Seven Days In Chennai, India: The Intricate And Authentic Travel Guide

In October 2025, I made a 13 hour and 30 minute trip to Chennai, India from Geneva, Switzerland. I flew with Emirates and had a layover in Dubai for 2 hours. India has been on my bucket list for a few years now but planning the logistics was harder than most of my trips. I kept on pushing it back until I had more years of solo travel experience. Fortunately, a close friend announced her engagement and invited me to attend her wedding in Chennai. For me, attending a South Indian wedding in India was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I was not going to miss out on. There was an adventure to be had there, so I said yes. This was my third trip to Asia and my fourth country: China in 2013, Vietnam and Thailand in 2024.

India is a diverse and scenic country that is filled with incredible wonders and destinations for every bucket list. It truly is a country where adventures can be found in popular and underrated locations. From its majestic structures, natural and man-made marvels, untamed beauty, attractions worth a thousand tales, exquisite arts and crafts, chaotic cities, friendly people and aromatic cuisine, there is something for everyone.

For anyone planning a trip to Chennai, India or considering it as a possible destination, here is a travel guide to help you plan your trip there and make the most of it.

Check Out Instagram Video Content on Chennai

Disclaimer: This post does include some affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and tours that I have personally vetted.

About India

India is an intricate tapestry woven from its vibrant and rich heritage, its geographical landscapes, historical civilisations and influences. Some people may associate India with its popular tourist attractions such as the Taj Mahal, Jaipur’s palaces, the holy city of Varanas, Kerala’s palm-fringed backwaters and the golden beaches of Goa. While those things may play a part in its ability to draw travellers to its location, this destination has much more to offer than that. India is a South Asian country that borders the Indian Ocean in the south, the Arabian Sea on the southwest and the Bay of Bengal on the southeast. It is impossible and complex to summarise India in one word. However, it is one of the most historical adventures that you will encounter.

Best Time To Go To Chennai

India is all-year round destination. Although the weather does vary depending if you are visiting the North or the South. In the North, the dry season runs from December to March whereas the rainy season runs from June to September. In the South, it is warm all year but the dry season runs from November to February whereas it gets extremely sticky and humid the other months of the year. I visited the South during their dry season at the end of October and the average temperatures were around 30 to 33°C. It rained once while I was in Chennai overnight but it didn’t affect any of the events that I attended.

Getting to Chennai, India

I flew from Geneva to Chennai via Emirates – there are quite a few options to choose from here. I chose Emirates as I have flown with them multiple times and enjoy the experience. The airport that you want to get to is Chennai International Airport (MAA) in Chennai. It is not the only international airport in the state of Tamil Nadu, make sure that you select the correct destination. My flights were good, the flight to Chennai was completely full and arrived there around 10am in the morning. Make sure that you search and track your flights early for catch some good deals. Around that time of year is wedding season and people are travelling back home for the celebrations. The prices of flights will increase quickly.

The flight trackers that I used for this trip were Google Flights and Hopper. For the former, I would clear the cache quite often to get the best deals.

Visa and Immigration in Chennai

For most countries, entering India requires a visa. Depending if you are a national of three countries listed on their website, you can get a visa on arrival. I had to apply for a visa and I recommend applying for a year visa instead of a month. The prices for both are the same. The difference between them is that you can only apply for the month visa on the exact date a month before you are scheduled to fly out there. For me, that is a risk especially if it gets delayed or rejected.

You do need to have at least 6 months left before the expiry date of your passport. Their immigration office has a strict policy on this, as do most countries. Check their official website for up-to-date information as it does change every so often. In addition, you will have an opportunity to fill out the E-arrival form before you fly out. I recommend doing that and printing out to save time when you land. If you are going for a wedding or an event and received an invitation, make sure to bring the invitation with you. Bring a print out of your return ticket. You may get asked questions at immigration.

I got asked a lot of questions at the Chennai immigration desk and I was held there for a quite a while. Fortunately, I didn’t let that experience dampen my mood for this trip.

E-Sims to Use In Chennai

Since I went to St. Kitts in 2023, I have always used an E-Sim whenever and wherever I travel. I no longer have to play Russian roulette with my data to avoid the exorbitant rates for roaming plans. Once I discovered the beauty of an E-Sim, I never looked back. I use Airalo to stay connected when I travel. This app is convenient and practical. It is easy to set up on your phone before landing at your next destination. Moreover, it has E-Sims for individual countries, regional E-Sims and global ones, depending on how you are going to travel. However, it is important to mention that it is a data-only app. If you want to make local phone calls, you would need to find other means. You can use my referral code FOLAKE6280 to get USD $3.00 off your first eSIM.

Where To Stay In Chennai

There are a variety of places to stay in Chennai. In the cities, you’ll find luxury and boutique hotels, hostels, apartments, Air Bnbs etc. In certain locations, you’ll find unique home stays which are very popular. By the coastal areas, you will find beach resorts. There is accommodation for any budget.

During my trip, I stayed in Chennai and it is a huge city. I would take that into consideration while booking your accommodation. Some of the most popular neighbourhoods to stay in Egmore (hotels and tourist attractions), George Town for the historical area and Anna Nagar for the shopping district. For transportation, Uber is wildly used there for short distances. However if you are travelling long distances, it might be best to hire a driver for your trip.

Teynampet

Chennai is the capital and largest city of the state, Tamil Nadu and is located in Southern India. While I was in Chennai, I stayed in two hotels that were selected by the bride’s family and the wedding planner. The first hotel, Hanu Reddy Residences at Poes Garden which is located in Teynampet. I had a great stay there and loved that it was a boutique hotel. If you know me by now, you know that I always opt for these types of hotels for the intimacy and bespoke experience.

My room was spacious which was a huge bonus. There was a a restaurant on site where I had breakfast every morning, and sometimes lunch. My second morning there, the hotel hosted a wedding. That was good to experience on the side. I had an opportunity to venture out to the shopping district and explore more there. I recommend staying here if you want to be within a residential area that also has high end hotels and upscale global and Indian restaurants. Rates are around $170 per night.

There are other places that you can stay near Teynampet such as the Novotel Chennai Chamiers Road and a popular choice: Park Hyatt Chennai.

Mangalore

The second hotel, Vivanta, which is located in Mangalore. This was such a beautiful and grand hotel. My bathroom was delightful with so much space on the counter to do my makeup and skincare. The shower had marbled tiles and I loved the decor. There were three restaurants within the hotel, a sauna and massage room, a gym which I used once, a bookstore and outdoor pool. I didn’t have the opportunity to venture around the area as this was the wedding events took up most of my time. There was one restaurant, I believe the Asian one, that struggled with serving a big party. If you choose to eat there as a big group, I’d recommend splitting up into smaller groups for a meal. Overall, it felt like a high-end hotel that was extremely comfortable. Rates are around $125 per night.

There are other places that you can stay near Mangalore such as the Goldfinch Hotel Mangalore.

What To Do In Chennai

Chennai isn’t just about its coastal beaches, stunning architecture and temples, even though those sights are magnificent and incredible. Chennai isn’t just about its vibrant food scene and skyscrapers. This city has so much to offer and I barely scratched the surface during my visit. Here are my top activity recommendations that were on my to-do list if I had more free time:

Arts & Culture

1) Visit the DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum

Chennai is filled with a plethora of museums that are incredible in their own ways. If there is one museum that you should visit, it is the DakshinaChitra Heritage museum. It’s an open air space filled with arts, crafts, architecture from across the South of India. Vendors come in from all over the South to display their work. You’ll be able learn more about their history, their process of making the ornaments and art work. In addition, you’ll be able to join a glass blowing workshop or whatever seasonal workshop they have at the time; and buy souvenirs for family and friends. I did this as a day trip and it introduced me more to the culture and its traditions.

2) Explore the city of Chennai

Exploring a new destination is one of the best ways to learn more about the country, its people and its history. The Kapaleeshawara Temple is the perfect place to start as it is a holy site that depicts stories and legends from the sacred texts of Hinduism brought to life in colour. You can book a tour here.

3) Take a day trip to Pondicherry

Chennai is the one of the best locations to take a day trip. Less than three hours away, there is a vibrant and coastal city with a quaint charm called Pondicherry. While you are there, you will see historical sites, French Quarters, a botanical garden and more.

Immersive Activities

4) Take a guided food tour for authentic eats

Taking a food tour is highly recommended especially if you don’t know much about Indian cuisine. I love Indian cuisine, but I realised early on that I mainly eat North Indian cuisine. I tried Dosa for the first time and couldn’t believe that I hadn’t eaten it before. This tour will introduce you to South Indian foods and how to spot the best street food spots (mostly in hotels and restaurants) for authentic eats. You can book a tour here.

5) Join a cooking class and learn traditional Indian board games

Joining a cooking class is another way to truly immerse yourself into the South Indian culture. You get to move away from the tourist spots and into the heart where it all starts: the people. I really wanted to do this on my second to last day but I wasn’t able to make it. It’s a day activity where you can learn how to drape a saree, cook a dish and make your own kolam designs. This is the perfect activity to add more culture into your visit. You can book a tour here.

Where To Eat

Indian cuisine is aromatic, flavoursome and their use of spices define their dishes. As I was there for a wedding, most of the dishes that I ate were vegetarian with seafood I believe. When I did go to other restaurants, I took advantage of eating more meat dishes, in particular, fish as it is a coastal country. South Indian cuisine is mainly coconut-based with rice and lentils as staples. You will see a lot of dosa, sambar stew and steamed idil cakes on their menus. However, their dishes are light, steamed or fermented.

Here are some restaurants to go to in Chennai:

• Sky at The Residency Towers Hotel
• Kappa chakka kandhari
• Ente Keralam
• Southern Spice

Note: Most dishes at Indian restaurants are served on banana leaves. Cutlery is available but the locals mainly eat with their hands.

When it comes to drinking water, do not drink from the taps. Always buy bottled water (brands such as Busier, Aquafina or Kinley are good options) or check that it is RO water (special filtered water that is safe to drink).

What To Wear

Chennai is an all-year round destination. The dry season runs from November to February whereas it gets extremely sticky and humid the other months of the year. I brought some cotton dresses, some blouses, long skirts and trousers for outings and then clothing for the wedding. I recommend bring portable hand held fans with you as you will feel the heat from 6am in the morning.

Chennai is a traditional city so you have to dress appropriately similar to how you would dress in Middle Eastern cities like Abu Dhabi. No cleavage showing and nothing that is above the knee. I made sure to carry a scarf with me at all times if I needed to cover my shoulders or if I was wearing a dress with a slightly low neckline. If you would like to go into temples, you will need to take off your shoes and have your shoulders covered.

Final Thoughts

Chennai was such an authentic trip for me because I did not only go as a tourist, but also a wedding guest. I received two experiences in one. For my fifth international solo trip, I was in awe! Although Chennai is not a touristic city, it has opened my eyes to what other places in India have to offer. As a result, I hope to visit another city sometime in the future. I hope that this travel guide and my video content has convinced you to add India to your travel bucket list.

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Thank you for reading and share this with a friend that might be interested in visiting. Check out my Instagram to see what I got up to in Chennai. To see all my other travel guides, please check the Travel tag. Drop any questions or comments that you have down below. If you enjoy travel content, make sure to subscribe to the blog, so you don’t miss any future posts. Find me on Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok for more powerlifting and wellness content.

Until next time,

Folakemi