Travel to Bangladesh

Bangladesh in numbers

Why visit Bangladesh

A delta, mangroves, an endless beach and Bengali culture

Highlights

Cox's Bazar, the Sundarbans, Dhaka, Sylhet and Bagerhat

A trip to Bangladesh often combines a few days in Dhaka, an excursion into the Sundarbans and a stop at Cox's Bazar, with Sylhet's tea hills as an option. November to February is the most pleasant period.

Cox's Bazar, the endless beach

Cox's Bazar is considered one of the longest beaches in the world. In the morning fishermen haul in their crescent-shaped boats, painted in bright colours; in the evening the sun drops into the sea. The beach is lively, with seafood and tea stalls.

The Sundarbans, the tidal forest

In the south-west the Sundarbans form the world's largest mangrove forest, with about 6,000 km2 on the Bangladeshi side. You sail from channel to channel on a boat hotel or a local craft, with wooden walkways for short walks. Birds and deer are often seen; the tiger remains rare.

Dhaka, the delta megacity

Dhaka is dense, vibrant and noisy. The old city is best explored by rickshaw, among markets, minarets and lanes; the 17th-century Lalbagh Fort offers a calm garden, and the Ahsan Manzil palace stands on the river. At Sadarghat port, multi-storey boats leave for the delta.

Sylhet, tea and hills

In the north-east, the Sylhet and Srimangal region unrolls tea-covered hills, forests and lakes. You can taste layered tea and meet villages of indigenous peoples. Farther south, the Chittagong hills (Bandarban, Rangamati) hold lakes and remote villages.

Bagerhat and the southern delta

Bagerhat holds an old 15th-century mosque city, including the Sixty Dome Mosque, a UNESCO site. The detour combines well with the Sundarbans, along rivers lined with fishing villages.

Before you go

November to February, the cool and dry season

Area	Climate	Best time
Dhaka	Tropical; monsoon June to October, humid heat in spring.	November to February
Cox's Bazar	Warm all year, cyclones possible out of season.	November to March
Sundarbans	Hot and humid, more pleasant in winter.	November to February
Sylhet and hills	Humid, more rain in the east.	October to March

The country is exposed to the monsoon and to cyclones, which can disrupt some transport in summer. Entry rules vary by nationality; check your own government's official travel information before fixing dates. Watch fares to aim for winter, which is in high demand.

Getting around

Rickshaws, trains, river boats and domestic flights

In Dhaka, rickshaws and ride apps complement taxis, but traffic is dense, so allow spare time. For longer distances, trains, buses or the domestic flight to Cox's Bazar shorten the journey.

In the delta, river boats link towns and villages; the Sundarbans are explored by boat with a licensed guide. Keep a flexible schedule: monsoon floods and traffic jams sometimes slow journeys.

Food and culture

Hilsa, biryani, tea and Bengali poetry

Fish is king: ilish (hilsa), cooked in curry or steamed, is the emblematic dish. You will also find biryani, khichuri, vegetable curries and many pitha, rice cakes. Mishti doi, sweet yoghurt, ends the meal.

The Bengali language, Tagore's poetry and the memory of the 1952 language movement shape the country's identity. Bengali New Year, in April, fills the streets. Modest dress is advised outside big cities and in places of worship.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Bangladesh