Discovering Family-Friendly Chennai in 5 Days

  1. Day 1: Marina Beach
    30 minutes (11.5 km) from Chennai International Airport

    Take a stroll at the largest urban beach in the country which also has some of the best water sports activities and horse riding, or simply enjoy the cool breeze. At night, the beach comes alive with food vendors and bazaars stalls.

  2. Day 2: Mahabalipuram
    2 hours (58.2 km) from Marina Beach

    Visit the UNESCO heritage site of Mahabalipuram which has ancient rock-cut temples, including the Shore Temple, and cave sanctuaries. Explore Arjuna's Penance, Krishna Mandapam, and the Five Rathas. You can also enjoy some water sports on the beach.

  3. Day 3: Vandalur Zoo
    1 hour 30 minutes (37.5 km) from Mahabalipuram

    The Arignar Anna Zoological Park, also known as Vandalur Zoo, is one of the largest zoos in South Asia. Get a chance to see various exotic and wildlife species, and even white tigers. Take a toy train ride and see the safari park area.

  4. Day 4: Children's Park
    30 minutes (11.4 km) from Vandalur Zoo

    A must-visit for families, the Children's Park is ideal for children to spend their day outdoors, with several rides, slides, and play areas. It even includes a skating area and a mini-aquarium with over 30 fish tanks to check out.

  5. Day 5: Chennai Rail Museum
    30 minutes (10 km) from Children's Park

    The Chennai Rail Museum showcases the rich history of Indian railways with rare photographs, antique railway equipment, steam engines, and much more. Children can enjoy a ride on the mini train and other fun-filled activities like a science park and playgrounds.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Marina Beach (2 hours, Free)
  • Mahabalipuram (5-6 hours, INR 250-500 for temple entry fees)
  • Vandalur Zoo (3-4 hours, INR 30 entry fee)
  • Children's Park (3-4 hours, INR 10 entry fee)
  • Chennai Rail Museum (2-3 hours, INR 50 entry fee)
  • Total Estimated Costs: INR 340-590

Useful Tips

You can add a day to the itinerary to visit the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Fort St George and St. Mary's Church, or the Kapaleeshwarar Temple. Foodies may extend their itinerary to try some of Chennai's South Indian delicacies. Families can also skip Vandalur Zoo and visit the MGM Dizzee World theme park.

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