Dhaka is a vivid riverside capital where heritage buildings, busy waterways, and creative energy sit side by side. You experience a city that feels intense yet warmly welcoming.
Discover Dhaka
Discover Dhaka
Why visit Dhaka?
What to expect
You find lively streets filled with rickshaws, markets, and historic quarters such as Old Dhaka, alongside a growing skyline and modern business districts. The pace is fast, but moments of calm appear in leafy campuses and lakeside promenades.
Plan your trip
Dhaka works as both a stand-alone city break and a gateway to Bangladesh, from tea-growing hills to river deltas. Plan extra time for traffic, and use the city as a base for day trips to nearby archaeological and cultural sites.
Top sights in Dhaka
Lalbagh Fort
Explore this unfinished Mughal fort complex with its red ramparts, gardens, and views over the surrounding old neighbourhoods.
Ahsan Manzil
Visit the pink riverside palace, once home to Dhaka’s former nobility, now a museum telling the story of the city and its elite families.
Sadarghat River Front
Watch passenger launches, cargo boats, and ferries weaving across the Buriganga River, especially atmospheric around sunrise and sunset.
Dhakeshwari Temple precinct
Walk through one of Dhaka’s oldest temple precincts, admiring the architecture and the bustle of daily life around it.
National Parliament House area
See the striking modernist National Parliament complex from the outside, and stroll the surrounding lakes and parks at dusk.
Curzon Hall and Dhaka University area
Wander among historic academic buildings and leafy avenues in one of the city’s most photogenic and relaxed quarters.
New Market and surrounding streets
Browse a huge variety of clothing, books, and everyday goods in and around New Market, a classic Dhaka shopping and people-watching spot.
Experience Dhaka’s everyday rhythm
Getting around
For longer journeys, use ride-hailing cars or taxis, which are more comfortable in traffic. For short hops and a classic Dhaka experience, take a cycle rickshaw through backstreets. Keep some extra time in your schedule, as journeys often take longer than expected.
Local life & culture
Explore Old Dhaka’s lanes to see metal workshops, fabric stores, and riverside trading, then contrast it with newer areas such as Gulshan and Banani, where you find galleries and cafés. Cultural life centres on music, literature, and a strong tradition of festivals and public events.
Head to Ramna Park or the lakes around Gulshan and Dhanmondi for a walk or jog, especially in the early morning or late afternoon when temperatures are softer. Many hotels also offer spas and pools, giving you a quiet place to recharge after a busy day in the city.
A taste of Dhaka
Street food & local specialties
Sample biryani, rich curries, and snacks such as chaat from humble eateries and street stalls in Old Dhaka and around New Market. These busy streets are where you feel the city’s flavour at its most direct.
Casual & modern dining hubs
In areas like Gulshan, Banani, and Dhanmondi, you find relaxed restaurants and cafés serving local, regional, and international dishes. Menus often feature sharing plates and smaller portions, so you can try several flavours in one meal.
Signature & scenic dining
Choose rooftop restaurants in Gulshan or along Dhanmondi Lake for city views with your meal, especially at sunset. Some riverside venues near Sadarghat also offer memorable settings as boats glide by below.
Retail therapy in Dhaka
Malls & lifestyle hubs
Visit modern shopping centres such as Bashundhara City and Jamuna Future Park for international brands, local fashion, cinemas, and family entertainment, all under one roof.
Markets & local crafts
Explore New Market, Gawsia Market, and the shops of Arong for handicrafts, textiles, and traditional designs. These areas are ideal for picking up handmade souvenirs and everyday items side by side.
Evening retail scene
In the evening, streets around Dhanmondi, Gulshan, and Banani glow with lit shopfronts, cafés, and small malls. Ride-hailing cars and rickshaws make it easy to move between districts and enjoy browsing after dark.
Best time to visit Dhaka
Cool and dry months (November to February, peak season) bring comfortable weather around 20–26°C (68–79°F) and clearer skies, ideal for sightseeing. The pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods (March to May and October, shoulder season) are warmer and more humid, with temperatures often between 28–34°C (82–93°F), but showers are usually brief. The main monsoon (June to September, low season) is hot and very humid, around 27–32°C (81–90°F), with frequent rain that can slow travel but leaves the city’s parks and trees lush and green.