Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.
Prices here are about 25% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
At short notice, strikes and political unrest can occur, and some governments urge caution. Read the travel advice from your own government plus other advisories shortly before booking and once more before flying, and keep contact details for your embassy or for whichever country represents yours. Some areas, such as Rohingya camps near Cox's Bazar, require special permits; your operator can advise.
What is required depends on your passport, so consult the official site below. Sources say that visa applicants go to a Bangladeshi embassy or, where permitted, get one on arrival, possibly after an online pre-application. A Bangladeshi embassy, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, can confirm the rules, so ask before booking, and rely on government sites alone. Carry a return ticket, hotel details and a passport with 6 months of validity.
Hospitable and densely populated, Bangladesh is Muslim-majority. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees (women may carry a scarf). Eat and hand things over with the right hand. The greeting is 'Assalamu alaikum'. Friday-Saturday is the weekend, and alcohol is restricted. In daylight during Ramadan, avoid eating or drinking in public. Seek permission before photographing people, particularly women; military and government sites must not be photographed. Allow extra time for the very heavy traffic in Dhaka. Floods come with the monsoon (June-September), and a licensed operator should be used for visiting the Sundarbans. Only bottled water should be drunk. Halal food is available everywhere.
999 for police, ambulance and fire.
The taka is Bangladesh's currency. Canadian advice says credit card and ATM fraud is common, especially in Dhaka, so anyone handling a card should be watched, the PIN pad covered, machines in public areas or inside banks used, and statements checked. Funds above a set limit must be declared on entry or exit, and visitors cannot leave with more US dollars than they declared.
Under UK advice, a liquor permit may be needed to drink alcohol, and it allows drinking in government-licensed bars. Some drug offences can carry life imprisonment or the death penalty, both governments say. Canadian advice says photographing government offices, airports, military sites, official residences and demonstrations is illegal. Both advise modest dress and carrying copies of the passport and visa; UK advice adds that women should cover shoulders and legs in public. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Bangladeshi law.
For taxis, Canadian advice recommends registered ones arranged through a hotel. UK advice says police often cannot check private hire drivers' details because driving records are inaccurate, and it names taxi fee overcharging among the risks at Dhaka and Sylhet airports, which is why it suggests arranging taxis in advance.
Ride-hailing apps such as Uber exist in Bangladesh, but UK advice says drivers generally accept cash only. Before getting in, it suggests checking that the registration plate and the driver's photo agree with what the app shows, and telling someone the details of your journey.
Among the airport risks at Dhaka and Sylhet, UK advice lists harassment and taxi fee overcharging, and it says to steer clear of touts who offer to carry bags. Canadian advice says to turn down unrequested help with transport or luggage, and adds that fraud involving credit cards and ATMs takes place, particularly in Dhaka.
local government
Helps with: Police unit set up to give security to tourists and protect tourist spots. Its website has a tourist helpline page and a 'Please Help Me' button item. Its phone numbers could not be confirmed here.
Who qualifies: Tourists, local and foreign, at tourist spots in Bangladesh.
local government
Helps with: Bangladesh's national emergency service number, shown on the Bangladesh Tourism Board site together with 333 for government information and services and 102 for the fire service hotline.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Bangladesh facing an emergency, including visitors.
Phone: 999
local government
Helps with: Bangladesh's national tourism organisation. Its contact page gives an office address in Dhaka, a phone number and an email address for tourism enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Bangladesh or planning a trip there.
Phone: +88-02-41024234
Email: [email protected]
Address: Paryatan Bhaban, E-5 C/1, West Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Administrative Area, Dhaka 1207
ngo
Helps with: Bangladesh's national Red Crescent society. Its headquarters in Dhaka lists a main phone line, a hotline open 9 am to 4 pm and a blood hotline.
Who qualifies: People in Bangladesh who need its humanitarian, disaster or blood services.
Phone: +88 02 48310188
Address: 684-686 Red Crescent Sarak, Bara Maghbazar, Dhaka 1217
un agency
Helps with: The UN migration agency, working in Bangladesh since 1998 on migration management, crisis response and international cooperation. It is based at UN House in Dhaka.
Who qualifies: Migrants and partners working on migration in Bangladesh. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +88 02 55051751
Address: UN House, House 1, Road 86 & 88, Gulshan 2, Dhaka 1212
Cox's BazarAn extremely long sandy beach along the Bay of Bengal, sunsets and fresh seafood make this the seaside holiday spot most loved in the country.Photo: Syedhasibulhasan, CC BY-SA 4.0
DhakaRickshaws, crowded bazaars, Lalbagh Fort and Old Dhaka's mosques and river ghats fill this busy capital, which is also the main gateway.Photo: AshiqJB007, CC0
SundarbansRich birdlife, crocodiles, spotted deer and the Bengal tiger live in this UNESCO-listed mangrove forest, which is explored by boat.Photo: Shihabur Rahman, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sylhet and SrimangalTea estates roll across this green region, and the freshwater swamp forest of Ratargul and river scenery lie near the Indian border.Photo: Sharifsufian, CC BY-SA 4.0
St. Martin's IslandFerries from Teknaf reach the only coral island in Bangladesh, where the water is clear and coconut palms and quiet beaches await.Photo: Crysis Rubel, cropped by JamesA, CC BY 2.0
BagerhatThe Sixty Dome Mosque, a many-domed building from the 15th century, is the best-known sight of this UNESCO-listed historic mosque city.Photo: Faisallutpat2, CC BY 4.0
culture
A parade and celebrations at national level take place.
culture
Across Dhaka, bright parades and fairs are held.
culture
A parade and celebrations at national level take place.