozz Club editorial team · Last updated · How we research our guides
Want us to plan this trip for you?
Tell Kudozz Club where you want to go and what kind of trip you’re looking for. We’ll build a Chennai and Tamil Nadu itinerary around your dates and budget.
Continue Exploring
View all guides
Heritage & CultureSouth India Heritage Itinerary: Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
A South India heritage itinerary in two loops: eight days in Tamil Nadu through Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram, Puducherry, Thanjavur and the Great Living Chola Temples, Chettinad and Madurai; and eight days in Karnataka through Mysuru, the Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebidu, Hampi, and Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal, with travel times and ways to combine them.
Destination GuideCoimbatore Travel Guide: Gateway to the Nilgiris
A textile city turned home to one of the world's largest bust sculptures, and the most practical launchpad for Ooty and Valparai.
Destination GuideKodaikanal Travel Guide: Lake, Views & Tips
A star-shaped lake, ridge-top walks, and a flower that blooms only once every twelve years — the complete guide to the Princess of Hill Stations.
Destination GuideTamil Nadu Travel Guide: Madurai, Mahabalipuram & Ooty
Temple towers carved with thousands of painted deities, UNESCO shore temples on the Bay of Bengal, and tea gardens in the Nilgiri hills — the complete guide to Dravidian India.