Explore the port city of Vizag to discover its fascinating heritage, breathtaking shores, & stunning scenery.
At Zostel Visakhapatnam (Vizag), experience a breezy getaway featuring chill common areas and social interaction, just a ~10-min drive from the sapphire shoreline of the Ramakrishna Beach. Meet new people and explore Zostel's unique vibe here.
Set along the Bay of Bengal coast, Visakhapatnam or Vizag, is Andhra Pradesh’s largest city. A contender for being the oldest port city in the country, Vizag is famous for its industrial products and giant ports. However, the city doubles on beach resorts for sea-breeze-seekers and traditional festivities for cultural enthusiasts. Brimming with a distinctly kitschy vibe, peppy promenades, and thousands of bathers, Vizag is a charming beach town flaunting some of the finest beaches in Andhra. Opposite the coastline, the city is surrounded by forested hills of Araku Valley and dense forests of Kambalakonda Sanctuary. With crowd-free beaches, a laidback living style, and a booming love for surfing, Vizag makes for an ideal backpacker’s paradise.
Places to visit in Visakhapatnam
Submarine Museum: Had a curiosity about how sailors live in a submarine? This is where you should go while exploring Vizag. Located towards the north of Ramakrishna Beach, the former Indian Navy submarine Kursura is now a spectacular museum. A 15-minute tour inside the sub takes you through confined quarters, torpedo rooms, kitchen, and sleeping areas.
Timings: 2-8:30 pm (Closed on Monday)
Entry fee: INR 40 per person (Camera: INR 50; Video camera: INR 500)
Aircraft Museum: Want to board an aircraft for just INR 70? This is where you head! Offering a peek into the excellent history of Indian Aviation, the museum is built into a Soviet-era TU-142M aircraft. Visitors can learn about the aircraft through an audio guide. Also, there’s a VR gaming zone and cafe to keep you entertained.
Timings: 2-8:30 pm (Mon-Fri); 10 am-8:30 pm (Sat-Sun)
Entry fee: INR 70 per person
Rushikonda Beach: Around 10 km from the city, Rushikonda is one of the nicest beaches around the city. With surfers and kayakers flocking the beach, weekends here are busy and festive.
Kailasagiri Hill: Located in the north of the city, rising above the famed Beach Road, Kailasagiri Hill is a landscaped park with fine ocean views and jogging tracks. There are also some playgrounds, a sculpture park, a toy train, a marble statue of Shiva and Parvati, and numerous cafes.
Yarada Beach: Overlooking the Bay of Bengal, Yarada Beach is surrounded by green hills on three sides. It’s a long stretch of golden sand lined with coconut and banana trees. The crowds are less, and serenity is high here, so count being lazy on the beachhead on your to-do list.
Borra Caves: Situated in the Anantgiri Hills of Araku Valley, Borra Caves offer a visual feast of breathtaking hilly terrain, beautiful landscape, semi-evergreen moist deciduous forests, and wild fauna.
Timings: 10 am-5 pm
Entry fee: INR 40; INR for the camera
Bheemilli Beach: Located at the assemblage of the Bay of Bengal and Gosthani River, Bheemunipatnam, or Bheemilli Beach, is a long and pristine stretch of sand. Nearby, the beach has a remnant past from its Dutch era in the form of a 17th-century fort and cemetery.
Ross Hill Church: The pastel white structure with sky blue doors and windows, Ross Hill Church is a stunning building in the city. It is one of those locations where you can hike to the top for a splendid view of Vizag and its port area.
Timings: 9 am-6 pm
Where to eat in Visakhapatnam
Sea Inn: Inspired by her mother’s Andhra-style curries, Chef Devi cooks spicy-delicious biryanis, local fish, seafood, and chicken and veg dishes. Food is served in a semi-open-air setting, around 300 m from Haritha Beach Resort.
Dharani: One of the city’s top restaurants, Dharani serves simply superb veg thalis. For just INR 240, you can taste the most authentic flavours of the South on a ‘Special’ thali.
Little Italy: Behind Ramakrishna Beach, this pizzeria bakes fine pasta, thin-crust pizza, and salads in stylish surroundings. While dining here, grab a glass of refreshing fruit mocktails.
Bamboo Bay: In the Park Hotel’s beachside garden, this restaurant serves exquisite Andhra, Chettinad, and Mughlai food, along with some seafood options. There are several choices of vegetarian food that are best enjoyed on the terrace by candlelight in the evening.
Hotel V Parlour: With simple surroundings and generous portions of food, Hotel V Parlour is a pure veg eatery. Chinese, North Indian, and South Indian foods are worth a visit, but Irani Chai is a must-try beverage here.
