Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start at the Indian Museum on Chowringhee when it opens; allow about two hours for its major collections. It is generally open Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–6pm, and closed Mondays, but check the current schedule before setting out. Budget roughly ₹50 for an Indian adult’s entry, with separate or different charges possible for some displays. From here, Victoria Memorial is a short taxi or app-cab ride away; allow 1.5–2 hours for the landmark and galleries. Its grounds and galleries generally open Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–6pm, and are usually closed Mondays. Entry charges differ for the grounds and museum, so check the current ticket details before you go.
Head to Peter Cat on Park Street for its Kolkata classic, chelo kebab; plan on roughly ₹500–₹1,000 per person, and expect a wait at busy lunch times. After lunch, take a cab to St. Paul’s Cathedral near the Maidan for 30–45 minutes of quiet architectural appreciation. It is an active place of worship, so visiting access can vary around services; dress respectfully and check locally before making it a long stop.
Finish at Prinsep Ghat on the Hooghly for an easy riverside walk of about an hour. A cab from the cathedral is the simplest link, or walk if the weather is comfortable and you have time. Aim for late afternoon so you can enjoy the riverfront as the light softens; the ghat is a public space, but food stalls and boat rides can vary by day and conditions.
Allow time after landing for baggage, the airport-to-town transfer (often around 15–30 minutes, depending on traffic) and hotel check-in or a luggage drop. The full sightseeing list is ambitious on arrival day: if you reach town with enough daylight, go first to Cellular Jail at Atlanta Point and allow 1.5–2 hours for the prison and exhibits. Entry is ticketed, and timings or ticket availability can change, so check locally before setting out; if your arrival is late, don’t try to rush the visit.
From the jail, take an auto-rickshaw or taxi to Samudrika Naval Marine Museum in Delanipur. Set aside about 1–1.5 hours for its marine-life and island-community displays, and verify the day’s opening hours before going. Then head to Annapurna Cafeteria in Aberdeen Bazaar for the planned simple vegetarian lunch; allow roughly ₹150–₹350 per person.
Finish at Corbyn’s Cove Beach, south of town. A taxi or auto-rickshaw is the practical choice from Aberdeen Bazaar; allow for road time each way and spend about 1–1.5 hours by the water. This last stop is the easiest to shorten if the flight, check-in or museum visits run late—keep the day flexible rather than counting on fitting every stop into a tight schedule.
Take a morning passenger ferry from Haddo Wharf to Swaraj Dweep; allow roughly 1.5–2.5 hours on board, plus early terminal check-in and the transfer to your hotel. Book ahead with Makruzz, Green Ocean or ITT Majestic, and recheck the sailing because schedules can change. Once you’ve dropped your bags, arrange a taxi or hire a scooter if you’re comfortable riding—distances on the island are longer than they look on a map.
Head first to Radhanagar Beach on the west coast for a couple of hours of swimming or an easy shoreline walk; swim only where conditions feel safe, and keep an eye on the light so you’re not rushing the next stop. Then allow around 35–45 minutes by road to Vijaynagar Beach on the east side for a quieter hour by the water. If your ferry arrives late or is delayed, keep both beach visits flexible rather than trying to squeeze them in after dark. Finish with dinner at Anju Coco Resto; budget about ₹500–₹1,000 per person, and check locally for current hours and availability.
After the ferry and hotel check-in, head to Bharatpur Beach, close to Neil’s jetty. Give yourself about 1.5 hours to enjoy the shallow, clear water; glass-bottom boat rides and other water activities may be available for an extra charge, but depend on sea conditions and operators. There’s usually no beach entry fee. Grab a light snack nearby, but keep the afternoon flexible: the next stop is best visited at low tide.
Take an auto-rickshaw or scooter across to Natural Bridge (Howrah Bridge) in Laxmanpur, then allow about 1–1.5 hours for the walk and time by the rocks. Go only when the tide is low enough to expose the route, and check the tide locally before setting out—at high tide, access can be unsafe or impossible. The path is uneven and rocky, so wear sturdy sandals or shoes rather than walking barefoot. If low tide doesn’t line up with this order, ask your hotel or an island guide about safe access before committing; don’t try to cross water to reach the formation.
Stay on the west coast for sunset at Laxmanpur Beach; arrive with an hour to spare, since the light changes quickly and the beach can be a short walk from the road. Then take an auto or scooter to Yatri Niwas Restaurant for dinner, budgeting around ₹300–₹700 per person. Restaurant hours and service can vary on the island, so check locally and arrange your ride back to your accommodation before settling in.
After the ferry from Shaheed Dweep to Haddo Wharf, allow time for disembarking, collecting your bags and reaching your hotel to drop them off. Keep the schedule loose: ferry times can shift, and Chatham Saw Mill’s access and museum hours may vary, so check locally before heading over. If it’s open, allow about 1–1.5 hours to see the historic mill and museum; entry is usually inexpensive, but confirm the current fee.
From Chatham Island, take an auto-rickshaw or taxi toward Aberdeen for a relaxed waterfront walk at Marina Park. Give it 45–60 minutes, and bring water and sun protection—the shade is limited in places. If the ferry runs late, shorten the stroll rather than rushing the visit to the mill.
Stay around Aberdeen for dinner at New Lighthouse Restaurant, a handy choice for seafood. Budget roughly ₹500–₹1,200 per person, and ask what’s fresh that day. After a travel-heavy morning, leave the rest of the evening free and confirm tomorrow’s onward plans with your hotel.
Have breakfast at Brewberrys Café in Junglighat (about ₹200–₹500 per person), then return to your hotel, collect your bags and check out. Leave a generous buffer for the transfer to Veer Savarkar International Airport, check-in and security; don’t plan sightseeing before your flight. The flight is about 2.5 hours in the air if a nonstop service is operating, but the full journey takes considerably longer once you include airport time and transfers.
If your arrival time and energy allow, stop at Indian Coffee House in central Kolkata for coffee and a light meal (roughly ₹150–₹350 per person). It’s a relaxed way to ease back into the city, but check current opening hours and allow for the transfer from the airport before deciding.
If you reach Elliot Park with daylight to spare, take an easy 45-minute walk through its landscaped gardens in the Park Street area. It’s a pleasant, low-effort end to the trip; otherwise, head straight to your accommodation and save the park for another visit.
No packing list attached yet.