Cox's Bazar lines Bangladesh's south-eastern coast with over 120 kilometres of unbroken sandy beach stretching from the mouth of the Bakkhali River south to Teknaf. The 80-kilometre Marine Drive runs parallel to the ocean, hemmed between rising green hill ranges on one side and breaking waves on the other. Beyond the town lie Buddhist monasteries at Ramu, offshore hills on Maheshkhali, and the coral reefs of Saint Martin's Island.
- From Dhaka
- About 395 km, 8 hours by road
- Best time
- November to February
- A day costs
- About ৳1,700 to ৳11,000 per person
- Nearest airport
- Cox's Bazar Airport (CXB)
What Cox's Bazar is famous for
- World's longest sandy beach দীর্ঘতম প্রাকৃতিক সমুদ্র সৈকত
- Marine Drive highway মেরিন ড্রাইভ সড়ক
- Dried fish / shutki market শুঁটকি মাছের বাজার
- Burmese market handicrafts বার্মিজ মার্কেট ও আচার
How Cox's Bazar got its name
The town was named after Captain Hiram Cox, a British East India Company officer appointed in 1799 as superintendent to rehabilitate thousands of Arakanese refugees fleeing Burmese conquest.
Places to visit in Cox's Bazar
Photo: Tanvir Rahat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Inani Beach ইনানী সমুদ্র সৈকত
A 18-kilometre coral stone beach along the Marine Drive, where black volcanic and coral rocks emerge during low tide.
- Best time
- November to March
- Give it
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free entry; open auto-rickshaw round trip from Kolatoli about ৳600–800
Photo: Niaz morshed Shovon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Saint Martin's Island সেন্ট মার্টিন দ্বীপ
Bangladesh's sole coral island, surrounded by turquoise waters, coconut palms and coral reefs in the north-eastern Bay of Bengal.
- Best time
- November to January
- Give it
- A full day
- Cost
- Ship round trip roughly ৳1,500–2,500 depending on class; travel pass fee included with online ticket
Photo: Rocky Masum This work was made by Masum-al-Hasan Rocky and released under the, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Himchhari National Park হিমছড়ি জাতীয় উদ্যান
A protected coastal reserve on the Marine Drive featuring a seasonal hill waterfall and a hilltop gazebo overlooking the sea.
- Best time
- October to February
- Give it
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Entry roughly ৳30 for Bangladeshis; round trip auto-rickshaw from Kolatoli about ৳300–400
Unseen Cox's Bazar: the lesser-known places
Quieter spots most visitors miss. Go with a local driver or ask us to arrange one.
Photo: Tanweer Morshed, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Adinath Temple আদিনাথ মন্দির
An ancient hilltop Shiva temple situated on Mainak Hill on Maheshkhali Island, overlooking the mangrove coastline.
- Best time
- November to March
- Give it
- Half a day
- Cost
- Speedboat crossing about ৳100–120 each way; local auto-rickshaw to hill about ৳50; entry free
Photo: Zislam1968, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Sonadia Island সোনাদিয়া দ্বীপ
A barrier island off Maheshkhali with wide sandy beaches, mangrove creeks, thousands of red crabs, and winter migratory shorebirds.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- Half a day
- Cost
- Speedboat and local boat hires roughly ৳500–800 round trip per person in a shared group
How to get to Cox's Bazar
- Direct intercity trains—the Cox's Bazar Express (Train 813/814) and Parjotok Express (Train 815/816)—run daily from Kamalapur station via Chattogram and the Dohazari line, arriving at the iconic oyster-shaped Cox's Bazar terminal in 8 to 9 hours.
- Cox's Bazar Airport (CXB) has multiple daily direct flights from Dhaka operated by Biman Bangladesh, US-Bangla Airlines and Air Astra, taking approximately 60 minutes. The terminal sits a short 10-minute drive from the main hotel strip.
- Overnight and daytime sleeper and AC coaches (Green Line, Desh Travels, Shohagh, Saintmartin Paribahan, Hanif) leave Sayedabad, Arambagh and Fakirapool, arriving at Kolatoli or Jhawtola bus terminals in 9 to 11 hours.
Where to stay in Cox's Bazar
Rooms run from about ৳1,500 a night for a simple hotel, around ৳5,000 mid-range and ৳16,000 or more for the most comfortable. Prices are approximate.
- Sayeman Beach Resort, Marine Drive, Kolatoli
- Long Beach Hotel, Kalatoli Road
- Seagull Hotel, Sugandha Point
- Hotels and guesthouses around Sugandha and Laboni points
What to eat in Cox's Bazar
Indulge in fresh seafood at coastal eateries along Kolatoli: grilled red snapper, butter pomfret, battered cuttlefish, and crab curry. Also try local Rakhine delicacies, loitta shutki bharta, and pickled hill mangoes from the Burmese market.