Key hubs
Kozhikode airport and railway station
- Airport
- Calicut International Airport (CCJ) at Karipur in Malappuram district, about 25 to 30 km from the city; allow roughly an hour by road depending on traffic
- Railway station
- Kozhikode (CLT) on the Shoranur-Mangalore line, close to the Tali area and the city centre
- Getting around
- Autorickshaws and app cabs work for the city; hire a car and driver for Kappad, Beypore, Kadalundi and Thusharagiri. City buses are crowded at peak hours.
How to reach Kozhikode by air
Calicut International Airport (CCJ) is at Karipur in Malappuram district, about 25 to 30 km from the city. Allow roughly an hour by road, depending on traffic. It has flights to major Indian cities and to the Gulf. Its tabletop runway means schedules can be affected in heavy monsoon weather.
How to reach Kozhikode by train
Kozhikode railway station (CLT) is on the Shoranur-Mangalore line and is one of the busiest stations in Kerala, with trains to Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram. It is close to the centre, about one kilometre from the Tali area.
How to reach Kozhikode by road
National Highway 66 runs along the coast through Kozhikode, linking it with Kannur and Mangalore to the north and Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram to the south. Roads climb inland via Thamarassery towards Wayanad. Bus services are frequent, and travel times vary with traffic and weather.
Getting around Kozhikode
In the city, autorickshaws and app cabs are the practical choices, and city buses are crowded. The centre is compact, but heat and traffic make short rides worthwhile. For Kappad, Beypore, Kadalundi and Thusharagiri, hire a car with a driver for the day and agree the route and timing beforehand.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Kozhikode
- Choose a hotel with a lift and a guaranteed car drop-off; the old-city lanes are narrow and busy.
- For day trips, hire a driver and plan one trip a day, with a seat and shade at each stop. Roads to Kappad and Thusharagiri involve long, winding drives.
- Carry electrolyte drinks and bottled water, since humidity makes dehydration easy even on cloudy days.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.