A plain, whitewashed Portuguese-era church that doesn't look like much from outside but carries real history — Vasco da Gama was buried here in 1524 before his remains were later moved to Lisbon. Worth the ten minutes it takes to see, especially paired with a walk through the surrounding colonial-era streets.

Also called the Dutch Palace, after the Dutch renovated it in the 1660s. The real draw is inside — a series of well-preserved 17th-century murals covering scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata across several rooms. No photography allowed inside, so it's worth actually slowing down and looking rather than rushing through.

A five-minute walk from Mattancherry Palace. The lane itself is worth browsing for antiques and spices even if you don't go inside the synagogue, which has hand-painted willow-pattern floor tiles brought from China in the 18th century. Check opening hours before you go — it closes on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.

Best seen around sunset, when the fishermen are actually working the nets and the light is good for photos. They're strung along the shore near the entrance to the harbour, so it's an easy walk-up rather than a planned stop — expect to be asked for a small tip if you want to help lower one yourself.

About 53km and roughly two hours' drive from Kochi each way, so this genuinely takes the whole day. Most day cruises run 4-5 hours on the water with lunch cooked on board, moving through narrower canals than the big overnight houseboats can manage. This is a real paid booking, not a free stop — budget day cruises start around ₹7,000-9,000 for the boat (typically shared by 2-4 people, not per person), with premium and luxury boats well above that. Book the pickup in advance from Kochi rather than trying to arrange it on the spot in Alleppey.