Cox's Bazar Travel Guide: Beaches, Marine Drive, Food and Tips

Cox's Bazar is the country's best-known holiday coast: an unbroken stretch of sand running south from the town towards Teknaf, with the Bay of Bengal on one side and green hills not far inland. This Cox's Bazar travel guide covers the best time to visit, how to get there from Dhaka, the places to visit along the beach and the Marine Drive, what to eat and where to stay. For more detail, see our Cox's Bazar guide.

Best time to visit Cox's Bazar

November to March is the best time to visit Cox's Bazar, when the sea is calm and the sky clear. It is also the busiest season, especially on weekends and public holidays. In the monsoon, roughly June to September, the sea is rough and bathing is often closed, though the hills along the Marine Drive are at their greenest and the town is much quieter.

How to get to Cox's Bazar from Dhaka

Buses from Dhaka take about 8–10 hours, and most of them run overnight, arriving at counters along Kolatoli Road. From Chattogram it is about 4 hours. Choose an AC bus with good reclining seats for a journey this long, and pick the boarding point nearest you in Dhaka.

Buses are busiest around weekends, long holidays and the winter season, so book early for those dates. Search buses to Cox's Bazar and choose your seat online. Trains also run from Dhaka and Chattogram to Cox's Bazar station, and there are frequent domestic flights.

Places to visit in Cox's Bazar

The town beach

The Cox's Bazar Sea Beach runs along the whole town. The busiest stretches are the three main points: Laboni, closest to the old town and markets; Sugandha, in the middle; and Kolatoli, where most of the hotels are. Walk the sand at sunset, and come back before dawn to see the fishing boats land their catch.

The Marine Drive

The Marine Drive is the coastal road from Kolatoli south to Teknaf, about 80 km long, running between the beach and forested hills. Hire a CNG, jeep or easy-bike for a half or full day and stop along the way.

• Himchari: about 12 km south of town, where the hills of Himchari National Park come down to the road. Climb the steps for the view and see the waterfall, which runs best in the rainy season.
• Inani Beach: about 25 km south, known for the dark rocks along the shore, which stand clear of the water at low tide. Check the tide times before you go.

Islands and temples

• Maheshkhali Island: the country's only hilly island, a 15–20 minute speedboat ride from Kasturi Ghat. The Adinath temple stands on Mainak hill.
• Ramu Buddhist temples: about 15 km towards Chattogram, a cluster of monasteries and pagodas kept by the Rakhine and Barua Buddhist communities.
• Dulahazara Safari Park: at Chakaria on the Chattogram highway, about 50 km north. Animals live in large fenced areas of forest, and buses towards Chattogram stop at the gate.

A note on Saint Martin's Island

Saint Martin's Island, the only coral island in Bangladesh, can be reached by ship only, and only in the winter season. The government limits visitor numbers and overnight stays, so check the current rules and buy your ship ticket before you plan the rest of the trip.

What to eat in Cox's Bazar

• Fresh seafood: choose your fish, prawns, crab or lobster from the display and have it fried or grilled. Ask the price by weight before they cook it.
• Rupchanda fry: pomfret fried whole until crisp, the classic Cox's Bazar plate.
• Shutki: dried fish as curry or bhorta; the markets sell it to take home.
• Rakhine snacks and pickles: from the shops of the Burmese Market.

Kolatoli Road and Sugandha Point have seafood restaurants side by side, and the stalls at Laboni fry fish and crab on the beach in the evening.

Where to stay in Cox's Bazar

• Kolatoli and Sugandha: most of the hotels, at every price, a few minutes' walk from the beach. Book ahead for winter weekends and holidays.
• Marine Drive and Inani: resorts on a quieter stretch of coast; you will need transport to town.
• Laboni and the town centre: older, cheaper hotels near the markets.

Getting around

• Easy-bikes and rickshaws run between the beach points and the town.
• CNGs and jeeps for the Marine Drive, Himchari and Inani; hire them for a half or full day.
• Speedboats to Maheshkhali leave from Kasturi Ghat.
• Agree every fare before the ride.

Tips for a safe beach trip

• Swim only at the guarded points, between the flags, and only when lifeguards are on duty. The beach has strong currents.
• A red flag means no swimming. Keep to waist-deep water, never swim after dark and watch children closely.
• The beaches along the Marine Drive mostly have no lifeguards: do not swim there.
• Bring a hat, sunscreen and water; the sun is strong even in winter.
• Agree the price before a beach chair, horse ride or photographer.
• At Ramu and Maheshkhali, dress modestly and take off your shoes in temples.
• The Rakhine community celebrates Sangrai, its water festival, in April; the Burmese Market sells their handwoven cloth all year.

Ready for the sea? Search buses to Cox's Bazar, and find more places in our Cox's Bazar guide.