Hotels in Andaman Islands — Port Blair, Havelock, Neil Island

Where to stay in the Andaman Islands — Port Blair city hotels, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) beach resorts at Radhanagar/Vijaynagar.

Andaman — what most travellers get wrong

The mistake first-time Andaman visitors make is sleeping mostly in Port Blair and day-tripping to the beaches. Don't do that. Port Blair is the entry/exit city only — its beaches are average. The real Andaman is on Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), 1–2 hours by ferry. Plan minimum 2 nights Havelock + 1 night Neil + 1 night Port Blair.

Best areas to stay

Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) — 2–3 nights minimum

Radhanagar Beach (Beach 7) — voted Asia's best beach multiple years running. Resorts: Taj Exotica, Barefoot at Havelock, Munjoh Ocean Resort. Stay here for the iconic Andaman beach experience.

Vijaynagar Beach (Beach 5) — east-coast sunrise beach, calmer crowds, several mid-range resorts (Symphony Palms, Sea Shell Havelock).

Govind Nagar Beach (Beach 2 area) — closest to the ferry jetty, budget guesthouses and homestays. Walking distance to dive shops.

Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) — 1–2 nights

Smaller, quieter, more bohemian than Havelock. Bharatpur Beach, Laxmanpur Beach (sunset), Sitapur Beach (sunrise). Resorts: Summer Sands, Pearl Park, Sea Shell Neil, Tango Beach Resort.

Port Blair — 1 night arrival/departure

Stay near Aberdeen Bazaar or Marina Park. Fortune Resort Bay Island, Sea Shell Port Blair, SeaShell Bay Tower. Use this only as a logistics base — visit Cellular Jail and Corbyn's Cove beach.

Activities and food

Scuba diving at Havelock (₹4,000–8,000 per dive) — even non-swimmers can do try-dives. Sea-walking, snorkelling, glass-bottom boat trips. Bioluminescence kayaking on no-moon nights at Havelock — magical, weather-dependent. Most resorts have in-house restaurants; Havelock's Anju Coco, Full Moon Cafe, Something Different are local favourites. Seafood is fresh and excellent — try grilled fish, prawn curry, octopus.

Getting there

Fly to Port Blair (IXZ). Direct flights from Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata. From Port Blair to Havelock: government ferry (₹400–600, 2.5 hours) or private cruises Makruzz/Green Ocean/Nautika (₹1,200–2,500, 90 min). Book ferries 3–4 days ahead in peak season — they sell out. Inter-island ferry Havelock → Neil → Port Blair runs daily.

FAQs

Best time to visit Andaman? October–May. Avoid June–September monsoon — ferries cancel frequently. Peak season Dec–Jan, shoulder Oct–Nov and Feb–April.

Is Radhanagar Beach really that good? Yes. Wide white sand, calm turquoise water, swimmable, lifeguards present. Best at sunset (4–6 PM). Time your Havelock stay to be there for one full sunset.

Do Indians need any permit for Andaman? Indian citizens don't need permits for most areas including Havelock and Neil. Foreigners need a Restricted Area Permit, issued free on arrival at Port Blair airport.

Can I visit Andaman as a 4-day trip? Tight but possible. Day 1: Arrive Port Blair, evening ferry to Havelock. Day 2: Havelock beaches + scuba. Day 3: Havelock or Neil day-trip. Day 4: Return ferry, fly out. 5–6 days is much better.