Getting Around Port Blair: An Overview
Port Blair, officially renamed Sri Vijaya Puram, is the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the main gateway for visitors to the territory. It is a small but rapidly expanding town, and while it is not a large metropolis, self-navigation can be tricky: internet and map coverage is patchy, and the hilly streets often look alike. The practical upshot for a visitor is to plan on a mix of auto-rickshaws, local buses, hired cars, and boats, and to treat walking as a good option for short hops rather than long cross-town treks.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Port Blair has no rail, metro, or tram network. The city and the wider islands are not connected to the Indian mainland by train, so you will not find any of these modes here. Getting to the islands is done by air or by sea, and getting around once you arrive relies on road and water transport.
Buses and Public Transport
Local buses are available for both inter-city and intra-city travel. They are very cheap, but routes are poorly marked and schedules and timings are not reliably followed or published, so you will often need to ask around to figure out which bus goes where. The public bus fleet is operated by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration's Directorate of Transport, and the administration has been adding air-conditioned battery-electric buses to the fleet, with fast chargers installed at bus terminals and the central workshop in Port Blair.
For longer trips around Grand Andaman, buses connect Port Blair with places such as Baratang Island, Rangat, and Diglipur. A few practical notes:
- Public buses can be flagged down on the main road just outside the airport — cross the road to catch one. A bus to Aberdeen Bazaar costs only a few rupees.
- "Deluxe" bus tickets are sold at the small row of shops across the road from the bus station; ask around for the right shop.
- For journeys beyond Rangat the road is bumpy, so it is best to avoid seat numbers above 20 (over or behind the rear axle) and to avoid the rear bench seats — a public bus is a better bet than a deluxe one in that case.
Taxis, Auto-Rickshaws and Ride-Hailing
Auto-rickshaws are abundant and inexpensive, and they are the most straightforward way to cover short distances around town. Fares within town are low, and short hops between the main landmarks — Aberdeen Bazaar, the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex, and the Marine jetty — are cheap. The catch is that tourists are frequently overcharged, especially if the driver can tell you do not know where you are going. A simple way to reduce the risk is to climb in, state your destination confidently (for example, "Aberdeen Bazaar"), and agree on the fare or confirm the meter arrangement before setting off.
Private hire cars are available for local sightseeing around Port Blair and South Andaman, and chauffeured car rental is a good option for groups and families who want to cover more ground comfortably.
Ride-hailing apps are not a dependable option here, so plan on hailing autos or arranging a car through your hotel or a local operator instead.
Walkability
Walking is a good option for getting around central Port Blair, but with caveats. The terrain is mostly steep hills that all look alike, so it is easy to get lost if you wander too far — remember some landmarks as you go. Aberdeen Bazaar, with its clock tower, is the main area for lodging and food and makes a useful reference point. Some key spots are close together on foot: Marina Park to the Cellular Jail is a short walk, for example.
Boats and Ferries
Boats are part of everyday movement in Port Blair, both for reaching nearby islands and for sightseeing. There are two main jetties:
- Phoenix Bay Jetty — for Havelock and other far destinations.
- Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex — for smaller ferries to Ross Island, North Bay, and Viper Island.
Boat tours are a popular way to see the nearby islands, with packages combining Ross, North Bay, and Viper, and shorter harbour cruises available. Tickets for these are sold at the aquarium jetty booths shortly before departure; the A&N tourism office provides information but does not book on your behalf. A ferry from the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex to Ross Island takes about fifteen minutes.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) sits close to the city centre and is the only major airport in the islands. A modern terminal opened in 2024. As of 2026 the airport handles only domestic flights, served by a handful of airlines connecting to several of India's largest cities, and there are no night flights because the airport is handed over to the Indian Air Force in the afternoon.
Once you land, you have a few options for reaching the city:
- Auto-rickshaws and taxis wait outside the terminal at flight times. The auto fare from the airport to Aberdeen Bazaar in the city centre is low, though tourists should expect to be quoted higher and should confirm the price before departing.
- Public buses can be flagged down on the main road just outside the airport — cross the road to catch one. A bus to Aberdeen Bazaar costs no more than a few rupees, making it the cheapest option.
The terminal itself is small and reasonably modern, with an air-conditioned departure hall, but aside from an overpriced kiosk selling chai and crisps there is not much to tide you over if your flight is delayed.
Practical Tips
- Expect to get lost at some point: streets are hilly and similar, and map coverage is unreliable, so note landmarks and ask locally.
- Agree on auto-rickshaw fares before you set off, and state your destination confidently to avoid being overcharged.
- Buses are the cheapest way to travel but the hardest to use without local knowledge — ask around for routes and timings.
- For sightseeing around Port Blair and South Andaman, a private hire car or chauffeured rental is the most comfortable option, especially for groups and families.
- Boat tickets for island tours are sold at the jetty booths shortly before departure, so arrive early and book ahead in peak season.