Sanya Classics for a First Visit
Stay in Sanya Bay, watch the sunset along Coconut Dream Promenade, spend a day on Wuzhizhou Island, then visit Nanshan and Tianya Haijiao before you leave.
This is the standard three-day route recommended by most guides. On day one, after landing, simply enjoy the sunset rather than rushing through sights. On day two, spend the whole day on Wuzhizhou Island, then stop by Houhai Village on the way back in the evening. On day three, visit Nanshan in the morning and Tianya Haijiao in the afternoon. Both are west of the airport, so you can head straight there afterward. You stay in Sanya Bay the entire time without changing hotels, which suits first-time visitors with limited time.
Winter and spring are peak seasons, so book Wuzhizhou Island boat tickets and Tianya Haijiao in advance. In summer and autumn, watch for typhoons that suspend ferry service.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Sanya Bay and watch the sunset
Sanya（Sanya Bay & Coconut Dream Corridor、Haiyue Square）
A taxi from the airport to Sanya Bay takes about 20 minutes. After checking in, walk along Coconut Dream Promenade to Haiyue Square.
In winter the sun sets around 6 p.m., so heading out at 4 or 5 p.m. is ideal.
Stay: Sanya Bay
Day 2 · Wuzhizhou Island day trip and Houhai Village
Sanya（Wuzhizhou Island、Houhai Village）
Take a taxi or drive early in the morning, about 1 hour, to the Wuzhizhou Island pier. Take a boat for about 20 minutes to the island. In the evening, visit nearby Houhai Village, then return to Sanya Bay.
You must bring your ID to board. In peak season, book boat tickets through official channels several days in advance. The early boats are less crowded.
Stay: Sanya Bay
Day 3 · Nanshan and Tianya Haijiao
Sanya（Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone、Tianya Haijiao）
Travel west from Sanya Bay for about 40 minutes to Nanshan, then head back east about 30 minutes to Tianya Haijiao. From there, it's about 20 minutes to the airport.
Tianya Haijiao requires timed-entry reservations. Dress modestly at the Nanshan Temple complex, and you can leave your luggage at the hotel and pick it up afterward.