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Back to Cox's Bazar

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Voykit pocket guide · Bangladesh

Cox's Bazar

কক্সবাজার

Go to Cox's Bazar for the beach in the Nov–Mar dry season; plan two nights, expect a busy domestic resort town rather than a quiet escape, and avoid weekends if you want space on the sand.

Cox's Bazar is a coastal town in southeastern Bangladesh built along roughly 120 km of unbroken sand beach, marketed as one of the longest natural beaches in the world. It is overwhelmingly a domestic holiday destination, so the beachfront is dense with hotels and day-trippers rather than set up for foreign travellers. The wider district south of town also hosts a very large refugee settlement around Ukhia and Teknaf, where access for outsiders is restricted, so check current rules before heading that way.

ChattogramCox's Bazar20 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Bangladesh
Local name
কক্সবাজার
Best months
Nov–Mar (dry, calmer seas)
Avoid
Jun–Sep (monsoon rain, rough seas and occasional cyclone risk)
Stay
2 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
BDT
Money
BDT in small notes (50s and 100s) for rickshaws, tea and entry tickets.
SIM and data
Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink sell SIMs at Dhaka airport with passport and biometric fingerprint registration.
Emergency
Police, fire, ambulance 999 · Tourist Police Check locally (Dhaka, Cox's Bazar)
Plugs
Types C, D, G · 220 V · 50 Hz · Mixed sockets; universal adapter recommended.
Tipping
Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge.; Guide / driver: ৳500–1,000 a day.; Rickshaw: Round up.; Hotel porter: ৳50–100.
Water
Not drinkable from the tap; buy sealed bottles or use hotel filtered water.
Toilets
Western toilets in hotels and malls; squat toilets with a hose or jug elsewhere. Carry tissue.

Get in

By air

CXB · Cox's Bazar Airport
Direct flights from Dhaka in about an hour; a rail line to Dhaka also opened in 2023

Get around

Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws (CNGs) cover the town; agree the fare before you get in. Jeeps and local buses run south to Himchari and Inani. Dhaka connects by direct flight, overnight bus or the newer rail line.

See and do

Known for

  • Roughly 120 km of unbroken sand beach
  • Himchari National Park waterfalls and cliffs just south of town
  • Inani Beach's coral rock outcrops
  • Dried-fish markets at Nazirartek
  • Fresh seafood from the local fishing fleet

Sleep

Kolatoli and Laboni beach area
Most hotels and restaurants, and the busiest stretch of sand.
Inani side
Quieter beach further south, near Himchari, with fewer crowds.

Language

Bangla is spoken by almost everyone; English works in hotels, upscale restaurants and business, much less on the street. Bangladeshis are curious and hospitable: expect questions and invitations.

  • 'Assalamu alaikum' (Muslims) and 'nomoskar' (Hindus) are greetings; 'dhonnobad' means thank you.
  • WhatsApp and IMO are widely used.

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: 'Assalamu alaikum' with a nod; handshake between men; avoid: Offering a hand to a woman first
  • Invitations: Accept tea; bring sweets when visiting a home; avoid: Refusing all food
  • Hands: Right hand for eating and giving; avoid: Left hand for food
  • Curiosity: Expect crowds and questions; smile and answer briefly; avoid: Taking offence at stares
  • Mosques: Shoes off, head covered, visit outside prayer times; avoid: Walking in front of people praying

Scams and watch-outs

  • Rip currents are strong outside the flagged, lifeguard-patrolled sections: swim only where lifeguards are present.
  • Areas south of town around Ukhia and Teknaf near the refugee camps have restricted access: check current rules before travelling that way.
  • Beach crowds and hotel prices spike on Fridays, weekends and public holidays.
  • Monsoon season brings sudden squalls and occasional cyclone warnings that can shut the beach with little notice.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Cox's Bazar yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Roughly 120 km of unbroken sand beach
  • Himchari National Park waterfalls and cliffs just south of town
  • Inani Beach's coral rock outcrops
  • Dried-fish markets at Nazirartek
  • Fresh seafood from the local fishing fleet

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Cox's Bazarকক্সবাজার

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/coxs-bazar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.