Destination
Bangladesh
Asia · Dhaka
Safety advisory
Exercise a high degree of caution
Traveller safety tips
Dial 999 from any Bangladeshi mobile phone number or landline for police, fire or ambulance in case of any emergency. Bangladesh is a country full of friendly and open-minded people. But some people may find ways to exploit a foreigner or tourist. See common scams and pickpockets for some of their methods. Apply common sense precautions, such as not walking around unnecessarily or alone after dark in abandoned alleys. Also, if you do find yourself in trouble, create some noise and draw the attention of others who are almost certain to come to your aid. Foreigners, particularly Caucasian, will for the most part be safe when walking around city streets as you will undoubtedly be watched by multiple curious locals at any one time. When in a crowd or travelling by rickshaw, CNG (auto-rickshaw) or bus, be careful to keep valuables close at hand and away from pickpockets
…When to go
Seasonal calendar — from climate data and curated definitions.
Public holidays
National holidays — closures and days off.
Victory Day
বিজয় দিবস
December 16, 2026
Wed · in 78d
Christmas Day
বড়দিন
December 25, 2026
Fri · in 87d
International Mother Language Day
শহিদ দিবস ও আন্তর্জাতিক মাতৃভাষা দিবস
February 21, 2027
Sun · in 145d
Independence and National Day
স্বাধীনতা ও জাতীয় দিবস
March 26, 2027
Fri · in 178d
Bengali New Year
নববর্ষ
April 14, 2027
Wed · in 197d
Labour Day
মে দিবস
May 1, 2027
Sat · in 214d
July Mass Uprising Day
জুলাই গণঅভ্যুত্থান দিবস
August 5, 2027
Thu · in 310d
Victory Day
বিজয় দিবস
December 16, 2027
Thu · in 443d
UNESCO sites
3UNESCO World Heritage sites in this country.
- Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur1985Cultural
©
Somapura Mahavihara, also known as Paharpur Buddhist Vihara, is a major Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist monastery (mahavihara) in Paharpur, Badalgachhi, Naogaon, Bangladesh. It is among the best known Buddhist viharas in the Indian subcontinent and one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) - Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat1985Cultural
©
The Mosque City of Bagerhat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bagerhat District, Bangladesh. It contains 360 mosques, public buildings, mausoleums, bridges, roads, water tanks and other public buildings constructed from baked brick. The mosques were built during the Bengal Sultanate in the 15th century, of which the Sixty Dome Mosque is the largest. Other mosques include the Singar Mosque, the Nine Dome Mosque, the Tomb of Khan Jahan, the Bibi Begni Mosque and the Ronvijoypur Mosque. The mosques were built during the governorship of Ulugh Khan Jahan, a Turkic military officer appointed as governor in the Sundarbans by Sultan Mahmud Shah of Bengal.
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) - The Sundarbans1997Natural
Car rental & driving
Whether your licence is recognized, and which side traffic drives on — per the UN road-traffic conventions.
Set your passport to see whether your licence is accepted.
Local norms
Tipping~15%
In upscale restaurants around 15% is expected, but outside of these at informal food joints and with street food vendors, it's the exception not the rule. Consider tipping the driver and delivery men modestly.
…Culture & etiquette
Social etiquette and breaches • The Bangladeshis are indirect communicators. They are tempered by the need to save face and they will avoid saying anything that could be construed as critical, judgmental, or offensive. One's point is normally expressed in a roundabout, courteous manner. • The Bangladeshis value openness. It's not uncommon for Bangladeshis to communicate in long, rich, contexualised sentences. They try to not be boastful when communicating. • The Bangladeshis are attentive listeners. They will not try to interrupt whatever you are saying. To not stand out like a sore thumb, you should not attempt to interrupt someone's conversation either. • Direct personal questions are commonly asked
…Health
Internet
Connectivity on the road: coverage, data price, access.
Ride-hailing: Uber
Prices
Entry & borders
Visas Most foreigners require some kind of valid visa to enter Bangladesh, though many are eligible for a 30-day visa on arrival (see section below). It's often recommended to instead apply for a visa in advance if possible, even if you're eligible for a visa on arrival (VOA), because it leaves you less at the mercy of border officials, who could decline your VOA on a whim and ruin your whole trip as soon as you fly into Dhaka. However, this kind of denial seems to be uncommon – at least in the experience of Western tourists. Depending on the details though, an advance visa may also be useful for staying in the country longer or getting permission for multiple entries
…About the country
- Capital
- Dhaka
- Continent
- Asia
- Population
- 161,356,039
- Area
- 144,000 km²
- Currency
- Taka · BDT
- Time zone
- 20:01UTC+6
- Sockets
- CDGK
- Emergency
- 999all services865513police199ambulance9555555fire
- Calling code
- +880
- Languages
- Bangla, English
- Borders
- 🇲🇲 Myanmar🇮🇳 India
220 V · 50 Hz