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3 Days in Chennai: Itinerary 2026
Chennai is spread out, so group attractions by neighborhood to avoid wasting time in traffic. This itinerary clusters South Chennai (Day 1), Central Chennai (Day 2), and Nortβ¦ πΊοΈ Planning Your Days
Chennai is spread out, so group attractions by neighborhood to avoid wasting time in traffic. This itinerary clusters South Chennai (Day 1), Central Chennai (Day 2), and North Chennai (Day 3). Budget 30-45 minutes travel between clusters by auto-rickshaw or app-based cab.
βοΈ Day 1: South Chennai
Start at 8am with a visit to the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore (free entry, open 6am-12pm and 4pm-9pm). Walk to the nearby San Thome Basilica (open 6am-8pm) by 10am. Have lunch at Murugan Idli Shop (77, Dr Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore) for around Rs 150 per person.
π Day 1 Afternoon
Head to Marina Beach around 2pm for a stroll and visit the lighthouse (entry Rs 20, open 10am-5pm). Then explore the Government Museum in Egmore (entry Rs 15, open 9am-5pm, closed Fridays). End the day with dinner at Annalakshmi (18, C P Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet) for a vegetarian thali around Rs 400.
ποΈ Day 2: Central Chennai
Begin at 9am at Fort St. George (entry Rs 10, open 9am-5pm, closed Fridays) and its museum. Walk to the High Court building (exterior only) and then to the Madras High Court Museum (free, 10am-4pm weekdays). Have lunch at the iconic Saravana Bhavan (Poonamallee High Road) for Rs 200.
π Day 2 Evening
Visit the Valluvar Kottam monument (free, open 8am-8pm) around 4pm. Then head to the Kalakshetra Foundation (Thiruvanmiyur) for a cultural performance if available (check schedule, tickets Rs 200-500). Dinner at The Marina (39, Gandhi Mandapam Road) for seafood, around Rs 800 per person.
βͺ Day 3: North Chennai
Start at 8am at the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni (free, open 6am-8pm). Then visit the Armenian Church (2, Armenian Street, George Town, open 9am-12pm). Have lunch at the famous Kalyana Bhavan (Ranganathan Street) for Rs 150.
ποΈ Day 3 Afternoon
Explore the George Town markets (Prakasam Salai, open 10am-8pm) for textiles and jewelry. Then visit the Ripon Building (exterior) and the Chennai Central Railway Station architecture. End your trip with a sunset at the Marina Beach or a visit to the Vivekananda House (free, 10am-7pm).
π Getting Around
Use app-based cabs like Uber or Ola for longer trips (Rs 150-300 per ride). Auto-rickshaws are cheaper for short distances but always negotiate or use the meter. The Chennai Metro (lines from Chennai Central to Airport) is efficient for avoiding traffic, with fares from Rs 10 to Rs 60.
honestly surprised nobody mentioned the heat factor yet. march/april in chennai is brutal, like 35+ celsius with humidity that hits you the second you step out. plan your temple visits for early morning and carry a small towel, the kapaleeshwarar temple marble floor gets scorching by 10am. also, if you're doing day 3 in north chennai, most of those george town lanes have no shade, so bring a cap and water bottle.
one thing i'd swap is the vivekananda house for the ice house on marina beach road, same building actually but the museum inside has a cool exhibit on the building's history as an actual ice storage facility from the 1800s. the ice was shipped all the way from boston, which is wild to think about. entry is free and it's way less crowded than the main vivekananda spot.
also, for food, the kalyana bhavan on ranganathan street is fine but their original branch in triplicane is better, it's near the big mosque and they do this amazing rava dosa that's crispy as hell. you'll see a queue outside around 11am, that's how you know it's good.
this is a really well put together itinerary, props for grouping by area. i'd swap day 2 evening around a bit though - valluvar kottam is cool but it's literally just a giant stone chariot and some poetry panels, you can see it in 15 mins. instead, head to santhome beach around 4pm for a quick look at the fishermen pulling in their boats, then walk to the basilica if you missed it day 1, it's right there. the light hits the stained glass beautifully in the late afternoon.
for north chennai day 3, if you're into old buildings, add a quick stop at the bharat insurance building on mount road. it's this gorgeous art deco thing from the 1930s, looks like a ship. also, the george town market tip is right - it's mostly wholesale, but the parry's corner area has these tiny lanes with amazing old shop signage that's great for photos. grab a filter coffee at sri krishna sweets near the high court while you're there, their mysore pak is the best in the city.
one last thing - the chennai central railway station is beautiful but the main hall gets really loud and chaotic. go up to the first floor waiting area if you can, it's quieter and you get a better view of the victorian gothic ceiling work without the crowd noise.
just got back from chennai last month and honestly this itinerary is solid. one thing i'd add is that the government museum in egmore is huge, like you'll need at least 2 hours to see the bronze gallery alone, so maybe skip the lighthouse if you're short on time. also, for day 3 the armenian church is tiny but the caretaker there is super friendly and will tell you stories about the old armenian trading families if you ask.
a few practical bits: the murugan idli shop gets crowded by 12:30 so go a bit early. and for the metro, the line from airport to central is great but the stations near kapaleeshwarar and marina beach are a bit of a walk, so factor that in. also, if you're into photography the ripon building looks amazing in late afternoon light, but it's closed to the public so you can only shoot from outside.
one thing i wish i'd known is that the kalakshetra performances are seasonal and often sell out online, so check their website a few days before. their annual festival in december is the best time but march might have something too. also, the marina beach at sunset is beautiful but it gets really crowded with families and vendors, so if you want a quieter spot try the stretch near the lighthouse instead of the main promenade.
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chennai nightlife for a newbie?
If you're staying anywhere near the beach, the ECR stretch is where a lot of locals actually head, but getting back is the catch. You'll need a cab booked in advance or you're stuck haggling at 3 am, and Ola and Uber surge hard out there. For something more central, the bars around Kilpauk and Egmore are quieter and cheaper, think 400 to 600 for a pint, and you can actually hear each other talk. The vibe across the city leans toward sitting, eating well, and drinking slow rather than dancing till dawn, so don't come expecting a club crawl.
Chennai's nightlife is genuinely late compared to most Indian cities, but the split is by area. The pubs around Nungambakkam and Cathedral Road (10 Downing Street, The Rooftop Lounge) run till 2 or 3 am on weekends, while ECR spots like those in Injambakkam keep going later, some till 4. Weekdays most places wind down by midnight though, so plan big nights for Friday or Saturday. One thing people get wrong is expecting a standalone club scene like Bangalore, it's more about pubs with music and a mixed crowd, and the cover charges at the bigger places can run 1500 to 2000 which usually gets adjusted against your bill.
Just pick one spot and stay put, hopping around isn't worth the traffic.