The capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, is a big, bustling coastal city with a distinctly South Indian feel, where colourful temples, colonial landmarks and busy markets sit alongside Marina Beach. Spend your time exploring Mylapore, visiting Fort St George, browsing the shops and eating your way through excellent Tamil cuisine — from crispy dosas to spicy Chettinad curries.
Egmore is a practical base for first-time visitors, with the Government Museum and historic Egmore railway station. Mylapore is the best area to stay in for exploring old Chennai, centred on the colourful Kapaleeshwarar Temple, temple streets, flower markets and excellent South Indian food. For business travellers, Tharamani puts you right in Chennai’s IT district, with the IIT Madras Research Park and easy access to Adyar and Besant Nagar. Velachery is another useful southern base, particularly for shopping and the Phoenix Marketcity mall. Guindy is handy for the Guindy National Park and Chennai’s main business districts. Meenambakkam is best suited to an overnight stay or early flight, thanks to its proximity to Chennai International Airport. For something completely different, Mahabalipuram is a beachside heritage destination south of Chennai, famous for its UNESCO-listed Shore Temple and extraordinary rock-cut monuments. Stay here for a slower, resort-style break.
Ideal for: Museums, heritage, city breaks, shopping, railway history
Egmore is a handy central location and has some of Chennai’s most interesting museums and heritage sights. The star attraction is the sprawling Government Museum, home to impressive South Indian bronzes, archaeological finds and art, alongside the National Art Gallery and historic Connemara Public Library. The grand red-brick Egmore Railway Station is worth a look too, particularly if you’re interested in Chennai’s railway heritage. With plenty of restaurants, shops and transport links, plus a good range of budget, mid-range and smart hotels, Egmore makes a practical base for exploring the city without staying in the thick of the busiest areas.
Did you know? Egmore Railway Station is one of Chennai’s oldest major railway stations, opening in 1908. Its distinctive red Indo-Saracenic building was designed by architect Robert Fellowes Chisholm, who also designed several of the city’s best-known colonial buildings.
Ideal for: Temple hopping, local food, shopping, culture lovers, heritage
Mylapore centres around the colourful Kapaleeshwarar Temple, with lively streets lined with flower sellers, market stalls and little local shops. Wander through the lanes, browse for silk, jewellery and traditional crafts, or stop for a plate of idli, dosa or filter coffee at one of the many local dining spots. The San Thome Basilica and nearby Marina Beach are also within easy reach. Hotels here range from simple guesthouses and mid-range stays to a handful of smart boutique options.
Did you know? Mylapore is thought to be one of Chennai’s oldest neighbourhoods, with references to the settlement dating back more than 2,000 years. The ancient port of Mylapore was mentioned by Greek and Roman writers, long before modern Chennai existed.
Discover our recommended hotels near Mylapore
Explore more >
View all hotels in Mylapore
Explore more >
Ideal for: Business trips, IT visits, tech district, city breaks, shopping
Tharamani is best suited to business travellers, tech workers and longer-stay visitors, rather than those coming just for Chennai’s historic sights. It’s one of the city’s main IT and business districts, home to TIDEL Park and the IIT Madras Research Park, with various offices, cafes and useful amenities around. There’s also easy access to IIT Madras, whose leafy campus is home to walking trails and wildlife, including blackbuck and spotted deer. For downtime, head towards nearby Adyar or Besant Nagar for restaurants, cafes and the beach. Hotels are geared towards business and mid-range stays, with some smart upscale options, rather than boutique or heritage properties.
Did you know? Tharamani is next to the huge IIT Madras campus, which is home to wild blackbuck and spotted deer. Despite being surrounded by one of Chennai’s busiest business districts, the campus is surprisingly green and rich in wildlife.
Discover our recommended hotels near Tharamani
Explore more >
View all hotels in Tharamani
Explore more >
Ideal for: Beach holidays, surfing, seafood, temple hopping
Did you know? Mahabalipuram’s famous Shore Temple is one of a group of seven temples that were said to have once stood along the coast. Local legend claims the other six were swallowed by the sea, leaving the Shore Temple as the only one still visible today.
Discover our recommended hotels near Mahabalipuram
Explore more >
View all hotels in Mahabalipuram
Explore more >
Ideal for: Business stays, foodies, family stays, shopping
The big draw of Velachery is Phoenix Marketcity, one of Chennai’s largest shopping malls, packed with shops, restaurants, cafes and a cinema. The neighbourhood is also close to Guindy National Park and has easy connections to Tharamani, Adyar and the rest of southern Chennai. There’s a mix of mid-range and upscale hotels, with apartment-style options for longer stays. It’s a busy, built-up area rather than somewhere to come for sightseeing, but its shopping, dining and transport links make it a convenient base for exploring the southern side of the city.
Did you know? Velachery has roots going back centuries — its name is thought to come from the Tamil words “Vela” and “cheri”, referring to a settlement associated with workers or labourers.
Discover our recommended hotels near Velachery
Explore more >
View all hotels in Velachery
Explore more >
Ideal for: Airport stays, easy connections, early flights, business trips
Meenambakkam is home to Chennai International Airport, so the main advantage is convenience, with a handful of airport hotels and easy connections into the city. There’s little in the way of major attractions within the neighbourhood itself, but St Thomas Mount, with its hilltop church and city views, is nearby, while Guindy and central Chennai are a short drive away. Accommodation is mostly practical airport and business hotels, making Meenambakkam a useful base for one night.
Did you know? Meenambakkam is home to Chennai’s first airport, which opened in 1910 when the city was still known as Madras.
Discover our recommended hotels near Meenambakkam
Explore more >
View all hotels in Meenambakkam
Explore more >
Ideal for: Wildlife, business stays, city breaks, green spaces
Guindy offers an unusual mix of offices, luxury hotels and pockets of greenery. The big draw is Guindy National Park, one of the few national parks located inside a major Indian city, where you can spot blackbuck, spotted deer, tortoises and plenty of birdlife. Nearby, the Guindy Snake Park is another family-friendly attraction, while the impressive Gandhi Mandapam and Anna Memorial sit within the surrounding green spaces. There’s a good selection of upmarket and business hotels, plus easy road and rail connections to central Chennai.
Did you know? Guindy’s Raj Bhavan dates back more than 200 years and sits within a huge stretch of greenery in the heart of Chennai. Part of its grounds were later used to create Guindy National Park.
family