Things to do and where to stay in Cox
Where to stay · Bangladesh

Where to stay in Cox — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks

Cox's Bazar is Bangladesh's proudest beach town, home to the world's longest uninterrupted natural sea beach — over 120 km of golden sand running along the Bay of Bengal. The draw isn't crystal-clear water; it's the blazing orange sunsets over the sea, hard-packed sand you can walk for miles, and fresh seafood grilled right on the shore. If you want a raw, unpolished coastline that's easy on the wallet and far less crowded than Asia's big resort beaches, this is it.

🏖️120 km of beach🌅Bay of Bengal sunsets🦐Cheap fresh seafood✈️1 hr flight from Dhaka🚆New railway link
4areas to consider
0ranked guides
14See & Eat
🤝 Curated by the TopOfHotel team · scores from real guest reviews · live price comparison across 3 sites · no hidden adsHow we review →

Why stay in Cox

🏖️

One beach you'll never finish walking

Nearly 120 km of hard-packed sand stretches from Laboni down to Inani and Teknaf. Walk, ride a horse, or watch fishermen haul in their dawn nets — there's always a fresh stretch to explore.

🌅

A sunset worth showing up for

The Bay of Bengal faces west, so every evening the sun drops straight into the sea. The nightly sunset is the single thing no visitor to Cox's Bazar should miss.

🦐

Fresh seafood at honest prices

Crab, prawns, rupchanda fish and pungent dried shutki are grilled fresh along the shore for far less than Asia's other beach towns. Pick your catch and have the cooks fire it up.

💸

Great value, not over-touristed

Beachfront rooms start cheap, locals are warm, and it still feels like a real working coastal town rather than a manufactured resort — ideal if you want the unfiltered experience.

Pick an area first — where to stay in Cox

Location is the single most important thing about a hotel — choose the right area first, then pick the hotel

KolatoliKolatoli

The liveliest hub — hotels, restaurants and the Burmese Market all in walking distance. Best for first-timers.

Coming soon
SugandhaSugandha

Quieter beach with a cool sea breeze and great sunset views, close to the airport.

Coming soon
LaboniLaboni

Closest to town with gentle waves and shallow water — ideal for families with kids.

Coming soon
InaniInani

Coral-and-stone beach about 32 km south, golden sand and quiet — for those escaping the crowds.

Coming soon

Ranked reviews — find your ideal stay in Cox

Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights

We're rolling out Cox stay reviews — meanwhile search Cox hotels across all 3 sites now

Local dishes to try in Cox

  1. 1🐟

    Grilled Rupchanda

    Pomfret fish grilled with spices — firm, sweet flesh and the single most famous seafood dish in Cox's Bazar. Found at every beachfront grill.

    📍 The signature dish
  2. 2🦀

    Spicy Crab

    Fresh sea crab tossed in a punchy spice mix. Pick a live one and have the cooks prepare it — a near-mandatory order at any seafood table.

    📍 Seafood star
  3. 3🍤

    Prawn Biryani

    Aromatic spiced biryani cooked with large prawns — a festive, filling main that's great value and made for sharing.

    📍 Fragrant rice dish
  4. 4🐠

    Shutki Maach

    Dried fish cooked with spices — intensely pungent and full-flavoured. A true local taste worth trying if you want to eat like the locals do.

    📍 Bold local flavour
  5. 5🍚

    Panta Bhat with Hilsa

    Water-soaked rice served with fried hilsa, Bangladesh's national fish. A simple, traditional breakfast dish at the heart of Bengali culture.

    📍 Bengali classic
  6. 6🌶️

    Chingri Bhorta

    A mashed shrimp paste blended with spices and chilli, eaten alongside hot rice. A staple side on the coastal Bengali table.

    📍 Shrimp side
  1. 1🏖️

    Laboni Beach

    The beach point nearest the town centre, with gentle waves, shallow water, and rows of shops and swim-tube rentals — the easy first dip in the sea.

    📍 Main town beach
  2. 2🌅

    Kolatoli Beach

    The buzziest, most popular stretch and the prime sunset-watching spot. It gets busy at dusk, with seafood stalls and beachfront cafes lining the sand.

    📍 Best for sunset
  3. 3⛰️

    Himchari National Park

    About 12 km south of town, an evergreen tropical rainforest with a waterfall and viewpoints overlooking the sea and the long beach below — a popular half-day trip.

    📍 Waterfall & rainforest
  4. 4🪸

    Inani Beach

    Roughly 32 km south, known for its coral rocks and golden sand. Clearer and far quieter than the town beaches — great for photos and a relaxed stroll.

    📍 Coral-rock beach
  5. 5🏝️

    Saint Martin's Island

    Bangladesh's only coral island, reached by boat from Teknaf. Clear water and coconut palms make it worth an overnight stay for the quiet island vibe.

    📍 Only coral island
  6. 6🛕

    Maheshkhali Island

    The only hilly island on this coast, home to the hilltop Adinath Temple, the golden Rakhine pagoda and salt fields. Reach it by boat from the town jetty.

    📍 Temples & salt fields
  7. 7🐘

    Dulhazra Safari Park

    Bangladesh's first safari park, spread over 2,000-plus acres with native wild elephants and other animals — an easy day out for families with kids.

    📍 Wild elephants
  8. 8🧘

    Ramu Buddhist Village

    A Buddhist village about 10 km away with old temples and pagodas, bronze Buddha statues, and local handicrafts to browse.

    📍 Temples & crafts

Things to do in Cox

Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Cox — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.

Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

★ TEAM'S TOP PICKS

3 Cox hotels our team picked for you

Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison

Royal Tulip Sea Pearl Beach Resort & Spa★ 8.6Luxury

Royal Tulip Sea Pearl Beach Resort & Spa

📍 Cox⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Largest 5-star resort in South Asia, Bay of Bengal views

From~$86/night
read the full review →
Long Beach Hotel★ 8.2Upper-mid

Long Beach Hotel

📍 Cox⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best value, near beach, top-rated

From~$43/night
read the full review →
Ocean Paradise Hotel & Resort★ 8.1Luxury

Ocean Paradise Hotel & Resort

📍 Cox⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Beachfront 5-star with pool and spa, great for couples

From~$66/night
read the full review →
🏨 ALL PICKS

โรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในCox

ครบทุกระดับงบ — คัดจากคะแนนรีวิวจริง พร้อมเทียบราคา 3 เว็บ

#4

Sayeman Beach Resort

★ 8.0⭐⭐⭐⭐Upper-mid📍 Cox

Spacious sea-view rooms, free airport shuttle

~$69/night
#5

Hotel The Cox Today

★ 7.6⭐⭐⭐⭐Upper-mid📍 Cox

On the beach, indoor pool and spa, budget-friendly

~$43/night
#6

Sea Pearl Beach Resort & Spa Cox's Bazar

★ 7.2⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Luxury📍 Cox

Beachfront 5-star with outdoor pool, low starting rate

~$47/night

🚆 Getting around Cox

✈️

Cox's Bazar Airport (CXB)

Just ~14 km from the town centre, a 10–20 minute drive in. Daily direct flights from Dhaka take about an hour — the most convenient option for visitors.

🚆

New railway link

The shell-shaped Cox's Bazar railway station opened in late 2023 with direct trains from Dhaka — a comfortable, cheaper alternative to flying.

🚌

Bus from Dhaka (8–12 hrs)

Buses run from Dhaka and other major cities, from basic to luxury AC coaches, taking around 8–12 hours. The cheapest option, but the slowest.

🛺

CNG, tom-toms & rickshaws

Around town, green CNG auto-rickshaws cost about 50–70 taka per ride; cycle rickshaws suit short hops, and private taxis (500+ taka) cover longer trips.

💵

Pay in cash (Taka)

The currency is the Bangladeshi Taka (BDT). Local transport is cash-only with no cards or digital tickets — carry small notes and agree the fare before you ride.

Where to go next near Cox

Frequently asked — where to stay in Cox

When is the best time to visit Cox's Bazar?+

November to March is best — dry, clear skies and temperatures around 20–30°C, ideal for swimming and sunsets. December and January are the busiest, so book ahead. Avoid the April–October monsoon, when heavy rain disrupts travel.

How do I get to Cox's Bazar from Dhaka?+

The fastest way is a 1-hour flight from Dhaka to CXB airport, just 14 km from town. A direct train line opened in late 2023, and buses are the cheapest option but take 8–12 hours.

Which area should I stay in?+

First-timers should pick Kolatoli for its lively mix of hotels, restaurants and the Burmese Market. Choose Sugandha for quiet, Laboni for families with kids (gentle, shallow water), or Inani to escape the crowds.

Ready to book your Cox stay?

Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking