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Chennai Activities Guide — Beyond the Obvious (Feb 2026)
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chennai-activities.md

🏙️ The ULTIMATE Chennai Activities Guide

Last updated: February 2026 | Cut the middleman — book direct

🏄 WATER SPORTS & BEACH

Surfing — Covelong Point / Surf Turf

  • Learn surfing at India's best urban surf spot
  • 📍 Kovalam/Covelong, ECR · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,500-2,500/hr
  • 📞 Direct: Instagram @surfturf.in
  • ⭐ 4.5/5 — "Even beginners stand up on first session"

Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) — Bay of Life

  • SUP & kayaking on calm waters
  • 📍 Kovalam Beach, ECR · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,000-2,000/session
  • 📞 Direct: TripAdvisor

Kayaking

  • Backwater kayaking
  • 📍 Muttukadu / Mudaliyar Kuppam · Map
  • 💰 ₹500-1,500
  • 💡 Skip crowded TTDC — go to Mudaliyar Kuppam (Reddit Jan 2026)

Jet Skiing & Parasailing

  • Speed thrills on the water
  • 📍 ECR operators · Map
  • 💰 Jet ski ₹800-1,500 | Parasailing ₹1,000-2,000

Catamaran Ride

  • Traditional fishing catamaran experience on the sea
  • 📍 Covelong / Kovalam · Map
  • 💰 ₹500-1,500
  • 💡 Also available at Pulicat Lake for flamingo spotting

Sailing — Royal Madras Yacht Club

  • Yacht rides on the Bay of Bengal (est. 1911)
  • 📍 Chennai Port · Map
  • 💰 Guest sessions from ₹2,000

Ocean Swimming — Wild Swim Club

Muttukadu Boat House (TTDC)

  • Speed boats, rowing, pedal boats on the backwaters
  • 📍 Muttukadu, ECR · Map
  • 💰 ₹200-500/ride

🎯 ADVENTURE & THRILLS

Bouldering & Rock Climbing — FitRock Arena

Go-Karting — Smaaash

  • Indoor go-kart racing + VR + bowling + arcade
  • 📍 Express Avenue Mall / Phoenix MarketCity · Map
  • 💰 ₹300-600/race

Off-Road Motorsports — ORS (Offroad Sports)

  • ATV rides, dirt biking on off-road tracks (90cc to 1000cc RZRs)
  • 📍 Pattipulam, ECR (2km from Dolphin City) · Map
  • 💰 ₹500-2,000
  • 📞 Direct: offroadecr.com

Olympic Shooting — Ace Shooters Club

  • Air pistol & rifle shooting range with professional instructors
  • 📍 Kilpauk · Map & Anna Nagar West
  • 💰 ₹850+ (20-40 shots)
  • 📞 Direct: aceshooters.club

Archery

  • Bullseye sessions with expert coaches
  • 📍 Anna Nagar West · Map
  • 💰 ₹500-800/session
  • 📞 Book through Ace Shooters or search "archery Chennai" on Google Maps

Paintball

  • Outdoor team paintball battles
  • 📍 ECR / Chennai outskirts · Map
  • 💰 ₹500-1,000/session

Laser Tag

  • Indoor laser tag arena
  • 📍 Smaaash, Phoenix MarketCity, Velachery · Map
  • 💰 ₹300-500/game

Escape Rooms — Mystery Rooms Chennai

  • Multiple themed puzzle rooms
  • 📍 Nungambakkam · Map
  • 💰 ₹500-800/person
  • 📞 Direct: TripAdvisor
  • ⭐ 4.5/5

VGP Wonder Ice Rink — Ice Skating

  • One of the few ice rinks in South India
  • 📍 ECR, Injambakkam · Map
  • 💰 ₹500-700

Airborne — Inflatable & Trampoline Park

  • Trampolines, obstacle courses, foam pits, bouncy castles
  • 📍 Marina Mall, OMR · Map + KNK Road, La Rue 18, Citi Centre
  • 💰 ₹500-800
  • 📞 Direct: Facebook @Airbornechennai

Let's Play Trampoline Park

  • Dedicated trampoline zones
  • 📍 Chennai · search "trampoline park Chennai" on Google Maps
  • 💰 ₹400-700

Bowling

  • Multiple lanes at entertainment zones
  • 📍 Smaaash / Express Avenue · Map
  • 💰 ₹250-400/game

VR Gaming

  • Virtual reality gaming experiences
  • 📍 Smaaash · Map + multiple locations
  • 💰 ₹300-600/session

Indoor Remote Control Car Racing — RC Arena

  • Chennai's first RC car racing arena!
  • 📍 Nungambakkam · Map
  • 💰 ₹300/30 min | ₹500/hr
  • 📞 Direct: Instagram @rc_arena_

🏌️ SPORTS & FITNESS

Indoor Golf Simulator — Golfer's Edge Chennai

  • Ultra-realistic HD virtual golf simulator + 170 sqft putting green
  • 📍 Alwarpet · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,000-2,000/session
  • 📞 Direct: golfers-edge.com

Bungee Fitness — S Fusion Studio

  • High-energy, low-impact workout using harness & bungee cords. Chennai's FIRST bungee fitness studio!
  • 📍 Ayanavaram · Map
  • 📞 Direct: Instagram @sfusionstudio | +91 7845884470
  • 💡 Also offers aerial yoga, Zumba & dance. FREE trial session!

Aerial Yoga

  • Yoga in silk hammocks — inversions, stretches, fun
  • 📍 S Fusion Studio, Ayanavaram (see above)
  • 💰 ₹500-1,000/session

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

  • Learn BJJ fundamentals
  • 📍 Multiple gyms across Chennai
  • 💰 ₹500-1,000/session

Horse Riding

Cryotherapy — Cryo2

  • Whole body cryotherapy chamber experience
  • 📍 Nungambakkam · Map
  • 📞 Direct: cryo2.in
  • 💰 ₹1,500-3,000/session

💃 DANCE

Salsa, Bachata & Kizomba — Salsa Madras

  • Latin dance classes and private sessions
  • 📍 Teynampet · Map
  • 📞 Direct: salsamadras.com | Instructor: Arun S Pauer
  • 💰 ₹500-2,000/session
  • 💡 Also offers e-learning courses

🎨 ART & CREATIVE WORKSHOPS

Tufting Workshop — Make Your Own Rug

  • Create custom tufted rugs with a tufting gun
  • 📍 Chetpet · Map
  • 💰 ₹2,000-4,000/session
  • 📞 Search "tufting Chennai" on Instagram — multiple studios (SceneBooking charges ₹2,500+ as middleman)

Pottery — Wheel & Hand-Building

  • Pottery wheel throwing, hand-pressed pottery, ceramic painting
  • 📍 Multiple studios: Adyar · Map, Chetpet, Anna Nagar
  • 💰 ₹800-2,000/session
  • 📞 Direct studios: Search "pottery workshop Chennai" on Instagram/Google Maps

Resin Art Workshop

  • Create resin art pieces — mirrors, seascapes, lotus ponds, coasters
  • 📍 Besant Nagar · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,500-3,000/session

Fluid Art / Neon Paint Party

  • Pour painting technique — mesmerizing abstract art
  • 📍 Adyar · Map, Anna Nagar, Besant Nagar
  • 💰 ₹1,000-2,000/session

Texture Art / Knife Painting

  • Create textured paintings using palette knives
  • 📍 Kilpauk · Map & Tambaram
  • 💰 ₹1,000-2,000

Sip & Paint Party

  • Painting + drinks = fun group activity
  • 📍 Nungambakkam · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,500-2,500

Candle Making (incl. Dessert Candles)

  • Craft your own candles including trendy dessert-themed ones
  • 📍 Anna Nagar · Map (dessert candles) + OMR
  • 💰 ₹800-1,500

Terrarium Making

  • Build your own miniature garden in glass
  • 📍 Chetpet area · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,200-2,000

Macramé Workshop

  • Knot-tying art — wall hangings, plant hangers
  • 📍 Chetpet · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,600+

Stained Glass Art Workshop

  • Create mosaic/stained glass pieces
  • 📍 Nungambakkam area · Map
  • 💰 ₹2,100+

Calligraphy & Brush Lettering

  • Modern calligraphy, brush pen lettering
  • 📍 Anna Nagar · Map & Tambaram
  • 💰 ₹800-1,500

Engraving Workshop

  • Learn metal/wood engraving techniques
  • 📍 Nungambakkam area · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,000-2,000

Lippan Art (Mud Mirror Art)

  • Traditional Kutchi mirror art on clay
  • 📍 Thoraipakkam · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,200-2,000

Tie & Dye Workshop

  • Create your own tie-dye t-shirts/fabrics
  • 📍 Various Chennai studios (rotating locations)
  • 💰 ₹800-1,500

Screen Printing / Tote Bag Painting

  • Print your own bags and t-shirts
  • 📍 Various Chennai studios (rotating locations)
  • 💰 ₹800-1,500

Crochet & Knitting

  • Beginner crochet, amigurumi, arm knitting
  • 📍 Various Chennai studios (rotating locations)
  • 💰 ₹800-1,500

Punch Needle Embroidery

  • Trendy embroidery technique
  • 📍 Alwarpet · Map & Anna Nagar
  • 💰 ₹1,000-2,000

Tapestry Weaving

  • Loom weaving workshop
  • 📍 Kilpauk · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,500-2,500

String Art

  • Nail & thread art on wood boards
  • 📍 Anna Nagar · Map
  • 💰 ₹800-1,500

Decoupage Art

  • Paper craft on surfaces — trays, boxes
  • 📍 Various Chennai studios (rotating locations)
  • 💰 ₹1,000-1,800

Doodle & Illustration Workshop

  • Learn doodling & illustration techniques
  • 📍 Anna Nagar · Map & Tambaram
  • 💰 ₹800-1,500

Glass Painting

  • Paint on glass — decorative pieces
  • 📍 Various Chennai studios (rotating locations)
  • 💰 ₹800-1,500

Mandala Art (Pen / Watercolor / Dot)

  • Create intricate mandala designs
  • 📍 Various Chennai studios (rotating locations)
  • 💰 ₹800-1,500

Watercolor Workshop

  • Learn watercolor painting techniques
  • 📍 Chetpet · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,000-2,000

Mosaic Tile Art / Mirror Mosaic

  • Create mosaic pieces from tiles
  • 📍 Various Chennai studios (rotating locations)
  • 💰 ₹1,200-2,000

Boho Art

  • Bohemian style art pieces
  • 📍 Various Chennai studios (rotating locations)
  • 💰 ₹1,000-1,800

Stone Carving — Mahabalipuram

  • Learn traditional stone carving at the sculptor's village
  • 📍 Mahabalipuram · Map
  • 💡 Govt College of Architecture & Sculpture is here — some sculptors offer workshops

🍳 FOOD & DRINK WORKSHOPS

South Indian Cooking Class — Cook With SundariKrishna

  • Authentic Chettinad/South Indian cooking in a local home
  • 📍 Adyar · Map
  • 💰 ₹2,000-3,500
  • 📞 Direct: TripAdvisor
  • ⭐ 5.0/5

Pizza Making Workshop — Piyus Arya

Baking Date

  • Couple/group baking experience — cupcakes, cakes
  • 📍 Anna Nagar · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,500-3,000

Cupcake Making Workshop

  • Decorate and bake cupcakes
  • 📍 Injambakkam · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,000-2,000

Kombucha Making Workshop

  • Learn to brew your own kombucha
  • 📍 Chetpet area
  • 💰 ₹1,000-1,500

Chocolate Making

  • Craft artisan chocolates
  • 📍 Various Chennai studios (rotating locations)
  • 💰 ₹1,200-2,000

Bouquet Making

  • Create flower bouquets/arrangements
  • 📍 Various Chennai studios (rotating locations)
  • 💰 ₹1,500-2,500

🍴 FOOD EXPERIENCES

Sowcarpet Street Food Walking Tour

  • 2-hr guided walk through Chennai's wildest food district
  • 📍 Sowcarpet · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,200-1,800 (guided) | FREE self-guided
  • 📞 Direct: TripAdvisor
  • ⭐ 4.8/5

Gods of Mylapore Walking Tour

  • Heritage + food walk — temples, culture, filter coffee
  • 📍 Mylapore · Map
  • 💰 ~₹1,500
  • ⭐ 5.0/5 (265 reviews!)

Firo (New 2025)

  • "Chennai's best new restaurant of 2025" — Ashwin Rajagopalan
  • 📍 Chennai (check Instagram for exact location)
  • 📞 Instagram @firo.chennai

Chettinad Canteen

  • Rotating pre-set Chettinad fine dining menus
  • 📍 Teynampet · Map

Beachville Coffee (New Dec 2025)

🎬 ENTERTAINMENT & NIGHTLIFE

Private Movie Screening — The Big Screen

Private Cinema Bay

  • Another private cinema option
  • 📍 Chennai (check BookMyShow for venues)
  • 💰 ₹2,000-4,000

Stand-Up Comedy Shows

  • Regular shows across the city
  • 📍 Various venues
  • 💰 ₹300-1,500
  • 📞 Book: BookMyShow Chennai
  • 🎤 Watch for: Jagan Krishnan, Praveen Kumar, Alexander Babu

Babylon Brewery — Cocktail Library Bar (New 2025)

Seven Rivers Brewing Co.

Board Games Cafe — Untangle

  • 400+ board games. Pay by time. Blood on the Clocktower nights!
  • 📍 Thoraipakkam · Map (+ other locations)
  • 💰 ₹150-300/hr
  • 📞 Direct: Instagram @untangleindia

💑 DATE IDEAS

Picnic Date Setup

  • Curated picnic setup on the beach / gardens
  • 📍 Chetpet Eco Park · Map & ECR beaches
  • 💰 ₹3,000-6,000
  • 💡 Multiple operators — search "picnic date Chennai" on Instagram

Art Date — Couples Painting Session

  • Paint together in a studio setting
  • 📍 Adyar · Map, Nungambakkam, Anna Nagar, Besant Nagar
  • 💰 ₹2,000-4,000 per couple

Private Dinner on the Beach

🏛️ MUSEUMS & CULTURE

Government Museum & National Art Gallery

  • 6 buildings, 50 galleries. Chola bronze gallery is world-class.
  • 📍 Egmore · Map
  • 💰 ₹50

Fort St. George & Fort Museum

  • India's first English fortress (1644). Colonial-era artifacts.
  • 📍 George Town · Map
  • 💰 ₹25

AVM Heritage Museum — Vintage Cars + Cinema

  • Classic car collection at legendary AVM Studios
  • 📍 Vadapalani · Map
  • 💰 ~₹100
  • ⭐ "Must visit for vintage car enthusiasts" (Reddit May 2025)

DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum

  • Open-air museum — traditional homes from 4 states
  • 📍 Muttukadu, ECR · Map
  • 💰 ₹200

Cholamandal Artists' Village

  • India's largest self-supporting artists' village (est. 1966)
  • 📍 Injambakkam, ECR · Map
  • 💰 ₹50

VGP Marine Kingdom — Underwater Aquarium

  • India's largest walk-through aquarium. Tunnel with sharks & rays.
  • 📍 ECR, Injambakkam · Map
  • 💰 ₹500-900
  • 📞 vgpmarinekingdom.in

B.M. Birla Planetarium

  • Sky theatre + Periyar Science Centre (8 galleries)
  • 📍 Kotturpuram · Map
  • 💰 ₹30-75

Madras Art Weekend (Annual Dec/Jan)

🦩 NATURE & WILDLIFE

Pulicat Lake — Flamingo Watching

  • Thousands of Greater Flamingos (Oct-Mar)
  • 📍 ~60km north · Map
  • 💰 Boat ₹500-1,500 — ask for boatman Yuvaraj (highly reviewed)
  • 🗓️ Oct-Mar (peak Dec-Feb)

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

  • India's oldest bird sanctuary. 20+ species. Active 2025-26 season confirmed.
  • 📍 ~85km south · Map
  • 💰 ₹25
  • 💡 Go 6-7am. By 9am birds leave.

Madras Crocodile Bank

  • 2,000+ crocodiles, alligators, gharials. Volunteer options.
  • 📍 Near Mahabalipuram, ECR · Map
  • 💰 ₹50
  • 📞 madrascrocodilebank.org

Guindy National Park + Snake Park

  • National park INSIDE the city. Blackbuck, deer, jackals. King cobras at Snake Park.
  • 📍 Guindy · Map
  • 💰 ₹15 + ₹30

Chetpet Eco Park

  • Restored urban lake. Walking trails, butterflies, birds.
  • 📍 Chetpet · Map
  • 💰 Free

🎢 AMUSEMENT & FAMILY

Queensland Amusement Park

  • Best rides among Chennai parks (Reddit Oct 2025)
  • 📍 Chennai-Bengaluru Highway, Chembarambakkam · Map
  • 💰 ₹450+
  • 📞 queenslandamusementpark.com

MGM Dizzee World

  • Classic amusement + water park
  • 📍 Muttukadu, ECR · Map
  • 💰 ₹600-900

VGP Universal Kingdom

  • Rides + Aquarium + Ice Rink combo
  • 📍 ECR, Injambakkam · Map
  • 💰 ₹800-1,500 combo

📚 CHILL SPOTS

Writers Cafe

  • Book-themed cafe chain for reading & working
  • 📍 Gopalapuram · Map + multiple locations

Anna Centenary Library

  • Asia's largest library. Stunning architecture.
  • 📍 Kotturpuram · Map
  • 💰 Free

🧘 WELLNESS

Mazaya Spa — Chennai's 1st Family Spa (New 2025)

  • Forest-themed wellness escape
  • 📍 Anna Nagar · Map
  • 📞 9080911750

Cryotherapy — Cryo2

  • Whole body cryo chamber
  • 📍 Nungambakkam · Map
  • 📞 cryo2.in

🚲 HERITAGE & UNIQUE

Heritage Bicycle Tour

  • Cycling through colonial-era Chennai at dawn
  • 📍 George Town · Map
  • 💰 ₹1,500-2,500
  • 🗓️ Early morning 6-8am

Vintage Car Shows — Heritage Rollers (Annual Jan/Feb)

  • 80+ classic cars. AVM Museum also has permanent collection.

Cordelia Cruise from Chennai

🗺️ DAY TRIPS

Mahabalipuram (60 km)

  • Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas + rock climbing at the boulders
  • 📍 Map

Pondicherry (150 km)

  • French Quarter, Auroville, cafes
  • 📍 Map

Kanchipuram (75 km)

Pichavaram Mangrove Forest (200 km)

  • World's 2nd largest mangrove. Kayak through tunnels.
  • 📍 Map

📅 ANNUAL EVENTS

Event When What
Margazhi Music Festival Dec-Jan 1,000+ Carnatic concerts
Madras Art Weekend Dec/Jan City-wide art festival
Chennai Book Fair January Massive book fair at YMCA
Heritage Rollers Jan/Feb 80+ vintage cars
Pongal January Tamil harvest festival
Madras Week August Heritage walks, lectures

💡 PRO TIP: How to Book Direct

Most activities on SceneBooking/similar platforms are run by independent studios and instructors. To cut the middleman:

  1. Google Maps — Search the activity + "Chennai" and call directly
  2. Instagram — Most studios actively take bookings via DM
  3. Google "activity name + Chennai + book" — Many have their own sites
  4. WhatsApp — Most small studios prefer WhatsApp bookings

You'll often save 15-30% booking direct vs through aggregators.

Built with ❤️ by Claw 🐾 | 80+ activities | Sources: SceneBooking sitemap (for discovery), TripAdvisor, Reddit, Instagram, Google | Feb 2026

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