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Mangrove forest in the Sundarbans

Travel guide · Rivers, mangroves, tea and the bustle of Dhaka

Travelling to Bangladesh

The bustle of Old Dhaka, the mangroves of the Sundarbans, the tea hills of Sylhet and Srimangal, and a cuisine of fish and spices. We tell you when to go, what to see and what to eat.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • Best time: from October to May
  • Where to eat: a Bengali restaurant or a street stall
Photo: Kingshuk Mondal · CC BY 4.0

Bangladesh in 30 seconds

  • The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Bangladesh are from October to May. If you can, avoid from June to September (monsoon).
  • To eat like a local: a Bengali restaurant or a street stall. Don’t leave without trying: Ilish, Kacchi biryani, Bhorta.

Bangladesh in November

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Bangladesh. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

More destinations for November

When to travel to Bangladesh

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Bangladesh are from October to May. If you can, avoid from June to September (monsoon).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun with strong warnings
  7. Jul with strong warnings
  8. Aug with strong warnings
  9. Sep with strong warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

More destinations for those dates: where to travel in January · where to travel in February · where to travel in March · where to travel in April

  • from June to September

    Monsoon

    Heavy rain and flooding; in April–May and October–November cyclones can hit the coast.

    What to do: The best time is November to February, dry and mild.

What to see in Bangladesh

The cities and areas most worth your time, with their highlights. Open each one for all the places, where to stay and its day trips.

  • Dhaka

    Dhaka

    A megacity of rickshaws and rivers, with Mughal Old Dhaka and a parliament by Louis Kahn.

    • Lalbagh Fort
    • Ahsan Manzil
    • Sadarghat
    • Star Mosque
    Dhaka guide
  • Sundarbans

    Sundarbans

    The largest mangrove forest in the world, home of the Bengal tiger, explored by boat.

    • Canals by boat
    • Bengal tiger
    • Irrawaddy dolphins
    • Spotted deer
    Sundarbans guide
  • Sylhet

    Sylhet

    Tea hills, a flooded forest and turquoise rivers in the north-east.

    • Ratargul Swamp Forest
    • Malnicherra Tea Estate
    • Lalakhal
    • Shrine of Shah Jalal
    Sylhet guide
  • Srimangal

    Srimangal

    The tea capital, among green hills, with gibbons in the forest and seven-layer tea.

    • Tea plantations
    • Lawachara National Park
    • Seven-layer tea
    • Madhabpur Lake
    Srimangal guide

Day trips and activities

What’s most worth booking from each city. We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

From Dhaka

From the Sundarbans

From Sylhet

From Srimangal

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

What to eat in Bangladesh

To eat like a local: a Bengali restaurant or a street stall, and order ilish or kacchi biryani. And don’t leave without trying:

  • Ilish

    The national fish, with mustard.

  • Kacchi biryani

    Rice with lamb, Dhaka-style.

  • Bhorta

    Spiced mashes of vegetables or fish.

  • Fuchka

    Crisp filled puffs.

  • Mishti doi

    Sweet yoghurt in a clay pot.

  • Cha

    Milky tea on every corner.

The typical dish of Bangladesh, at home

Shorshe ilish
Photo: রিজওয়ান আহমেদ · CC BY-SA 4.0

Shorshe ilish

Ilish, Bangladesh’s national fish, cooked in a sauce of ground mustard seeds with green chillies and mustard oil. It’s the great dish of Bengali cooking, especially in the monsoon.

  • Serves 4
  • 40 min

Ingredients

  • 4 thick steaks of ilish (or shad, or mackerel)
  • 3 tablespoons of yellow and black mustard seeds
  • 4 green chillies
  • 1 teaspoon of turmeric
  • 4 tablespoons of mustard oil (or sunflower oil)
  • Salt
  • 150 ml water

How to make it at home

  1. Rub the fish with salt and half a teaspoon of turmeric and leave it for 10 minutes.
  2. Soak the mustard seeds for 15 minutes and grind them with two chillies, a pinch of salt and a little water into a paste.
  3. Heat the oil and fry the fish for a minute on each side; set it aside.
  4. In the same oil, add the mustard paste, the rest of the turmeric and the water, and let it boil for 2 minutes.
  5. Put the fish in the sauce with the remaining chillies, slit open, cover and simmer gently for 6 to 8 minutes.

The trick: A drizzle of raw mustard oil on top when serving gives it its Bengali flavour.

The typical food of each city, with a recipe

Curious facts about Bangladesh

What guidebooks don’t tell you and will help you understand the country better.

  • Dhaka is the rickshaw capital of the world.
  • International Mother Language Day (21 February) was born here.
  • The Sundarbans are the largest mangrove forest in the world.
  • It’s one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
  • Jamdani muslin weaving is part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.
  • Its national anthem was written by Rabindranath Tagore, who also wrote India’s.

Traditions of Bangladesh

Customs and celebrations that will help you experience the country like a local.

  • 14 April Pohela Boishakh

    The Bengali New Year, with a procession that’s part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

  • 21 February Ekushey

    Mother Language Day.

  • Autumn Durga Puja

    The great Hindu festival.

  • Eid

    The end of Ramadan and the Feast of the Sacrifice.

What not to do in Bangladesh

First-trip mistakes that are easy to avoid.

  • Don’t go to the Chittagong Hill Tracts or the border with Myanmar: official travel advice warns against it.
  • Don’t go near demonstrations or strikes (hartals).
  • Don’t eat with your left hand.
  • Don’t wear revealing clothes: keep your shoulders and legs covered.
  • Don’t drink tap water.
  • Don’t photograph people without asking.

Before you go

Entry requirements depend on your passport and change: always check them with official sources before travelling.

Frequently asked questions about Bangladesh

What people search for most before travelling to Bangladesh.

What’s the best time to travel to Bangladesh?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Bangladesh are from October to May. If you can, avoid from June to September (monsoon).

What to see in Bangladesh in a week?

The essentials of Bangladesh: Dhaka, Sundarbans, Sylhet and Srimangal. How many places fit into your days, and in what order, depends on your dates and how you get around: the Bagintravel app plans your trip day by day in a minute.

What to eat in Bangladesh?

Ilish, Kacchi biryani, Bhorta, Fuchka, Mishti doi, Cha. To eat like a local: a Bengali restaurant or a street stall.

What is the typical dish of Bangladesh?

Shorshe ilish. Ilish, Bangladesh’s national fish, cooked in a sauce of ground mustard seeds with green chillies and mustard oil. It’s the great dish of Bengali cooking, especially in the monsoon.

What should you not do in Bangladesh?

Don’t go to the Chittagong Hill Tracts or the border with Myanmar: official travel advice warns against it. Don’t go near demonstrations or strikes (hartals). Don’t eat with your left hand.

Is it worth travelling to Bangladesh in November?

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Bangladesh. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Seasonal data, places and areas: the same ones the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Photos: cover, Kingshuk Mondal (CC BY 4.0). Dhaka, AshiqJB007 (CC0). Sundarbans, bri vos (CC BY 2.0). Sylhet, Sumon Mallick (CC BY-SA 4.0). Srimangal, Mar11 (CC BY-SA 4.0).