Top 10 Resorts in Kochi: Best Getaways for a Weekend Break

Kochi’s own backwaters mean you don’t have to drive far at all for a genuine getaway, and the right resorts in Kochi often sit inside the city itself. We pulled ratings, prices and locations for 10 resorts across Kochi, from a Dutch built heritage property to a quiet backwater stay near Aster Medicity, and ranked them by current guest ratings rather than an arbitrary order.

A quick note before you dive in. Kochi’s resort scene skews heavily toward backwater and heritage stays rather than water parks or golf resorts, so if you’re after a big family activity roster, a few of these are better suited to a quiet couples weekend instead.

If where you live is part of why weekends feel short, that’s worth sorting out too. Stanza Living’s PG in Kochi options handle meals and housekeeping so your actual free time stays free.

With that out of the way, here’s the ranked list.

Key Takeaways

• The Kochi Backwater Resort in Varapuzha holds a 5 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor, ranked 28th of 61 bed and breakfasts in the city, and it’s only 20 minutes from Lulu Mall.
• Brunton Boatyard and Chittoor Kottaram Royal Mansion are the two clearest heritage picks, both built around genuine colonial and traditional Kerala architecture rather than themed decor.
• Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty and Taj Malabar Resort & Spa function more as luxury hotels with resort style amenities than dedicated getaway resorts, and both are within the city itself.
• Most properties on this list lean into backwater views and cruises rather than pools or activity parks, so factor that in if your group specifically wants a water park style weekend.

Quick Overview

The Ranked List: 10 Resorts in Kochi

Ranked by current Tripadvisor and Google ratings where available, and by how consistently each property is recommended otherwise.

1. The Kochi Backwater Resort

This one holds a genuine 5 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor, ranked 28th out of 61 bed and breakfasts and inns in Ernakulam. It sits about 20 minutes from Lulu Mall and 10 minutes from Aster Medicity, and it offers backwater cruises and kayaking on request rather than a pool or spa. Good option if you’re weighing this against a PG in Edapally for the working week and just want a quiet weekend nearby.

Location: Chennur 4/297, Near Chennur Subhramanya Swami Temple, Varapuzha, Kochi, Kerala 683517

2. Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty

Reviews consistently mention this as one of the best hotels guests have stayed at in recent memory, with large rooms offering backwater views and facilities well suited to families with small children. It functions more like a luxury hotel with resort amenities than a dedicated weekend getaway property.

Location: Bolgatty Island, Kochi, Kerala
Contact: Available via hyatt.com

3. Taj Malabar Resort & Spa

Set on Willingdon Island with waterfront views, this is one of Kochi’s most established luxury properties, frequently named as a strong pick for honeymoon stays alongside its regular business and leisure guests.

Location: Willingdon Island, Kochi, Kerala
Contact: Available via tajhotels.com

4. Brunton Boatyard

Built with genuine colonial charm rather than a themed imitation, this heritage property in Fort Kochi overlooks the estuary and gets consistent praise for its rooms and balconies specifically. It’s a good pick if the history of Fort Kochi itself is part of why you’re visiting.

Location: Fort Kochi, Kochi, Kerala

5. Chittoor Kottaram Royal Mansion

Part of the CGH Earth group’s SAHA Experience collection, this one leans into traditional Kerala architecture and is repeatedly named among the properties couples rate most highly in the city, alongside strong reviews for its overall ambience.

Location: Kochi, Kerala

6. Nihara Resort and Spa

Guests describe this one as calm and scenic, with an evening backwater cruise mentioned repeatedly as a highlight of the stay. It’s a reasonable middle ground between the luxury hotels and the smaller backwater bed and breakfast style properties on this list.

Location: Kochi, Kerala

7. Ramada Resort by Wyndham Kochi

Reviewers consistently highlight the pool area and overall ambience here, positioning it as a solid mid range option for a family weekend without the pricing of the luxury properties higher up this list. It’s also close enough to the city that you could pair a stay with our roundup of gyms in Kochi if you don’t want to skip a workout while you’re away.

Location: Kochi, Kerala
Contact: Available via wyndhamhotels.com

8. Kondai Lip Backwater Heritage Resort

This one shows up often in breakfast focused reviews specifically, alongside its backwater views, making it a reasonable pick if food quality matters as much to your group as the room itself. If you’re staying in the city longer, our list of cafes in Kochi is worth a look too.

Location: Kochi, Kerala

9. The Renai Cochin

Located near Lulu Mall, this one is a genuinely convenient pick if you want a resort feel without straying far from the city’s main shopping and dining hub. Reviews lean toward families and short business trips more than couples specifically. Worth comparing against ladies PG in Vyttila if you’re actually house hunting rather than just visiting for the weekend.

Location: Near Lulu Mall, Kochi, Kerala

10. Fort Kochi Beach Resorts, Cherai Area

The Cherai stretch is narrow enough that you can look at the backwater lake from one side of the resort and the beach from the other, which is a genuine point of difference from the rest of this list. A few properties here would benefit from an upgrade according to recent reviews, but the location itself is hard to match for families with kids who want both a beach and a calmer backwater view in one trip.

Location: Cherai, Kochi, Kerala

Conclusion

If a couple of these resorts have you thinking about spending more time in Kochi rather than just a weekend, that’s worth acting on too. A managed PG near Kaloor or similar setup handles the cooking and cleaning through the week, which is really what makes weekend trips like these easy to plan in the first place rather than something you keep pushing to next month.

Whether it’s a heritage stay in Fort Kochi, a quiet backwater cruise in Varapuzha, or a family weekend at Cherai, the honest takeaway is that Kochi’s resorts don’t ask for a long drive the way a lot of other cities do. Pick one off this list and go.

FAQs

Q. Which are the best resorts in Kochi right now?

The Kochi Backwater Resort in Varapuzha holds the strongest guest rating on this list at 5 out of 5, ranked 28th of 61 Ernakulam bed and breakfasts. Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty and Taj Malabar Resort & Spa follow as the strongest luxury picks.

Q. Are there heritage resorts in Kochi?

Yes, Brunton Boatyard in Fort Kochi and Chittoor Kottaram Royal Mansion are both built around genuine colonial or traditional Kerala architecture rather than themed decor, and both are consistently praised for their ambience.

Q. Which Kochi resorts are best for a family with kids?

Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty and the Fort Kochi area resorts near Cherai both work well for families, the former for its facilities and the latter for combining beach and backwater access in one trip.

Q. Are Kochi resorts good for a couples getaway?

Yes, Chittoor Kottaram Royal Mansion and Taj Malabar Resort & Spa are both frequently named strong couples and honeymoon picks, thanks to their quieter, more intimate settings compared to the larger family hotels.

Q. Do Kochi resorts offer backwater cruises?

Most of them do in some form. The Kochi Backwater Resort and Nihara Resort and Spa both build cruises and kayaking directly into their offering, rather than as a paid add-on booked separately.

Q. Is it necessary to travel far from Kochi city for a good resort?

Not really. Several of the strongest rated properties on this list, including The Kochi Backwater Resort and Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, sit within 20 to 30 minutes of central Kochi, so a long drive isn’t required for a genuine getaway.