Where to go in Bangladesh
Unseen Bangladesh, district by district: what each one is famous for, the popular places and the quiet ones beside them, how to get there and what a day costs.
Where to go, month by month.
Seasonal places first, then the lesser-known before the famous, one per district so the list reads as a tour.
At their best in October
- Nafakhum WaterfallA wide, powerful waterfall on the Remakri River deep in Thanchi, reached by river boat and a boulder trail.Best: September to November
- Balakoir Padma BeelA seasonal wetland that turns into a vast carpet of pink and white lotus blossoms during the monsoon and autumn months.Best: July to October
- Hum Hum WaterfallA secluded double-tiered waterfall hidden inside the Rajkandi Reserve Forest, reached by a demanding stream-bed trek.Best: August to November
- Chalan BeelThe largest wetland in Bangladesh, transforming during the monsoon into a vast inland sea traversed by engine-powered country boats.Best: July to October for monsoon boating
- Nikli HaorA vast freshwater wetland that transforms into an inland sea each monsoon, with wooden boats touring submerged villages.Best: July to October
- Ratargul Swamp ForestA 504-acre freshwater swamp forest in Gowainghat where wooden canoes glide through half-submerged groves of koroch and hijal trees.Best: July to October
- Goalbari Otter FishingA rare living heritage in Goalbari village where traditional fishermen use trained otters to herd fish into their nets.Best: October to February
- Haripur Zamindar BariA sprawling 19th-century zamindar mansion on the banks of the Titas River in Nasirnagar, built with dozens of rooms and river ghats.Best: October to February
- Mahamaya LakeBangladesh's second largest artificial lake, set in a mountain basin in Mirsharai with natural cascades and calm kayaking routes.Best: October to February
All 64 districts, division by division.
Choose a division, then a district. Or see what every district is famous for on one page.
- DhakaMughal forts, a Nawab palace on the Buriganga, and old trading towns just past the city's western edge.
- FaridpurPoet Jasimuddin's Kumar riverbanks, terracotta deuls and Sultanate mosques reached across the Padma Bridge.
- GazipurSal forest reserves, the sprawling Bhawal estate palace, quiet village resorts and the legacy of author Humayun Ahmed.
- GopalganjThe quiet watercourses of the Madhumati, the memorial gardens of Tungipara and the Matua pilgrimage at Orakandi.
- KishoreganjVast monsoon haor waters, the historic Sholakia congregation and sixteenth-century terracotta shrines.
- MadaripurRiver trading hub famed for date palm jaggery, historic riverside ghats, and terracotta temple architecture.
- ManikganjGateway to the Jamuna River celebrated for palatial zamindar estates, date palm hazarigur, and brass craft.
- MunshiganjThe ancient seat of Bikrampur with a riverside Mughal fort, Sultanate brickwork and fresh hilsa along the Padma.
- NarayanganjThe historic river port of Sonargaon, 19th-century merchant mansions at Panam Nagar and fine handloom Jamdani.
- NarsingdiAncient urban roots at Wari-Bateshwar, the nation's largest wholesale textile bazaar and juicy Amritasagar bananas.
- RajbariThe Padma river confluence at Goalando Ghat, British railway heritage and celebrated chamcham sweets.
- ShariatpurThe southern anchor of the Padma Bridge, historic Mughal battlegrounds and rich Bibikhana pitha.
- TangailFamed handloom tant saris, Sultanate-era terracotta at Atia Mosque and syrupy Porabari chomchom.
Pick a district to see what it is famous for, how to get there, what a day costs and the places worth the trip.
Planning where to go
What is the best time to visit Bangladesh?+
November to February is dry and mild, the season for beaches, hills and heritage sites. The monsoon, June to September, is when the haors of Sylhet and Sunamganj, the swamp forests and the waterfalls are at their fullest.
Which districts are best for a first trip outside Dhaka?+
Sylhet and Moulvibazar for tea gardens and forest, Cox's Bazar for the beach, Bandarban and Rangamati for the hills and lakes, and Bagerhat with Khulna for the Sixty Dome Mosque and the Sundarbans.
What does lesser known mean in this guide?+
Places most visitors skip: quieter villages, old zamindar houses, small beaches and wetlands. They are listed beside each district's famous sights so a trip can include both.
Costs and seasons are approximate; check before you travel. Marks Aviation car-hire fares are our published list.