Hi there!
The beach in Alleppey isn’t generally known as being among the best beach towns in Kerala.
But, a case could be made why Alleppey Beach is one of the best beaches in Kerala and South India!
The first thing that comes to mind about Alleppey is often the best activities on the Alleppey backwaters, like riding a canoe, kayak, or ferry past the backwaters villages.
But the beach can be a positive part of your overall stay in Alleppey too.
With Alleppey, you get both the backwaters AND the beach!
Here are 12 of the best things to do near Alleppey Beach
1. Wake up to amazing ocean views by staying at a beachside guesthouse.
2. Watch local fishermen bring in the seafood that Kerala is known for by taking a morning walk on the beach.
3. Eat your breakfast with the best views by staying at a beachfront guesthouse with a rooftop.
4. Go for an afternoon walk on a quiet road that runs right along the beach.
5. Go cycling along a road that runs along the beach.
6. During monsoon season, admire the power of the ocean waves in the rain.
7. Relax in a hammock while listening to ocean waves crashing by staying at a guesthouse near the beach.
8. Just chill on the beach.
9. Eat at an oceanfront restaurant so you can have the best views as you enjoy a coconut curry dish that Kerala is famous for.
10. Do as the locals do, and just stop to take in those ocean views!
11. See local kids living an active lifestyle by taking a sunset walk on the beach.
12. Just stop to take in that sunset!
Most of these things I did when I was staying at this beachside guesthouse!
Best hotels near Alleppey Beach
Put in your travel dates below (partner website) and you can see the prices of hotels near Alleppey Beach!
Which part of Alleppey Beach is best?!
Of course, it depends on what you’re looking for.
For convenience in finding restaurants and places to eat, the main Alleppey Beach has the most options.
The further away you go, the less options you’ll find. This just means you’ll have to go further to get food. That said, Alleppey Beach isn’t that long!
Of the sections of beach I mention, you can walk from the northern part to the southern part in 30-40 minutes.
The further north you go from the main Alleppey Beach, towards Muthala Pozhi, the further away you get from the main tourist areas of Alleppey.
You may like this because you can get the feeling that you’re in more of a residential area and you’ll see kids playing on the street too… like playing cricket!
In general, I consider there to be 3 main parts of the beach that can often collectively be called Alleppey Beach:
- Main part of Alleppey Beach
- Beach in front of Cafe Catamaran
- Beach near Muthala Pozhi (where the river meets the sea)
Map of Alleppey Beach
For easy reference, have a look at the map of Alleppey Beach.
These are the basic sections of beach that I reference to below.
The furthest south is the main part of the beach. And the further north you go, generally there will be less tourists on the beach.
So, what are the different parts of Alleppey Beach?
1. Main Alleppey Beach
A landmark that can be considered the center of the main part of Alleppey Beach is the sea bridge, which is basically a non-functional pier.
This is the section of beach in Alleppey that can become the most crowded.
Visit this strip at sunset, and you’ll find that it comes alive.
There are street vendors around here. There are also a number of restaurants that you can choose from that are located on the road that runs along the beach.
The further you move away from this stretch of beach, the less crowded it gets.
And to the north is where you’ll find the other 2 main sections of the beach.
2. Catamaran Beach
This is NOT the official name of this section of the beach. (I’ve never heard it called a specific name.) But for ease in locating this area, I’m calling it the Catamaran Beach. 😉
If you look at Google maps, there’s a street called Catamaran Road. But even more helpful, there’s a restaurant called Cafe Catamaran. Around here the sand reaches from water to road which makes a good beach access point.
It’s common for foreigners to go for a sunrise swim or sunset swim at this beach. If you choose to go swimming as well, do so at your own risk, as there are no lifeguards here.
Once you start walking north along the beach from the main part of Alleppey Beach, you’ll start to see clusters of local fishermen who hang out on the beach.
This area of beach is one such area that you can sometimes find them hanging out. An early morning walk along the beach might have you seeing the fishermen at work!
There are a couple of places to stay located nearby this Catamaran Beach. If you’re looking to stay near the beach, I think this area is a good choice.
This is one of the areas I stayed for accommodation when I was in Alleppey.
You can find guesthouses to stay around here that will allow you to wake up to amazing ocean views!
3. Muthala Pozhi Beach
Again, this is NOT the name of this section of the beach, but I think it’s an easy way to describe it when you’re looking at a map!
Looking at a map, “muthala pozhi” refers to the place where the river meets the sea in the local Kerala language of Malayalam.
RIVER…
…MEETS…
…SEA! 😀
And if you stay in this area, you may also feel like you’re in a residential area!
You’ll see locals fishing in this area too.
Nearby to the south is a main area of beach that’s used among fishermen. A morning walk along the beach may mean you get to see them at work too!
Being further away from the main part of Alleppey Beach, and Alleppey town for that matter, you’ll find less tourists on the beach.
If you’re looking for a place to stay near the beach in Alleppey, once again, I think this is a good area to stay.
And if a “secret beach” near Alleppey exists, you’ll find it by walking from this area towards Marari Beach!
Such a walk can also make a good day trip from Alleppey.
Best guesthouses in Alleppey near the beach
If you want some chill time during your time in Alleppey, consider finding accommodation near the beach.
This way, from the moment you arrive, you can have some true relaxation on the water without having to wait for your backwaters tour!
Then, if you go for a backwaters day tour, once you return you can continue to be at ease near the beach!
Have a look at these guesthouses near the beach:
- Funky Art Beach House (pictured above)
- Alleppey Beach Garden
- Sea Breeze Beach Homestay
- Pine Beach Residency
I stayed at Funky Art Beach House for more than a few days. I think this is a very good place to stay in Alleppey if you are looking for that rest and relaxation time outside of the backwaters. I definitely had a LOT of rest and relaxation here! 😀
Best hostel in Alleppey near beach
If you’re traveling alone, staying in hostels can be a good way to meet people and find people.
For a hostel near the beach in Alleppey, have a look to:
This hostel is near what I referred to above as Catamaran Beach. It’s right across the street from a restaurant with ocean views, Cafe Catamaran.
This hostel has nice common areas, both on the ground floor and the rooftop.
Zostel is a backpacker’s hostel chain in India and it has most of the amenities that you’d expect in a hostel.
There are 2 Zostels in Kerala.
I have stayed at Zostel Alleppey, and if you’re looking for a hostel near a good part of the beach, this is it!
Best places to eat (and chill) near the beach
- Cafe Catamaran (pictured above)
- Harbour Restaurant
- Indian Coffee House
- Dreamers Cafe and Restaurant
- Chakara Restaurant at Raheem Residency
See the map of restaurants near Alleppey Beach.
How to spend a perfect 2 days in Alleppey
If you have limited time for your Kerala itinerary, 2 days can be the perfect amount of time to stay in Alleppey.
And a perfect 2 days in Alleppey includes time on the beach! 😉
- Day 1: Alleppey Beach
- Day 2: Kerala backwaters
Day 1: Alleppey Beach
Arrive in Alleppey. Find a place to stay near the beach so that after a day of travel, you can just chill out and take in the ocean views!
If you arrive earlier in the day, go out into town and buy fresh fish, prawns, and a few spices. And since you’ve chosen well and you’re staying at a guesthouse with a kitchen, you can fry your own seafood for dinner!
Kerala is known for its seafood so this makes for the perfect meal when in Alleppey.
Day 2: Kerala backwaters
Dedicate the next day to what Kerala is known for!
Take your pick with how you want to spend that time on the backwaters.
Best backwaters activities in Alleppey:
Whichever option you choose, make sure you have a coconut on the Kerala backwaters! 😀
And once you’re done with your backwaters activity, back to your awesome beachside guesthouse you go! 😀
Be sure to take a look at the rest of the Best of Alleppey Travel Guide so you can plan the PERFECT trip to Alleppey!
HAPPY ALLEPPEY BEACH PLANNING!