Coimbatore, also known as Kovai is known for its various industries, engineering goods, textile mills, educational institutions, health care facilities, pleasant weather, friendly culture and hospitality. There is a significant minority of people of North and West Indian origin in Coimbatore, making it cosmopolitan. The Tamil spoken here is called Kongu Tamil. Other languages spoken include English, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada. The citizens are friendly and courteous. It has pleasant, moderate weather throughout the year, with the exception of summer, and so, is similar to a resort town. It is an information-technology hub with new initiatives from the state government. Coimbatore is an orthodox city. It has developed in terms of wealth, however the general populace is still down to earth. People here don't have a flashy lifestyle. Most of all the Coimbatoreans are known for the respect displayed in language towards everyone.

Tamil is the mothertongue of the majority of the people in Coimbatore though there are people who speak Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada Hindi and Urdu. Unlike other cities in India, few people in Coimbatore can speak Hindi. English is usually understood and spoken.

The city has six major arterial roads and three National Highways, NH-47 (Kanyakumari-Salem), NH-67 (Nagapattinam-Ooty) and NH-209 (Bangalore-Dindigul) passing through the city. The city has a civil airport at Peelamedu and an Air Force base at Sulur. Broad-gauge trains connect it to all parts of India. A bypass tollway was built to avoid unnecessary traffic into the city.

11°0′0″N 76°58′0″E

Map of Coimbatore

Getting around Coimbatore is easy. There are public transport buses, auto rickshaws and plenty of taxis available. The minimum charge for cabs is ₹40 and ₹16/₹12 per kilometre for different operators. Public transport is available through buses operated by the state-owned TNSTC and other private operators.

• 10.9935476.959381 Athar Jamad Masjid (Athar Jamaath Masjid) (in Big bazaar street). A famous hundred-year-old mosque. 
• 11.0067176.977942 G.D. Naidu Museum (in Avinashi Road). Daily 8AM to 4:30PM. Interesting collection of inventions by G.D. Naidu, who is also referred as the Edison of India. Interesting science experiments. There are the History of Industrialisation in Coimbatore exhibition and an old motor bike which G.D.Naidu learned to assemble from a British officer after which he became interested in engineering. A gift shop is attached with the museum, where one can buy interesting toys from Germany. It is appropriate for children. Entrance free. 
• 11.0293576.932123 VOC park (near Gandhipuram). The park includes a zoo and a children's park. Evening is the best time to visit the park. Nehru Stadium is nearby and also there are few small playgrounds for basketball, tennis, badminton, etc. Adult ₹3, child ₹2. 
• 10.9443376.931384 Infant Jesus Church, Kovaipudur. Here, devotees throng on Thursdays to attend the Novena. (updated Jun 2015)

• There are three good water theme parks Black Thunder (near Ooty foot hills), Kovai Kondattam (en route to Siruvani Dam), and Maharaja Water Theme Park (near Neelambur, Avinashi Road). The entry fees are ₹300 to 350 for adults, while children get a discount of ₹50-100 per head.
• Isha Yoga Center Coimbatore, Velliangiri Foothills, Ishana Vihar Post (about 35 km from Coimbatore, 1 hour's drive without traffic), ☏ +91 83000 83111, info@ishafoundation.org. This yoga centre is an ashram in the foothills of the Velliangiri Mountains beside the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Visitors can participate in yoga programmes and ceremonies in the temples. The centre is set in 150 acres of thick forest. (updated Mar 2017)

ATMs are available throughout the city, with most concentrated in the commercial areas like R.S.Puram, Trichy Road and Avanashi Road.

Shopping in Coimbatore is concentrated in the areas of RS Puram, Cross-Cut Road and the Town Hall Area (Oppanakara St, Big Bazaar St, Raja St). Coimbatore, known as the Manchester of South India, is famous for textiles. Shops sell Kanchivaram, Benares and designer sarees at Cross-Cut Road. Coimbatore is also known for its numerous jewellery stores situated along Cross-Cut Road and Town Hall Area. Lee, Arrow, United Colors of Benetton, Levi’s, Reebok, Adidas, Puma, Crocodile, etc. have retail outlets in D.B. Road. There are several huge textile showrooms in the city (RmKV, Pothys, The Chennai Silks, Shree Devi Textiles, Sri Ganapathy silks, Kalyan Sarees, PSR Silks) that sell ethnic wear for the whole family.

Brookefields Mall in Brooke Bond Road is the biggest shopping mall in Coimbatore has branded shops for cloths, apparels, foot wears, eateries (including KFC), cloth showrooms (RmKV), etc. It has a six-screen multiplex cinema.

Nilgiris is South India’s leading chain of retail stores. They have an outlets in R.S. Puram and at Trichy Road. They stock most of the up-market food items like frozen and tinned foods, offering a wide range of grocery, general merchandise and personal-care products. They also offer Gouda, Colby, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Havarti, Feta, Haloumi and Camembert cheeses made by Acres Wild Cheesemaking Farm^{[dead link]}, which is in Coonoor.

Sri Krishna Sweets specializes in Indian sweets and is famous for its Mysurpa (a sweet made from lentil flour and ghee).

When visiting Coimbatore, taste the food and "Siruvani Water". Coimbatore is an ideal stop to rest while on the way to Ooty, Bangalore or Kerala. Sample the best of South Indian Idlis, Dosas, Vada, Chutney and vegetarian rice meal from the Annapoorna Chain of Veg Restaurants, Shree Anandhaas Chain of Veg Restaurants, Aaryaas Veg Restaurant and non-vegetarian food from Kovai Biriyani Hotel, Angannan's, Anjappar, Sampoorna, Rayappas and Thalappas restaurants. Try Krishna Sweets, too, the sweets chain started in this town. Western coffee pubs and fast food outlets Subway, Domino's, Pizza Hut, Baskin Robbins, Marry Brown, Barista, Cafe Coffee Day, and Boomerang are present, too.

• Ajmir, Near TownHall ManiKundu. Serves excellent mutton (beef) and chicken. Don't forget to taste their mutta poriyal and chicken fry that is great. It offers beef and chicken dishes. ₹250. 
• Brookfields Plaza, Brookbond road, R.S.Puram. Has everything from dresses to food like KFC, Rmkv, lifestyle, reliance trends. 
• China town, Nehru stadium in the road between the park gate (ParkGate Ground it will be on a thalluvandi). Only in the evening. Serves excellent Chinese items like chili pork, dragon chicken, and their lumpfu soup ₹400 for two. 
• Dhabas. Dhabas are famous in Coimbatore. They have a variety of foods and attached bars. There are many dhabas in Coimbatore. There was a dhaba near Maharaja World and one near Ramani's Mayuri, Chinnavedampatti. Most of the bars have individual huts accommodating about ten patrons apiece. They are evening hangouts. 
• Four season, Non sakthi highway at karattumedu. Only in the evening till midnight. Serves vegetarian and non-vegetarian food and beer; it is nice for parties. Try the Kerala chicken kudal. price ₹300 for two. 
• FUN Republic, peelamedu, near krishnamal college. Has Coimbatore's first McDonald's restaurant. 
• Hari Bavan, RTO Road & Gandhipuram 4th Street & SO Bunk, Peelamedu. Serves nonvegetarian food. At lunch there are four types of gravy (fish, mutton, chicken and Nattu Kolli). Try the karandi (omelette) and their side dish. Available only for lunch. 
• Hotel Blue Berry (I), Opposite VLB Arts College, Kovaipudur., ☏ +91 9952566746. 8AM to 10PM. Specialist in biriyani (mutton, chicken and fish). Serves a variety of nonvegetarian curries. Takes function orders and entertains home deliveries. Chettinad and Chengudu Chicken are standouts. Price ₹200 for two. 
• Hotel Muthu Rowther (HMR), Athupalam, Ukkadam (Fort) (Walkable from Ukkadam Bus stand, next to Athpalam bus stop). Morning, afternoon, evening. Excellent place for nonvegetarians. The best dishes are Beef Biryani and Beef Chukka. ₹100-200. (updated May 2015)
• Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), R.S.Puram. This is crowded. There is a branch in Brooke Fields Mall, also. 
• Paati Amma Dosai Kadai, Near Gem Hospital or Archana Darchana Theater Gandhi Park (go via Senthil Hospital in Gandhi Park). only in evening and night. Serves a wide variety of dosas and sevai like chola,kambu, tomato, ragi, cauliflower, mushroom, babycorn, panner dosai and seva. Don't forget to order butter appam yummy. ₹250 for 2. 
• Seasons, under SKC, R S Puram. Offers cheap, healthy vegetarian food. The corn and spinach sandwich and all fruit juices are good. It's usually crowded. The ice cream is so nice. 
• The Village, Near Gem Hospital or archana darchana theater GandhiPark (go via senthil hospital in gandhi park). only in evening and night. Serves a wide variety of dosas and sevai like chola, kambu, tomato, ragi, cauliflower, mushroom, babycorn, paneer dosai and seva. Order the delicious muttai chappathi. ₹250 for 2. 

Liquor cannot be found in the department stores or malls. It is regulated by the state government of Tamil Nadu and available through retail outlets controlled by state-owned body TASMAC and in some star hotels and bars. These shops usually close around 22:00, and it is hard to find an overnight party house in the city.

Siruvani water in Coimbatore is considered one of the tastiest natural unprocessed waters on the planet.

Coimbatore is safer than other cities in Tamil Nadu. Beware of pickpockets at bus stands. While travelling by bus, keep your valuables safe.