Andhra Pradesh · India
Visakhapatnam
Andhra's port city between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal — beaches and a hill-top park, a submarine museum, and the coffee valleys of Araku nearby.
Vizag is easygoing coast-and-hills: beach promenades, naval heritage, fiery Andhra seafood and meals, and the tribal Araku coffee country up in the ghats.
Plan your trip
Visakhapatnam Tour Itineraries
Timed, walkable day plans — plus the best season to go.
Where to shoot
Visakhapatnam Photo Spots
Medium crowdEntry Varies
Araku Valley
- Best timeEarly morning, when mist fills the valley and the coffee estates are in soft light; late afternoon for warm colour on the hills.
- ColorsRustWhiteForest green
Medium crowdEntry Ticketed
INS Kurusura Submarine Museum
- Best timeLate afternoon, when the museum opens and the low sun lights the side of the hull; dusk for the submarine against a pink sky.
- ColorsNavyWhiteGrey
High crowdEntry Nominal + ropeway
Kailasagiri
- Best timeLate afternoon, when the sun is behind you as you face the sea; sunset and dusk for the city lights along the bay.
- ColorsWhiteYellowTeal
High crowdEntry Free
Ramakrishna Beach
- Best timeSunrise, when the sun lifts out of the sea behind the anchored ships; early evening for the promenade crowds in soft light.
- ColorsWhiteCoralAqua
High crowdEntry Free
Simhachalam Temple
- Best timeEarly morning, when the hill is cool and the towers are in soft light; late afternoon for warm light on the stone from the approach.
- ColorsSaffronRedWhite
For the feed
Trending Wear in Visakhapatnam
Modern, Instagram-friendly looks
Rooted in the city
Visakhapatnam Traditional Wear
Local, cultural, handcrafted outfits
Before you go
Temples in Visakhapatnam
Darshan hours, dress codes and what gets refused at the gate
Taste the city
Food to Eat in Visakhapatnam
Trusted tables
Where to Eat in Visakhapatnam
A port city with hills at its back
Visakhapatnam, which nearly everyone shortens to Vizag, is the largest city in Andhra Pradesh and a working port on the Bay of Bengal. The Eastern Ghats run right down to the coast here, so the city is squeezed between green hills and the sea. It is also home to the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command, and you notice it: a submarine and a patrol aircraft sit on the seafront as museums, grey warships wait off the harbour, and the 1971 war is remembered on Beach Road.
How the city is laid out
Most of what a visitor wants lies along Beach Road. It starts near the port and the Dolphin's Nose headland in the south, runs past RK Beach and the submarine museum, climbs round the foot of Kailasagiri, and carries on north to Rushikonda and, about 25 km out, the old Dutch trading town of Bheemunipatnam. The shopping streets around Jagadamba Junction and Dwaraka Nagar are a short auto ride inland. Simhachalam is on its own hill about 16 km north-west of the centre, and the coffee country of Araku is a full day's trip into the ghats.
Two or three days
Start at RK Beach for sunrise, when the sun comes up straight out of the sea. Spend the afternoon at the submarine and the aircraft museum opposite it, then ride the ropeway up Kailasagiri for the evening view. On the second day, go to Simhachalam early, before the heat and the queues, and drive up Beach Road to Rushikonda in the afternoon. Give a third day to Araku, ideally going up on the early morning train through the ghats.
What catches first-time visitors out
The sea is the big one. The water off Vizag has strong rip currents, and people drown here most years. Treat the city beaches as places to walk, and only paddle where lifeguards are on duty in daylight. The weather is the other: October is Vizag's wettest month, and October and November are cyclone season on this coast. Cyclone Hudhud hit the city in October 2014. Check forecasts if you travel in autumn. At Simhachalam, phones go into a cloakroom before you enter, and covered, traditional clothes are preferred.
Eating
Vizag eats like a fishing port. Fish curry, prawn fry and crab are what people come back for, and they come hot with red chilli. Vegetarians do well too, with banana-leaf Andhra meals and good tiffin houses for breakfast. Finish with a cup of Araku coffee, grown in the hills a few hours away. The food page lists what to order and where.
Questions
Visakhapatnam — FAQ
Is Vizag the same place as Visakhapatnam?
Yes. Vizag is the everyday short name for Visakhapatnam, and older maps call it Vizagapatam. Waltair, an old name for part of the city, still turns up on some signs and tickets.
Can you swim at the beaches in Vizag?
Mostly no. Rip currents make the city beaches dangerous, and RK Beach is rough with rocks in the water. If you want to get wet, stay inside the stretch watched by lifeguards, only in daylight, and keep to knee depth.
How many days do I need in Visakhapatnam?
Two days cover the beach, the museums, Kailasagiri and Simhachalam. Add a third day for Araku Valley and Borra Caves, which are a long day trip into the Eastern Ghats.
When is cyclone season in Visakhapatnam?
Mainly October and November, with some storms in May as well. Most pass without trouble for visitors, but a strong one can shut flights, trains and the beach. Watch the forecast if you travel then.
What is Vizag known for?
Its long seafront, its naval history, the hilltop temple at Simhachalam, fiery Andhra seafood, and being the gateway to Araku's coffee hills. It is also a big port and steel city, so it feels like a working city rather than a resort.