35 Best Tourist Destinations to Visit in Bangladesh That You Can't Miss

Bangladesh spreads its best sights across all eight divisions: the tea hills of Sylhet, the beach and islands of Cox's Bazar, the Sundarbans mangroves below Khulna, the hill districts of Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari, and a long chain of Mughal, Sultanate and zamindar-era sites from Dhaka to Bagerhat and Bogura. This guide works district by district, so you can see what each one offers, where to base yourself and how to get there from Dhaka.

Every entry names the sights worth your time, the nearest airport or main transport link, and the season that suits it. If you want the country's highlights grouped by theme (forests, waterfalls, historic sites) and not by district, see our guide to the top-rated tourist attractions in Bangladesh. For weather month by month, read the best time to visit Bangladesh.

How this list was built: Each of the 35 districts was chosen for what a visitor can actually see and do there, and every card was re-checked in October 2026 against current transport links, access rules and recent name changes (for example, the Bangabandhu Bridge is now the Jamuna Bridge). Saint Martin's Island and the Chittagong Hill Tracts have special access rules that change from season to season, so the cards flag them. The order follows the original list and is not a ranking.

• Districts covered: 35
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 3
• Divisions: 8
• Best season for most: Nov–Feb

Best places to visit in Bangladesh: quick comparison table

All 35 districts at a glance, with division, main draw and best season. Click a name to jump to its card.

35 best tourist destinations in Bangladesh: district-by-district guide

The 35 districts below start with Rajshahi, Sylhet, Dhaka, Khulna, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, then cover the hill districts, the northern heritage towns and the coast. Each card names the sights worth your time, where to base yourself, the nearest airport or main transport link and the season that suits the district best.

Rajshahi

The mango and silk city of Rajshahi Division sits on the north bank of the Padma, close to the Indian border, and is one of the cleanest and greenest cities in Bangladesh. It is known for silk weaving, mangoes in early summer and a relaxed riverside promenade where families gather at sunset. The city is also the base for the Puthia temple complex, about 30 km east, where the Shiva Temple, the Govinda Temple with its terracotta panels and the Puthia Rajbari palace stand around a set of old ponds.

In the city, the Varendra Research Museum (Barind Research Museum) holds one of the country's best collections of Pala-era sculpture, and the Shrine of Shah Makhdum draws a steady flow of pilgrims. Allow a full day for Puthia and a second day for the museum, the Padma bank and the silk showrooms on the Sapura road. The original list's "Magha Mosque" and zoo are minor stops; the city's central park is a good place for an evening walk.

• Division: Rajshahi
• Nearest airport: Shah Makhdum Airport, Rajshahi
• Best time: October to March
• From Dhaka: Train, bus or a short domestic flight

Combine Rajshahi with Chapainawabganj, whose Sultanate mosques are about an hour west.

Sylhet

Up in the north-east, Sylhet is the land of tea gardens, haor wetlands, hills, rivers that run clear over stones from the Meghalaya hills, and the shrines of two of Bangladesh's most revered Sufi saints, Hazrat Shahjalal and Hazrat Shahparan. Malnicherra and Lakkatura, the oldest commercial tea estates in the country, sit right on the edge of the city and are easy half-day walks.

Day trips from the city cover Jaflong on the Piyain River, Bholaganj's white-stone riverbed, Lalakhal's turquoise water and Pantumai, a village at the foot of a waterfall on the Indian border. Ratargul, one of the few freshwater swamp forests in the country, is best seen by small boat between June and October, when the trees stand in water. In the dry season the forest floor is visible and boats cannot enter, so time your trip carefully.

• Division: Sylhet
• Nearest airport: Osmani International Airport, Sylhet
• Best time: November to February (haors and falls: monsoon)
• From Dhaka: Train, bus or a short flight

Go to Ratargul and Bisnakandi in the monsoon, and to the tea gardens and shrines in winter.

Dhaka

As the capital, Dhaka is the arrival point for most international visitors, and its old town along the Buriganga River is one of the most atmospheric in South Asia. Lalbagh Fort, an unfinished 17th-century Mughal fort, holds the tomb of Pari Bibi; Ahsan Manzil, the pink palace of the Dhaka Nawabs, is now a museum; and the Star Mosque (Tara Masjid) is covered in porcelain mosaic. The Hussaini Dalan, Armenian Church and Shankhari Bazar lanes are a short rickshaw ride apart.

In the newer city, the National Parliament House (Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban) by Louis Kahn is one of the landmark buildings of 20th-century architecture, and the Central Shaheed Minar, Curzon Hall and Suhrawardy Udyan sit together around the Dhaka University area. The Bangladesh National Museum in Shahbag gives a good overview of the country before you travel further. Expect heavy traffic, and plan sightseeing by area.

• Division: Dhaka
• Nearest airport: Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Main international gateway

Hire a rickshaw for old Dhaka early in the morning, before the lanes fill with traffic.

Khulna

Khulna is the main launch point for trips into the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared with India. Most multi-day boat tours leave from Khulna or nearby Mongla and visit Karamjal (a forest station with a crocodile breeding centre and a wooden walkway), Kotka and Kochikhali for deer and birds, and the Hiron Point area on the coast. Dublar Char, an island used by seasonal fishing camps, hosts the Rash Mela festival in November.

Sightings of the Bengal tiger are rare, so go for the river channels, spotted deer, monkeys, kingfishers and the silence of the forest at dawn. The city itself has the ancestral home of scientist Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy in Paikgachha and the 1971 memorial at Gallamari. Since the Padma Bridge opened in June 2022, the road trip from Dhaka has become much shorter.

• Division: Khulna
• Nearest airport: Jessore Airport, then road
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Bus or train via the Padma Bridge

Book a licensed Sundarbans tour that includes the forest permit; read our Sundarban travel guide before you choose.

Chattogram

Chattogram (Chittagong), the country's main port, is a hilly city between the Karnaphuli River and the sea. Foy's Lake, a 1920s railway reservoir surrounded by hills, has boating and an amusement park; Patenga Beach is the city's sunset spot; and the Chittagong War Cemetery holds the graves of Commonwealth soldiers of the Second World War. The Ethnological Museum introduces the hill peoples you meet further south and east.

Batali Hill gives the best city view, and the Shrine of Bayazid Bostami is known for the turtles in its pond. The Karnaphuli Tunnel, the first under-river road tunnel in South Asia, now links the city with Anwara on the south bank. Chattogram is also the gateway to the hill districts and to Cox's Bazar, so most travellers spend a night here on the way.

• Division: Chattogram
• Nearest airport: Shah Amanat International Airport
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Train, bus or a short flight

For a deeper look at the city, read our guide to places to visit in Chittagong.

Cox's Bazar

Bangladesh's beach capital, in Chattogram Division, has the country's longest beach: an unbroken sandy shoreline of about 120 km running south towards Teknaf. The marine drive along the coast passes Himchari, where green hills meet the sand, and Inani, known for its rocky shore at low tide. Ramu, north of the town, has old Buddhist monasteries and the Rakhine community's temples, and Maheshkhali Island has the hilltop Adinath Temple.

Saint Martin's Island, the country's only coral island, is reached by ship from Cox's Bazar, but access is tightly controlled: as of October 2026 the island is open from 1 November 2026 to 15 March 2027, every visitor needs a QR-code travel pass and pays a Tk 100 conservation fee, numbers are capped at an average of 3,500 a day, and November is for day trips only, with overnight stays in December and January (for February to mid-March, check the latest Department of Environment notice before booking). The Dulahazra safari park, on the Chattogram highway, is a good stop with children.

• Division: Chattogram
• Nearest airport: Cox's Bazar Airport
• Best time: November to March
• From Dhaka: Flight, bus, or train (since December 2023)

The Dhaka to Cox's Bazar train started on 1 December 2023; book tickets as soon as sales open, as they sell out fast.

Lalmonirhat

Border history is the draw in Lalmonirhat, in the far north of Rangpur Division, where visitors come to see the Tin Bigha Corridor, the narrow strip of land that links the former enclave of Dahagram-Angarpota with mainland Bangladesh across Indian territory. The Teesta Barrage at Dalia, one of the largest irrigation projects in the country, is a popular riverside spot, especially at sunset.

The district also has the Kakina zamindar house, Nidaria Mosque with its old terracotta work, and the busy Burimari land port on the border with India's West Bengal. It is a quiet, rural district with few hotels, so most visitors base themselves in Rangpur or Lalmonirhat town.

• Division: Rangpur
• Nearest airport: Saidpur Airport, then road
• Best time: October to March
• From Dhaka: Train or bus

Pair Lalmonirhat with Rangpur and Kurigram for a three-day northern loop.

Rangamati

The lake district of the hills, Rangamati is built around Kaptai Lake, the largest man-made lake in Bangladesh, created when the Karnaphuli was dammed in the early 1960s. The famous hanging bridge, roughly 335 feet long, is the town's symbol, and boat trips across the lake reach Shuvolong waterfall, island restaurants serving Chakma food, and the Rajban Vihara monastery.

The Chakma Raja's palace, the tribal cultural museum and the Kaptai National Park on the road towards Kaptai add culture and forest walks. Sajek Valley, the hilltop village famous for sea-of-cloud views, is inside Rangamati district (Baghaichhari upazila) but is reached by road from Khagrachari. Foreign visitors should check the current permission rules for the hill districts with the local administration or a registered operator before travelling.

• Division: Chattogram
• Nearest airport: Shah Amanat Airport, Chattogram, then road
• Best time: October to March
• From Dhaka: Bus via Chattogram

Hire a boat for a full day on Kaptai Lake; mornings are calmer and clearer than afternoons.

Bandarban

For trekkers and waterfall hunters, Bandarban holds the highest hills in Bangladesh and the trekking routes to Keokradong and Tajingdong. Closer to town, Nilachal and Nilgiri give sweeping views over cloud-filled valleys, Chimbuk is a classic hill drive, and the golden Buddha Dhatu Jadi (the Golden Temple) sits on a hilltop just outside town. Boga Lake, a natural crater lake at altitude, is a two-day trip.

Remote areas such as Thanchi, Remakri, Nafakhum and Amiakhum waterfalls are reached by boat on the Sangu River and on foot. Parts of Ruma, Rowangchhari and Thanchi have faced visitor restrictions in recent years, and foreign travellers need permission and a registered guide, so check the latest status before you plan a trek.

• Division: Chattogram
• Nearest airport: Shah Amanat Airport, Chattogram, then road
• Best time: October to February
• From Dhaka: Bus via Chattogram

Book Bandarban stays early for winter weekends; see our Bandarban resorts and hotels guide.

Bagerhat

Sultanate-era heritage defines Bagerhat, the site of the Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in the 15th century by the saint-general Khan Jahan Ali. Its centrepiece, the Shat Gombuj Mosque (Sixty Dome Mosque), has 77 domes over its prayer hall, and the site museum explains the city's history. The saint's tomb sits beside the Khanjali Dighi pond, known for its old resident mugger crocodile tradition.

Smaller monuments scattered through the countryside include the Singair Mosque, the Nine-Domed Mosque, Bibi Begni's mosque and the Zinda Pir Mosque. Rent a rickshaw or auto for a half-day circuit. Mongla Port, south of Bagerhat, is a common departure point for Sundarbans boat trips.

• Division: Khulna
• Nearest airport: Jessore Airport, then road
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Bus via the Padma Bridge

Visit the Sixty Dome Mosque early in the morning and dress modestly; it is still an active place of prayer.

Bogura

Archaeology and sweets are the two reasons to stop in Bogura (Bogra), home to Mahasthangarh, the oldest known urban archaeological site in Bangladesh, the ruins of the ancient city of Pundranagara with walls dating back more than two thousand years. The Mahasthangarh site museum displays coins, terracotta plaques and sculpture, and Gokul Medh, a nearby mound locals call Behula's Basar Ghar, is linked to the Behula-Lakhindar legend.

The district is also known for its yogurt (Bogurar doi), the Shrine of Shah Sultan Balkhi at Mahasthan, and the riverside port at Sariakandi on the Jamuna. Bogura sits on the main north-west highway, which makes it a natural overnight stop between Dhaka and Rangpur or Dinajpur.

• Division: Rajshahi
• Nearest airport: Saidpur or Rajshahi airport, then road
• Best time: October to March
• From Dhaka: Bus via the Jamuna Bridge

Try the famous sweet yogurt from a well-known shop in Bogura town before heading north.

Dinajpur

Dinajpur's most famous sight is the Kantajew Temple (Kantajir Mandir) at Kantanagar, an 18th-century nava-ratna temple whose walls are covered in some of the finest terracotta panels in Bengal, telling stories from the epics and scenes of daily life. Nearby stand the Nayabad Mosque and the ruins of the Dinajpur Rajbari, the old royal palace.

Ramsagar, a huge excavated tank south of the town, is now a national park with shaded walks, and the Swapnapuri amusement park at Nawabganj draws families from across the north. Dinajpur is also known for its fragrant rice and lychee season in early summer.

• Division: Rangpur
• Nearest airport: Saidpur Airport, then road
• Best time: October to March
• From Dhaka: Train or bus

Visit Kantajew in soft morning light, when the terracotta details photograph best.

Barishal

Barishal (Barisal) is the river capital of southern Bangladesh. The classic way to arrive is on an overnight launch from Dhaka's Sadarghat, sleeping in a cabin as the boat slides down the Meghna. From the city, day trips head to the floating guava and vegetable markets of Bhimruli and Atghar-Kuriana on the backwaters of Jhalokathi and Pirojpur, best between July and September.

In the district, the Durgasagar tank, the Guthia Mosque complex at Wazirpur, the Kalsakathi zamindar houses and the Oxford Mission church are worth an afternoon. The Kirtankhola river front in the city comes alive in the evening.

• Division: Barishal
• Nearest airport: Barishal Airport
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Overnight launch or bus via the Padma Bridge

Take the overnight launch at least one way; book a cabin; deck space is basic.

Cumilla

On the Dhaka to Chattogram highway, Cumilla (Comilla) is home to the Mainamati ruins, a group of 7th to 12th-century Buddhist sites. The best preserved is Shalban Vihara, a square monastery with more than a hundred cells, beside a site museum full of bronze and terracotta finds. The Maynamati War Cemetery, a peaceful Commonwealth cemetery for soldiers who died in the Burma campaign of the Second World War, is a short drive away.

The town has the Shah Shuja Mosque, the Birchandra Public Library and the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) campus at Kotbari. Cumilla is also famous for its rasmalai, and the poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's links with the district are celebrated locally.

• Division: Chattogram
• Nearest airport: Dhaka or Chattogram airport, then road
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Bus or train on the Dhaka–Chattogram route

Cumilla makes an easy stop between Dhaka and Chattogram; buy rasmalai from a known sweet shop in town.

Khagrachari

Caves, waterfalls and the road to Sajek: Khagrachari is the starting point for Sajek Valley, about 67 km north-east by road, where hilltop resorts look across to the Mizoram hills. In the district itself, the Alutila cave is a dark tunnel walked by torchlight, Risang waterfall slides down a rock face that visitors use as a natural slide, and the Alutila hill gives a wide view over the town.

Debotar Pukur, a hilltop pond sacred to the Tripura community, and the hanging bridge at the Khagrachari Horticulture Park round out a short stay. As with all three hill districts, foreigners should confirm current permission rules before travel, and Sajek road trips run in escorted convoys at set times.

• Division: Chattogram
• Nearest airport: Shah Amanat Airport, Chattogram, then road
• Best time: October to March
• From Dhaka: Bus from Dhaka or Chattogram

Spend a night at Sajek to see sunrise over the clouds; day trips miss the best light.

Mymensingh

An art and river town, Mymensingh sits on the Old Brahmaputra River, and its riverside park is the city's favourite walk. The Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Sangrahashala, a museum dedicated to the country's most famous painter, stands by the river, and Shashi Lodge, a zamindar palace with a marble fountain, is one of the best-kept examples of its kind.

The large Bangladesh Agricultural University campus has botanical gardens and a lakeside, and the district reaches north to the Garo Hills at the Indian border, where Haluaghat and Birishiri (in neighbouring Netrokona) have the blue-green lake of the china clay hills. Muktagachha's zamindar house and its famous monda sweet are an easy detour.

• Division: Mymensingh
• Nearest airport: Dhaka airport, then road or train
• Best time: October to March
• From Dhaka: Train or bus

Combine Mymensingh with Birishiri for the china clay lakes, a 2 to 3-day trip from Dhaka.

Lakshmipur

Lakshmipur, on the Meghna estuary in the south-east, is a quiet district of coconut and betel-nut groves and river islands (chars) such as Char Gazaria. Visitors come for the slow riverside life, the Meghna embankment at sunset and old mosques such as the Tita Khan Jame Mosque and the mosque at Dalal Bazar's zamindar estate.

The district is not a big tourist destination, which is its appeal: you see village Bangladesh with very few other visitors. Facilities are basic, so travel with a local driver or guide.

• Division: Chattogram
• Nearest airport: Dhaka or Chattogram airport, then road
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Bus

Visit in winter, when the river is calm and boat trips to the chars are safer.

Habiganj

Halfway between Dhaka and Sylhet, Habiganj has two of the country's best forest reserves. Satchari National Park is a hill forest with marked trails, a canopy watchtower and a good chance of seeing langurs and hornbills, and the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, further east, is a larger and wilder tract of forest on the Tripura border.

Tea estates cover much of the district, and luxury resorts have opened around Chunarughat and Bahubal in recent years. Habiganj makes a good first stop on the way to Sreemangal and Sylhet.

• Division: Sylhet
• Nearest airport: Osmani Airport, Sylhet, or by train
• Best time: November to March
• From Dhaka: Train or bus on the Dhaka–Sylhet route

Walk Satchari's trails early in the morning with a local guide, when birds and monkeys are most active.

Brahmanbaria

Brahmanbaria is famous as the home district of musicians Ustad Alauddin Khan and his family, and its cultural life still centres on music. The Arifail Mosque at Sarail, a Mughal-era mosque with three domes, is the best-known monument, and the Kella Shaheed Mazar at Kharampur is a revered shrine on the Titas River.

The Titas and Meghna rivers give the district its character, and the river crossings at Ashuganj and Bhairab are busy and photogenic. Brahmanbaria is easily reached by train, making it a simple day trip from Dhaka.

• Division: Chattogram
• Nearest airport: Dhaka airport, then train or road
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Train on the Dhaka–Chattogram line

Plan a visit around a local music event if you can; ask locally, as dates are announced late.

Sunamganj

Sunamganj is the haor district, a vast basin of seasonal wetlands at the foot of the Meghalaya hills. Tanguar Haor, a Ramsar wetland, is the star: in the monsoon it becomes an inland sea that houseboats cruise for two or three days, mooring under swamp trees with the hills in the background. In winter it shrinks and fills with migratory birds.

Barikka Tila, Niladri Lake (the old limestone quarry at Takerghat) and the Jadukata River at Shimul Bagan, where a cotton-tree garden blooms red in February, are nearby. In town, the house of mystic poet Hason Raja and the Sunamganj heritage museum tell the story of the region's songs.

• Division: Sylhet
• Nearest airport: Osmani Airport, Sylhet, then road
• Best time: July to October for haors; winter for birds
• From Dhaka: Bus via Sylhet

Book a licensed houseboat for Tanguar Haor and carry life jackets; check weather warnings before you go.

Pabna

Historic bridges come first in Pabna. The district, on the Padma, is best known for the Hardinge Bridge at Paksey, a railway bridge opened in 1915, standing beside the newer Lalon Shah road bridge. The Anukulchandra Satsang ashram at Himaitpur draws devotees from across the region, and the ancestral home of actress Suchitra Sen in Pabna town is now a small memorial.

The Jor Bangla Temple, the Chatmohar Shahi Mosque and the Tarash zamindar house show the district's older layers, and Ishwardi is one of the main railway junctions of the north-west. Rooppur, near Ishwardi, is the site of the country's first nuclear power plant.

• Division: Rajshahi
• Nearest airport: Ishwardi Airport is not operating; use Rajshahi or road
• Best time: October to March
• From Dhaka: Bus or train

Watch a train cross the Hardinge Bridge from the riverbank at Paksey for the classic photo.

Sirajganj

Sirajganj lies on the west bank of the Jamuna, and the Jamuna Bridge (formerly the Bangabandhu Bridge), opened in 1998, connects it with Tangail on the east bank. The bridge approach and the eco park at its western end are popular weekend spots. Shahjadpur has the Kuthibari of Rabindranath Tagore, where the poet managed his family estates and wrote some of his work.

The district is a major centre of handloom weaving, especially around Belkuchi and Enayetpur, and the Nabaratna Temple at Hatikumrul is a richly carved 18th-century temple. The Bhangabari area is linked to Suchitra Sen's family.

• Division: Rajshahi
• Nearest airport: Rajshahi or Dhaka airport, then road
• Best time: October to March
• From Dhaka: Bus over the Jamuna Bridge

Visit the Enayetpur and Belkuchi handloom villages to see sarees and lungis woven on traditional looms.

Thakurgaon

Rural and little visited, Thakurgaon in the north-west corner has a scatter of old palaces and mosques that see few visitors. The Raja Tonkonath palace at Ranisankail is the best known, and the Haripur Rajbari, Jagadal Rajbari and the Sangaon Shahi Mosque show the area's zamindar and Mughal history.

Locals point to a famous old mango tree at Baliadangi and the Gorakshanath temple and well at Ranisankail. Accommodation is limited, so many travellers combine Thakurgaon with Panchagarh and Dinajpur on a road trip.

• Division: Rangpur
• Nearest airport: Saidpur Airport, then road
• Best time: October to March
• From Dhaka: Bus or train

Hire a car for the day to link Ranisankail, Haripur and Baliadangi, as public transport is slow.

Gazipur

Gazipur, just north of Dhaka, is the capital's weekend escape. The large safari park at Sreepur has drive-through enclosures for big cats and herbivores, and the Bhawal National Park is a sal forest with picnic spots and walking trails. Resorts and day-out venues line the roads around Sreepur and Kaliakair.

The Bhawal Rajbari, the palace of the zamindars at the centre of the famous Bhawal sannyasi court case, now houses government offices, and the Nuhash Palli estate of writer Humayun Ahmed is a pilgrimage for his readers. Traffic on the Dhaka to Mymensingh highway can be heavy, so leave early.

• Division: Dhaka
• Nearest airport: Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
• Best time: November to March
• From Dhaka: Road (an hour or two depending on traffic)

Go on a weekday; the safari park and resorts are busiest on Fridays and Saturdays.

Jashore

The country's flower capital is Jashore (Jessore), known for Godkhali, the flower-growing area that supplies much of the country's cut flowers; from December to February the fields of marigold, gerbera and roses are spectacular. Sagardari, the birthplace of poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt on the Kopotakkho River, holds a museum and an annual fair in January.

Benapole, the busiest land border with India, is in Jashore, and the Mirzanagar hammam khana and the Chanchra Rajbari show older history. The airport makes Jashore the quickest gateway to Khulna, the Sundarbans and Bagerhat.

• Division: Khulna
• Nearest airport: Jessore Airport
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Short flight, train or bus

Visit Godkhali in late January or February for the best flower fields.

Narayanganj

Narayanganj holds Sonargaon, the old capital of Isa Khan and the Bengal sultans. Panam Nagar, a street of crumbling 19th-century merchant houses, is one of the most photographed places in Bangladesh, and the Folk Arts and Crafts Museum, set in a zamindar mansion with a big pond, shows nakshi kantha embroidery, pottery and jamdani weaving.

The tomb of Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah, the Goaldi Mosque and the Loknath Brahmachari ashram at Baradi are nearby, and the Shitalakshya river front in Narayanganj city is a busy, working river scene. The jamdani weaving villages of Rupganj are on the other side of the river.

• Division: Dhaka
• Nearest airport: Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Road (close to Dhaka)

Visit Sonargaon on a weekday morning; Panam Nagar gets crowded on Fridays.

Kushtia

Lalon and Tagore both left their mark on Kushtia, the spiritual home of Baul music. The shrine of Fakir Lalon Shah at Chheuria hosts the Lalon festivals, when Bauls gather to sing through the night, and the annual remembrance in October draws huge crowds. Across the district, the Shilaidaha Kuthibari is the estate house where Rabindranath Tagore stayed for long periods and wrote parts of his work.

Writer Mir Mosharraf Hossain's birthplace at Lahinipara and the old Mohini Mills, once one of the largest textile mills in the region, add literary and industrial history. Kushtia is on the Gorai River, and evening boat rides are pleasant in winter.

• Division: Khulna
• Nearest airport: Jessore or Rajshahi airport, then road
• Best time: October to March (Lalon festival: Oct and spring)
• From Dhaka: Bus or train

Time a visit for a Lalon gathering at Chheuria to hear Baul songs performed live.

Moulvibazar

Moulvibazar includes Sreemangal, the tea capital of Bangladesh, with endless estates, lemon and pineapple gardens and the famous multi-layer tea served in local shops. Lawachara National Park, a tropical forest with western hoolock gibbons, is one of the best wildlife walks in the country, and Madhabpur Lake is a quiet lake surrounded by tea hills.

Madhabkunda, one of the tallest waterfalls in Bangladesh, is in the district's Barlekha area, and Ham Ham waterfall in Rajkandi forest is a muddy jungle trek, best after rain. Baikka Beel and Hakaluki Haor are winter birdwatching spots. Resorts such as the Grand Sultan near Sreemangal make comfortable bases.

• Division: Sylhet
• Nearest airport: Osmani Airport, Sylhet, or by train to Sreemangal
• Best time: October to March (waterfalls: monsoon)
• From Dhaka: Train to Sreemangal

Take the train from Dhaka to Sreemangal; the ride through tea country is part of the trip.

Panchagarh

In Panchagarh, the northernmost district of Rangpur Division, the big draw is a mountain view: the district is famous for Tetulia, where on clear days between late October and November the snowy peaks of Kanchenjunga appear on the horizon. The Tetulia Dak Bungalow is the classic viewpoint, and Banglabandha zero point, the land port with Nepal and India trade traffic, is close by.

The district has small flat-land tea estates, the Mirzapur Shahi Mosque from the Mughal period, the rock museum at Panchagarh Government Women's College, and the ruins of Bhitargarh, an ancient fortified city. It is far from Dhaka, so allow at least two nights.

• Division: Rangpur
• Nearest airport: Saidpur Airport, then road
• Best time: October to November for mountain views
• From Dhaka: Bus or train

Stay overnight in Tetulia and watch for the mountains at dawn, when the air is clearest.

Chapainawabganj

West of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj holds the Bangladesh side of Gaur, the medieval capital of Bengal. The Choto Sona Mosque (Small Golden Mosque), built around 1500 during the reign of Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah, is a jewel of carved stone and brick, and the Darasbari Mosque and madrasa ruins and the Khania Dighi Mosque are nearby.

The district is the country's mango capital; in June and July the Kansat mango market is one of the busiest fruit markets anywhere, and orchards cover the roads. Tikoil, the "alpana village" near Nachole, is known for painted mud houses.

• Division: Rajshahi
• Nearest airport: Shah Makhdum Airport, Rajshahi, then road
• Best time: October to March (mangoes: June–July)
• From Dhaka: Bus or train via Rajshahi

Visit Gaur and Choto Sona Mosque in winter; come back in mango season for the markets.

Tangail

Tangail is known for its handloom Tangail sarees, woven in villages such as Pathrail, and for the Atia Mosque of 1609, one of the finest Mughal-period mosques in the country. The Mohera zamindar house, now a police training centre with well-kept grounds, and the Pakutia and Nagarpur zamindar houses are favourite day-trip stops.

The Jamuna Bridge links Tangail with the north-west, and the Madhupur forest in the north of the district is home to the Garo and Koch communities. The town is also famous for its chamcham sweets from Porabari.

• Division: Dhaka
• Nearest airport: Dhaka airport, then road
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Bus

Buy sarees directly from Pathrail weavers; ask to see work in progress on the looms.

Madaripur

Madaripur, just south of the Padma Bridge, is a river district named after the saint Shah Madar, whose dargah is a local pilgrimage. Shakuni Lake in the town centre is the main recreation spot, and the Algi Kazi Bari Mosque and the Raja Ram temple are among the older buildings.

The ruins of an indigo factory at Auliapur recall the colonial indigo trade. Since the Padma Bridge opened, Madaripur has become an easy day trip from Dhaka for river views and village life.

• Division: Dhaka
• Nearest airport: Dhaka airport, then road via the Padma Bridge
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Road via the Padma Bridge

Combine Madaripur with a stop at the Padma Bridge viewpoints on the way back.

Patuakhali

Beach and fishing villages are the point of Patuakhali, home of Kuakata, an 18 km beach on the Bay of Bengal where you can watch both sunrise and sunset over the sea. The Rakhine village and its old Buddhist temple, the Gangamati reserved forest at the eastern end, and Lebur Char (Lemon Char) mangroves to the west are reached by motorbike or van along the sand.

Fatrar Char and Sonar Char are wilder islands reached by boat. The Alipur fishing port shows the hilsa trade in full swing during the season. Roads from Dhaka improved greatly after the Padma Bridge and the Payra bridges opened.

• Division: Barishal
• Nearest airport: Barishal Airport, then road
• Best time: November to February
• From Dhaka: Bus via the Padma Bridge or overnight launch

Ride a motorbike along the beach at low tide to reach Gangamati for sunrise.

Kurigram

Kurigram, where the Brahmaputra enters Bangladesh, is one of the most rural districts in the country. The Dharla Bridge picnic spot, the old Chilmari river port and the chars of the Brahmaputra give a sense of life on shifting islands of sand.

Historic sights include the Chandamari Mosque, the Naodanga zamindar house and the Sonahat land port and bridge on the Indian border. Visitors who make it here usually come for photography and village life; facilities are basic.

• Division: Rangpur
• Nearest airport: Saidpur Airport, then road
• Best time: October to March
• From Dhaka: Train or bus

Take a country boat from Chilmari to a nearby char village with a local guide.

Naogaon

Naogaon, a farming district in the north of Rajshahi Division, holds the ruins of Somapura Mahavihara at Paharpur in Badalgachhi upazila. The monastery was built under the Pala king Dharmapala in the late 8th century and was listed by UNESCO in 1985. A wall lined on the inside with 177 monks' cells encloses a huge square courtyard, and at its centre rises a cross-shaped brick temple built in terraces, its lower walls set with rows of terracotta plaques of Buddhist and Hindu figures, animals and village scenes. The Bengali scholar Atisa Dipankara lived here before he left to teach in Tibet in the 11th century.

A small museum by the entrance shows plaques, stone sculpture, coins and pottery from the excavations; see our Paharpur Buddhist Vihara page for the layout and visiting rules. In Manda upazila, the Kusumba Mosque, finished in 1558 to 1559 under the Afghan Sur ruler Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah, is built of dark stone, which gave it the local name Kala Pahar. Our Naogaon guide covers the rest of the district.

• Division: Rajshahi
• Nearest airport: Shah Makhdum Airport, Rajshahi, then road
• Best time: October to March
• From Dhaka: Bus via the Jamuna Bridge; Jamalganj, about 5 km from Paharpur, is the nearest railway station

Paharpur follows the Department of Archaeology schedule, which usually means it is closed on Sundays; allow two to three hours on site.

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How to plan a trip around Bangladesh's top destinations

Most visitors fly into Dhaka and pick one or two regions. A week covers Dhaka, Sylhet and Sreemangal comfortably, or Dhaka, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar. Ten to fourteen days lets you add the Sundarbans by boat from Khulna, or the hill districts of Bandarban and Rangamati. The north-west (Bogura, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Panchagarh) works as a separate heritage loop by road and rail.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Many nationalities apply for a visa through a Bangladesh mission or the official e-visa portal before travel, and some can get a visa on arrival; read our Bangladesh visa on arrival guide and check the official immigration portal before you book. Domestic flights link Dhaka with Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, Jashore, Rajshahi, Saidpur and Barishal, and intercity trains are comfortable and cheap if you book early.

Check access rules before you travel: Saint Martin's Island: visits need a travel pass, ships run only from Cox's Bazar, and as of October 2026 the season runs from 1 November 2026 to 15 March 2027 with an average cap of 3,500 visitors a day, a Tk 100 fee, day trips only in November and overnight stays in December and January (for February to mid-March, check the latest Department of Environment notice before booking).

Chittagong Hill Tracts (Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari): foreigners need permission, usually arranged through the district administration or a registered tour operator, and some remote upazilas have had temporary restrictions. Confirm the current status a week before you go.

Tips for travelling to the best places in Bangladesh

Travel in Bangladesh from November to February, when dry, cool weather suits almost every district, and save the monsoon for the haors, Ratargul and the waterfalls. Book intercity trains early on popular routes such as Dhaka to Sylhet, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, dress modestly and carry cash outside the cities.

• Travel from November to February. Dry, cool weather suits almost every district. Come in the monsoon (June to September) only for the haors, Ratargul and waterfalls.
• Book trains early. Intercity tickets on popular routes (Dhaka to Sylhet, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar) sell out quickly, especially around holidays.
• Dress modestly. Cover shoulders and knees, especially at shrines, mosques and in rural districts. Remove shoes at religious sites.
• Carry cash outside cities. Cards work in large hotels, but small towns, boats and markets run on taka. Mobile banking is common among locals.
• Plan around Eid and Fridays. Transport is packed before Eid holidays, and many offices and some sites close or open late on Fridays.
• Use licensed boats and guides. For the Sundarbans, haors and Saint Martin's, book licensed operators with life jackets and permits included.

Planning a trip to Bangladesh? Read our Bangladesh travel guide, compare hotels in Bangladesh, browse tours or search flights.