Dhaka Division · Bangladesh
Dhaka travel guide
Dhaka is a city in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh, home to about 16,800,000 people.
- Best months
- December to February
- Nearest airport
- DAC13 km · Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
- Currency
- BDTBangladeshi taka
- Time zone
- Asia/Dhaka
- Language
- Bangla
About
About Dhaka
Dhaka, formerly spelled as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. With an estimated population of 36.6 million, Dhaka is the second largest city by population in the world, and is widely considered to be the most densely populated built-up urban area in the world.
Dhaka (DHAH-kah) emerged as a cosmopolitan city during the Mughal Empire. Today, Dhaka is South Asia's second most populous capital after Delhi and an important financial center alongside Mumbai and Karachi. Modern Dhaka is a thriving, colourful and congested metropolis. Being one of the most densely populated places on the planet, Dhaka can be one of the most frenetic cities in the world. Its streets and rivers are filled with colourful chaos. The city plays host to the highest number of rickshaws in the world.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Dhaka to stay in
There are a huge variety of options for accommodation in the city, varying from unkempt dormitory beds for only a few US dollars, to huge multinational hotels that have penthouses for thousands of US dollars per night.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Dhaka
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Dhaka are December to February. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 34 °C; July is the wettest, with about 354 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Dhaka: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC), about 13 km from the city centre in a straight line; Agartala - Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport (IXA, 88 km) and Barisal Airport (BZL, 104 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
It's not a lie; Dhaka is one of the most congested cities in the world due in large part to being one of the most populous cities in the world. Dhaka has often been referred to as the "Traffic Capital of the World", and you can literally spend hours in traffic. A poorly developed road network, an inefficient traffic system, an unskilled traffic police force, poor efficacy of traffic laws, constant construction, lack of adequate parking spaces, and bad driving habits are some of the many reasons why Dhaka has immense congestion problems.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
DAC · Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
IXA · Agartala - Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport
BZL · Barisal Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Dhaka
Eat
Dhaka has an enormous variety of food catering to all budgets. Old Dhaka is overflowing with cheap Bangladeshi food where a meal can cost from Tk 50. In the upscale areas such as Gulshan and Banani there are Chinese, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Greek and Mexican restaurants, and franchises such as Pizza Hut and KFC - all at prices that the majority can't afford. Reservations are usually not required in most restaurants. A lot of the Buffet-style restaurants in this area have Tk 250–400, fixed price menu.
Drink
There is a party network between the different expat clubs (Dutch Club, Canadian Club, Nordic Club, International Club, American Club, etc.) and some Bangladeshi clubs (Heritage, Privilege, etc.) These clubs usually require membership to enter, or befriend a member and have them sign you in. From there, you can purchase a book of tickets or a cash card and then use it to order your drinks. Although alcohol is most easily available at the international clubs and top hotels, there are quite a few local places to find a drink for the enterprising traveller. Local bars are to be found in most neighbourhoods but can be difficult to locate due to lack of advertising.
Stay safe
If you happen to arrive at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at night, it is best to remain there until morning. While the chances of anything bad happening upon exit are somewhat low, incidents such as kidnappings by taxi drivers are known to have happened to tourists who have tried to leave the airport in the small hours of the morning. Otherwise Dhaka isn't terribly unsafe, but as in any huge city you should keep aware of your surroundings and try not to walk around at night. People are generally friendly and ready to help. The chance of problems is low. If you must be out late at night, it best not to bring valuables with you.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Dhaka: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Dhaka?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Dhaka are December to February. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 34 °C; July is the wettest, with about 354 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Dhaka?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC), about 13 km from the city centre in a straight line; Agartala - Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport (IXA, 88 km) and Barisal Airport (BZL, 104 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Dhaka?
Bangladeshi taka (BDT).
Nearby
Destinations near Dhaka
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.