Dhaka

Day Trips

Wake early to wander the narrow streets of Old Dhaka as the city comes alive with vendors setting up their stalls. Sample traditional paratha and fried eggs from a local eatery for a hearty breakfast. Photograph the colonial-era facades and historic mosques bathed in gentle morning light.

Cross the Buriganga River by launch boat and explore the bustling Spice Market with its vibrant piles of turmeric, cumin, and chilies. Enjoy a riverside fish curry lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the waterway. Chat with merchants about centuries-old dyeing and printing techniques.

Return to the heart of Old Dhaka and lose yourself in the lively Bakarkhan market stalls selling sweets and savories. Take a rickshaw ride through narrow lanes adorned with twinkling lights. Listen to street musicians and try rosh and chanar doi from roadside vendors.

Arrive at the Mughal-era Lalbagh Fort before the crowds to admire its red sandstone ramparts and sprawling gardens. Join a guided tour to learn about 17th-century court life and architectural innovations. Capture the early morning glow on the river-facing walls and watch local families enjoy picnics on the lawns.

Visit the on-site museum to view royal artifacts, weaponry, and ancient manuscripts. Have lunch at a nearby traditional restaurant serving biryani and kebab platters. Wander through the adjacent Hussaini Dalan to see its striking black-and-white façade and historic courtyard.

Watch the fort’s silhouette at dusk as lanterns are lit along the garden paths. Savor street-side snacks like jhalmuri and roasted chickpeas sold by local vendors. Reflect on the day’s discoveries while enjoying a cup of sweet milky tea.

Start your day exploring Shankhari Bazaar, the heart of Dhaka’s traditional artisans. Observe skilled craftsmen carving wood, weaving silver jewelry, and hand-pressing copper utensils. Purchase unique souvenirs like handcrafted bangles and brass trays.

Stroll to the nearby Armenian Church and learn about the once-thriving Armenian community in Dhaka. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at a family-run café offering continental and local fusion dishes. Browse adjacent alleyways for miniature paintings and lacquerware.

Join an evening pottery workshop in a Dhanmondi art studio to shape your own clay creations. Sip on aromatic kahwah tea as local artists demonstrate glazing techniques. End the night by sampling sweet pulao at a popular nearby eatery.

Head to Sadarghat Ghat at daybreak to witness hundreds of wooden launches setting off on the Buriganga River. Board a traditional boat for a scenic ride past floating markets and riverside communities. Photograph fishermen casting nets against a backdrop of bustling ferry terminals.

Disembark near Dhaka University and stroll through its historic campus lined with banyan trees. Stop for lunch at the campus staff club, savoring Bengali-style fish curry and steamed rice. Explore Shishu Academy across the road for a glimpse of children’s performances and skateboards on the lawn.

Return to the riverfront for a sunset cruise and admire the glowing skyline of Old Dhaka. Share a meal of grilled river fish and lentil soup aboard a floating restaurant. Enjoy live folk music drifting over the water.

Enjoy a leisurely brunch at a chic café in Banani serving artisanal coffee and avocado toast. Browse high-end boutiques and art galleries along the tree-lined streets. Stop by a designer studio to meet emerging Bangladeshi fashion talents.

Head to Gulshan’s art hubs like Nazrul Mancha and Saket Gallery to view contemporary paintings and sculptures. Have lunch at a trendy bistro offering fusion dishes inspired by Bengali and international flavors. Take a guided tour of a private art collection in a restored colonial bungalow.

Dine on a rooftop terrace in Gulshan with panoramic views of the city’s skyline. Sample signature cocktails infused with local ingredients like tamarind and rose. Unwind under string lights as a live band plays modern Bangla tunes.

Arrive early at New Market to browse hundreds of stalls selling textiles, electronics, and handicrafts. Pick up colorful sarees, jamdani shawls, and jute baskets directly from suppliers. Recharge with chai and flaky singaras from tea stalls tucked between shops.

Walk to nearby Baitul Mukarram Mosque to admire its modernist architecture and serene courtyard. Enjoy a hearty lunch of kacchi biryani at an adjacent dhaba favored by locals. Head back to New Market to hunt for antiques and vintage vinyl records.

Explore the adjacent Mouchak area, where street carts serve an array of snacks. Sample fuchka, chotpoti, and sweet jalebi as you mingle with shoppers and students. Cap off the evening with a warming cup of sweet yogurt drink, lassi, from a roadside vendor.

Begin at Ahsan Manzil, the iconic pink palace on the Buriganga riverbank, and take a guided tour through its opulent halls. Learn about the Nawab family’s legacy and see vintage photographs and silverware displays. Capture the morning light on the palace’s grand dome and terrace.

Cross the river by launch to visit the modern Dhaka Heritage Museum and learn about the city’s colonial past. Enjoy lunch at a riverside eatery serving grilled hilsa and mustard curry. Wander through nearby Shaheed Minar and reflect on Bangladesh’s language movement history.

Return to Ahsan Manzil for evening illumination as lights highlight the palace’s contours. Stroll the manicured gardens and sip on freshly squeezed sugarcane juice. Immerse yourself in live folk music performances held under the starlit sky.

Head to the Bangladesh National Museum to browse exhibits spanning prehistoric artifacts to liberation war memorabilia. Take an audio-guided tour to enrich your understanding of cultural treasures. Grab a refreshing coconut water from a vendor outside the entrance.

Walk to the adjoining Ramna Botanical Garden for a picnic lunch on sprawling lawns under ancient banyan trees. Admire the lotus ponds and flowering shrubs as birds swoop overhead. Photograph vibrant blossoms and spot exotic butterflies along shaded pathways.

Wander into Suhrawardy Udyan to feel the evening breeze by the lakeside. Dine at a waterfront restaurant offering grilled fish and seasonal vegetable curries. Relax in a hammock garden while lanterns gently sway above.

Begin your day at Mirpur’s Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre for a fascinating planetarium show. Afterward, explore Mirpur’s residential neighborhoods to observe daily life. Sample neighborhood snacks like jilapi and chola chips from morning vendors.

Visit the local fruit and vegetable markets to see seasonal produce like jackfruit, litchi, and winter gourds. Enjoy a street-side lunch of beef kebab or chicken chaap served with paratha and fresh salad. Pick up homemade honey and potato chips packaged by local entrepreneurs.

Relax at Mirpur Kuril Lake Park and watch families enjoying pedal boats and walking trails. Purchase freshly made singara from a riverside stall. End the evening with grilled corn and sweet tea while locals practice yoga by the water.

Drive out to Sonargaon, the medieval capital, and visit the Folk Arts and Crafts Museum to see terracotta pottery and traditional weaving displays. Chat with artisans demonstrating pot-making and nakshi kantha embroidery. Capture photographs of hand-pounded clay vessels lining the courtyard.

Stroll through the 19th-century ruins of Panam City with a knowledgeable guide recounting Nawab-era stories. Enjoy a picnic lunch provided by a local cultural center beneath heritage trees. Explore ancient mansions and secret gardens hidden behind crumbling walls.

Return to Dhaka at sunset, watching the landscape shift from rural to urban. Treat yourself to a farewell dinner at a top restaurant in Gulshan, sampling innovative Bengali cuisine. End the journey over a decadent mishti doi dessert and toasted saffron tea.