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Browse and explore the best travel guides in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is the world's largest river delta and one of its least-visited densely populated countries, which is precisely the appeal: the Sundarbans mangrove forest holds the biggest remaining population of Bengal tigers, Cox's Bazar claims the longest natural sea beach on earth at 120 km, and the tea gardens of Sylhet roll green across the northeast. Dhaka is intense and rewarding in equal measure, and travel here still means river ferries, rickshaws and genuine curiosity from people who see few foreign visitors.
Capital
Dhaka
Population
~175 million
Area
148,460 km²
Time Zone
BST (UTC+6), no daylight saving
Currency
Bangladeshi Taka (BDT)
Languages
Bengali; English used in business and signage
Main Airports
DAC (Hazrat Shahjalal, Dhaka), CGP (Chittagong), ZYL (Sylhet)
Visa
Most nationalities need a visa in advance; visa on arrival available to some at Dhaka
Best For
Sundarbans and tigers, river journeys, tea gardens, Cox's Bazar
Typical Cost Level
Budget
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Entry rules, stay length and passport validity by nationality.
Most nationalities need a visa arranged before travelling, applied for at a Bangladeshi mission or through the online portal. A limited visa on arrival is available at Dhaka airport for certain nationalities and purposes, but it is discretionary and should not be relied on for a leisure trip. You will need a passport valid for six months, proof of onward travel, hotel bookings and often evidence of sufficient funds. Apply well ahead, as processing can be slow.
November to February is by far the best window, with dry, mild weather and comfortable temperatures around 25°C. This is also prime time for Sundarbans boat trips, when visibility is good and the rivers are calm. March to May brings intense pre-monsoon heat and humidity, and June to October is the monsoon, when heavy rain and widespread flooding make overland travel difficult and some areas inaccessible.
Bangladesh is broadly safe for visitors and foreigners are usually met with warmth and curiosity rather than hostility. Check your government's current travel advisory before booking, as political demonstrations and strikes can flare up and are worth avoiding, and parts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts have travel restrictions requiring permits. Road traffic is the most realistic everyday danger. Women travellers should dress conservatively and can expect a lot of attention.
The Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) is the currency, and Bangladesh remains a heavily cash-based economy. Cards work in Dhaka's international hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets but almost nowhere else, so carry cash for transport, markets, rural guesthouses and boat trips. ATMs are common in cities but unreliable in rural areas. Bangladesh is one of the cheapest countries in Asia, with meals and local transport costing very little.
The Sundarbans can only be visited on an organised boat tour with a licensed operator and an armed forest guard, as independent travel into the reserve is not permitted. Most trips are two to four nights, departing from Khulna or Mongla, roughly six to eight hours from Dhaka by road or overnight launch. Tiger sightings are genuinely rare given the dense mangrove, so go for the deer, crocodiles, dolphins, birdlife and the extraordinary landscape rather than expecting big cats.
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