Getting there
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is the country's main international gateway, so most visitors to Bangladesh arrive here regardless of where else they're headed. Within the city, rickshaws handle short hops well, while CNGs or ride-hailing apps like Uber and Pathao are better for longer distances. Traffic is heavy throughout the day, so build in extra time for anything across town.
Best time to visit
November through February is the most comfortable window, with cooler temperatures and less humidity. For outdoor sites like Lalbagh Fort, early morning or late afternoon avoids both the midday heat and the bigger crowds.
What to see
- Lalbagh Fort — an unfinished 17th-century Mughal fort complex, including the Tomb of Pari Bibi and a small museum. Closed Sundays; bring cash, as the ticket counter doesn't take cards.
- Ahsan Manzil (the Pink Palace) — the former residence of the Nawabs of Dhaka, now a museum on the Buriganga River. Closed Thursdays.
- Star Mosque — known for its intricate blue star-tile mosaics.
- Sadarghat — the city's river terminal on the Buriganga, worth a visit just to watch the boat traffic and river life.
Old Dhaka's rickshaw art, a UNESCO-recognized craft tradition, is covered in more depth on our Experiences page.
Practical notes
Dhaka's traffic makes it worth sightseeing in geographic clusters — Old Dhaka in one day, for instance — rather than crisscrossing the city. For visa and entry requirements and general safety guidance, see Practical Info.
Dhaka features in several of our sample itineraries — see Itineraries for full multi-day routes. More photos of the city are in the Photo Gallery.