Places to Visit in the Andaman Islands, Island by Island

The Andaman Islands are an archipelago of more than 500 islands in the Bay of Bengal, and visitors can reach only a handful. That is not a limitation. It is what keeps the place unspoilt. A few islands, a few ferries and a lot of clear water.

The harder question is which islands to pick and how to order them. This guide goes island by island, in the order most trips travel: Port Blair, then Havelock, then Neil, with the quieter options after. For each stop you get what it is, who it suits and what to look for. At the end come the markets and the food.

Each major stop will get its own guide in this Journal. We link the ones that exist now.

How to use this guide

Every stop carries a Best for note.

• Honeymooners and couples want a sunset beach, a good dinner and a quiet room.

• Divers and snorkellers should plan around Havelock and the reefs.

• Families do best with calm beaches and short ferry hops.

• History readers will want a full day in Port Blair.

• Photographers and birders should aim for first and last light, and the quieter shores.

Two decisions shape everything else. How many days you have, and when you go. Our guides to how many days you need and the best time to visit answer both.

Port Blair: the gateway and the history

Almost every journey starts in Port Blair, the capital of South Andaman. Do not treat it as a transit stop. It holds the islands' most important history, and a day here makes everything else mean more.

Cellular Jail

Cellular Jail was built to break people. Seven wings radiated from a central tower, and every cell held one man alone, with no view of another prisoner, by design. Three wings survive. You walk the corridors, read the names on the gallery walls and stand in a cell with the door shut. It is a national memorial now.

Give it two hours, and go before the afternoon heat. There is an evening light and sound show that tells the story. Read our guide to Cellular Jail and Ross Island in a day for the full plan.

Best for: history readers, families with older children, first-time visitors.

Ross Island

Ross Island ran the Andamans for eighty years. It had a church, a bakery, a ballroom and a printing press, a whole small town. An earthquake and the war finished it, and the forest took the rest. Roots now hold the walls up, and deer wander between the buildings. Ferries run from Aberdeen Jetty and the crossing takes about twenty minutes. The island is officially Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep.

Best for: photographers, history readers, anyone who likes ruins.

Chidiya Tapu

Chidiya Tapu is about a half-hour drive south of Port Blair, at the end of the road. The name means bird island. The forest holds a long list of endemic species, and the mudflats draw waders at low tide. Birders come at first light. Everyone else comes in the late afternoon for the sunset viewpoint over the water.

Best for: birders, photographers, an easy sunset on a Port Blair day.

Other Port Blair stops

A few more are worth knowing. North Bay is a short boat ride for snorkelling and coral. Corbyn's Cove is the town's nearest beach. The Samudrika Naval Marine Museum and the Anthropological Museum explain the islands' marine life and their indigenous peoples. Mount Harriet gives a forested viewpoint over the harbour.

Best for: families, anyone with a spare half-day.

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep): beaches and reefs

Havelock is the heart of most Andaman trips. It has the best beaches, the main dive centres and the widest choice of stays. Our guide to Havelock or Neil Island helps you divide your time.

Radhanagar Beach

Radhanagar is two kilometres of white sand with rainforest behind it and almost nothing built on it. The beach faces west, so this is where everyone comes for sunset. Swimming is good in the calm months. Watch the flags, because currents pick up between May and September and the lifeguards are there for a reason. Come an hour before dark and walk to the far end.

Best for: couples, honeymooners, families, photographers. It is the island's signature stop.

Elephant Beach

Elephant Beach is reached by boat, or by a forty-minute walk through forest and mangrove. The draw is the reef, which begins very close in. You can stand waist-deep and still see coral and fish. Boats bring day-trippers from mid-morning, so the early crossing is the quiet one. Water sports operate here too, which some people want and some are escaping.

Best for: snorkellers, families, active travellers.

Kalapathar Beach

Kala Pathar sits on the eastern side of Havelock, so it faces the sunrise. The name means black stone, for the dark rocks at the northern end. It is far quieter than Radhanagar. Swimming is possible but the currents shift, so it is watched rather than lifeguarded. Most people come for an early walk before the day heats up.

Best for: early risers, couples, anyone avoiding crowds.

Diving and snorkelling

Havelock is where most people learn to dive in the Andamans, and the reefs reward beginners and experienced divers. If you have never dived, our beginner's guide to your first scuba dive in the Andamans explains how it works and what to expect. Choose a dive centre with certified instructors and small groups.

Best for: divers, snorkellers, adventurous couples.

Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep): the slow one

Neil is smaller, flatter and calmer than Havelock. You can cycle around it. Most visitors give it a night or two.

Bharatpur Beach

Bharatpur sits a short walk from where the ferry lands. The water is shallow a long way out and usually flat, which makes it the easiest swimming on the island. Glass-bottom boats work from here, and so do the snorkelling operators. It gets busy in the middle of the day. Early morning it is empty, and the light is better anyway.

Best for: families, first-time snorkellers.

Neil's Natural Bridge

The Natural Bridge is a coral formation the sea cut into an arch. Locals call it Howrah Bridge. You reach it over rock and tidepool, and only at low tide, so check the timing before you go, because the crossing floods. The pools on the way hold starfish, small fish and urchins. Wear something on your feet.

Best for: photographers, curious families, tide-pool wanderers.

Sitapur and Laxmanpur beaches

Sitapur is at the far eastern end of the island, about six kilometres from the jetty. It faces east, so it is Neil's sunrise beach. Laxmanpur, on the west side, is the sunset beach. The sand at Sitapur is wide at low tide, with a low cliff at one end and very little development.

Best for: couples, early risers, sunset watchers.

Beyond the main three

If you have more time and appetite for effort, a few places go further.

• Baratang has limestone caves and a mud volcano. Getting there involves a long road journey through forest reserve in controlled convoy. The route passes land belonging to the Jarawa people. Do not stop, photograph or interact with them on the road. It is both illegal and wrong. Choose an operator who follows the rules.

• Long Island and Lalaji Bay, in Middle Andaman, offer remote beaches reached by boat.

• Diglipur, in North Andaman, has the Ross and Smith twin islands joined by a sandbar, and Saddle Peak, the highest point in the islands.

• Jolly Buoy and Red Skin islands, in Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, are reef areas near Wandoor. Only one is open at a time, and it changes by season. A permit is needed.

• Barren Island, with India's only active volcano, is reached only by special permit and liveaboard boat. It is for committed divers and adventurers.

Permit rules and boat schedules change, and some routes close in bad weather. Your trip designer confirms the current position before you commit.

Where to shop

Shopping in the Andamans is simple, and a few rules keep it ethical.

• Aberdeen Bazaar, Port Blair is the main market, with souvenirs, spices and street snacks. It is busy and can be bargained.

• Sagarika Emporium is the government emporium, with fixed prices and genuine pearl, shell and wood crafts. It has outlets in Port Blair and Havelock.

• Neil Island's beach shops, near Laxmanpur, sell small souvenirs.

One firm rule: do not collect shells or coral from beaches, and do not buy coral. Many species are protected, and removal damages the reefs. Buy only from licensed shops and keep your receipt.

What to eat

Seafood is the story. Boats land the day's catch each morning, and many restaurants let you pick the fish.

• Grilled red snapper and fish tikka are simple, fresh and good.

• Crab masala and tandoori prawns are Havelock and Port Blair favourites.

• Fish cutlet is the street snack to look for in Aberdeen Bazaar.

• Bengali and South Indian fish curries reflect the islands' settlers.

• Fresh coconut water is everywhere and welcome in the heat.

A few long-standing names come up again and again. New Lighthouse Restaurant in Port Blair is known for fresh seafood you can choose yourself. Anju Coco, with branches in Aberdeen Bazaar and Havelock, is known for crab masala. Full Moon Cafe on Havelock is a popular seafood stop. Restaurants change, so confirm before you go, and your trip designer will point you to current favourites.

Skip coconut crab, which is protected.

Stay well while you eat: our guide to eating in India without getting ill has the practical rules.

When to go

The Andamans are best from roughly October to May, with calm seas and clear water. The monsoon brings rough water, heavy rain and ferry disruption, so plan with care. Our best time to visit the Andamans guide breaks it down month by month.

How to put it together

• Four to five days: Port Blair and Havelock. A tight first look.

• Six to seven days: Port Blair, Havelock and Neil. The classic balance.

• Eight days or more: Add a longer Havelock stay, diving, or a remote island.

Remember that ferries and weather drive the schedule. Build in slack. See Andaman Island Hopper, Andaman Beach Escape and Andaman Honeymoon Escape for routes that already allow for this. If you are planning a honeymoon, read our guide to planning an Andaman honeymoon.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best places to visit in the Andaman Islands?

Havelock's Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach, Neil Island and Port Blair's Cellular Jail are the core. Baratang, Diglipur and remote islands add range for longer trips.

How many days do I need?

Five to seven days covers Port Blair, Havelock and Neil comfortably. Fewer than four feels rushed once ferry time is counted.

Is Havelock or Neil better?

Havelock has the better beaches, dive centres and choice of stays. Neil is calmer and smaller. Most travellers do both.

Is the Andaman good for families?

Yes. Calm beaches at Neil, snorkelling at Elephant Beach and the history in Port Blair suit children of most ages.

Can I dive without experience?

Yes. Beginners can do a supervised introductory dive with a certified instructor. Read our beginner's guide before you book.

Is it safe to swim?

At guarded beaches, in the calm months, between the flags, yes. Respect the flags and the lifeguards, especially from May to September.

Plan your Andaman journey

Start with the Andaman and Nicobar destination page. For a ready route, look at Andaman Classic Highlights or Andaman Honeymoon Escape. Or talk to a trip designer, and we will build the trip around ferry timings, your pace and the islands you actually want.