Teknaf is the southern-most city on the mainland in Bangladesh, on the narrow strip running along the coast of Myanmar. It's a dusty featureless frontier town - this is remote Bangladesh and it feels like it. Electricity can be scarce, so having a flashlight for the dark evenings is wise.
- Take a walk over the bridge, passing the river filled with colorful fishing boats, makeshift houses filled with curious children, and beautiful farmland looking out towards Myanmar, dotted with patrolling soldiers.
- Teknaf beach is a large beach about 5km west of the center of town, very popular with locals at sunset. It's much quieter than Cox's Bazar, though the 50+ motorcyclists racing back and forth along the shoreline won't help you to relax, nor will all of your new friends. There's a small snack shack where the road meets the beach.
There's a market down the road behind the bus stop and over the bridge in which can be found goods smuggled from Myanmar, possibly even beer.
There's a largish restaurant tucked behind the bus stop that serves decent food at decent prices, and several more similar restaurants along the road behind the bus stand en route to the bridge. None are signed in English.
Inquire at your hotel or at one of the local restaurants and you may be able to score some beer from Myanmar.
- Saint Martins Island - a beautiful tropical island and one of the most relaxing places in the country - this is likely the reason you're in Teknaf in the first place.
- Myanmar may be tauntingly close, but it's illegal to cross by land from Bangladesh, and highly unwise to try - the army has planted landmines to ward off illegal crossing and smugglers.