Six seasons
Where to go, season by season.
Bangladesh counts six seasons of roughly two months each. Waterfalls and haors are at their best in the rains, beaches and hill treks in the dry winter.
Summer
Apr – May
Food Old Dhaka Biryani
Dhaka · পুরান ঢাকার বিরিয়ানিRich, aromatic biryani from shops that have cooked the same recipe in Old Dhaka for generations.
Food Bakarkhani
Dhaka · বাকরখানিFlaky, crisp layered bread baked in clay ovens, Old Dhaka's breakfast with tea.
Tradition Pohela Boishakh Procession
Dhaka · পহেলা বৈশাখের শোভাযাত্রাOn Bangla New Year the Charukola art students lead a colourful parade of giant masks and figures.
Food Chawkbazar Iftar Market
Dhaka · চকবাজারের ইফতারOld Dhaka's oldest Ramadan food market, famous for boro baper polay khay and shahi jilapi.
Food Beauty Lassi and Falooda
Dhaka · বিউটির লাচ্ছি-ফালুদাA family shop on Johnson Road that has served lassi and lemon sherbet since 1922.
Food Geneva Camp Kebab and Chaap
Dhaka · জেনেভা ক্যাম্পের কাবাব-চাপEvening grills of beef chaap, gurda and khiri kebab outside the Bihari camp in Mohammadpur.
Food Fuchka and Chotpoti
Dhaka · ফুচকা-চটপটিDhaka's favourite street snack: crisp shells filled with spiced peas and tamarind water.
Place Bangladesh National Museum
Dhaka · বাংলাদেশ জাতীয় জাদুঘরThe country's main museum at Shahbag, with galleries on history, art, natural history and the Liberation War.
Food Gazipur Jackfruit
Gazipur · গাজীপুরের কাঁঠালSweet, fragrant jackfruit from the red-soil orchards of Kapasia and Sreepur, the national fruit at its best.
Food Kapasia Lychee
Gazipur · কাপাসিয়ার লিচুBunches of red, juicy lychees sold fresh from the orchards for a few short weeks in early summer.
Food Siddhirganj Doi and Kacha Chhana
Narayanganj · সিদ্ধিরগঞ্জের দই ও কাঁচা ছানাThick, set yoghurt and soft fresh chhana from a sweet shop trading since 1950.
Food Lotkon
Narsingdi · লটকনTangy-sweet yellow fruit with translucent segments, Narsingdi's signature monsoon fruit.
Monsoon
Jun – Jul
Food Old Dhaka Biryani
Dhaka · পুরান ঢাকার বিরিয়ানিRich, aromatic biryani from shops that have cooked the same recipe in Old Dhaka for generations.
Food Bakarkhani
Dhaka · বাকরখানিFlaky, crisp layered bread baked in clay ovens, Old Dhaka's breakfast with tea.
Food Chawkbazar Iftar Market
Dhaka · চকবাজারের ইফতারOld Dhaka's oldest Ramadan food market, famous for boro baper polay khay and shahi jilapi.
Food Beauty Lassi and Falooda
Dhaka · বিউটির লাচ্ছি-ফালুদাA family shop on Johnson Road that has served lassi and lemon sherbet since 1922.
Food Geneva Camp Kebab and Chaap
Dhaka · জেনেভা ক্যাম্পের কাবাব-চাপEvening grills of beef chaap, gurda and khiri kebab outside the Bihari camp in Mohammadpur.
Food Fuchka and Chotpoti
Dhaka · ফুচকা-চটপটিDhaka's favourite street snack: crisp shells filled with spiced peas and tamarind water.
Place Bangladesh National Museum
Dhaka · বাংলাদেশ জাতীয় জাদুঘরThe country's main museum at Shahbag, with galleries on history, art, natural history and the Liberation War.
Hidden place ▶ Video Baldha Garden
Dhaka · বলধা গার্ডেনA small, walled old botanical garden in Wari, full of rare plants and quiet corners.
Place Bhawal National Park
Gazipur · ভাওয়াল জাতীয় উদ্যানShady sal forest with picnic spots and walking trails, an hour from Dhaka.
Hidden place ▶ Video Nuhash Polli
Gazipur · নুহাশ পল্লীWriter Humayun Ahmed's garden retreat, with ponds, rare trees and his grave under the litchi trees.
Food Gazipur Jackfruit
Gazipur · গাজীপুরের কাঁঠালSweet, fragrant jackfruit from the red-soil orchards of Kapasia and Sreepur, the national fruit at its best.
Food Siddhirganj Doi and Kacha Chhana
Narayanganj · সিদ্ধিরগঞ্জের দই ও কাঁচা ছানাThick, set yoghurt and soft fresh chhana from a sweet shop trading since 1950.
Autumn
Aug – Sep
Place Star Mosque (Tara Masjid)
Dhaka · তারা মসজিদA small mosque in Armanitola covered in star-patterned mosaic made from broken china.
Place Sadarghat and the Buriganga
Dhaka · সদরঘাট ও বুড়িগঙ্গাDhaka's chaotic river port, where multi-deck launches leave for the south and wooden boats ferry people across.
Hidden place ▶ Video Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection
Dhaka · আর্মেনিয়ান গির্জাA quiet 18th-century church and graveyard that recalls Dhaka's small Armenian merchant community.
Food Old Dhaka Biryani
Dhaka · পুরান ঢাকার বিরিয়ানিRich, aromatic biryani from shops that have cooked the same recipe in Old Dhaka for generations.
Food Bakarkhani
Dhaka · বাকরখানিFlaky, crisp layered bread baked in clay ovens, Old Dhaka's breakfast with tea.
Food Chawkbazar Iftar Market
Dhaka · চকবাজারের ইফতারOld Dhaka's oldest Ramadan food market, famous for boro baper polay khay and shahi jilapi.
Food Beauty Lassi and Falooda
Dhaka · বিউটির লাচ্ছি-ফালুদাA family shop on Johnson Road that has served lassi and lemon sherbet since 1922.
Food Geneva Camp Kebab and Chaap
Dhaka · জেনেভা ক্যাম্পের কাবাব-চাপEvening grills of beef chaap, gurda and khiri kebab outside the Bihari camp in Mohammadpur.
Food Fuchka and Chotpoti
Dhaka · ফুচকা-চটপটিDhaka's favourite street snack: crisp shells filled with spiced peas and tamarind water.
Place Dhakeshwari National Temple
Dhaka · ঢাকেশ্বরী জাতীয় মন্দিরBangladesh's national Hindu temple, said to give Dhaka its name, busiest during Durga Puja.
Place Bhawal National Park
Gazipur · ভাওয়াল জাতীয় উদ্যানShady sal forest with picnic spots and walking trails, an hour from Dhaka.
Place Bhawal Rajbari
Gazipur · ভাওয়াল রাজবাড়িThe long colonnaded palace of the Bhawal zamindars, setting of the famous Bhawal Sannyasi case.
Late autumn
Oct – Nov
Food Old Dhaka Biryani
Dhaka · পুরান ঢাকার বিরিয়ানিRich, aromatic biryani from shops that have cooked the same recipe in Old Dhaka for generations.
Food Bakarkhani
Dhaka · বাকরখানিFlaky, crisp layered bread baked in clay ovens, Old Dhaka's breakfast with tea.
Food Chawkbazar Iftar Market
Dhaka · চকবাজারের ইফতারOld Dhaka's oldest Ramadan food market, famous for boro baper polay khay and shahi jilapi.
Food Beauty Lassi and Falooda
Dhaka · বিউটির লাচ্ছি-ফালুদাA family shop on Johnson Road that has served lassi and lemon sherbet since 1922.
Food Geneva Camp Kebab and Chaap
Dhaka · জেনেভা ক্যাম্পের কাবাব-চাপEvening grills of beef chaap, gurda and khiri kebab outside the Bihari camp in Mohammadpur.
Food Fuchka and Chotpoti
Dhaka · ফুচকা-চটপটিDhaka's favourite street snack: crisp shells filled with spiced peas and tamarind water.
Food Siddhirganj Doi and Kacha Chhana
Narayanganj · সিদ্ধিরগঞ্জের দই ও কাঁচা ছানাThick, set yoghurt and soft fresh chhana from a sweet shop trading since 1950.
Food Nizam's Sweets of Ghior
Manikganj · ঘিওরের নিজামের মিষ্টিA mawa-coated chhana sweet made at Terosree bazar in Ghior since the mid-1960s.
Food Bhagyakul Sweets
Munshiganj · ভাগ্যকুলের মিষ্টিRich, milky sweets from Bhagyakul in Sreenagar, a byword for good mishti in Bikrampur.
Food Munshiganj Patkhir
Munshiganj · মুন্সীগঞ্জের পাতক্ষীরThick reduced-milk khir set in leaf-lined pots, a Bikrampur sweet with GI status.
Food Louhajang Rosogolla
Munshiganj · লৌহজংয়ের রসগোল্লাSoft, milky rosogolla served hot from the pot in the bazars of Louhajang.
Food Porabari Chomchom
Tangail · পোড়াবাড়ির চমচমTangail's famous chomchom: dense, reddish-brown, lightly crusted and sweet to the core.
Winter
Dec – Jan
Place Lalbagh Fort
Dhaka · লালবাগ কেল্লাAn unfinished 17th-century Mughal fort with lawns, a tomb and a mosque, a calm green pocket in Old Dhaka.
Place Ahsan Manzil
Dhaka · আহসান মঞ্জিলThe pink riverside palace of the Dhaka Nawabs, now a museum facing the busy Buriganga.
Place Star Mosque (Tara Masjid)
Dhaka · তারা মসজিদA small mosque in Armanitola covered in star-patterned mosaic made from broken china.
Place Sadarghat and the Buriganga
Dhaka · সদরঘাট ও বুড়িগঙ্গাDhaka's chaotic river port, where multi-deck launches leave for the south and wooden boats ferry people across.
Hidden place ▶ Video Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection
Dhaka · আর্মেনিয়ান গির্জাA quiet 18th-century church and graveyard that recalls Dhaka's small Armenian merchant community.
Food Old Dhaka Biryani
Dhaka · পুরান ঢাকার বিরিয়ানিRich, aromatic biryani from shops that have cooked the same recipe in Old Dhaka for generations.
Food Bakarkhani
Dhaka · বাকরখানিFlaky, crisp layered bread baked in clay ovens, Old Dhaka's breakfast with tea.
Tradition Shakrain Kite Festival
Dhaka · সাকরাইন উৎসবEach January, Old Dhaka's rooftops fill with kites, music and fire-breathers to mark the end of Poush.
Food Chawkbazar Iftar Market
Dhaka · চকবাজারের ইফতারOld Dhaka's oldest Ramadan food market, famous for boro baper polay khay and shahi jilapi.
Food Beauty Lassi and Falooda
Dhaka · বিউটির লাচ্ছি-ফালুদাA family shop on Johnson Road that has served lassi and lemon sherbet since 1922.
Food Geneva Camp Kebab and Chaap
Dhaka · জেনেভা ক্যাম্পের কাবাব-চাপEvening grills of beef chaap, gurda and khiri kebab outside the Bihari camp in Mohammadpur.
Food Fuchka and Chotpoti
Dhaka · ফুচকা-চটপটিDhaka's favourite street snack: crisp shells filled with spiced peas and tamarind water.
Spring
Feb – Mar
Place Lalbagh Fort
Dhaka · লালবাগ কেল্লাAn unfinished 17th-century Mughal fort with lawns, a tomb and a mosque, a calm green pocket in Old Dhaka.
Place Ahsan Manzil
Dhaka · আহসান মঞ্জিলThe pink riverside palace of the Dhaka Nawabs, now a museum facing the busy Buriganga.
Place Star Mosque (Tara Masjid)
Dhaka · তারা মসজিদA small mosque in Armanitola covered in star-patterned mosaic made from broken china.
Hidden place ▶ Video Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection
Dhaka · আর্মেনিয়ান গির্জাA quiet 18th-century church and graveyard that recalls Dhaka's small Armenian merchant community.
Food Old Dhaka Biryani
Dhaka · পুরান ঢাকার বিরিয়ানিRich, aromatic biryani from shops that have cooked the same recipe in Old Dhaka for generations.
Food Bakarkhani
Dhaka · বাকরখানিFlaky, crisp layered bread baked in clay ovens, Old Dhaka's breakfast with tea.
Food Chawkbazar Iftar Market
Dhaka · চকবাজারের ইফতারOld Dhaka's oldest Ramadan food market, famous for boro baper polay khay and shahi jilapi.
Food Beauty Lassi and Falooda
Dhaka · বিউটির লাচ্ছি-ফালুদাA family shop on Johnson Road that has served lassi and lemon sherbet since 1922.
Food Geneva Camp Kebab and Chaap
Dhaka · জেনেভা ক্যাম্পের কাবাব-চাপEvening grills of beef chaap, gurda and khiri kebab outside the Bihari camp in Mohammadpur.
Food Fuchka and Chotpoti
Dhaka · ফুচকা-চটপটিDhaka's favourite street snack: crisp shells filled with spiced peas and tamarind water.
Place National Martyrs' Memorial, Savar
Dhaka · জাতীয় স্মৃতিসৌধ, সাভারSeven concrete triangles rising to a point, the national monument to those who died in 1971.
Hidden place ▶ Video Baldha Garden
Dhaka · বলধা গার্ডেনA small, walled old botanical garden in Wari, full of rare plants and quiet corners.