City postcardDhaka
South Asia's vibrant megacity blending Mughal heritage with modern dynamism.
City guide · Updated regularly
AsiaBangladesh23.8° · 90.4°
Dhaka,Bangladesh.
South Asia's vibrant megacity blending Mughal heritage with modern dynamism.
Dhaka · BD
DhakaBangladesh
★
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC)NEAREST AIRPORT
Population
14,830,970
Total residents
Global rank
#1,149
Wanderlust index
Best time
October to March offers the most…
Peak window
Time zone
Asia/Dhaka
Local time
Currency
Bangladeshi Taka (BDT)
Money in use
Language
Bengali
Spoken locally
01 · The lay of the land
A field guide to Dhaka.
South Asia's vibrant megacity blending Mughal heritage with modern dynamism.
Dhaka is Bangladesh's bustling capital and largest city, home to over 10 million residents. Renowned for its rich Mughal heritage, vibrant street markets, traditional crafts, and energetic culture, it serves as a major hub for textiles, business, and media across South Asia. The city offers an intoxicating blend of ancient temples, historic monuments, and modern development, though visitors should navigate its significant logistical and safety challenges.
02 · Wanderlust scorecard
How Dhaka holds up by the numbers.
The factors we track across every city, scored and recalibrated with each wave of member trips and on-the-ground research.
4.5
/ 5
Cost of living
Monthly spend benchmark — lower means easier on the wallet.
2.5
/ 5
Outdoors & play
Nature, nightlife, food scene, and things worth showing up for.
6
Mbps
Connectivity
Download speeds and café / coworking reliability for remote work.
3
/ 10
Safety
Personal safety, petty crime, and nighttime walkability.
2.8
/ 5
Overall livability
Our composite for how well the city adds up across every signal.
2
/ 5
Air quality
Year-round air quality averaged across seasons and wildfire windows.
5.6
index
Index score
Weighted composite including safety, cost, community, and outdoors.
03 · Live conditions & when to go
The city runs on its own calendar.
Current conditions, a rolling forecast, and a twelve-month guide to what each month actually feels like to show up in.
Best time to visit
Peak Shoulder Quiet
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sweet spot: October to March offers the most pleasant weather with lower humidity and minimal rainfall..
04 · The city in frames
A visual read on Dhaka.
The places, angles, and landmarks that give the city its first impression before the practical planning begins.
City postcard
Top sightAhsan Manzil (Pink Palace)
A signature stop locals and returning travelers point to in Dhaka.
Top sightDhakeshwari Temple
A signature stop locals and returning travelers point to in Dhaka.
05 · Can't-miss experiences
Things you'd regret not doing.
Curated by our contributors and cross-checked against what locals recommend. Not a listicle — a short list of defining things.
Editor's pickTop sight
Top sight
Lalbagh Fort
A signature stop locals and returning travelers point to in Dhaka.
Top sight
Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace)
A signature stop locals and returning travelers point to in Dhaka.
Top sight
Dhakeshwari Temple
A signature stop locals and returning travelers point to in Dhaka.
Photo: Ishrat jahan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Top sight
Top sight
National Museum of Bangladesh
A signature stop locals and returning travelers point to in Dhaka.
Top sight
Top sight
Sadarghat River Port
A signature stop locals and returning travelers point to in Dhaka.
Top sight
Top sight
Old Dhaka
A signature stop locals and returning travelers point to in Dhaka.
Top sight
Top sight
Baitul Mukarram Mosque
A signature stop locals and returning travelers point to in Dhaka.
Top sight
Top sight
Ramna Batam Park
A signature stop locals and returning travelers point to in Dhaka.
06 · Real cost of a month here
What living in Dhaka actually costs.
Numbers are in USD and averaged across member-reported receipts and editorial research. Switch profiles to see how the math changes for different kinds of travellers.
$1,400
estimated monthly spend · USDProfileCouple · remote
Rent · 2BR$672
Groceries$196
Dining out$168
Transit$112
Utilities · fiber$98
Leisure$98
Misc$56
Price references — vs. profile benchmarks
Solo nomadmonthly spend · USD
$1,500
+7%
Couple · remotemonthly spend · USD
$1,400
baseline
Family of 4monthly spend · USD
$2,937.8
+110%
Localmonthly spend · USD
$725.5
-48%
Median fiber speeddownload · Mbps
6
Mbps
07 · Where to stay, by temperament
Micro-pockets of Dhaka.
Each neighborhood has its own feel, its own pace, and its own answer to "can I walk to the good stuff?"
Gulshan
Best known
A pocket of Dhaka with its own temperament — worth a deliberate detour when you're in the area.
Baridhara
Local favorite
A pocket of Dhaka with its own temperament — worth a deliberate detour when you're in the area.
Dhanmondi
Local favorite
A pocket of Dhaka with its own temperament — worth a deliberate detour when you're in the area.
Mirpur
Local favorite
A pocket of Dhaka with its own temperament — worth a deliberate detour when you're in the area.
08 · Practical notes
Small things that quietly make your trip.
Orientation on money, movement, safety, and the quirks no blog post thinks to mention.
01 · Getting in
Fly in, wheels out
- Nearest airport — Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC). Expect taxis, rideshares, and scheduled transfers into town.
- Country code — BD. Check visa requirements below.
- Arrival window — plan at least half a day for a soft landing before any scheduled itinerary.
02 · Money & tipping
Local currency notes
- Currency — Bangladeshi Taka (BDT). Most of the city accepts cards; keep a small cash float for markets and taxis.
- Cost score — 4.5/5 on the Wanderlust index. Plan your monthly budget using the cost-of-living panel above.
- Tipping — tipping customs vary by establishment. When in doubt, 10% at sit-down service is a safe floor.
03 · Remote work
Connectivity & cafés
- Median speeds — 6 Mbps. Fiber is usually available in the central neighborhoods listed above.
- Internet score — 1.5/5. Factors café culture, coworking options, and reliability.
- Backup plan — a reliable mobile-data plan for the week absorbs most surprises on a shaky wifi day.
04 · Safety
Realistic risks
- Safety score — 3/10 from on-the-ground contributors. Pay attention to neighborhood-level variation.
- Night out — stick to rideshare or licensed taxis after dark in unfamiliar areas.
- Health — altitude, sun, and unfamiliar water are the usual culprits. Hydrate the first 48 hours.
05 · Language
Getting around linguistically
- Primary language — Bengali. A few courtesy phrases go a long way, even in tourist zones.
- Signage — main transport hubs tend to be multilingual. Offline maps are your friend once you leave the core.
- Translation apps — download the offline language pack before you land.
06 · Timing & seasons
When to show up
- Best window — October to March offers the most pleasant weather with lower humidity and minimal rainfall.. Flights and lodging book out 6–8 weeks ahead in peak months.
- Timezone — Asia/Dhaka. Plan calls and meeting overlap accordingly.
- Shoulder tip — the first and last weeks of peak season usually combine good weather with smaller crowds.
Questions
Frequently asked, plainly answered.
The quick answers travelers want before they commit to flights, neighborhoods, and how long to stay.
Is Dhaka safe for travelers?+
Dhaka has a safety rating of 3 out of 5.
What is the best time to visit Dhaka?+
The best time to visit Dhaka is October to March offers the most pleasant weather with lower humidity and minimal rainfall..
How expensive is Dhaka?+
Dhaka has an affordability score of 4.5 out of 5, where 5 is most affordable.
What is the internet speed in Dhaka?+
Dhaka has an average internet speed of 6 Mbps.
What currency does Dhaka use?+
The currency used in Dhaka is Bangladeshi Taka (BDT).
What language is spoken in Dhaka?+
The primary language spoken in Dhaka is Bengali.
Work-ready layer
Coworking spots and laptop-friendly anchors.
Real coworking spaces, laptop-friendly cafés, and libraries mapped near the center of the city — the closest, best-rated desks first.
Spots surfaced0
Categories—
Mapped0
No coworking-ready spots surfaced for this city yet.
Map pending
No mapped workspace points yet.
Pick a different category or check back once we’ve indexed more desks for this city.
Keep exploring
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Concierge
Ask the Dhaka concierge.
Share your travel style, must-see spots, or work schedule and the concierge will help turn this guide into something personal.
Personal trip brief
Tell it what kind of trip you're trying to have, and it will tighten the plan.
01
Travel style
Ask for cafés, quiet neighborhoods, date-night spots, or a first 48-hour plan.
02
Work constraints
Mention calls, Wi-Fi needs, or how much of the day has to stay laptop-friendly.
03
Real tradeoffs
Get faster answers on where to stay, when to move neighborhoods, and what to skip.
Blogs & guides
Deeper reading for the same city.
There aren’t any, yet!
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