Best Beaches in Andaman: Choose the Right Island
Short answer: for a first Andaman trip, use Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island) for the strongest all-round beach day, Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island) for a slower circuit of contrasting shores, and Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) for a convenient city beach or a separate road and boat outing. Radhanagar is the simplest single beach choice. Elephant Beach or Bharatpur makes more sense when organised water activities are the priority.
Do not plan by counting “top beaches”. Several famous names are on different islands, and some are boat excursions rather than road-access beaches. Choose the island first, then one or two beaches that fit the purpose of that day.
Andaman beaches compared
| Beach or area | Choose it for | Access style | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radhanagar, Swaraj Dweep | A classic beach visit and sunset | Road access | Use only the swimming zone currently marked open |
| Elephant Beach, Swaraj Dweep | Organised snorkelling and water activities | Boat or forest trail, subject to operation | Access and activities can change with sea and weather conditions |
| Kalapathar or Vijaynagar, Swaraj Dweep | A quieter shore stop | Road access | Do not assume every stretch is suitable for swimming or publicly accessible |
| Laxmanpur, Shaheed Dweep | Sunset and a shore walk | Road access | Rock, coral and tide conditions matter; this is not the automatic swimming choice |
| Bharatpur, Shaheed Dweep | Water activities near the arrival side | Road access | Confirm the day's activity and safe-water operation |
| Sitapur, Shaheed Dweep | An early shore visit and sunrise orientation | Road access | Do not repeat the old claim that it is safe to swim at all times |
| Corbyn's Cove, Sri Vijaya Puram | The easiest beach inside a city day | Road access | Convenience is its advantage; follow the current safe-area signs |
| Chidiya Tapu and Munda Pahad | Sunset, bird watching and a wider nature outing | Road access | It is a planned South Andaman outing, not a quick city stop |
Which island should a beach-first trip use?
Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island): the strongest all-round choice
Choose Swaraj Dweep when the beach itself is a main reason for the trip. Its official visitor list includes Radhanagar, Elephant, Kalapathar and Vijaynagar. These are not four versions of the same day.
- Radhanagar: choose it for sand, shore time and sunset without arranging a water-sports outing.
- Elephant Beach: choose it when supervised activities matter more than a long, unstructured beach visit.
- Kalapathar: treat it as a scenic coastal stop. Do not plan a swim from an old description alone.
- Vijaynagar: compare it when staying around Beach No. 5 and wanting an east-coast shore near the accommodation belt.
Elephant Beach depends on an operating boat or trail arrangement, while the other beaches need local road transport. Use the detailed Havelock beaches comparison before choosing the day.
Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island): a compact multi-beach circuit
The South Andaman District page identifies Laxmanpur, Bharatpur and Sitapur as Shaheed Dweep's visitor beaches, along with the shore's natural bridge formation. Neil suits travellers who prefer several shorter, different stops rather than one dominant beach day.
- Laxmanpur: the sunset-oriented shore stop.
- Bharatpur: the first comparison for organised snorkelling or glass-bottom boating, subject to current operation and safe-water instructions.
- Sitapur: the sunrise-oriented shore stop. It should not be sold as safe for swimming at every tide.
- Natural rock formation: a tide-sensitive shore visit, not a reason to walk across exposed coral without current guidance.
A list of four stops can encourage rushing. Choose the two that fit your priorities and use the Neil Island beaches guide for the detailed comparison.
Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair): convenience, road outings and boat days
Port Blair works differently. Corbyn's Cove is the practical city beach. Chidiya Tapu with Munda Pahad and Wandoor are separate road outings. North Bay, Jolly Buoy and Red Skin are boat excursions, not quick beaches within the city.
Choose Corbyn's Cove when only a few hours are free. Choose Chidiya Tapu when sunset and nature are the purpose. Choose Wandoor for the west-coast and marine-park context. Plan North Bay or a permitted marine-island trip only after confirming the current boat, access and activity operation. The Port Blair beaches guide separates these options properly.
Remote beaches are extra itineraries, not add-ons
Ross and Smith, Kalipur, Aamkunj and Butler Bay require travel beyond the normal Port Blair, Havelock and Neil circuit. Do not add one merely because it appears in a numbered list.
Ross and Smith Islands, Diglipur
The North and Middle Andaman District page describes Ross and Smith as two parts joined by a sandbar. It also says Forest Department permission is required and the boat starts from the Aerial Bay side. Treat this as a permit-and-boat day within a Diglipur stay, not a beach transfer from Port Blair.
Kalipur Beach, Diglipur
The district administration identifies Kalipur as a turtle nesting ground supported by Forest Department facilities. Conservation is the reason to consider it. Do not promise a turtle sighting or recommend entering a nesting area at night without an authorised arrangement.
Aamkunj Beach, Rangat
The official district page places Aamkunj at Nimbutala village, eight kilometres from Rangat, and lists eco-friendly seating and shade structures. It can be a road stop in a Middle Andaman plan. The same page mentions swimming, but current signs and police guidance still control the decision on the day.
Butler Bay, Little Andaman
The South Andaman District page identifies Butler Bay as a surfing destination. That does not make it a casual swimming recommendation. Little Andaman needs its own transport and stay plan, and surf conditions require current local assessment and suitable supervision.
How many beach days do you need?
- One beach day: Radhanagar, unless organised activities are the clear priority.
- Two beach days: one relaxed Swaraj Dweep beach plus either Elephant Beach or a Shaheed Dweep circuit.
- Port Blair only: Corbyn's Cove for convenience, or Chidiya Tapu for a longer sunset outing.
- With a toddler or older traveller: prioritise road access and confirm the drop-off, walking surface, shade, toilet route and changing arrangements.
- North or Middle Andaman extension: add it because the wider destination matters, not merely to collect another beach name.
A beach plan also needs weather and transport margin. Read the season and month trade-offs and the inter-island ferry planning guide before fixing consecutive island days.
Swimming and sea safety
The Andaman and Nicobar Police tells visitors to swim only in safe areas and never enter the sea where a crocodile warning is displayed. Tourism beach guidance also says to check warning boards, ask about currents and tides, swim with another person, supervise children and avoid swimming after dark.
- Follow the current flag, board, barrier and lifeguard instruction.
- Do not treat calm-looking water, shallow water or an old travel guide as safety clearance.
- Do not step on coral or walk barefoot across an unfamiliar rocky or reef area.
- Confirm boat boarding, child life jackets and activity restrictions before paying.
- If a beach, trail or boat is closed, choose another plan rather than looking for an unofficial route.
Sources checked
- South Andaman District: Swaraj Dweep
- South Andaman District: Shaheed Dweep
- South Andaman District: Corbyn's Cove
- South Andaman District: Chidiya Tapu
- North and Middle Andaman District: Ross and Smith Islands
- North and Middle Andaman District: Kalipur Beach
- North and Middle Andaman District: Aamkunj Beach
- South Andaman District: Little Andaman
- Andaman and Nicobar Police: tourist guidelines
Last checked: 27 August 2026. Beach access, swimming zones, boats and activities can change. Current on-site instructions take priority.