Ask anyone who has spent time in Varkala and they'll tell you the town has two sides. They're only a short auto-rickshaw ride apart, but they feel like different places, and choosing the right one for your stay makes a big difference.
| North Cliff | South Cliff | |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Busy, social, bohemian | Calm, local, laid-back |
| Evenings | Cafés, bars and live music | Quiet dinners and early nights |
| Beaches | Steps down to the main beach and Black Beach | Papanasam and the beaches towards Aaliyirakkam |
| Surf | Watch it from above | Where lessons and beginner waves are |
| Best for | Short trips, nightlife, first-timers | Surfers, couples, long stays |
The North Cliff
The North Cliff is the commercial heart of Varkala. A cliff-top walkway, starting around the Helipad and running north, is lined with cafés, restaurants, bars, clothes shops and yoga studios. It's packed and loud in peak season and gloriously sociable at sunset, when everyone seems to be facing the same direction.
- Everything is walkable: food, shopping, yoga, bars.
- The best people-watching and sunset views in town.
- Beach access is by steep steps, and the path is unfenced in places.
- Rooms on the path itself can be noisy late at night.
Both Outlive restaurants are up here: BLG Surf Bistro for brunch, seafood and sundowner cocktails, and God's Own Country Kitchen for pick-your-catch Kerala seafood.
The South Cliff
Head south past the main steps, towards the Janardhana Swamy Temple and Papanasam beach, and the pace drops. Around the Aaliyirakkam and Temple Road area you'll find homestays, small guesthouses and surf schools rather than shopping streets. Mornings start early with surfers heading for the water, and evenings are quiet.
- Closer to the beginner-friendly surf and the lesson spots.
- More space on the beach and a more local feel.
- Near the temple and Papanasam, a sacred beach, so dress modestly around there.
- Fewer late-night options, but the North Cliff is a short ride away.
This is Outlive's home base, on Temple Road, and where Sky's Surf School teaches. See which of our places to stay are on each cliff.
So which should you choose?
- Choose the North Cliff for a short trip with plenty of cafés, shopping and nightlife on your doorstep.
- Choose the South Cliff if you're surfing, want quieter nights, or are staying a week or longer.
Honestly, the best answer is often both: sleep on the quieter South Cliff and spend your evenings on the North. Want more options, including Odayam, Edava and Kappil? Read our full guide to where to stay in Varkala.
