Away With The Steiners

10 Things to do in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s colourful chaotic capital. 

Sarah Steiner

Welcome to Bangladesh!  The capital city of Dhaka in Bangladesh doesn’t exactly scream relaxing vacation vibes.  But it is a fascinating and colourfully chaotic destination to experience.  Here is everything you need to know about getting around in the city and some great things to do in Dhaka that make it well worth the adventure.

About Dhaka, Bangladesh 

Dhaka is the beating heart of Bangladesh.  It is as if the waterways of Bangladesh stem out from Dhaka like the veins taking life to the far reaches of the country…

And I’m not going to lie. 

Dhaka is not for the faint hearted. 

But it is incredible. 

Our itinerary for one month travelling around Bangladesh saw us stop and stay four times in Dhaka.  Which is a lot! 

But there are lots of things to do in Dhaka that make it a fascinating place to visit. 

We used the bustling capital city as our base to explore different directions of the country…

Cycle rickshaw things to do in Dhaka Bangladesh guide.
A cycle rickshaw through the old city is part of the landscape.

A little bit of history about Dhaka

On our first day out in Dhaka we learnt some very interesting history about Bangladesh. 

Our guide, Jafar told us that his grandfather was born in India; his father was born in Pakistan; and he was born in Bangladesh.  

But they were all born in the same village…

Until 1947, Bangladesh was part of India.  The region that is now marked out as the country of Bangladesh was known as ‘East Bengal’. 

Then in 1947 India gained independence from British colonial rule and the sub-continent was partitioned into India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.  

The partition led to the largest migration crisis in history with over 14 million people becoming refugees.  

Many Hindu families moved from Pakistan to India and Muslims from India to Pakistan. 

Bangladesh was known at this time as ‘East Pakistan’ and was governed from Islamabad (in ‘West Pakistan’) – something that was unpopular with many Bangladeshis and ultimately spurred the struggle for Bengali rights. 

In 1971, Bangladesh (with the support of India) fought Pakistan for independence in what was known as the Bangladesh Liberation War and became the independent country that is Bangladesh today. 

There is influence of Muslim, Hindu, British and Mughal heritage in many of the things to see in Dhaka.

Colourful Hindu women at a temple in the narrow streets of the old city.

How long do you need to see all the things to do in Dhaka? 

Dhaka is Bangladesh’s largest city.  Which in terms of population, is also one of the largest megacities in the world. 

It isn’t a relaxing destination.  That’s for sure.  

But it is a fascinating place to visit. 

Plus, it isn’t like skipping out of the city and into the smaller cities of Bangladesh is a whole lot more relaxing.  The country is an incredible adventure of colour, chaos and bustle amidst the hospitality of friendly Bangladeshi’s that will be surprised to see you there. 

With a couple of days of dedicated exploring there’s time to cover the highlights and learn more about the Bangladeshi capital city. 

Ideally, you’d need a week to counter the traffic and get around and truly take it all in.  

But there is plenty more of Bangladesh to be seen! 

If you have two days, you can cover all the main things to do in Dhaka listed below. 

Friendly men – with amazing strength – at the ship breaking yards across the river.

What is the best time of year to visit Dhaka?

The best time to visit Dhaka 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 – and Dhaka – 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. 

The best time to visit Bangladesh is during the dry season from October to March. 

It could be an umbrella for the rain – or the sun?

Things to do in Dhaka, Bangladesh

In no particular order, here are 10 things to do in Dhaka that we reckon make it absolutely worth a visit! 

1. Lalbagh Fort

Lalbagh Fort (also Fort Aurangabad) is an incomplete 17th-century Mughal fort complex.   But despite being unfinished, visiting Lalbagh Fort is one of the most popular things to do in Dhaka.  

The name ‘Lal Bagh’ is derived from its neighbourhood Lalbagh, which means Red Garden.  Which for visitors today, bodes confidence.  

It is a peaceful oasis to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy city. 

The construction of what exists now to visit, was completed in 1688 by the Mughal prince Muhammad Azam.  

It was built as the official residence for the governor of the Mughal province of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.  So, the complex includes the Mughal governor’s house, the tomb of the governor’s daughter, Pari Bibi and a mosque. 

It is covered by lawns, fountains and water channels. 

The central tomb inside Lalbagh Fort.

2. Ahsan Manzil – Things to do in Dhaka

Ahsan Manzil is another of the iconically ‘pink’ things to do in Dhaka.  

The building was once the residence and seat of power of the Nawabs of Dhaka, who were influential landlords and rulers during the British colonial period.

There is a long history of ownership and extensions to the palace.  Though it is debatably more famous for its grandeur and colour!  

It is referred to as the ‘Pink Palace’ of Dhaka.  

The very pink, Pink Palace is an interesting place to see in the city.

3. Old Dhaka

Old Dhaka is located on the banks of Buriganga River.  

Here, pedestrians, rickshaws, cars, and trucks squeeze through the narrow streets of the old, historic district of Bangladesh’s capital.  That is until the streets become so narrow its just crowded to squeeze through with just pedestrians galore.  

It is a whirlwind of chaos and colour – and honking horns! 

This part of the city is hard to describe in words.  

But absolutely, taking a wander through the heart of Old Dhaka is one of the most eye-opening – and memorable – things to do in Dhaka. 

Colourful smiles (and a few chickens) in the old city streets of Dhaka.

4. Dhakeshwari National Temple – Things to do in Dhaka

This huge temple is the centre of Hindu faith in Bangladesh.  

Though while I admit shyly that we hadn’t see much about the Hindu heritage of the city before we came.  It is a pivotal part of the history of Bangladesh.  

The temple is dedicated to Dhakeshwari, the protector of Dhaka and an incarnation of the goddess Durga. 

Albeit this temple is a modern construction.  But there has been a temple on this spot for nine centuries. 

5. Dhaka New Market 

New Market is one of the most densely occupied stretches of Dhaka. 

It’s the oldest and largest shopping complex in the Dhaka City, where almost all essential items like books and stationery, watches, clocks and spectacles, clothes, household items – everything really – is sold in the one sprawling marketplace. 

The iconic huge gates to Dhaka’s New Market.

6. Baitul Mukarram National Mosque 

Baitul Mukarram, officially Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, is the national mosque of Bangladesh.

The mosque is designed in the style of the holy Ka’aba of Mecca and is a hard-to-miss landmark.  It is one of the largest mosques in the world.

With the huge prayer hall and outdoor courtyard, the mosque can accommodate over 30,000 worshippers, making it a central hub for religious and cultural gatherings

Inside the incredible Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
The outdoor courtyard looking in towards the central prayer hall.

7. Tara Masjid – Star Mosque 

This small mosque is quite a contrast in size to the huge National Mosque of Dhaka.  

The Star Mosque is a small, Mughal style of masjid that was built in the 18th century. 

It was originally in a plain, Mughal style of architecture.  But the mosque was renovated in the early 20thcentury. 

Today the mosque has ornate designs inside and is decorated with motifs of blue stars on the three domes.  Hence it then got its present name Tara (also Sitara) Masjid, which means Star Mosque. 

Inside the small but beautifully decorated Star Mosque.

8. Sadarghat – Things to do in Dhaka

Sadarghat is one of the busiest places in Bangladesh.  Literally hundreds and thousands of people use this port for daily commute to and from and within Dhaka.

It is a chaotic and bustling part of Dhaka.  But the panorama of river life is fascinating.

Sadarghat literally means City Wharf.  So, it is the main Dhaka River Port where the ferries depart from and arrive to.  

The river port for Dhaka has been recorded in existence since the Mughal Era.  Which is a pretty darn cool fact to consider for visiting! 

We took an overnight ferry from Dhaka to Barisal.  Though you can also take smaller ferries out of the city or across the river for the day.  

Loading the boats at Sadarghat in a huge line-up of ferries of varying sizes.

9. Dhaka Armenian Church 

Albeit an Armenian Church is not the first thing that springs to mind considering things to do in Dhaka.  But sure enough, this Bangladeshi megacity has a historic – and beautifully preserved – Armenian church. 

The church is in Armanitola, which is a neighbourhood that was named after the Armenian colony that settled here in the late 17th century. 

The church grounds are locked.  But the caretaker will open up to let you inside.  

You can see the Armenian inscriptions on the graves outside the church. 

The contrasting new apartment buildings and historic Armenian Church.

10. Kawran Bazar – Things to do in Dhaka 

Kawran Bazar, also known as Karwan Bazar, is a business district and commercial hub of Dhaka city. 

It is one of the largest wholesale marketplaces in Dhaka. 

There are hundreds of small temporary shops in and around the market that overflow out into street stalls and wandering vendors sprawled right out to the ttrain tracks. 

The market has separate blocks for wholesale trade in fish, vegetables and rice.

But as a visitor, it is more about the adventure of navigating this insanely HUGE marketplace. 

Flavours, sounds, and smells are all around at Kawran Bazar.

Other things to do in Dhaka

There are plenty of other historic, cultural and food-things to do in Dhaka if you have more time. 

Or you can take a day trip from Dhaka to the ancient city of Sonargaon.  

Inside the historic Armenian Church.

Getting to and from Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh and is connected both domestically and internationally by air, road and rail. 

The most common means of arriving to Dhaka is by flight to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. 

It is located in Kurmitola, 17 km (11 mi) from the city centre, in the northern part of Dhaka.  

But the journey time from airport to the city by taxi takes approximately 45 – 60 minutes.

Do I need a Visa for travel in Bangladesh? 

Citizens of most countries require a valid visa to enter Bangladesh. 

However, many countries are eligible for a Visa On Arrival at Dhaka International Airport. 

Standard tourism visas (and VOAs) are single-entry for 30 days.   

Transportation – Things to do in Dhaka 

Getting around Dhaka can be done via rickshaws, buses, auto-rickshaws, CNGs, or ride-sharing apps like Uber.  

The auto-rickshaws are the most popular and affordable option for short distances. 

But I’m not going to lie.  

The traffic in Dhaka is absolutely nuts.

We used auto rickshaws and taxis.  But to be fair the easiest way – and most relaxing mode of transport – was during a day tour travelling in a van with a driver. 

People and goats travelling by boat waiting to board the river ferries.

Getting around by auto rickshaw (CNG) – Things to do in Dhaka

Bangladesh has electric and CNG auto rickshaws that are easy to flag down and take for short to medium distances in Dhaka. 

They are slightly different to the auto rickshaws in India and Pakistan, as the ones in Dhaka and the other Bangladeshi cities have cages on the side of the passenger carriage. 

But despite, or even with the caged fashion, they are an economical way to get around in Dhaka. 

For a 2km distance it costs around 100Tk (USD $1.15).  

Just be sure to negotiate and confirm the price before you climb in.  

Getting around by cycle rickshaw – Things to do in Dhaka

This is by far the most authentic mode of transport in the cities of Bangladesh.

It only costs a few taka for a short distance by cycle rickshaw.  

Though it isn’t easy for us as a family of four – we would have needed to get two!  

Transportation to and from Dhaka

We used quite a few different modes of transport to get to and from Dhaka.  

Over our one month itinerary in Bangladesh, we visited Dhaka four separate times.  

To give you a rough idea of travel times, these are the trips we made: 

The highlight of our transport adventures in Bangladesh was definitely the overnight ferry to Barisal. 

Train travel to and from Dhaka

Bangladesh is well known for train travel.  

Though don’t panic.  It isn’t like the images of travelling on the rooftops of trains like you might have seen. 

It’s relatively easy to book a train ticket at the main railway station in Dhaka.  The most challenging part of booking is battling the traffic in a taxi to get there!

Late night scenes waiting to board the train at the central railway station.

Where to eat / Restaurants and cafes in Dhaka

Our absolute favourite restaurant in Dhaka and one we would recommend to anyone, was Star Kabab. 

There are 11 branches in Dhaka.  Plus, there are franchised locations in Cox Bazar and Chittagong. 

Note that you can order Star Kabab for delivery with Food Panda.  We did that a few times too. 

Or the in-house restaurant at Hotel71 was great for the evenings we didn’t feel like venturing out again after a full day of exploring.

There is plenty of street food to choose from all over the city.

Where to stay in Bangladesh 

In a country that is shamelessly renowned for being a budget destination, I would say that for us the cost of accommodation in Bangladesh came as a surprise. 

Albeit we didn’t exactly rough it.  So, I can’t give insight to budget hostels and dorm style accommodation in Bangladesh. 

As we found our feet and figured out how it all worked here, we realised that as a family, accommodation options offered the greatest disparity in our budget.  

We did stay one week in a homestay with Jafar in his village – which by the way, was an amazing experience.  

These are the hotels we stayed in during our one month of travel in Bangladesh.  

Despite being above our usual budget, Hotel71 was a good first landing point and place to stay in Dhaka when we first arrived.

One of two bedrooms in our family suite at Hotel71.
A triple room in Hotel Tropical Daisy.

Do you recommend a guide for Dhaka? 

Agreeably, Dhaka is an enormous city.  It is one of the most populated cities in the world.  So it takes a bit of navigating if you are only there for a few days and wanting to maximise sightseeing. 

We did some exploring on our own.  Though the best days out we had were with local guides, Jafar and Ontu. 

Their care and knowledge was outstanding.  

So yes, I recommend a day tour to find your feet and see the best of things to do in Dhaka.  

Onto from Trip2Bangladesh was amazing organising our trip on the ferry from Dhaka to Barisal including Mongla, Sundarbans and Kulhna. 

Jafar is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide for city tours of Dhaka and the neighbouring ancient city of Sonargaon too. 

I highly recommend a day tour of things to do in Dhaka including the historic sights, bazars and fascinating huge ship breaking yards.

Contact Ontu or Jafar directly – you will not be disappointed!

Harry with Jafar showing us around the incredible National Mosque on our second day in Dhaka.

More about travel in South Asia

More about planning for travel in Bangladesh and beyond

These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel. 

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