Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, a megacity of roughly 10 million people in the city and more than 20 million in the metro area on the Buriganga River. It combines Mughal and colonial monuments, the crowded lanes of Old Dhaka, Louis Kahn's parliament building and some of South Asia's best biryani and street food.
- Public
- MRT Line 6 is fast, air-conditioned and cheap along the Uttara-Mirpur-Agargaon-Motijheel-Kamalapur corridor; city buses are extremely crowded and hard to decode for visitors
- Taxi
- Ride-hailing (Uber, Pathao, Obhai) and CNG auto-rickshaws are the practical door-to-door options; fares are shown in the apps, while street CNGs need a negotiated price or a working meter
- Rental
- Self-drive is not advisable: gridlock, chaotic driving and few parking spaces; a car with a local driver is the sensible alternative for day trips
- Walking
- Old Dhaka lanes are walkable but crowded and hot, and pavements elsewhere are broken or blocked; combine short walks with rickshaws
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 3/5
- Taxi
- 4/5
- Rental
- 1/5
- Walking
- 2/5
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
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- Uber / Pathao Car / Obhai (BDT 400-1,000 (~$3.26-8.15) to Gulshan, Banani or Motijheel; surge at peak times) · CNG auto-rickshaw (BDT 400-700 (~$3.26-5.71) after negotiation) · Hotel or private car (BDT 1,200-2,500 (~$9.78-20.37)) · Ride-hail to Uttara station, then MRT Line 6 (BDT 200-400 (~$1.63-3.26) ride plus up to BDT 100 (~$0.81) metro)
Local transport
Getting around the city.
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Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Items
- Overview
- Ride-hailing is the reliable option; street CNG and yellow taxis require negotiation. Emergency and police number: 999 (national).
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
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- Mode
- Train from Kamalapur
- Destinations
- Chattogram, Sylhet, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Rajshahi, Khulna via Padma Bridge
- Duration
- 2-10 hours depending on destination
- Cost
- BDT 200-1,400 (~$1.63-11.41)
- Notes
- Book on Rail Sheba or eticket.railway.gov.bd; AC and Snigdha seats are recommended.
- Mode
- AC coach
- Destinations
- Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, Khulna, Jashore, Barishal, Rajshahi
- Duration
- 4-12 hours
- Cost
- BDT 500-2,500 (~$4.08-20.37)
- Notes
- Departures from Gabtoli, Sayedabad, Kallyanpur and Kamalapur counters; Green Line and Hanif are commonly used.
- Mode
- Domestic flight from DAC
- Destinations
- Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, Jashore, Barishal, Saidpur, Rajshahi
- Duration
- 45-75 minutes
- Cost
- BDT 5,000-12,000 (~$40.75-97.80)
- Notes
- Biman, US-Bangla, Novoair and Air Astra; book on airline apps or websites.
- Mode
- Overnight launch from Sadarghat
- Destinations
- Barishal, Khulna, Sundarbans gateways, Bhola
- Duration
- 8-24 hours
- Cost
- BDT 400-5,000 (~$3.26-40.75)
- Notes
- Book a cabin; check departure time at the terminal.
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Dhaka is one of the densest cities on earth, and its roads are permanently congested. The single best upgrade for visitors is MRT Line 6, an elevated metro that runs from Uttara in the north through Mirpur, Farmgate and Shahbagh to Motijheel and Kamalapur in the south. Beyond that corridor, ride-hailing cars and motorbikes, CNG auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws handle most trips. Long-distance travel radiates from three bus terminals (Gabtoli, Sayedabad, Mohakhali), Kamalapur railway station and the Sadarghat river port.
Airports
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Use Uber or Pathao Car from the airport: the fare is fixed in the app and avoids haggling on arrival
Ride MRT Line 6 for any trip along its route: a full Uttara North to Motijheel run costs about BDT 100 (~$0.81) and skips the traffic
Agree the price of a rickshaw or CNG before boarding, and confirm it is the total for the trip, not per person
Traffic is worst from about 08:00 to 11:00 and 16:00 to 21:00; add 50-100% to any road journey then
Friday is the quiet day: roads clear, but buses and some MRT services run reduced or altered hours, so check on the day
Carry small BDT notes (20, 50, 100): rickshaw and CNG drivers rarely have change for BDT 500 or 1,000
Book Bangladesh Railway seats early through the Rail Sheba app or eticket.railway.gov.bd; foreign cards are often refused, so a local SIM and a hotel or local friend may help
Overnight Sadarghat launches to the south are an experience but crowded; pay for a cabin, not deck space