This list covers 13 things to do in Bangladesh for solo travellers, couples and families. It starts with the classics in Dhaka. It then moves out to forests, tea country and quieter ruins. Each entry gives the same three things: what it is, who it suits and when to go.
A 7-day trip is enough for Dhaka plus one or two regions. Travel between regions takes time, so pick a few places rather than all of them.
Two seasons shape every plan. The monsoon runs from June to October and brings floods, flash floods and landslides. The Bay of Bengal also has two cyclone seasons: March to May, and October to November. Many entries below point to December to February, which falls between them.
1. Lalbagh Fort, Old Dhaka
Lalbagh Fort is an unfinished Mughal-era fort with gardens, a mosque and a tomb inside its walls. The lawns give you open space after the crowded streets outside. It suits families, since children have room to move, and couples who like history. Allow time for a slow walk round the grounds.
When to go: Early in the day, December to February. Check opening days before you go.
2. Ahsan Manzil
Ahsan Manzil is a pink palace on the bank of the Buriganga River. It was once the home of Dhaka's nawabs and is now a museum. Rooms are laid out in period style, with portraits and furniture. It works well for families and first-time visitors who want a short indoor stop.
When to go: Mornings, outside the monsoon months. Pair it with Sadarghat nearby.
3. Sadarghat and a Buriganga boat ride
Sadarghat is Dhaka's main river port. Ferries, wooden boats and cargo vessels crowd the water. You can hire a small rowing boat for a short trip on the river. It suits solo travellers and couples who enjoy busy street scenes. Families with young children may find the crowds tiring.
When to go: Early morning, when the port is already busy and the light is soft.
4. Star Mosque and the Old Dhaka lanes
Star Mosque, or Tara Masjid, is covered in mosaic tiles with star patterns. Nearby you can walk to Shankhari Bazar, a narrow street of Hindu craft workshops, and the Armenian Church. A walk between them shows you daily life in the oldest part of the city. It suits solo travellers and couples who like to explore on foot.
When to go: Morning, December to February. Check visiting times and dress expectations at the mosque.
5. National Parliament House
The National Parliament House, or Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, was designed by the architect Louis Kahn. It is a large concrete complex set beside an artificial lake. Most visitors view it from the surrounding grounds. It suits couples and anyone interested in modern architecture.
When to go: Late afternoon, when the light falls on the walls. Whether you can go inside varies, so check first.
6. Liberation War Museum and Bangladesh National Museum
These two museums explain the country's past. The Liberation War Museum covers the war that led to independence. Some exhibits are graphic, so it suits teenagers and adults more than young children. The Bangladesh National Museum in Shahbag covers art, history and natural history, and works for families.
When to go: Any time of year. Both are a good choice for wet afternoons.
7. Street food in Old Dhaka
Old Dhaka is known for biryani, slow-cooked kacchi, and layered bakarkhani bread. You will also find fuchka, crisp shells filled with spiced water, and pitha, rice cakes sold in the cooler months. Hilsa fish, called ilish, is the national favourite. If you like hawker food at home, start with dishes that look familiar. It suits everyone, and families can share plates.
When to go: Evenings. Pitha stalls are most common in the cooler months.
8. Sundarbans mangrove forest
The Sundarbans is a vast mangrove forest in the south-west, shared with India. It is home to the Bengal tiger, spotted deer, crocodiles and many birds. Most visits are guided boat trips over several days, often starting near Khulna or Mongla. Tiger sightings are rare, so go for the rivers and the quiet. It suits couples and families with older children.
When to go: December to February, outside the monsoon and both cyclone seasons.
9. Sixty Dome Mosque, Bagerhat
The Sixty Dome Mosque, or Shat Gombuj Masjid, is the best-known building in the old mosque city of Bagerhat. The brick prayer hall is lined with rows of columns under many small domes. Several smaller mosques and tombs stand nearby. It suits history lovers and couples, and pairs well with a Sundarbans trip.
When to go: December to February. Mornings are quieter.
10. Cox's Bazar beach
Cox's Bazar has a long sandy beach on the Bay of Bengal. Local families crowd the main stretches in the evening. Quieter sections lie further along the coast. It suits families who want a few days of beach time, and couples looking for sunsets.
When to go: December to February. Avoid the cyclone seasons, March to May and October to November.
11. Srimangal tea gardens and Lawachara National Park
Srimangal sits in the north-east, among rolling tea estates. You can walk the paths between the tea bushes. Nearby Lawachara National Park has forest trails with gibbons, monkeys and birds. It suits families, couples and solo walkers who want a slower pace after Dhaka.
When to go: December to February for drier trails. Hire a local guide for the forest.
12. Ratargul Swamp Forest, near Sylhet
Ratargul is a freshwater swamp forest where trees stand in water. Visitors move through it in small wooden boats. The forest is at its fullest in the wet months, which are also the flood season. It suits couples and solo travellers who are comfortable in small boats.
When to go: Late in the monsoon season, but check local weather forecasts closely before travel.
13. Paharpur Buddhist monastery ruins
Paharpur, also known as Somapura Mahavihara, is the ruin of a large ancient Buddhist monastery in the north-west. A central brick temple rises from a square of monks' cells. Terracotta plaques show animals and daily life. It is a long trip from Dhaka, so it suits travellers with time and a strong interest in history.
When to go: December to February. Combine it with other sights in the north-west.
Before you go
- Seasons: Flooding, flash floods and landslides affect about one third of the country every year in the monsoon, June to October. Check local weather forecasts before you travel.
- Rules and entry: For visas, entry rules and health requirements, check MFA's travel advice, linked from the Bangladesh price page.
- Getting there: Flights leave from Changi. Routes, times and fares vary, so check before you book.
- School holidays: The year-end school holidays overlap with the post-monsoon cyclone season in November. Plan coastal and Sundarbans trips for later in the break.
Emergency contacts
- Police: 88 017 133 98311 or 8802 951 4400
- Firefighters: 8802 955 5555, 8802 955 6666 or 8802 955 6667
- High Commission of the Republic of Singapore: Ventura Avenue, 5th floor, 8/B Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka 1212. Tel +880-2-222-280-404. Open Sunday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm.
- High Commission emergency line: +880-181-955-7146. The duty mobile after office hours is +880 1819557146.
Before you go: travel insurance for Bangladesh
Before you fly, get your travel insurance through Shenton Brokers for your trip. Compare travel insurance for Bangladesh to see today's prices from every insurer we compare, with the destination's travel notes and MFA's latest advice. Or get a quote for your own dates.
Buy it as soon as you book: trip cancellation pays only for events after the policy starts.