Best Beaches in Kerala That Every Traveller Must Visit

Set amid a beautiful setting, about 10 km away from the calm and quiet hamlet of Varkala, Varkala Beach is a beautiful beach renowned for its solitude unlike other commercial beaches of Goa. Among foreign tourists visiting Kerala, Varkala beach is the most famous one.

Alappuzha is referred to as the Venice of the East which has always enjoyed an important place in the maritime history of Kerala. Presently it is famous for its boat races, backwater holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. Alappuzha beach is a popular picnic spot and a huge tourist destination, hence making it one of the best beaches in Kerala. 

Muzhappilangad beach, located 8 km from Thalassery is often tagged as a paradise for swimmers. Known as the Drive-in-Beach of Kerala, this Muzhappilangad charges just Rs. 10 if you wish to drive your car here. Apart from driving, Muzhappilangad is one of the top beaches in Kerala for relaxing, swimming and sunbathing.

Covering a huge area of 35 acres, Bekal Fort Beach is considered as one of the best maintained beaches in Kerala. Bekal beach is not a virgin beach, but it is not always crowded like several other commercial beaches in India. The garden is the best place to spend time with friends and family. One may enjoy camel rides, horse rides, local snacks etc. on the beach. 

Located on the north end of Vypeen Island, the Cherai Beach offers a beautiful sunset point. The beach in Kerala is also popular for its golden sand, palm trees and a wide expanse of blue water. Its strategic location on the northern end of the Vypin Island in Kochi makes it a perfect merging point of the sea and backwaters. 

One of the great delights of the Malabar Coast, the Marari Beach is an idyllic serene beach. About 11 km from the city of Alleppey, this beach is a hotspot for fishing activity, deriving its name from the local fishing village Mararikulam. Visiting in August gives tourists the exclusive opportunity to view Snake Boat races across the waters. 

Kappad or locally known as Kappakadavu is a famous beach in Kerala near Kozhikode (Calicut) in Kerala, where the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed on 20 May 1498. His voyage established the sea route from Europe to India. This heralded the arrival and permanent route from Europe to India.

Beypore is one of the best beaches in Kerla in the northern part of the state. Located at the mouth of the Chaliyar River, 10 km from Kozhikode, Beypore Beach is famous for its Shipbuilding yard more than 1500 years old. During the trading days of Arabs and Chinese, and later the Europeans, this was one of the most important fishing harbours in Kerala and all of South India.

Located in Kovalam (Southern Kerala), the Lighthouse Beach is known for the 35 metres tall Vizhinjam Lighthouse, located on the top of the Kurumkal hillock. The lighthouse is entirely made of stones and coloured in red and white bands. Visitors love to reach the top of this tall structure by using a spiral staircase to click some memorable photographs.

The impeccably unspoilt Payyabalam beach is adorned with sparkling pearls of golden sand and foamy white waves of the Arabian Sea. The highlight of Kannur and one of the many beautiful beaches in Kerala, it has an incredibly peaceful and inviting aura.

Famous for its sunsets, Kozhikode Beach commemorates the beauty of the colonial era with its lighthouse and two dilapidated piers which are more than 100 years old.

Spanning over an area of 25 acres; Kappil Beach is located 6 km away from the Bekal Fort. The beach bounded by plethora of picture perfect views will leave you absolutely spellbound.

Between the coastal towns of Kannur and Thalassery along the Malabar Coast lies the scenic Thottada Beach. The cleanliness, solitude and tranquillity are part of the charm of the beach, making it the ideal getaway for anyone looking to escape the noise of the city and reconnect with nature and themselves.

Hawah is a stretch of isolated beach famous for its enchanting sunset views. Renowned as the second largest beach, it is also known as Eve's Beach for it being the first topless beach in Kerala and all of India. However, topless bathing is banned now.

A large promontory separates this Northern beach from the southern side. Samudra Beach is where you can enjoy the sight of shoreline fishing and watch local fishermen ply their trade. There is also a mosque on this beach.

Lying 1 km off Thiruvamdabi road, this black sand beach adjacent to the North cliff is an ideal picnic spot amidst lush coconut groves to relax and unwind.

Untouched and unspoilt by tourist activities, the Edava beaches in Kerala are the virgin stretches circling a blue lagoon where sea and backwaters run parallel divided by a more-than-one km of straight road. There is also an estuary that connects the sea with the backwaters here.

Hosdurg Beach, rich in flora and fauna is a perfect place to explore with family and friends. One will find Casuarina orchards populating the beach.

A beautiful natural abode to various species of birds, Island of Pathiramanal is situated in Alappuzha District offering a paradise for ornithologists.

An extension of the famous Payyambalam Beach in Kerala, Meenkunnu Beach is a sight of pure beauty. Located a few kilometers from Kannur in Azhikode, the beach is a long stretch of sandy coastline and clear water.

One of the most popular beaches in Kerala, Shanghumukham Beach is known for its pristine waters and soulful sunsets. It runs next to the Trivandrum airport and a must visit for those seeking tranquillity.

A sea shore adorned with rare scenic beauty, the Chavakad beach is renowned as being one of the best beaches in Kerala along the West Coast of India in Kerala.

Lying at a distance of just 2 km from kollam town is Mahatma Gandhi Beach and Park which is quite popular as a picnic spot among locals and tourists.

A perfect place to relax and unwind, to swim and to sunbath, Thirumullavaram Beach is surrounded by calm and serene surroundings. The beach is located hardly 6 km from the kollam town.

A long stretch of glowing sand and changing colors of sky makes this Padinharekara Beach a charming place to visit. Situated at Malappuram on Tipu Sultan Road, the major attraction of this beach in Kerala is majestic view of the Arabian Sea, Bharathapuzha River and the Tirur Puzha River.

Voted as the first 'Beach Wedding Destination' in Kerala, the Kollam Beach requires no introduction. This scenic and breathtaking natural wonder is also known as the Mahatma Gandhi Beach and boasts of pristine blue waters that seem to unite with the bright sky at an infinite distance, while tourists marvel at the sheer magnificence of the majestic scene.

This palm-fringed beach in Kerala is actually a rock-strewn one with crimson cliffs and giant rocks lining up the coastline in the most attractive and scenic way possible. The Ezhara Beach is sure to charm you with the panoramic view of the azure waters of the Arabian Sea and its foamy white waves crashing against the rocks.

The Baby Beach in Kannur, as the name suggests, is a tiny yet an extremely attractive beach along the shore of the Arabian Sea. Don't be mistaken by its name or size, this beach is a very happening picnic spot for the locals of Kannur and attracts the attention of many tourists with its panoramic view of the azure Arabian Sea.

The Snehatheeram beach in Kerala situated in Thrissur is one of the most super-scenic beaches present here, and a trip to Thrissur without coming down here is incomplete with the sun, sand and the Arabian Sea all coming together in perfect harmony and descending upon the beach right in the middle of the coastline.

Located at a distance of 6 kms from Alappuzha and 90 kms from Kochi International Airport, Thumpoly is a coastal town in Kerala. With the majestic Arabian Sea on one side, and a charming quaint lake on the other, Thumpoly has been graciously blessed with golden sandy beaches, verdant green meadows and numerous canals which finally make their way to the ocean, by nature.

Punnapra beach in Kerala is a serene getaway famous for its golden stretch of sand and pristine waters. It is an isolated beach and doesn't have a lot of visitors. It is, therefore, preferred for tourists looking for a romantic holiday away from the chaotic city life. Ayurvedic massages on the beach are quite famous here, making it a good place to replenish one's mind and body.

Famed through a celebrated novel and movie 'Chemmeen', Thottappally Beach is a quiet escape in the village. It an active fishing harbour that draws locals every day. The Thottappally Spillway located nearby is also quite an attraction. It helps separate the freshwater of the Thottappally Lake and the saline water at the mouth of the river that drains into the Arabian Sea. Tourists visit often for its conserved picturesque beauty and a soul-soothing experience.

Located at a distance of 30 kms from Kochi, Andhakaranazhi Beach is an extension of the tiny village of Andhakaranazhi. It is an azhy or a shoal which is a naturally formed ridge formed underwater and rises to the surface and is mostly used to regulate the inflow or outflow of water via two motor-operated shutters installed to the north and the south of the beach.

Vizhinjam Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Kovalam which houses a lighthouse and an impressive marine aquarium. Located in Vizhinjam town that's 3 km away from Kovalam, this beach was once known to be one of the largest ports in India.