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.
Dhaka has a tropical monsoon climate with three main seasons: a cool, dry winter (November-February), a hot, humid pre-monsoon (March-May) and a wet monsoon (June-October) that brings about 80% of the roughly 2,000 mm annual rainfall. Average highs run from about 25C in January to 34C in April, and humidity is high year-round, peaking above 80% from June to September. Winter has the best weather but also the worst air quality of the year.
Best time to visit
Best: Year-round
Avoid: None
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
19°C/66°F
Dry and cool with pleasant afternoons
February
22°C/72°F
Warming and dry with light haze
March
27°C/81°F
Hot afternoons with pre-monsoon thunderstorms starting
April
29°C/84°F
Hot and humid with Kalboishakhi evening storms
May
29°C/84°F
Hot, sticky and increasingly wet
June
29°C/84°F
Monsoon begins with heavy showers, waterlogging and high humidity
July
29°C/84°F
Wettest month
August
29°C/84°F
Very wet and humid with intermittent sunny spells
September
28°C/82°F
Monsoon continues but eases late in the month
October
27°C/81°F
Rain tapers, humidity falls and sunny stretches return
November
24°C/75°F
Comfortable, dry and clear with cooler evenings
December
20°C/68°F
Dry, cool and sunny with early-morning fog and worsening smog
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Spring
Months: Mar-May
Hot and increasingly humid (24-34C) with pre-monsoon thunderstorms known as Kalboishakhi. Pohela Boishakh (14 April) is the highlight of the year.
Summer
Months: Jun-Aug
Monsoon season, warm (26-32C) and very wet, with waterlogged streets and rising dengue risk. Green landscapes, cheap hotels and the hilsa fish season.
Fall
Months: Sep-Nov
Rain tapers through October and skies clear by November (19-31C). Durga Puja in October and comfortable weather in November make late autumn a popular time to visit.
Winter
Months: Dec-Feb
Dry, sunny and cool (13-29C) with foggy mornings; the best touring weather but the worst air pollution of the year.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- Nov-Feb (cool dry weather); Pohela Boishakh in mid-April; Eid holidays, when the city empties as residents travel home
- Shoulder Season
- Mar-Apr and Oct
- Low Season
- May-Sep (monsoon, heat, lowest hotel prices)
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
International Mother Language Day (Ekushey February)
National day honouring the 1952 language martyrs, with flower offerings at the Shaheed Minar from midnight and the Ekushey Book Fair on the Bangla Academy grounds throughout the month.
Independence Day
Commemorates the 1971 declaration of independence with parades, flags and ceremonies at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar.
Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year)
Mangal Shobhajatra procession (UNESCO-listed), panta bhat and hilsa meals, music at Ramna Batamul and fairs across the city. Streets are packed; expect heavy security.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha
Major holidays with several days off; Dhaka empties as residents travel home and many shops close. Eid al-Adha brings large animal markets and street sacrifice.
Durga Puja
Largest Hindu festival with decorated pandals at Dhakeshwari Temple and Shankhari Bazar; the immersion procession follows Vijaya Dashami.
Victory Day
National holiday marking the 1971 surrender, with parades and flag-raising at the Suhrawardy Udyan and the Martyrs' Memorial.