5★Flight
≈ 3–5 h via Dhaka
CCU → CXB, with a change; check schedules
Airport
CXB
Cox’s Bazar Airport
Best time
November to March
check the season before booking
Stay
3 to 4 nights
+2 for Saint Martin's
Country
Bangladesh
check entry rules
There is normally no non-stop flight from Kolkata to Cox's Bazar. Plan on a change, usually via Dhaka, with a typical journey time of 3 to 5 hours. Stay at Kolatoli for convenience, Sugandha Point for the beach, or Inani for quiet. Three or four nights suits most trips. Go between November and March. Book rooms early for December and January, the peak.
Getting from Kolkata to Cox’s Bazar
By air
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) serves Kolkata, about 17 km north-east of the centre. Road transfers take roughly 45 to 75 minutes to Park Street, depending on traffic, and Jai Hind Bimanbandar metro station on the Yellow Line serves the airport. Cox's Bazar Airport (CXB) is close to the town and the main beach areas, so the last leg is short. Check your terminal and leave time for the domestic connection. Morning departures are easier for connections.
There is normally no non-stop flight from Kolkata to Cox's Bazar, so a change is needed, usually via a hub such as Dhaka. Typical journey time is 3 to 5 hours. Schedules, carriers and route options change with the season, so confirm the routing when booking rather than relying on an old timetable. Indian passport holders need a Bangladesh visa; check the Bangladesh High Commission before paying for tickets.
Other options
Overland travel from Kolkata to Cox's Bazar is slow and complicated. Road and rail routes run through the Petrapole-Benapole crossing and on to Dhaka, then south to the coast, with long days of travel and border formalities. Flying is the practical option for a short trip. If you do go overland, check current border rules with the Bangladesh High Commission and allow extra days for delays. The route suits travellers with time and a flexible plan, not a short holiday.
Where to stay in Cox’s Bazar
Kolatoli
The main hotel strip, closest to the beach and to the busiest stretch of restaurants and shops. Convenient for a first visit and easy for early walks on the sand. Rooms here fill quickly in December and January.
Sugandha Point
Where the beach curves and the best-known viewpoint draws a crowd at sunset. Suits travellers who want the sea close by and do not mind noise and evening traffic. A short ride from Kolatoli.
Inani
A quieter stretch of sand south of town, with a slower pace and fewer places to eat. Suits a relaxed couple of nights, or anyone who wants the beach without the crowds. Fewer facilities means planning meals ahead.
Top things to do in Cox’s Bazar
- Long beach walk: The sand at Cox's Bazar runs unbroken for a long way. Walk it early, when the light is soft, the beach is quiet and the heat has not built.
- Sugandha Point sunset: The best-known viewpoint fills in the late afternoon. Arrive an hour early to find space, and stay until the light goes.
- Himchari National Park: Hills, forest and seasonal waterfalls a little way south of town, with trails and views back over the coast. Best after the monsoon.
- Inani beach: Sand, rock pools and coral washed up on the shore, quieter than the main beach and good for a half day with a car.
- Marine Drive road: The coast road links Cox's Bazar with Himchari and Inani, with sea views most of the way. A car and driver makes an easy day out.
- Saint Martin's Island: A small island in the Bay of Bengal reached by boat in the right season. Check current boat services and permits locally before planning the trip.
- Burmese market: Central market area where dried fish, spices and imported goods are sold. Busy, and good for an hour of wandering in the morning.
- Ramu and Teknaf: Ramu has old Buddhist temples and a monastery; Teknaf looks across the Naf River. Both make a long half day from town.
- Seafood meals: Fish from the Bay, dried fish and plain rice are the local staples. Beachside places are simple and fill up in the evening.
- Beach at dawn: Fishing boats come in and the sand is empty before the heat builds. The best hour of the day for photographs.
Three days in Cox’s Bazar
- Day 1: Arrive and settle: Arrive and settle at Kolatoli, then take a first walk on the beach. Watch the sunset at Sugandha Point and eat a simple fish dinner nearby. Keep the evening early after the flight, and check timings for the next day's drive.
- Day 2: The coast road: Drive the Marine Drive road south, stopping at Himchari for forest trails and viewpoints, then on to Inani for rock pools and a quieter beach. Return to town in the evening, leaving time for the market area.
- Day 3: Town and sea: Spend the morning in the Burmese market and the older part of town, then choose between a boat trip in season or a slow afternoon on the sand before flying back via Dhaka. Allow a buffer if the connection is tight.
Add a night for Saint Martin's Island in season, or a day for Ramu and Teknaf. Allow a buffer night before an international connection, since internal flights can slip.
Best time to visit Cox’s Bazar
November to March is the dry, comfortable window, with cooler mornings and clear skies. December and January are the busiest, so book rooms early. From April the heat and humidity build, and the monsoon runs roughly June to September, bringing heavy rain and rough seas. Seas are usually calmer in this window, which matters for boat trips. Storms can affect flights in the wet months. Check the forecast with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department before booking.
Getting around Cox’s Bazar
- Auto-rickshaw: Short hops along the beach road are easy to flag down. Agree the route before setting off.
- Cycle rickshaw: Slow but useful for short trips between Kolatoli and Sugandha Point, especially in the evening.
- Car with driver: The simplest way to reach Himchari, Inani and Teknaf, with stops along the Marine Drive road.
Cox’s Bazar vs Kolkata: what feels different
Cox's Bazar moves at a slower pace than Kolkata. The air is saltier and the horizon open, with the Bay of Bengal in place of the Hooghly. Bengali is spoken, as in Kolkata, but with a Chittagonian accent and a strong local dialect. Food leans on fish, dried fish and rice, milder and simpler than Kolkata's Bengali cooking. Expect a small-town beach resort rather than a big city. Evenings are quiet: the town sleeps earlier than Kolkata does.
Before you go
- Visas: Indian passport holders need a Bangladesh visa before travel. Check the Bangladesh High Commission and the Ministry of External Affairs for current rules and processing times.
- Money: The taka is the local currency. Cards work in larger hotels; carry cash for markets, rickshaws and small restaurants.
- Language: Bengali is the everyday language, with Chittagonian widely spoken locally. English is limited outside hotels, airports and agencies.
- Weather and advisories: Check travel advisories with the Ministry of External Affairs, and forecasts with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, especially in the monsoon months.
Hotels in Cox’s Bazar
Hotels from the IMPT hotel database in Cox’s Bazar’s main areas, listed by star rating (5-star first, then 4-star) and guest score. No prices are shown here: each button opens live availability for your dates in the IMPT app, and every booking removes one tonne of CO₂.
5★
4★
4★
4★
4★Seagull Hotel Cox's bazar
Sugandha Point, Cox’s Bazar · 4-starGuest score 4.2/5 · 6760 reviewsSee live price
4★Neeshorgo Hotel And Resort Ltd
≈ 2 km from Kolatoli, Cox’s Bazar · 4-starGuest score 4.1/5 · 5059 reviewsSee live price
3★Hotel Kollol By J & Z Group
Sugandha Point, Cox’s Bazar · 3-starGuest score 4.0/5 · 3466 reviewsSee live price
3★
3★FAQ
How do you get from Kolkata to Cox's Bazar?
Fly from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) to Cox's Bazar Airport (CXB). There is normally no non-stop service, so a change is needed, usually via Dhaka. Typical journey time is 3 to 5 hours. Confirm schedules with your airline, since routes and frequencies change through the year.
Is there a direct flight from Kolkata to Cox's Bazar?
Normally no. A change is needed, usually via a hub such as Dhaka, where you connect and fly south. Typical total journey time is 3 to 5 hours. Schedules shift with season and demand, so check current options when booking rather than relying on an old timetable.
When is the best time to visit Cox's Bazar from Kolkata?
November to March. Skies are clearer, humidity is lower and the beach is at its most usable. December and January are peak, so rooms fill. April brings heat, and the monsoon from roughly June to September brings heavy rain and rough sea. Check the forecast with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Where should you stay in Cox's Bazar?
Kolatoli is the main hotel strip and the easiest base for a first visit. Sugandha Point puts you near the best-known stretch of beach and the sunset crowds. Inani, further south, is quieter with fewer facilities. All three work for a short trip; pick according to how much noise and traffic you want.
Do Indian travellers need a visa for Bangladesh?
Yes. Indian passport holders need a Bangladesh visa. Apply ahead of travel and check current requirements with the Bangladesh High Commission, since services and advisories change. Carry printed and digital copies of your documents, and confirm rules with the Ministry of External Affairs before booking flights.
How many days do you need in Cox's Bazar?
Three or four nights covers the main beach, Sugandha Point, the Marine Drive road, Himchari and Inani at an easy pace. Add a night for Saint Martin's Island in season, or a day for Ramu and Teknaf. Allow a buffer before an international connection, as internal flights can be delayed.
What is there to do in Cox's Bazar besides the beach?
Himchari National Park has forest trails and hill views. Inani has rock pools and quieter sand. The Burmese market sells dried fish and spices. Ramu has old Buddhist temples, and Teknaf sits on the Naf River. Saint Martin's Island is a boat trip in the right season; check local services first.
Is Cox's Bazar safe for travellers from Kolkata?
It is a well-established domestic holiday destination with a busy beach season. Keep to normal precautions and check travel advisories from the Ministry of External Affairs before booking. Follow local advice about swimming, since the surf in the Bay of Bengal can be strong, and keep valuables secure on the sand.
Can you travel from Kolkata to Cox's Bazar overland?
It is possible but slow. Routes run through the Petrapole-Benapole crossing and on to Dhaka before turning south to the coast, with long road sections and border formalities. Flying is far more practical for a short trip. Check current border rules with the Bangladesh High Commission if you plan to go by land.
More from Kolkata
Sources: airline schedules, official tourism and immigration authorities. Times are approximate; check before you travel. Editorial review: 3 November 2026.