Beach town in Chattogram Division, Bangladesh
Is Cox's Bazar safe?
Mostly friendly and busy, but drowning, hawker hassle and overcrowding are real.
Is Cox's Bazar safe?
Mostly friendly and busy, but drowning, hawker hassle and overcrowding are real. Teknaf and border areas near Myanmar are unstable; avoid the Rohingya camps unless permitted.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 3: Reconsider travel, updated 2026-01-19.
- Homicide rate in Bangladesh: 2.3 per 100,000 people (2018, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Bangladesh: 15.3 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 999 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 999 · All emergencies 999.
Safety in Cox's Bazar at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Pickpocketing and phone theft on crowded beaches, hotel price cheating, and harassment of women near the water. |
| At night | The main beach and seafood streets stay busy until about 10 pm, then empty. Stay near lit hotels and take a CNG for longer trips. |
| Solo women | Beach visitors face staring and some harassment, particularly women in swimwear. Swim in loose clothes, stay with others and avoid empty stretches. |
| Other risks | Rip currents and drowning, especially in the monsoon; Cyclones Apr–May and Oct–Nov; Dengue and heat, peaking in the rainy season |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Hotels quoting low rates by phone, then charging peak prices on arrival
- Beach photographers and horse-ride vendors adding unexpected fees
- Boat and motorbike rides priced for foreigners at several times local rates
Take care
- Swimming in rough sea: strong rip currents drown several people each season
- Teknaf, Ukhia and Rohingya camp areas: security restrictions and permits
- Beach at night: dark, lightly policed stretches
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Alcohol is restricted to licensed hotels and bars; drinking in public is illegal.
- Photographing military, police or government buildings can lead to detention.
How Cox's Bazar compares in Bangladesh
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Dhaka | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Cox's Bazar | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Cox's Bazar safe for solo female travelers?
Beach visitors face staring and some harassment, particularly women in swimwear. Swim in loose clothes, stay with others and avoid empty stretches.
Is Cox's Bazar safe at night?
The main beach and seafood streets stay busy until about 10 pm, then empty. Stay near lit hotels and take a CNG for longer trips.
What is the crime rate in Cox's Bazar?
Pickpocketing and phone theft on crowded beaches, hotel price cheating, and harassment of women near the water. Nationally, Bangladesh records 2.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2018).
What number do I call in an emergency in Cox's Bazar?
Police 999 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 999 · All emergencies 999.
More about Cox's Bazar
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Bangladesh Tourism Board
- Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh
- Bangladesh e-Visa portal
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.