Chennai travel guide

Chennai Tourism | Chennai Guide

You're Going to Love Chennai

With a population of 4,33 million, Chennai is the largest city in Tamil Nadu, India by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Chennai has to offer.

When to visit Chennai

Chennai in August
Estimated hotel price
$105
1 night at 3-star hotel
Chennai in August
Estimated hotel price
$105
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Chennai in May, when the average temperature is 33 °C, and the highest can go up to 37 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 20 °C, with an average temperature of 25 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 330 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Chennai, with an average rainfall of 10 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Chennai

Plane

When flying to Chennai, you’ll arrive at Chennai (MAA), which is located 16 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Chennai from Australia departs from Perth and takes around 13h 45m.

Plane

When flying to Chennai, you’ll arrive at Chennai (MAA), which is located 16 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Chennai from Australia departs from Perth and takes around 13h 45m.

Airports near Chennai

Airlines serving Chennai

Lufthansa
Good (4,690 reviews)
KLM
Good (848 reviews)
SWISS
Good (945 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,557 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,296 reviews)
Air France
Good (981 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,951 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,122 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,454 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,894 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (924 reviews)
LOT
Good (685 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (820 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (832 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (406 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (510 reviews)
Egypt Air
Good (196 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (184 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (773 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (480 reviews)
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Where to stay in Chennai

From 5-star hotels such as the Grand Chennai By Grt Hotels to great affordable options like the ibis Chennai Sipcot, Chennai offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $49 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $114 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Mallika Residency and Season 4 Residences - Thiruvanmiyur. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Chennai, with prices from $9 to $217 per night. Mylapore is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Chennai are about 20% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Chennai

Most booked hotels in Chennai

Grand Chennai By Grt Hotels
5 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$144+
ITC Grand Chola, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Chennai
5 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$179+
Turyaa Chennai
4 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
$83+
Ibis Chennai OMR
3 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$60+
The Park Chennai
5 stars
Good (6.5, Good reviews)
$104+

Hiring a car in Chennai

Hiring a car in Chennai costs $95 per day, on average, or $286 if you want to hire it for 3 days.

Expect to pay $1.86 per litre in Chennai (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $22.29 and $29.72.

Hiring a car in Chennai costs $95 per day, on average, or $286 if you want to hire it for 3 days.

Expect to pay $1.86 per litre in Chennai (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $22.29 and $29.72.