A Weekend in Chennai: Two-Day Plan from Royapettah

Why two days works

Chennai's main sights are spread out and the weather is warm for much of the year. Two days lets you split the city into an east side day and a west or north side day, with time to rest in between. From Hotel Royal King in Royapettah, Marina Beach and Chepauk Stadium are 8 to 10 minutes away, Express Avenue Mall 5 to 10 minutes and Chennai Central 12 to 15 minutes, so none of the days involves a long haul.

Book a Friday night and a Saturday night if you can, and leave on Sunday after check-out at 11 AM.

If you arrive on Friday evening, keep the first night light: a short walk, an easy dinner, and an early sleep. The front desk is open 24 hours, so a late arrival from a train or flight is fine. Standard check-in is at 1 PM, so if you reach earlier, ask whether a room is ready, and otherwise start sightseeing and return later.

Day 1 morning: beach and Triplicane

Reach Marina Beach around sunrise. Wikipedia notes swimming is prohibited, so keep to the sand. Walk to the Chennai Lighthouse and Vivekananda House, then have breakfast in Triplicane. Check opening hours for the lighthouse and the exhibition on arrival, as they are not confirmed here.

Triplicane's Parthasarathy temple, Wikipedia says, was built in the eighth century by a Pallava ruler and draws large crowds on Vaikunta Ekadasi, so avoid that day if you want a quiet visit.

A good tip is to carry a small day bag with water, a hat, sunscreen, a charger and a light cloth for temples. You will go in and out of air conditioning, and the heat of the street can be a shock, particularly between April and September. Take the day slowly, and do not plan more than three stops.

Day 1 afternoon and evening: Mylapore

After a rest at the hotel, go to Mylapore for the Kapaleeshwarar temple, reopening in the late afternoon according to temple timing guides, and San Thome Basilica. Eat at one of the area's mess-style tiffin rooms. This is the most local part of the trip, and walking the Mada streets around the temple is a good way to feel the city.

If you prefer a more cultural evening, the Madras Music Season between mid-November and January fills the sabhas around Mylapore with concerts. Outside the season, the temple tank and the Mada streets are still lively in the evening. Keep a little cash for flowers, offerings or small snacks sold outside the temple.

Day 2 morning: a museum

The Government Museum in Egmore opens at 9:30 AM according to the Chennai district site. It has six buildings, a bronze gallery and a children's museum. Fort St George is the other option, with its museum run by the Archaeological Survey of India and St Mary's Church. If you want to see both, give each about 90 minutes and rest in between.

On Saturday morning, the Government Museum is less crowded than on a Sunday, when families visit. If the museum is closed on the day you choose, the Fort Museum and St Mary's Church make a good alternative. Allow time for security checks at the fort, and carry photo ID.

If you travel with children, add the children's museum at the Government Museum, which has exhibits on dolls, science and transport. If you travel as a couple, you might prefer a quieter morning and a longer lunch. Either way, book a table or a ride in advance for popular weekend slots.

Day 2 afternoon: shop

Choose between Express Avenue, which is brand-led and air conditioned, and T Nagar, which is the traditional market for sarees, jewellery and household goods. Wikipedia describes T Nagar as one of Chennai's busiest shopping districts. Weekends there are crowded, so go early. Express Avenue is open 10 AM to 10 PM and has a food court and a cinema, which suit the end of a tiring day.

For a final evening, Express Avenue is the easiest choice, since it is close to the hotel and open until 10 PM. If you would like a walk instead, Marina Beach at sunset is a popular family choice, but stay away from the water. Plan your packing before dinner so that check-out at 11 AM on Sunday is calm.

Rooms for the weekend

Hotel Royal King has four room types sleeping one to four guests: Single Deluxe at Rs 1,600, Double Deluxe at Rs 2,000, Triple Bed at Rs 2,800 and Quadruple at Rs 3,600 per night. For a two-night couple stay in a Double Deluxe, the room cost works out to Rs 4,000 before taxes. Please reconfirm current rates and taxes when you book. Message or call Hotel Royal King on +91 73973 96612 with your dates and number of guests. Rates are per room, per night, so please reconfirm the current rate and taxes when you book.

A weekend plan also needs a plan for food. Saturday lunch in Mylapore or Triplicane, a light dinner at Express Avenue on Saturday night and a leisurely breakfast on Sunday before check-out at 11 AM fits comfortably. Keep Sunday morning free for packing, because traffic and queues can slow down any last-minute errand.