ঢাকায় স্বাগতমVisiting Dhaka

A practical guide for BSIC partners, co-investors, and first-time visitors, from landing at Shahjalal to understanding the city Bangladesh is converting into innovation capital.

25M
Metro Area Population
1610
Founded as Mughal Capital
Tk 120
≈ 1 USD
39
BSIC Shareholder Banks
Chapter 01 · Before You Arrive

Visas, vaccinations
& what to pack.

The visa rules differ sharply depending on who you are. Most other planning is forgiving. Dhaka has more pharmacies than parking spaces, and you can buy almost anything you forgot.

01 · VisaTourist visa or Visa on Arrival

Most travellers need a visa. Bangladesh has digitised much of the application process through an online portal. Apply four to eight weeks before travel.You'll need a passport valid for six months beyond your stay, a return ticket, hotel bookings or an invitation letter, and proof of sufficient funds.

Visa on Arrival is available at Dhaka airport for citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, EU member states, Japan, South Korea, China, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, and Brunei — but only for tourism, business, investment, or government work, and only if there's no Bangladesh diplomatic mission in your country. The fee is USD 51 or EUR 51, cash only, single-entry, valid for 30 days. Pay at the Sonali Bank counter inside the arrivals hall before approaching the immigration desk — skipping this step means going back to the queue. Bring printed hard copies of your return ticket and hotel booking. Digital copies on your phone are routinely rejected at the counter.

01 · VisaThe NVR seal

If you are a foreign citizen of Bangladeshi origin, apply for a No Visa Required (NVR) seal at the Bangladesh High Commission in your country of residence. It is stamped into your foreign passport and lets you enter and stay in Bangladesh as many times as you want, for as long as you want, until that passport expires.

Spouses and children of Bangladeshi-origin foreign citizens are also eligible. If you don't have an NVR but have a former Bangladeshi passport, carry it — immigration officers may ask for it. Carrying a copy of your parent's Bangladeshi birth certificate or passport speeds things up considerably.

02 · HealthVaccinations and water

Hepatitis A and Typhoid are the two most commonly recommended vaccinations. Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, and Rabies are advised depending on the length and nature of your stay. Speak to a travel doctor four to six weeks before departure.

Tap water is not safe to drink. Stick to bottled or boiled water, even for brushing your teeth in the first few days. Ice in restaurants outside major hotels is a coin flip.

03 · PackWhat to bring

  • ClothingLightweight cotton year-round. A light sweater for December and January evenings. Modest dress is appreciated everywhere and expected at religious sites.
  • FootwearClosed shoes you can clean. Rain will find your feet between June and October.
  • MedicineAcetaminophen, oral rehydration salts, anti-diarrhoeals, antihistamines, mosquito repellent with DEET, sunscreen.
  • ElectronicsA universal adapter. Bangladesh uses Type C, D, and G plugs at 220V.
  • DocumentsPhotocopies of your passport, visa, and return ticket, kept separately from the originals.
“Dhaka is not a city you visit. It is a city you survive, and then love, and then miss.”
Chapter 02 · Where to Stay

Pick your
neighbourhood
carefully.

Dhaka is not a city you can comfortably move across multiple times a day. Your neighbourhood shapes your visit more than any other choice you'll make.

The diplomatic and business neighbourhoods sit in the north and northeast: Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara. The older middle-class residential zones are central. Old Dhaka, with its Mughal lanes, is south along the Buriganga. Most BSIC partners and investors stay at the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden in Gulshan, putting you five minutes from the key restaurants, offices, and meeting points in Gulshan 2 and Banani.

Gulshan
গুলশান
Diplomatic zone, leafy lakes, embassies, international restaurants. The default for first-timers and business travellers who want comfort.
RecommendedDiplomatsRestaurants
Tk 12,000 – 35,000 / night
Banani
বনানী
Younger and livelier than Gulshan. The restaurant strip on Road 11 hums every night. Mid-to-upper market with strong food culture.
Diaspora favoriteFoodiesNightlife
Tk 8,000 – 22,000 / night
Baridhara
বারিধারা
The quietest of the diplomatic neighbourhoods. Embassies, luxury apartments, fewer hotels, more residential character.
QuietLong staysFamilies
Tk 10,000 – 28,000 / night
Dhanmondi
ধানমন্ডি
Old-money residential. Lakes, universities, mid-range hotels. Closer to the cultural and academic heart of Dhaka.
CultureAffordableWalkable
Tk 4,000 – 12,000 / night
Uttara
উত্তরা
Planned suburb in the far north, near the airport and metro terminus. Best for short stays and early flights.
AirportMetroSuburb
Tk 4,000 – 14,000 / night
Old Dhaka
পুরান ঢাকা
Historic core along the Buriganga. Narrow lanes, Mughal architecture, dense markets. For adventurous travellers wanting authenticity.
HeritageAdventureDense
Tk 2,000 – 8,000 / night
Chapter 03 · Getting Around

Radisson to
Banani: five
minutes.

You're in Gulshan 2. Everything you need for a 2-day visit is within a Tk 80–150 Uber ride. Understand money first, transport second, and don't schedule anything across town between 4 PM and 8 PM.

01 · From the RadissonYour base area

The Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden sits on Gulshan Lake in Gulshan 2. Gulshan 1 circle (the main commercial hub) is 3 minutes by Uber (Tk 60–80). Banani Road 11 and its restaurant strip is 5–10 minutes north (Tk 80–130). The National Parliament building and Liberation War Museum are 15 minutes south. This is your operating radius for a standard 2-day visit.

Download Uber and Pathao before you land. Both apps work in Bangladesh. Uber is more reliable for non-Bangla speakers; Pathao motorbikes cut through traffic faster for short trips. Surge is rare in Gulshan/Banani outside rush hour. If you see it, wait 5 minutes and try again.

02 · MoneyATMs, cash & payments

Cash is the default currency of Dhaka. Bring USD. Exchange at the airport booths before you exit (better rates than the city). Taka 5,000–10,000 is enough for a 2-day visit if you eat at mid-range restaurants.

  • ATMsDutch-Bangla Bank ATMs accept most foreign Visa and Mastercard cards. HSBC and Standard Chartered in Gulshan 1 and 2 are also reliable. Withdraw Tk 10,000–20,000 at a time. There is a Dutch-Bangla ATM in Gulshan 2 circle, walkable from the Radisson.
  • Card paymentsAccepted at the Radisson, upscale restaurants, and larger shops. At rickshaws, street food stalls, and markets. Cash only. Do not assume card will work anywhere outside a hotel or chain restaurant.
  • bKashThe dominant mobile money app. Requires a local SIM, not worth setting up for a 2-day visit. Your driver or guide will have it; hand them cash to settle.

03 · TransportHow people move

  • Uber & PathaoYour primary tools. Uber for air-conditioned cars (Tk 80–300 for most Gulshan–Banani–Dhanmondi trips); Pathao for motorbikes when you need to cut through traffic fast. Both apps are in English.
  • CNG auto-rickshawsThe green three-wheelers. Negotiate before getting in. Gulshan to Dhanmondi runs Tk 250–400. Fine for short hops; less comfortable for longer rides.
  • Hired car (full day)Tk 2,500–4,500 for an eight-hour day with a driver. Best for day trips or heavy schedules. The Radisson can arrange. Don't drive yourself.
  • Cycle rickshawsThe city's signature vehicle. Best for short distances within neighbourhoods. Tk 50–150. Round up. Pullers are some of the lowest-paid workers in the city.

04 · MetroMRT Line 6, for longer trips

The single best thing to happen to Dhaka in a decade. Twenty kilometres from Uttara North to Motijheel, sixteen stations, 35–38 minutes end to end. By road, the same trip takes three hours. Fare at Tk 5/km (Tk 20 min, Tk 100 max). Runs 7:00 AM to 9:30 PM most days; Fridays start at 3:00 PM. Not needed for Gulshan/Banani, but essential if you're going anywhere south.

Interactive Tool
Metro fare calculator
MRT Line 6 · Uttara North to Motijheel · Updated 2026
Single Journey
100Tk
With MRT Pass
90Tk
Travel Time
35min
Chapter 04 · What to See

Three zones,
three or four
days minimum.

Old Dhaka in the south, the historic-academic belt around Shahbag, and the northern leisure zone. Each is a different city. Plan for at least a day in each.

01 · SouthOld Dhaka, the historic core

Dhaka's beating, unwashed heart, founded as the Mughal capital of Bengal in 1610. Hire a guide for your first visit, the lanes are confusing and the history is layered.

  • Lalbagh FortA Mughal-era fortress complex from 1678, never completed, with the tomb of Pari Bibi at its centre. Closed Friday morning.
  • Ahsan ManzilThe pink Indo-Saracenic palace of the Nawabs of Dhaka, built in the 1860s. Now a museum.
  • Star MosqueCovered in star-patterned mosaic in Armanitola. Modest dress required.
  • Shankhari BazaarThe narrow lanes where Hindu artisans have made conch-shell bangles for centuries.

02 · CentreMuseums & monuments

  • Liberation War MuseumIn Agargaon, near the metro. The single most important museum for understanding 1971 and Bangladesh's founding. Difficult, essential viewing, especially if you have no prior context for the Liberation War.
  • Bangladesh National MuseumIn Shahbag. Strong on Bengal's archaeology and terracotta art. Closed Thursdays.
  • National Parliament BuildingLouis Kahn's white-marble masterpiece. The view from the surrounding lawns is the point.
  • Ramna ParkThe 84-acre lake and park joined to Suhrawardy Udyan. Best in late afternoon.
  • National Martyrs' MemorialSayed Mainul Hossain's stark monument in Savar, 30 minutes north of the city.

03 · NorthArt & leisure

  • Bengal Foundation GalleriesIn Banani. The country's leading contemporary art space. Free entry.
  • Bangabandhu Memorial ParkBeautifully landscaped park around a memorial to the Father of the Nation, on the lake in Dhanmondi.
  • Shahabuddin ParkA large public green near the Cantonment in north Dhaka. Popular with families on weekend afternoons, morning walkers, and impromptu cricket games. One of the few genuinely open, unenclosed spaces in the city.

04 · AddaWhere the city hangs out

  • Tong Cha cultureThe street tea stall is the city's real meeting room. Find one outside any university gate, market entrance, or office block. Tk 10–20 a glass. The conversation around the tong is usually better than anything happening inside the building.
  • Café strip, Banani Road 11The densest concentration of cafés, rooftop bars (alcohol-free), and restaurants in the city. North End Coffee, Café Mango, and a growing number of specialty roasters. The strip hums from early evening until well after midnight.
“Photograph buildings, food, markets, and rickshaws freely. Always ask before photographing people. Respect a no.”
Chapter 05 · What to Eat

One of the great
underrated cuisines
of South Asia.

Rice-based, fish-heavy, less reliant on dairy than North Indian cooking. Built around mustard oil, panch phoron, and freshwater fish you'll find nowhere else.

A visit to Dhaka without thoughtful eating is a visit half-wasted. Expect food significantly spicier than what you're used to , restaurant cooking in Dhaka is genuinely hot. Ask for “jhal kom” (less spicy) if you need. Most places will accommodate.

Ilish
ইলিশ / hilsa
The national fish and a near-religious subject. Eat it shorshe (mustard sauce), bhaja (fried), or paturi (steamed in banana leaf). In season June–October.
Kacchi Biryani
কাচ্চি বিরিয়ানি
Slow-cooked, spiced rice and meat, particular to Old Dhaka. Different from biryani: more aromatic, with raisins and plums. Try Hajir or Haji Nanna.
Bhorta
ভর্তা
Mashed preparations of vegetables, fish, or pulses with mustard oil, raw onion, and chilli. Try alu (potato), shutki (dried fish, intense), kachi morich (green chilli, brave).
Mishti Doi
মিষ্টি দই
Sweet yogurt, the regional specialty. The best version, from Mukti or Banoful, will change how you think about yogurt.
Cha
চা / tea
Sweet, milky, often spiced with cardamom or ginger. From a glass at a street stall (Tk 10–20) or from Tong Cha shops, where Dhaka's middle class debates politics late into the night.
Pithas
পিঠা
Rice flour pancakes, steamed in coconut shells or fried, eaten in winter from street stalls. November–February. The smell of woodsmoke gives them away.
Do

Eat with confidence

  • Eat at busy stalls where food is made fresh in front of you
  • Use your right hand for eating, giving, and receiving
  • Try Tong Cha shops at least once, they're a Dhaka institution
  • Carry hand sanitiser and use it before eating with your hands
  • Tip 5–10% at restaurants; round up at cha shops
Don't

The first-week traps

  • Drink tap water or use it to brush your teeth
  • Eat salads or uncooked vegetables in cheaper restaurants
  • Take ice from anywhere except hotel bars and chain cafés
  • Eat cut fruit from street vendors (whole fruit you peel is fine)
  • Eat dairy from non-refrigerated street stalls

RestaurantsWhere to eat, by tier

Dhaka's restaurant scene has expanded sharply in the past decade. These span from Tk 40 street skewers to Tk 3,000 tasting menus, all worth knowing.

Old Dhaka · Street classicsThe originals

  • Bismillah Kabab GharNazirabazar, Old Dhaka. The most visited kabab stall in the city. Boti and sutli kabab cooked over open charcoal since the 1970s. Go late afternoon when the coals are right. Cash only, Tk 40–80 per skewer. ↗ Map
  • Haji BiryaniNalgola, Old Dhaka. The most famous kacchi in the city. Serves from 11 AM and sells out well before evening. Arrive early. ↗ Map
  • Emran's Heritage HomeBecharam Dewri, Old Dhaka. One of the few Old Dhaka restaurants where the setting matches the food. Traditional Bangladeshi dishes served in a restored heritage building. ↗ Map
  • VIP Shad FuchkaOne of Dhaka's most talked-about fuchka vendors. The tamarind water is the standard other stalls are judged against. Tk 30–60 a plate. ↗ Map
  • FuchkawaliA cleaner version of the fuchka experience, consistent and good for first-timers who want fuchka without the open street setting. Tk 40–80. ↗ Map

Cafes & CoffeeWhere Dhaka slows down

  • Apon Coffee HouseA neighbourhood coffee house with a relaxed atmosphere. Good for slow mornings and meetings that don't need a formal setting. Tk 100–250. ↗ Map
  • North End Coffee Gulshan 2Dhaka's best specialty coffee chain. Single-origin espresso and filter. The most convenient branch for visitors staying in Gulshan. Tk 150–350. ↗ Map
  • East Bengal Coffee RoastersThe city's best in-house roaster. Worth going specifically for the filter coffee. Tk 150–300. ↗ Map
  • Durbeen BanglaPart bookshop, part cultural cafe. Books, coffee, and the city's thinkers in one room. The kind of place that doesn't exist in enough cities. Tk 100–250. ↗ Map
  • Arabika BananiSpecialty coffee in Banani. Tight espresso program, small food menu. Good for late mornings on Road 11. Tk 150–350. ↗ Map
  • BrioClean, contemporary cafe. Good for work sessions and meetings that need quiet. Tk 150–350. ↗ Map

Casual & mid-rangeReliable across the city

  • Manzar KababMuhammadpur. Seekh and boti kabab over charcoal in a no-frills setting. The crowd at lunchtime tells you everything you need to know. Tk 150–350 per head. ↗ Map
  • Mad Chef BananiBanani. Smash burgers, sandwiches, and loaded fries in a casual setting. One of the better Western-style casual spots in the north. Packed on weekends. Tk 400–800 per head. ↗ Map
  • PeshwarainBanani. Afghan-Pashtun cooking — seekh kabab over live charcoal, lamb karahi, fresh naan. One of Dhaka's few proper Central Asian kitchens. Tk 500–1,200 per head. ↗ Map
  • China GardenGulshan. One of Dhaka's oldest and most consistent Chinese restaurants. Classic Cantonese dishes, reliable kitchen. Tk 700–1,500 per head. ↗ Map
  • Han SheBanani. Korean-influenced Asian cooking. The Korean fried chicken is the highlight. Good for groups. Tk 600–1,200 per head. ↗ Map
  • Laughing BuddhaGulshan. Pan-Asian and Thai dishes. One of Dhaka's more consistent kitchens for Southeast Asian food. Tk 700–1,500 per head. ↗ Map
  • Jatra BirotiRoad 17/A, Banani. Organic vegetarian cuisine and live music in a cultural setting that draws diaspora, artists, and the creative community. Signature: Rongin Roti. Tk 400–900 per head. ↗ Map
  • BohoBanani. Cafe-restaurant hybrid with a well-designed interior. Good for brunch and long lunches. Tk 500–1,200 per head. ↗ Map
  • CiaoGulshan. Italian. Thin-crust pizza and pasta in a relaxed setting. A solid option when you need something familiar and less spicy. Tk 800–1,600 per head. ↗ Map

Legendary localsWorth the trip

  • Tehari GhorSobhanbag, Dhanmondi. The definitive tehari in Dhaka. Slow-cooked beef and rice perfumed with whole spices. Simple surroundings, serious food. Get there early before it sells out. ↗ Map

Fine diningWhen you need a proper table

  • Epi'sRangs Z Square, 19th Floor, Gulshan Avenue. Modern American fine dining. Smart casual required, reservation essential. One course per person minimum. No DSLR or flash photography. Tk 1,500–3,500 per head. ↗ Map
  • Manzo114 Gulshan Avenue, 2nd Floor. Seasonal Mediterranean with a rotating menu and open kitchen. Focus on local produce. Good pastas, wood-fired pizza, well-curated non-alcoholic drinks list. Tk 1,200–2,800 per head. ↗ Map
  • Chef's Table & UnimartGulshan. Contemporary restaurant inside the city's best supermarket complex. A useful combination — proper dining and the best imported grocery selection in Dhaka under one roof. Tk 1,200–2,800 per head. ↗ Map

SweetsBefore you leave

  • Premium SweetsOne of Dhaka's most reliable mithai shops. Mishti doi, rasmalai, chomchom. Take a box with you. Tk 60–200. ↗ Map
  • Kavazo SweetsAnother strong option for Bengali sweets and confections. The chomchom here is worth seeking out. Tk 60–200. ↗ Map
Chapter 06 · Speak & Belong

Speak Bangla.
Mistakes are
charming.

English will get you through hotels and business. Bangla will get you everywhere else, and into a few places you wouldn't otherwise be welcomed.

Bangla is the source of immense national pride, the language movement of 1952 is foundational to Bangladeshi identity. Mistakes are charming, not embarrassing. Speak it anyway. Tap any phrase below to hear it (your browser's voice will be approximate, but useful).

Hello / Peace be upon you
Assalamu alaikum
আসসালামু আলাইকুম
Thank you
Dhonnobad
ধন্যবাদ
How much?
Koto?
কত?
Too expensive
Onek beshi
অনেক বেশি
Yes / No
Ji / Na
জী / না
Where is...?
...kothay?
...কোথায়?
Stop here
Ekhane thaman
এখানে থামান
Slowly please
Aste calan
আস্তে চালান
I don't understand
Ami bujhi na
আমি বুঝি না
Less spicy please
Jhal kom please
ঝাল কম প্লিজ
It was delicious
Khub mojadar chhilo
খুব মজাদার ছিল
Please / Excuse me
Doya kore
দয়া করে

For everyoneReligion & etiquette

Bangladesh is roughly ninety percent Muslim, with significant Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian minorities, constitutionally secular but devoutly observant. The call to prayer sounds five times a day. During Friday Jumu'ah prayers, traffic stops around major mosques between roughly 12:30 and 2:30 PM.

During Ramadan, eating, drinking, and smoking in public during daylight is technically allowed for non-Muslims but considered impolite. Most restaurants close until iftar (sunset), then reopen for elaborate buffets. If you visit during Ramadan, plan to eat in private and join an iftar meal at least once. The experience is unmissable.

Visit mosques respectfully. Remove shoes, dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees), and women should cover their heads. Most welcome non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times.

Chapter 07 · Plan Your Days

Basics or
extended,
know which.

Most BSIC visitors have 2 days. That's enough for the essentials, orient yourself in Gulshan and Banani, eat well, see one thing that matters. If you have more time, build out from there.

Basics · 2 DaysFrom the Radisson

You're at the Radisson Blu in Gulshan. You have 2 days. Here's the play, logistics first, everything else second.

Day 01

Arrive, orient, eat

Land at Hazrat Shahjalal, clear immigration, allow 45–90 minutes. Get a SIM at the airport (Grameenphone or Robi, ask for a tourist data package). Download Uber and Pathao before you leave arrivals. Take an Uber to the Radisson, flat route up the expressway, around 30–45 minutes depending on time of day.

Drop bags, walk to Gulshan 2 circle (5 minutes). Hit a Dutch-Bangla Bank ATM for taka. Afternoon, walk Gulshan Avenue. Dinner at Epi's or Manzo in Gulshan to ease in, or Tehari Ghor in Dhanmondi if you want to go straight for the real thing.

Day 02

The parliament & the war museum

Morning: Uber to the Liberation War Museum in Agargaon (near the metro). Give it 90 minutes, difficult viewing but essential context for understanding Bangladesh and the people you're meeting.

After: walk or Uber to the National Parliament Building lawns, Louis Kahn's white-marble masterpiece. The view from outside is the point. Head back north for lunch — Boho or Peshwarain in Banani. Evening on Banani Road 11, the café strip is at its best from 7 PM.

Extended · 3 DaysIf you have more time

Day 03

Old Dhaka with a guide

Hire a guide for this one, the lanes are genuinely confusing on a first visit. Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, Star Mosque, Shankhari Bazaar. Lunch at Haji Biryani in Nalgola (arrive early, it sells out). Return to hotel for dinner. You'll be exhausted.

Day 04+

Slow Dhaka

Slow morning. Bengal Foundation gallery in Banani (free entry). Lunch at Boho or a coffee and something small at Arabika Banani. Afternoon walk in Ramna Park. Dinner at Jatra Biroti in Banani, or wherever the new friends you've made take you.

Save these before
you leave the airport.

Emergency
999
Tourist Police
01320-222222
Evercare Hospital
10678
Square Hospital
10616