ARRIVAL PLAYBOOK · COK · KERALA · REVIEWED JUN 2026
Arriving at Kochi.
Cochin International Airport. Here is what happens in the 30 minutes between you clearing immigration and being in the city — counters, fares, the one scam to avoid, and what to do if you land at 2am.
Official airport site →Arrival hall
Terminal 3 handles all international arrivals. Terminal 1 is domestic. The two terminals are 1km apart; free shuttle runs every 20 minutes.
Prepaid taxi counter
KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport) prepaid counter is the most trustworthy — it is a government operator. Fare to Ernakulam/Fort Kochi is ₹800–1,100; to Aluva railway station ₹300–400.
Uber / Ola pickup
Uber and Ola have pickup zones on the forecourt. Fares ₹750–1,000 to Ernakulam. Outside monsoon season, Rapido bikes are a fast option for solo travellers with light luggage.
Metro / rail / bus
KSRTC airport-bus routes run to Ernakulam, Fort Kochi, and major Kerala destinations (Munnar, Alleppey) — departures multiple times per day. The Kochi Metro does not reach the airport; the nearest station is Aluva (8km).
SIM activation
Airtel, Jio, BSNL. BSNL is strongest in rural Kerala, which matters if you are heading to Munnar or the backwaters.
ATM / forex
SBI, Federal Bank (a Kerala bank, high reliability for international cards), and ICICI.
The scam to watch for
Houseboat / homestay 'touts' in the arrivals hall offering aggressively cheap Alleppey packages. Kerala tourism is well-regulated — book via verified operators (Kerala Tourism site, or reputable aggregators) rather than a stranger in the terminal.
After midnight
KSRTC prepaid and app cabs run 24×7. Airport liner buses to Ernakulam run through the night at 90-minute intervals.
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