Wondering why we travelled to Bangladesh? And why you might? There are plenty of reasons why! There are lots of things to do in Bangladesh that make it such a unique destination in South Asia.
Here are 12 things to do in Bangladesh to help plan for your visit plus some tips on getting around the country, transport and places to stay.
What is the best time of year to visit Bangladesh?
The best time to visit Bangladesh is generally from in the dry season from October to March.
This is a cooler time of year, and the drier season in Bangladesh, while the weather is comfortable for sightseeing and exploring.
Like much of South Asia, Bangladesh has three main seasons. But they aren’t the same as the seasons of the north and southern hemispheres.
Rather, Bangladesh has a dry season, a hot summer and a wet, monsoon season.
- Dry Season (October to March): This is technically the winter season in Bangladesh. But it is a dry time of year with warm sunny days and cool night.
- Transition Season (March to April): This is a shoulder season between the dry ‘winter’ months and the hot summer.
- Summer (March to May): This is the hottest time of year in Bangladesh with high temperatures in May.
- Monsoon Season (June to September): The monsoon rains are heavy during these months while the temperature is hot and muggy.
The best time to visit Bangladesh is during the dry season from October to March.
- Read about getting Dengue Fever in India after travel during the monsoon season.
Things to do in Bangladesh
Here are 12 things to do in Bangladesh that are perfect for a first-time visit.
1. Embrace Old Dhaka
Old Dhaka is the heart of the capital city of Bangladesh.
There is so much history in this part of the old city. Though one of the best things to do in Dhaka is just to take a wander and absorb the hustle and bustle of this incredible South Asian megacity.
Some of the narrow laneways and pedestrian streets have been largely operating in the way they are now for generations. Which it kind of looks like too as you wander through!
If you get the chance to visit some of the historic Haveli (mansions) or the old family homes in the historic part of the city, do.
These large homes revolve around a central courtyard. But in certain parts the narrow stairwells to get to them are totally in the dark!
- Read more about things to do in Dhaka.
2. Take An Overnight River Launch – Things to do in Bangladesh
Opting for at least one experience of long-distance water travel is one of the best things to do in Bangladesh. This is the totally traditional way of river travel in the country.
Bangladesh is a largely riverine country with the many rivers and channels providing an economical means of transport between towns and villages.
There are huge river ferries – called launches – that ply the rivers. Though they are more akin to what we would call a ferry back home.
However in Bangladesh, ferries are the term for short-distance river travel from one side of the river to the other.
- Tip: Overnight launches depart from Dhaka in the evening and arrive in Barisal before sunrise. It is a great experience!
3. Visit the Sundarbans – Things to do in Bangladesh
The Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in both India and Bangladesh.
It is the world’s largest mangrove forest that spans Bangladesh and the south of West Bengal in India.
The spread of the mangrove forest is the largest in the world, with a significant portion in Bangladesh.
It covers an area of approximately 10,000 square kilometres (3,860 square miles) making it an important biodiversity hotspot.
Many people visit the Sundarbans in Bangladesh for the chance to see a Bengal Tiger (see below).
Though even if you don’t, it is an incredible part of the country to experience with so many tiny villages and rural life on the rivers to explore.
4. Ride Rickshaws, Tricycles and CNG
The traditional cycle ricksahws, electric tricycles and typically Bangladeshi auto-rickshaws in the cities are more iconic means of travel in Bangladesh.
It only costs a few Taka for a short distance by cycle rickshaw or electric tricycle around the rural parts of the country.
Though it was not so easy for us as a family of four – we needed to get two!
There is nothing quite like taking a ride through one of the busy cities in an auto-rickshaw. Although it is a little strange at first if comparing rickshaws with the neighbouring countries as in Bangladesh they have caged sides and doors!
However, despite the cages in the cities. You can take electric tricycles in the rural areas which is a fun way to get around the flat rice paddies and between villages.
It is certainly one of the most authentic things to do in Bangladesh!
5. Stay In A Village Homestay – Things to do in Bangladesh
It’s hard to decide, but for us the opportunity to stay in and be part of a small village for a week in rural Bangladesh is perhaps the most memorable part of our trip.
The cities are bustling and the towns have a lot going on.
But seeing day to day life in a rural village is the kind of travel you can’t imagine until you get there.
You can read about our experience of staying in a village homestay here. But if you get the chance, I highly recommend grabbing the opportunity to visit a village or stay in a homestay.
We all rate the village homestay experience as the best of things to do in Bangladesh!
6. Visit A School – Things to do in Bangladesh
In case you didn’t know that about me already I was a teacher in my former pre-travel life. So everywhere we go I love to visit the schools and meet the teachers and kids all around the world.
In Bangladesh it is a particularly special experience to visit a school.
We loved the opportunity to visit a rural (tiny) village school in the village of Narsingdi. As well as spending the afternoon at the college where the boys joined in a game of football with the junior team playing on a rice field!
We bought some stationery and books in Dhaka and took them with us to gift to a school in the village.
This was very much appreciated, and we ended up doing it again twice more in Mongla and in Sreemangal where we visited smaller, town schools.
The teachers we met in Bangladesh are doing amazing things and it always feels like a privilege to meet both inspirational teachers and kids!
7. Ride a Bangladeshi Train – Things to do in Bangladesh
You know those images you have seen of people riding the crowded rooftops of trains in Bangladesh? Well, I’m sorry to break it to you. But it isn’t quite like that!
Albeit we did see a few people poised on the train roof as it rolled into Dhaka. Though it was nothing quite like we were preparing ourselves for.
However, crowds and rooftops aside, taking a train journey is one of the most iconic things to do in Bangladesh. Plus, it is a great way to travel across the country.
We took trains from Chittagong to and from Dhaka. As well as getting the train to Sreemangal and onwards a few days later to Sylhet.
8. Visit The Longest Sea Beach In The World
Did you know that Bangladesh stakes claim to the longest sea beach in the world?
Cox’s Bazar in the south of the country is famously – and proudly – noted by all Bangladeshi’s you meet as the longest natural sea beach.
It is a beautiful spot to see in the late afternoon golden hour as the sun sets over the Bay of Bengal.
Though note you won’t be alone on the beach at sunset. It is a popular place to hang out, eat candy floss and just admire the ‘LongestSeaBeachInTheWorrrrrrrld’!
- Tip: We took a bus to Cox’s Bazar from Chittagong and back. From Chittagong it is easy to get a train to Dhaka.
9. See a Bengal Tiger – or a monkey?
This unique ecosystem of the Sundarbans supports a large population of the Bengal Tiger which has adapted to an almost amphibious lifestyle. So for this reason, visiting the Sundarbans is one of the most famous things to do in Bangladesh.
Unfortunately, we didn’t see any of the famed Bengal Tigers when we visited. We did however see a lot of monkeys and all kinds of bird life and fish in the river and the local markets.
Despite our lack of tiger-spotting I would still recommend the Sundarbans as a unique part of Bangladesh to experience!
- Read how to visit Barisal, Khulna, Mongla and the Sundarbans.
10. Visit a Tea Estate in Sylhet – Things to do in Bangladesh
The Sylhet region is known as the tea capital of Bangladesh.
Albeit it is a starkly different experience of travel in Bangladesh than the contrast of navigating the colourful chaos of Dhaka. But it is the contrast of city bustle to the rural aspect that makes this one of the best things to do in Bangladesh!
You can take a train from Dhaka directly to Sylhet. Or you could stop for a couple of days in Sreemangal – a smaller town in the Sylhet district that is famous for its Seven Layer Tea.
Both towns have numerous tea estates where you can learn about the tea industry in Bangladesh.
- Read more about things to do in Sylhet and Sreemangal, Bangladesh.
11. See the Shipbreaking Yards in Chittagong or Dhaka
Albeit visiting the ship breaking yards is a bit of a moot thing to do in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is home to the world’s second-largest shipbreaking yard, located in the Sitakunda area near Chittagong. Though there is also a huge ship breaking yard in Dhaka too.
Some years ago, tourists photographed hazards of the operation in the ship breaking yards and so it was banned for media and photography.
It is a humbling place to see. These yards are entire towns built around the ship breaking docks where the workers and their families live with basic means.
If you are with a guide, and you would like to visit, it is possible to visit the smaller yards in Dhaka.
We took a ferry across the river to the other side with guide, Jafar and met some of the men working on the yards.
12. Indulge in the history – Things to do in Bangladesh
The region of Bengal, which now comprises Bangladesh and parts of India, has a history stretching back over millennia. It is an incredibly diverse history with many times of challenge and tumultuous battle.
Though everywhere around the country you can experience the history of Bangladesh.
In Bagherat you can visit the historic 60-Dome Mosque or in Dhaka see the Mughal-era tombs and mausoleum of the past.
If you get the chance to visit Sylhet there is history from the British colonial period. While all through the old city of Dhaka it feels like stepping back in time itself!
When we did a day tour of Dhaka on our first few days in the country, our guide Jafar explain the history to us. He told us how his grandfather, his father and himself were all born in the same village not far from Dhaka.
But with the changing independence and history, that meant that his grandfather was born in India; his father was born in East Pakistan – and his was born in Bangladesh!
Accommodation and where to stay in Bangladesh
The cost of accommodation in Bangladesh came as a surprise to us.
There seemed to be a huge discrepancy between the luxury ‘5-Star’ type chain hotels and the usual mid-range-budget hotels.
Or sometimes the should be mid-range-budget hotels seemed to have 5-Star prices instead!
I’m not going to pretend we found budget accommodation and roughed our way around the country.
Because we didn’t.
So cost-wise, the accommodation in Bangladesh wasn’t what we expected.
These are the other places we stayed during our travel in Bangladesh:
- Dhaka: Hotel 71
- Dhaka: Hotel Tropical Daisy
- Barisal: Hotel Grand Park
- Mongla: Hotel Pashur
- Cox’s Bazar: Laguna Beach Hotel
- Chittagong: Well Park Residence Boutique Hotel
- Sreemangal: Green Leaf Guest House
- Sylhet: Hotel Mira Garden
- Dhaka: Hotel 71
- Narsingdi: Taabu Ekduaria Village Homestay
Do read the reviews on booking sites and use Google Maps to check out accommodation and locations before you book.
Read more about travel in Bangladesh and South Asia
- 10 Things To Do In Sylhet, Bangladesh.
- Train Travel in India: A Complete Guide.
- The Sacred River Ganges: Two Days In Varanasi.
- Crossing The Wagah Border From India To Pakistan.
- Pakistan Travel Guide.
- Money In India: Using ATM’s.
- How To Use A Squat Toilet.
- Packing List For Travel In India.
More about travel planning for Bangladesh and beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. It is easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere online.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have insurance before travel in Bangladesh!
