Holiday in Chennai
City in India — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇮🇳
Country
India
Type
City
Best time to travel
November to February (24-30 °C, dry season). October-December northeast monsoon with heavy rainfall. March-May extremely hot (38-42 °C).
Budget/day
30-70 €
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Chennai (MAA, approx. 9-13 hours with a layover in Dubai, Doha, or Singapore). E-visa for Germans online (approx. 25 USD, 30 days).
Deals for Chennai:
What makes Chennai special as a destination?
Chennai (formerly Madras) is the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the cultural heart of South India. The city on the Bay of Bengal is the center of Tamil culture, Bharatanatyam dance, Carnatic music, and South Indian cuisine — a world that is fundamentally different from North India. Marina Beach stretches over 13 kilometers along the coast and is one of the longest city beaches in the world. In the evening, it transforms into a huge street food market with Sundal (spiced chickpeas), Bajji (fried vegetables), and fresh sugarcane juice. The Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore is a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture: a colorful Gopuram (temple tower) adorned with hundreds of deity figures. The San Thome Basilica (over the tomb of Apostle Thomas) and Fort St. George (1644, the oldest British fort in India) tell of Chennai's colonial history. The Government Museum is one of the oldest museums in India with an outstanding bronze collection from the Chola dynasty. Chennai is also the capital of the Tamil film industry (Kollywood), producing more films per year than Bollywood. The film studios, poster paintings, and fandom around superstars like Rajinikanth are unique. Mahabalipuram (UNESCO, 1 hour south) with its beach temples and rock sculptures is an essential day trip.
What are the top highlights in Chennai?
The top highlights in Chennai include Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Marina Beach, Mahabalipuram (UNESCO), Fort St. George, San Thome Basilica.
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Kapaleeshwarar Temple
Dravidian masterpiece in Mylapore: colorful Gopuram with hundreds of deity figures — Chennai's spiritual heart.
Marina Beach
13 kilometers long city beach: one of the longest in the world, in the evening with street food market and festive atmosphere.
Mahabalipuram (UNESCO)
Beach temples and rock sculptures of the Pallava dynasty: UNESCO World Heritage Site one hour south of Chennai.
Fort St. George
Oldest British fort in India (1644): today a government seat with a museum about colonial history.
San Thome Basilica
Church over the alleged tomb of Apostle Thomas: one of only three basilicas worldwide over an apostolic tomb.
Hotels in Chennai
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Reise-SIM für Chennai
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
When is the best time to visit Chennai?
The best time to visit Chennai is November to February (24-30 °C, dry season). October-December northeast monsoon with heavy rainfall. March-May extremely hot (38-42 °C).. 32-42 °C, extremely hot and humid before the monsoon In winter: 22-30 °C, pleasantly warm, occasional monsoon rains October-December
Recommended travel time
November to February (24-30 °C, dry season). October-December northeast monsoon with heavy rainfall. March-May extremely hot (38-42 °C).
Summer
32-42 °C, extremely hot and humid before the monsoon
Winter
22-30 °C, pleasantly warm, occasional monsoon rains October-December
How much does a holiday in Chennai cost?
Budget travellers: 12-25 €/day, mid-range: 30-70 €/day, luxury: 80-250 €/day.
Average costs per person per day
Budget
12-25 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
30-70 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
80-250 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
How do I get from Germany to Chennai?
Flight to Chennai (MAA, approx. 9-13 hours with a layover in Dubai, Doha, or Singapore). E-visa for Germans online (approx. 25 USD, 30 days).
Book a package holiday to Chennai
Compare thousands of package holidays to Chennai and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays nowWhat travel tips are there for Chennai?
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Apply for e-visa online — indianvisaonline.gov.in, approx. 25 USD. Valid for 30 days, processing time 3-5 days.
Have a South Indian breakfast — Dosa, Idli, and Vada with Sambar and Chutney are cheaper and more authentic than any hotel buffet.
Negotiate rickshaw prices in advance — auto-rickshaws rarely have meters. Ola and Uber work reliably in Chennai.
Mahabalipuram as a day trip — ECR (East Coast Road) along the coast. Reachable by bus (1.5 hours) or taxi (1 hour).
December music season — the Madras Music Season (mid-Dec to mid-Jan) is the largest festival of classical Carnatic music in the world.
What should you eat in Chennai?
Typical specialities in Chennai: Dosa — crispy rice flour crepe with potato filling (Masala Dosa): South India's breakfast icon, served with Sambar and coconut chutney., Idli — steamed rice cakes: fluffy, light, and a healthy start to the day — Chennai's basic breakfast., Chettinad Chicken — spicy curry from Chettinad cuisine with over 20 spices: Chennai's spiciest dish., Filter Coffee — South Indian filter coffee with frothy milk: served in a metal cup, strong and sweet — addictive., Banana Leaf Thali — vegetarian feast on a banana leaf: rice, 6-8 side dishes, Sambar, Rasam — unlimited refills..
These specialties you must try!
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