From gods who dance at dawn to beaches you can drive on — here’s everything I’d tell a friend visiting Kannur for the first time.
Looking for things to do in Kannur or places to visit in Kannur, Kerala? You’ve come to the right person. I was born and raised here — I know these streets, these beaches, and these rituals not as a tourist, but as someone who grew up with them. This is the guide I’d give a friend arriving at Kannur Railway Station with a rucksack and three days to spare.
Kannur (also known as Cannanore) sits on the northern tip of Kerala’s Malabar coast, and honestly, most travellers rush through it on their way between Wayanad and Kozhikode. That’s their loss. This is a town where ancient gods descend into the bodies of performers, where you can drive a car on a four-kilometre beach, and where the evening air smells of cashew roast and the sea. I’ve never understood why it isn’t on every Kerala itinerary — so here are my 8 things to do in Kannur that will change that.
Kannur is not a destination you pass through. It’s a destination you slow down for.
How to Get to Kannur
Kannur is surprisingly easy to reach. By train is my honest recommendation — Kannur Railway Station (station code: CAN) is right in the heart of town and connected to Kozhikode (1.5 hrs), Kochi (5 hrs), and Thiruvananthapuram (9 hrs) by multiple daily trains. By air, Kannur International Airport (CNN) is about 25 km from the city — taxis and KSRTC buses connect you quickly. By road, the NH-66 runs right through town and bus services from Calicut, Mangalore, and beyond are reliable and frequent.
See our complete How to Reach Kannur guide for full details on routes, timings, and fares.
Quick note before we start: All of this is based on personal experience. I live here, I’ve done all of these things more times than I can count, and I’ll tell you exactly what I’d skip and what I’d do twice.
01.
Watch a Theyyam Ritual — the Dance of the Gods
Let me be direct: if you only do one thing in Kannur, it has to be this. Theyyam is not a dance performance you watch behind velvet ropes. It is a 2,000-year-old living ritual where the performer — through hours of elaborate costume and face-painting — is believed to literally become the deity. People come to receive blessings. Drumbeats start before sunrise and you can feel them in your chest.
I’ve grown up watching Theyyam at local temples and it still makes the hairs on my arms stand up. The costumes are towering, the colours are fire-red and gold, and the energy in the courtyard is something no travel blog can fully prepare you for. It has to be experienced.
Local tip: Theyyam season runs from October to May. The performances happen at small village temples, not tourist stages — so you are genuinely stepping into a sacred space. Dress modestly, arrive before dawn, and don’t use flash photography. Respectful visitors are always warmly welcomed.
Season: October to May (peak: December to April)
Entry fee: Free — it is a public temple ritual
Best venue: Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple (daily performances), local village kavus
Cannanore Tourism conducts authentic Theyyam tours, giving travelers a unique opportunity to experience Kerala’s sacred folk rituals.
02.
Explore St. Angelo Fort (Kannur Fort)
St. Angelo Fort — what locals simply call Kannur Fort — sits on a rocky headland overlooking the Arabian Sea and it is one of the most underrated colonial forts in India. The Portuguese built it in 1505, the Dutch took it, and then the British took it from the Dutch. Every ruler left something behind and the result is a layered, fascinating structure with thick laterite walls, sea-facing bastions, and views that honestly justify the trip on their own.
I love walking the ramparts in the early morning before the crowd arrives. The sound of waves crashing against the fort walls below and the fishing boats heading out — it’s a genuinely beautiful way to start the day. Don’t miss the small Dutch cemetery inside the fort grounds.
Timings: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM (closed on Mondays)
Entry fee: ₹25 for Indians / ₹300 for foreign nationals
Best time to visit: Early morning or golden hour before sunset
Location: Near Kannur town centre, walkable from the railway station
03.
Drive on Muzhappilangad — South Asia’s Only Drive-In Beach
Yes, you can literally drive your car on this beach. Muzhappilangad Drive-In Beach stretches for four kilometres of hard-packed sand and is officially recognised as the longest drive-in beach in Asia. When I bring visitors here for the first time, they always get out of the car with their mouths open — the combination of empty beach, waves, and the surreal experience of being on the sand in a vehicle is hard to beat.
We come here in the evenings. There are local vendors selling grilled corn and fresh coconut along the beach road. Drive to the far end where it’s quieter, park, and just sit by the sea. It’s 15 km from Kannur town — easy on a bike or a taxi.
Local tip: Two-wheelers and cars are allowed on the beach. Avoid visiting on public holidays when it gets crowded. The stretch near Dharmadam Island is the most scenic part.
Distance from Kannur town: ~15 km (30 min by road)
Best time: Late afternoon for the sunset drive
Cost: Free entry; small vehicle fee may apply
04
Catch Sunset at Payyambalam Beach
Payyambalam Beach is the closest beach to Kannur town, and on a good evening it is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in my own city. It’s a clean, maintained beach with a nice promenade and a children’s park alongside it. There’s a lighthouse nearby too which makes for a nice walk.
I’ll be honest — it can get busy on weekends and evenings with local families, which to me is part of the charm. You’re not at a resort beach, you’re at a real town beach where people actually live and hang out. The fish and chips (Kerala-style) from the vendors near the beach are genuinely excellent.
Distance from town: 2 km from Kannur town centre
Best time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM for sunset
Nearby: Kannur Lighthouse, Children’s Park
05
Take a Boat into Kavvayi Island Backwaters
Kerala’s backwaters are famous, but most tourists only think of Alleppey. The Kavvayi backwaters in Kannur are quieter, less commercialised, and in my personal opinion more beautiful. Kavvayi Island is set in the middle of Kerala’s second-largest inland water spread, ringed by mangroves and coconut palms, and the boat rides here are genuinely peaceful.
You can hire local boats from the Kavvayi jetty and spend a few hours drifting through narrow channels, watching egrets fish and kingfishers dart. There are small homestays on the island too if you want to stay overnight — that’s a whole different experience, waking up to mist over the water.
Local tip: Go early morning if you can. The mist on the water, the bird sounds, and the absolute quiet before the day starts — it’s unlike anything else in Kannur.
Distance: ~25 km from Kannur town
How to get there: Auto or taxi to Kavvayi jetty, then local boat
Best time: Early morning or late afternoon
More info: Nature & Backwaters in Kannur
06
Visit the Arakkal Museum
Most people don’t know that Kerala had its own Muslim royal dynasty — and the only one in Kerala at that. The Arakkal Museum tells their story. It’s set in Arakkal Kettu, the old palace of the Arakkal family who ruled the Lakshadweep Islands and parts of North Kerala’s coast from the 16th century onwards.
It’s a small museum, honest about its size, but the artefacts — old weapons, manuscripts, royal regalia, coins, and photographs — are genuinely fascinating. As a Kannur local, I find this history underappreciated even by people who live here. Give it an hour and you’ll leave with a completely different understanding of what shaped this coastline.
Timings: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed on Mondays)
Entry fee: ₹20 for adults
Location: Arakkal Road, near Mappila Bay, Kannur town
Nearby: Mappila Bay
07
Go to Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple
This is one of Kannur’s most beloved temples and one of the few places in Kerala where you can watch a Theyyam ritual every single day of the year, not just during the season. Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple is dedicated to Sri Muthappan — a deity unique to North Kerala — and the daily Theyyam performance here at dawn and dusk is genuinely extraordinary.
What I love about this temple is how open and welcoming it is. People of all faiths visit freely. There’s a boat ride on the Valapattanam River to reach the temple which adds to the experience. The temple even feeds prasadam (sacred food offering) to the fish in the river — the fish here are famously tame and will swim right up to you.
Local tip: Come for the morning Theyyam performance (around 6:30 AM) before the day gets hot and crowded. The boat crossing at dawn is particularly beautiful.
Distance: 18 km from Kannur town
Theyyam timings: 6:30 AM – 8:00 AM and 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM daily
Entry: Free, open to all
Note: Modest dress required; remove footwear at the entrance
08
Eat Your Way Through Kannur’s Malabar Food Scene
I could write a separate guide on this alone. Kannur’s food culture is Malabar Muslim cuisine at its finest — fragrant with coconut, black pepper, star anise, and the kind of spice blend that you won’t find anywhere else in India. Do not leave without eating the following things.
Thalassery Biryani — named after the nearby coastal town of Thalassery, this is a lighter, more aromatic biryani made with kaima rice and less oil than the Hyderabadi style. It tastes like the sea breeze itself. Pathiri is a thin rice flour flatbread served with mutton curry that is criminally underrated outside Kerala. And for breakfast, the Kallappam and Mutton Stew at any old-school hotel near the bus stand will ruin all other breakfasts for you.
The Kannur Town Market area near the main bus terminal has the best concentration of authentic small restaurants. Avoid the tourist-facing places near the fort and instead ask your hotel owner or auto driver where they eat lunch. That answer will always be right.
Local tip: Kannur is also famous for its cashews and handloom textiles. Pick up a bag of roasted cashews from the market and a handloom cotton saree or lungi as gifts — they’re genuinely among the best in India. See our guide on what to buy from Kannur for the full shopping breakdown.
Must-eat: Thalassery Biryani, Pathiri, Kallappam with stew, Prawn curry
Best area to eat: Near Kannur Town Bus Stand (local restaurants)
Best time to shop: Morning at Kannur Town Market
In Summary — Why Kannur Deserves More Than a Day
We had an incredible time in Fort Kochi. But as someone from Kannur, I’ll tell you honestly — Kannur hits differently. It’s the kind of place where the history is still alive, the rituals haven’t been sanitised for tourists, the beaches aren’t crowded, and the food is genuinely one of the great undiscovered cuisines of South India. If you’re planning a Kerala trip and Kannur isn’t on your list yet, it should be.
Start with our Kannur itinerary guide to plan your days, check the best season to visit Kannur, and browse all places to visit in Kannur before you arrive.
