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Cox's Bazar Travel Guide
Buy Bangladeshi TakaCox's Bazar at a glance
Cox's Bazar is Bangladesh's beach town, on the Bay of Bengal in the far south-east. Its sand runs almost unbroken for about 120 km south towards Teknaf, and Bangladesh promotes it as the world's longest natural sea beach. Most visitors stay near Laboni and Kolatoli, where the beach access, hotels and seafood restaurants are, and spend two or three days between the beach, the hills at Himchari and the coral boulders at Inani.
From Dhaka, fly in about an hour (Biman, US-Bangla, Novoair and Air Astra, from about BDT 4,400 one way) or take one of two direct trains of about 8 hours 20 minutes: the overnight Cox's Bazar Express leaves Dhaka at 11 pm and arrives at 7:20 am (no service on Mondays), and the Parjotak Express leaves at 6:15 am and arrives at 2:40 pm (not on Wednesdays). Since 20 December 2025 the fare is BDT 1,449 in Snigdha (air-conditioned chair) class, BDT 1,740 for an AC seat and BDT 2,656 for an AC berth on the night train. The airport's new terminal opened for domestic flights in September 2026 and international flights are expected from November, but none come from India: fly to Dhaka first.
Saint Martin's Island, off the southern tip, opens to visitors only from November to January. In the 2025-26 season visitors were capped at 2,000 a day, needed a travel pass bought online in advance, sailed only from Cox's Bazar, and could stay overnight only in December and January. The 2026-27 rules had not been announced by 9 October 2026, and none of the rules has said clearly whether foreign visitors may go, so check before you plan around it.
Ramu, about 10 to 12 km away, has a 100-foot golden reclining Buddha and old Buddhist monasteries, including the Ramu Central Sima Vihara, rebuilt in 2013. Indian passport holders need a visa before they travel, from a Bangladesh mission or visa centre in India: there is no visa fee for Indians, and no visa on arrival for Indian tourists.
What to see and do
Laboni and Kolatoli, the town's main beach points, are a short rickshaw ride apart; Himchari and Inani are south along the Marine Drive, the coast road to Teknaf.
Himchari National Park
A short drive south along the Marine Drive, where forested hills meet the beach: climb the steps to a viewpoint over the Bay of Bengal. The small waterfall flows only in the monsoon.
Inani Beach
About 24 km south of Kolatoli on the Marine Drive, quieter than the town beach, with coral boulders exposed at low tide. Go at low tide and wear sandals on the rocks.
The Burmese Market
Rakhine-run shops near Laboni beach selling hand-woven fabrics, sarongs, pickles and small crafts. Much of the stock now comes from within Bangladesh, so bargain for the textiles rather than for imports.
Paying in Cox's Bazar
For the taka itself, entry rules for Indians, how much cash you can bring in and how cards and ATMs work, see the Bangladesh travel guide, and the Bangladeshi taka page for its rate against the rupee.
Larger hotels take cards; rickshaws, beach chairs, seafood stalls and most shops want cash. Draw taka from a bank ATM in town, and keep small notes, because rickshaw drivers and beach vendors rarely have change for BDT 1,000.
What Cox's Bazar actually costs
Set the length and style of your trip to see what to budget, in Bangladeshi taka and Indian rupees.
Indicative, excluding international flights and accommodation, per person per day. Converted at the verified mid-market rate on 9 October 2026, BDT 100 ≈ ₹78, not a Matrix board rate.
Budget roughly ₹1,180 to ₹4,700 per person per day on the ground, excluding flights and accommodation.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Train from Dhaka: Snigdha (AC chair) / AC berth | BDT 1,449 / 2,656 |
| Flight from Dhaka, one way | from about BDT 4,400 |
| Local meal or street food | BDT 100-300 |
| Casual restaurant meal | BDT 300-700 |
| Sit-down dinner for two | BDT 1,200-3,000 |
Getting around
Cycle-rickshaws and battery rickshaws cover the town; agree the fare before you get in, as visitors are often quoted more. For Himchari, Inani and Ramu, hire a CNG auto-rickshaw or a car and driver for the day. The Marine Drive runs about 80 km down the coast from Kolatoli to Teknaf.
Common mistakes in Cox's Bazar
Expecting a visa on arrival
Bangladesh's visa on arrival is not open to Indian tourists. Get the visa in India before you fly; there is no visa fee, only a service charge at the outsourced centres.
Leaving the train to the last minute
Both Dhaka trains fill up, the night train first, especially from November to February and around holidays. Book well ahead.
Swimming away from the lifeguards
The surf here has strong currents, and drownings happen every year. Swim only where lifeguards are on duty, and never after dark.
Counting on Saint Martin's Island
It opens only from November to January, with a daily cap and passes sold online in advance. Check the season's rules before you plan around it.
Cox's Bazar FAQs
By air in about an hour, from about BDT 4,400 one way, or by direct train in about 8 hours 20 minutes: the Cox's Bazar Express overnight (11 pm from Dhaka, not Mondays) or the Parjotak Express by day (6:15 am, not Wednesdays). There is no flight from India to Cox's Bazar.
Since 20 December 2025: BDT 1,449 in Snigdha (AC chair) class, BDT 1,740 for an AC seat and BDT 2,656 for an AC berth, about ₹1,140, ₹1,360 and ₹2,080.
Yes, arranged before you travel: Bangladesh's visa on arrival is not open to Indian tourists. Fill in the online form at visa.gov.bd, print it, and submit it with your passport at a Bangladesh mission in India (New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Guwahati or Agartala) or a Bangladesh Visa Application Centre in eastern India. Indians pay no visa fee; the outsourced centres charge a service fee of about ₹825.
Only from November to January. In 2025-26 visitors were capped at 2,000 a day, needed a travel pass bought online, sailed only from Cox's Bazar, and could stay overnight only in December and January. The 2026-27 rules had not been announced by 9 October 2026.
Bangladesh promotes it as the world's longest natural sea beach: about 120 km of almost unbroken sand from Cox's Bazar towards Teknaf. Other beaches claim the title too, but it is Bangladesh's longest.
November to February, when it is dry and mild. The monsoon, from June to September, brings heavy rain and rough seas, and floods can close the railway.
On 9 October 2026 one taka was ₹0.78 at the mid-market rate, so BDT 1,000 is about ₹780. You can bring up to BDT 10,000 in taka into Bangladesh.
More guides in Bangladesh
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