Travel guide · Port Blair · last checked 26 September 2026
Port Blair travel guide: attractions, food, stays & a 2-day plan
Port Blair — officially renamed Sri Vijaya Puram — is the capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the gateway every trip passes through: almost everyone flies in, with daily direct flights from Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Delhi. Most itineraries give it two nights, and that's about right: enough for Cellular Jail and the Light & Sound Show, the Ross–North Bay boat day, the museums and a proper seafood dinner, before the ferry to Havelock. Here's how we'd spend that time.
Top tourist places in Port Blair
From colonial-era monuments to the water-sports islands offshore, these are the places to visit in Port Blair that fill its two days — with an honest line on what each is.
Cellular Jail
Must visitIndia's most historic colonial prison, now a national memorial. Allow 45 minutes to an hour for the wings, galleries and the history of the freedom fighters imprisoned here — and stay for the evening Light & Sound Show. It is closed on Mondays and national holidays; show tickets are booked on the official e-Tourist portal and popular dates sell out, so we book the seats when we plan your evening.
Ross Island
Half-day tripThe former British capital of the Andamans, officially renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep — atmospheric colonial ruins, an old church and the commissioner's house slowly being reclaimed by banyan roots, with resident deer wandering the grounds. About 15–20 minutes by boat from Port Blair; the official tourism portal lists it open daily from 8 AM to 4 PM, with the last boat back at 4:30 PM (some listings mention Wednesday closures, so we confirm for your date). Usually paired with North Bay on one boat day.
North Bay Island
Water sportsThe snorkelling and sea-walking hub closest to Port Blair, with a shallow reef that starts near the beach. Boats leave the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex between about 8:30 and 11:30 AM and return between 2 and 4 PM, per the official tourism portal; entry to the island is free, and combo outings bundle the glass-bottom boat and water activities.
Corbyn's Cove Beach
BeachPort Blair's most accessible beach, about 7 km from the centre — a crescent of sand backed by coconut palms with swimming, jet skiing and beachside restaurants. An easy auto-rickshaw ride from Aberdeen; good for an evening visit.
Anthropological Museum
MuseumThe place to understand the islands' indigenous communities and their history — through rare photographs, tools and artefacts. The A&N Administration's museum is open Tuesday to Sunday (9 AM–1 PM and 1:30–4:30 PM) and closed on Mondays and government holidays, per the official tourism portal; allow 1–1.5 hours.
Samudrika Naval Marine Museum
Family friendlyA navy-run museum with marine specimens, tribal artefacts, shells and a detailed coral collection — a good primer on the Andaman Sea's ecosystem before you get in the water. Open 9 AM–1 PM and 2–5 PM, closed on Mondays and public holidays (official tourism portal). Works well for families.
Flag Point & the waterfront
FreeThe Jai Hind memorial on the Marina Park waterfront. On 30 December 1943 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the tricolour at the then Gymkhana Ground, now Netaji Stadium, close by; Flag Point commemorates that day. An easy sea-breeze stop with Ross Island on the horizon; free, and best around sunset.
Joggers Park
FreeA quiet landscaped park of lawns, flowerbeds, shaded arbours and walking loops — where Port Blair itself comes for the evening walk. Nothing to tick off, which is the appeal: an unhurried hour between the bigger sights, easy with children and older travellers.
Opening days at a glance
| Place | Hours | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| Cellular Jail | 9 AM–12:30 PM, 1:30–5 PM (portal; our team found a 4 PM close in July 2026) | Mondays, national holidays |
| Ross Island | Daily 8 AM–4 PM, last boat back 4:30 PM | Some listings say Wednesdays — we confirm |
| North Bay | Boats out 8:30–11:30 AM, back 2–4 PM | — |
| Anthropological Museum (A&N Administration) | Tue–Sun 9 AM–1 PM, 1:30–4:30 PM | Mondays, government holidays |
| Samudrika Naval Marine Museum | 9 AM–1 PM, 2–5 PM | Mondays, public holidays |
| Mount Harriet | 7 AM–5 PM, permit needed | — |
From the official A&N tourism portal (read 26 September 2026), the Forest Department and India Tourism. Hours change for holidays and events, so we confirm on the day.
Day trips from Port Blair
Port Blair is the launchpad for snorkelling islands, limestone caves and mangrove creeks — all doable without changing hotels.
The most popular day trip from Port Blair: a shared boat covers both islands — snorkelling, sea walking and the glass-bottom boat at North Bay, then the colonial ruins at Ross. A full morning into mid-afternoon — boats return between about 2 and 4 PM.
A full-day trip through mangrove creeks to the limestone caves and mud volcanoes. The Andaman Trunk Road runs through a protected tribal reserve, where vehicles travel in police-regulated convoys — no stopping, no photography and no giving food or anything else — and a forest permit is checked at the Jirkatang check post and Baratang jetty. That means a pre-dawn start from Port Blair; we confirm the current convoy timings and quote the trip against your date.
Chidiya Tapu (sunset point)
About 25 km from Port Blair (the Forest Department's figure), the islands' best-known sunset viewpoint, with forest trails, the Chidiya Tapu Biological Park and the Munda Pahad trail nearby. The sunset point is open ground; the Biological Park charges its own entry and keeps its own hours, which we confirm on the day. Aim to arrive an hour before sunset.
Mount Harriet
The forested hill across the harbour from Port Blair, now Manipur Parvat National Park, with wide views over the sea and a 3 km forest trail to Kala Pathar point (not the Havelock beach of the same name). As a national park it needs a Forest Department entry permit — ₹50 per Indian adult per day at the published rate, children 5–12 free, higher for foreign nationals — and India Tourism lists it open 7 AM to 5 PM. The road runs via Bambooflat across the harbour, so we check the vehicle-ferry crossing when we plan it.
Wandoor & Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
Around 30 km out, Wandoor offers glass-bottom boat rides over protected reefs — sea turtles, reef fish and coral formations without getting wet. Best in the morning, when the water is calmest and visibility is best.
Where to stay in Port Blair
Most hotels cluster around Aberdeen Bazaar, Haddo and Marine Hill. We don't print rate bands here — they move with the season and the room — so we quote current rates against your dates.
Budget
Around Aberdeen Bazaar
Guesthouses and simple hotels around Aberdeen Bazaar — central, walkable to markets and restaurants, basic but clean. Best for backpackers and cost-conscious trips.
Most picked
Mid-range
Haddo / Delanipur
Better amenities, some sea views, AC and in-house restaurants — the Haddo/Delanipur area is a good base. The balance most of our guests pick.
Premium
Marine Hill
Resorts around Marine Hill with pools, multi-cuisine restaurants and panoramic views. The pick for honeymooners and anyone front-loading comfort.
Practical tip: stay a night or two in Port Blair before Havelock, and if you have an early ferry, stay close to its jetty — we tell you which one when we book. Aberdeen is the most convenient base for markets and restaurants.
Local food & restaurants
Port Blair's food runs from fresh-catch seafood to bustling street stalls — South Indian, Bengali and coastal influences over whatever the boats brought in that morning. For the island-wide picture, see our Andaman food guide. We don't name restaurants we haven't re-checked this season — ask us and we'll tell you where our team eats now.
Seafood by the harbour
Grilled fish, crab and prawn curries at the seafood places around Aberdeen and the waterfront — ask for the day's catch.
South Indian breakfasts
Dosas, idlis and thalis at the vegetarian cafés around Aberdeen Bazaar — the budget staple.
Aberdeen Bazaar street food
The main market comes alive in the evening — momos, chaat, pani puri, fresh juice. The most local way to eat in Port Blair.
Must-try dishes
Getting around Port Blair
The city is compact — Aberdeen Bazaar, Cellular Jail and Phoenix Bay Jetty sit close together. Cheapest to most comfortable:
Auto-rickshaw
Agree the fare firstThe everyday way around town. Agree the fare before you get in; meters are rarely used.
Rental scooter
Licence neededThe independent option, rented around Aberdeen Bazaar. Carry your licence.
Local bus
CheapestRoutes cover Corbyn's Cove, Wandoor and Chidiya Tapu. Slow and crowded at peak hours.
Private car with driver
What our packages useThe comfortable pick for Wandoor, Chidiya Tapu and Baratang days — and the driver doubles as a local guide. This is what our packages use.
Walking
FreeAberdeen Bazaar, Cellular Jail and Phoenix Bay Jetty are all walkable from central hotels. Carry water and sun protection.
A 2-day Port Blair plan
Two days covers the highlights without rushing — history, one boat day, beach time and good food. For the full-trip version see our Andaman itinerary.
- 1
Day 1 morning — arrive & the museums
Land at Veer Savarkar International Airport and check in around Aberdeen. Start with the Anthropological Museum for the islands' indigenous history, then the Samudrika Marine Museum for the reef primer. They sit close together — 2–3 unhurried hours covers both. Both close on Mondays — if you land on one, swap the days.
- 2
Day 1 afternoon — Cellular Jail & the Light Show
A seafood lunch near the harbour, then Cellular Jail — the wings, the galleries and the central tower. Stay on for the evening Light & Sound Show; it is the single most affecting hour in Port Blair and worth planning the day around.
- 3
Day 1 evening — Aberdeen Bazaar
Dinner near the bazaar or graze the street food. The market lanes are good for shell jewellery and coconut-craft souvenirs.
- 4
Day 2 morning — Ross Island & North Bay
An early boat from the jetty covers both: snorkelling or a sea walk over North Bay's shallow reef, then the banyan-wrapped colonial ruins on Ross. Back in town by mid-afternoon — boats return between about 2 and 4 PM.
- 5
Day 2 late afternoon — Corbyn's Cove or the Chidiya Tapu sunset
Pick one: Corbyn's Cove, about 7 km away, for an easy swim and a fresh coconut, or the 25 km drive to Chidiya Tapu for the islands' best-known sunset.
- 6
Day 2 evening — an easy last evening
A farewell dinner and an early night — most travellers catch a morning ferry to Havelock next.
Port Blair questions we get asked
What are the must-visit places in Port Blair?
Cellular Jail with the Light & Sound Show, the Ross Island & North Bay boat combo, Corbyn's Cove Beach, the Anthropological Museum and a Chidiya Tapu sunset. Two to three days covers all of it comfortably; on a short visit, prioritise Cellular Jail and the Ross–North Bay half-day.
What's the best sunset spot in Port Blair?
Chidiya Tapu, about 25 km from Port Blair, is the islands' best-known sunset viewpoint, with forest trails nearby — aim to arrive an hour before sunset. Closer to town, Flag Point on the Marina Park waterfront is a free, easy alternative, best around sunset with Ross Island on the horizon.
How do you reach Port Blair?
Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Delhi have daily direct flights in the 2026 summer schedule; Hyderabad flies daily outside its 1 July – 30 September pause, and Mumbai from 1 to 24 October — roughly 2–3 hours depending on the city; our Port Blair flight schedule page lists every flight. There are no trains or roads from the mainland; passenger ships from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam take about 60 hours and sail only a few times a month, so almost everyone flies.
Is 2 days enough for Port Blair?
Yes — day one for Cellular Jail and the museums, day two for Ross Island and North Bay. Add a third day if you want Baratang or Wandoor. Most travellers spend two nights here before moving on to Havelock.
What is Port Blair famous for?
Cellular Jail and the Kala Pani chapter of India's freedom struggle, the nearby snorkelling islands, fresh seafood, and its role as the gateway and administrative capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It was officially renamed Sri Vijaya Puram, though nearly everyone still says Port Blair.
Is Port Blair expensive?
Moderate by Indian tourist-town standards. The room and the boat days are the main costs; street food and local cafés are inexpensive. Rates move with the season, so rather than print stale ranges we build a real number against your dates — our trip cost guide shows how.
What is the best time to visit Port Blair?
October to May, with December to February the most pleasant (days of roughly 23–30°C). The monsoon months of June to September bring heavy rain but lower prices and thin crowds. Cellular Jail and the museums stay open through the monsoon, but most close on Mondays.
Is Port Blair safe for tourists?
Generally, yes — it is a small, easy-going administrative town, and solo travellers, families and elderly visitors get around comfortably. Standard precautions apply — keep valuables secure and use reputable transport.
How this page stays true
First ported from our long-running Port Blair guide, then re-checked on 26 September 2026: opening days and hours from the official A&N tourism portal, the Mount Harriet permit from the Forest Department, and the Flag Point history from the Press Information Bureau's record of the 2018 commemoration. We dropped restaurant names and hotel, meal and transport price ranges we could not re-verify, rather than keep stale ones. Exact fees and convoy timings change often, so we confirm the current ones on WhatsApp.
Plan your Port Blair days properly.
Tell us your dates and we'll slot Cellular Jail, the boat day and the sunset drive around your ferry times — with a private cab and a driver who knows the town.