Things to do in Bangladesh

Best Things to do in Bangladesh

Planning a trip and wondering about the top things to do in Bangladesh? From historic landmarks to modern experiences, the city offers something for every traveller, making it a perfect getaway in 2026.

With over 101 activities in Bangladesh, there is plenty to explore. Visit some of the most popular tourist attractions in , including iconic sites, vibrant neighbourhoods and cultural hubs. Whether you’re exploring bustling markets, sampling local delicacies or relaxing at scenic spots, every corner has something new to discover.

With experiences starting at INR 287, it’s never been easier to plan your perfect trip. Make the most of your visit to Bangladesh in January and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Discovering Bangladesh: Unforgettable things to do in Bangladesh

About Bangladesh

Bangladesh surprises in the best way. You might begin your day walking among tea gardens, end it on a sandy coastline watching a sunset, or discover Mughal architecture tucked behind a bustling city street. It’s a country that blends lush nature with rich heritage. Each region adds a different flavour to the list of things to do in Bangladesh.

Classics like Cox’s Bazar Beach, the Mosque City of Bagerhat, and the Sundarbans draw attention and rightly so, but so do the quieter spots: a sunrise over tea plantations in Sylhet, a rickshaw weaving through Old Dhaka’s narrow lanes, or a quiet moment in the tomb-lined ruins of Paharpur. Together, they form more than a list of Bangladesh tourist attractions, they’re a story of landscape, history, and everyday life.

Whether it's your first visit or you've been before, there are always things to do in Bangladesh that feel both familiar and surprising. The place stays soft and welcoming, even as it shows you new things.

Unique Experiences

Cooking experience in Authentic Bengali House with Lunch/Dinner

You get into a home kitchen with a local family and discover how to prepare beloved Bengali dishes, from prawn curry to steamed hilsa or lentils, alongside stories of family meals and culture. It’s easily one of the most intimate and memorable things to do in Bangladesh.

• Where: Dhaka
• Pricing: It starts from INR 3,300 per person
• Timing: Available at 11:00 AM; About 3 hours total
• When to Visit: Year-round, though the cooler months of October to January make the kitchen feel comfortably warm

Full Day Sreemangal Tea Garden & National Park Hiking Tour

You head northeast out of Dhaka to walk among tea plantations, dip into a rainforest, and spot native wildlife. The landscape is soft and shifting, and this place offers one of the most relaxed yet memorable things to do in Bangladesh, a calm day wrapped in green.

• Where: Sreemangal, through tea gardens, rainforest paths
• Pricing: It starts from INR 4,500 per person
• Timing: Full-day excursion, typically around 9 hours
• When to Visit: September to November brings clearer skies and vivid greenery, ideal for natural activities and quiet walks.

Top Attractions

Ahsan Manzil (The Pink Palace)

You step into an elegant palace by the Buriganga River, where every room looks like a story waiting to be told. Things to do in Bangladesh feel richer when you’re wandering through its royal halls and shaded courtyards.

• Where: Kumartoli, Old Dhaka
• Pricing: It starts from INR 300 per person
• Timing: Summer (April–September): 10:30 am to 5:30 pm (closed on Thursdays; Friday opening from 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm); Winter (October–March): 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (Fridays open from 2:30 pm to 7:00 pm)
• When to Visit: October to March gives you softer light and fewer crowds, and it stands among the Bangladesh tourist attractions that remain quietly stunning even with a small crowd.

Bangabandhu Memorial Museum (Dhanmondi 32)

This place is quiet, emotional, and deeply meaningful. Once the home of Bangladesh’s founding father, it’s now a museum that feels less like a sight and more like stepping into the pages of history. It’s one of those things to do in Bangladesh that resonates more than it dazzles.

• Where: Dhanmondi, Dhaka
• Pricing: Very low or free entry (local rates apply)
• Timing: Open Thursday to Tuesday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; closed on Wednesdays and public holidays
• When to Visit: October to March, when the weather is gentler and indoor touring feels easier. It remains an important stop in the top 10 tourist attractions in Bangladesh for its historical weight, despite recent unrest.

Bangladesh Military Museum

You’ll find artefacts, stories, and quiet respect in a green courtyard outside the bustling city centre. It’s not flashy, but it’s thoughtful and that restraint makes it one of the things to do in Bangladesh that stays with you.

• Where: Central Dhaka
• Pricing: It starts from INR 450 per person
• Timing: Morning: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm (except Wednesdays and Fridays); Afternoon: 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm (except Wednesdays)
• When to Visit: October to March provide clear, cooler sky, ideal for museum walks with a calm pace.

Sightseeing Tours

Dhaka: Like a Local Customized Guided Tour

Instead of being stuck in traffic, you can walk through Old Dhaka’s narrow lanes and see the city up close. Rickshaws squeeze past, shopkeepers call out, and you’ll spot courtyards and mosques hidden behind the main streets. A local guide makes it easier to follow the maze and gives you the background that brings it all together.

• Where: Central Dhaka, covering Old Dhaka’s alleys, markets, and historic spots
• Pricing: It starts from INR 2,700 per person
• Timing: Runs daily, lasts between 2 and 6 hours depending on your chosen time; slots available from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
• When to Visit: October to March is best, with cooler weather for walking and less crowded paths

Old Dhaka History & Heritage Private Tour (Half Day)

Delve into Dhaka’s layered past with a guide who brings 17th-century stories to life as you walk through old mosques, historic palaces, and busy souks. It’s one of those things to do in Bangladesh that feels like stepping straight into the city’s soul.

• Where: Begins and ends in central Dhaka, loops through Old Dhaka's historic quarters
• Pricing: It starts from INR 4,000 per person
• Timing: Lasts about 5 hours; slots available at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM
• When to Visit: October to March gives clear skies and cooler mornings, making this one of the smoother activities to enjoy without rush.

Day Trips

Full-Day Sonargaon, Old Capital and Island Trip

This trip lets you escape the city and walk through the layers of history. You’ll explore the ancient capital’s ruins, visit a folk arts museum, and take a serene boat ride on the Meghna, one of the most grounded things to do in Bangladesh if you want culture without the hurry.

• Where: Departs from central Dhaka, covers Sonargaon, Panam City, Folk Arts Museum, and an island boat trip
• Pricing: It starts from INR 9,400 per person; tour starts at 8:00 AM
• Timing: About 10 hours in all
• When to Visit: October to March is best when the days are cool and the light makes the sites feel peaceful. This is one of the richest Bangladesh tourist attractions to explore.

Fascinating Old Dhaka & Ship Breaking Yard Day Trip

This tour takes you into the pulse of everyday life. One moment you're weaving through Old Dhaka’s history, the next you’re watching ships being dismantled at the yard. It’s a mix of stories, movement, and life that feels very much like things to do in Bangladesh lived on the edge of the city.

• Where: Leaves from Dhaka, loops through Old Dhaka and transport shipyards
• Pricing: It starts from INR 9,,800 per person
• Timing: Starts at 8:00 AM; lasts for about 10 hours
• When to Visit: October to March, travel during this window makes the long day feel comfortable, with breaks at the activities (like boats or rickshaws) feeling more relaxed.

Boat Tours

Waterways Tour

You leave the city behind and climb onto a traditional wooden houseboat, floating slowly through riverside villages. You’ll watch life unfold, children playing, villagers washing clothes, cattle wading nearby, and quiet scenes that stay with you. It’s one of the most peaceful things to do in Bangladesh, where daily rhythms feel alive from the water.

• Where: Departs from Dhaka via early train journey; then boat trip through rural waterways
• Pricing: It starts from INR 31,000 per person
• Timing: Departs at 12:00 PM; duration up to 4 days on water, combining train, boat, and village stops
• When to Visit: November to March gives cooler, clearer weather, making this one of the most relaxed activities when you want time to slow down.

Private Tour: Sonargaon Day Tour including Country Boat Trip

This tour starts with history and ends with water. You visit the old capital, explore crumbling architecture in Panam City, and take a peaceful boat ride along the Meghna River. It’s one of the deeper things to do in Bangladesh, offering both heritage and a moment of calm in the river breeze.

• Where: Begins in Dhaka, visits Sonargaon, Panam City, Folk Arts Museum, and includes a country boat trip
• Pricing: It starts from INR 13,500 per person
• Timing: Slots available at 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM; lasts for about 9 hours
• When to Visit: October to March gives you clearer skies and gentler air, great for capturing the scene as one of the quieter Bangladesh tourist attractions.

Getting Around

• Rickshaws and CNG auto-rickshaws: Colourful, noisy, and part of the daily rhythm. They’re perfect for short distances between markets and mosques, and give you a front-row seat to the pulse of things to do in Bangladesh.
• Local buses: Cheap and widely used, though often crowded. They’re useful if you want to see the everyday flow of life while heading toward major Bangladesh tourist attractions.
• Trains: A good choice for longer trips to Sylhet or Chittagong. Riding through rice fields and rivers is among the quieter things to do in Bangladesh when you want to watch the countryside unfold.
• Boats and ferries: Essential for river crossings. Slower than the road, but the views make it one of the best things to do in Bangladesh if you enjoy travel as part of the experience.
• Private cars or hired vans: More comfortable for day trips outside Dhaka, especially if you want to cover multiple stops in one day.
• Walking: Walking works best in Old Dhaka. The lanes are too tight for cars, and half the charm is in stumbling across hidden courtyards or old houses that you’d miss otherwise. It’s a simple way to tick off a few things to do in Bangladesh without planning much.

Traveller Tips

• Plan around prayer times: If you’re visiting mosques, keep prayer times in mind. In Bagerhat and parts of Old Dhaka, doors close during prayers, and you’ll be left waiting outside. It’s better to time your visits around those hours so you don’t miss seeing the interiors.
• Start early in Old Dhaka: Traffic builds quickly, and streets get crowded by mid-morning. Beginning early helps you enjoy rickshaw rides and heritage stops before the rush, which feels closer to the best things to do in Bangladesh.
• Carry socks for mosque visits: Floors can be hot under the sun or wet after washing, especially at the Sixty Dome Mosque—one of the top 10 tourist attractions in Bangladesh. Having an extra pair of socks keeps the visit comfortable.
• Use river ferries at sunset: The views over the Buriganga or Meghna rivers are at their best late in the day. A short boat ride then is one of those quiet but memorable things to do in Bangladesh that balances the noise of the city.
• Pack light layers for Sundarbans trips: Even in winter, the mornings on the boat can be chilly, while afternoons heat up fast. Dressing in layers makes the jungle cruise smoother and keeps your focus on spotting wildlife instead of the weather.