Destinations
Every corner of Bangladesh, mapped for you
8 divisions and 64 districts — from the capital's five-star towers to tea estates, mangrove forests and the hill tracts. Pick a base, then find the stays worth booking.
Most visited
Dhaka Division
The capital region: Dhaka city, the old capital Sonargaon, Gazipur’s forest resorts, the Padma Bridge and the weaving towns of Tangail and Narayanganj.
- Dhaka Bangladesh's capital on the Buriganga: Mughal and colonial Old Dhaka, Louis Kahn's parliament, national museums, a famous food scene and most of the country's international hotels. 90 stays
- Faridpur Padma-side district south-west of Dhaka, known for jute and for Palli Kabi Jasimuddin’s house, the Pathrail Mosque and the terracotta Mathurapur Deul.
- Gazipur Dhaka's green northern neighbour: Bhawal's sal forest, Gazipur Safari Park and dozens of weekend resorts within two hours of the capital, beside a large garment-industry belt. 17 stays
- Gopalganj Low-lying river district on the Madhumati with beels and boat routes, best known as the home district of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his memorial complex at Tungipara.
- Kishoreganj Gateway to the north-eastern haors: the Itna–Mithamain–Austagram road across the wetlands, monsoon boat trips from Nikli and the vast Sholakia Eid congregation.
- Madaripur Padma-delta district south of the river with Shakuni Lake, the Shah Madar shrine and the Auliapur indigo kuthi; now an easy drive from Dhaka over the Padma Bridge.
- Manikganj River district west of Dhaka where the Baliati zamindar palace complex and the Teota estate make an easy heritage day trip from the capital.
- Munshiganj Historic Bikrampur and the Dhaka side of the Padma Bridge: Idrakpur Fort, the Baba Adam Mosque, Mawa’s fried-hilsa ghats and river-view resorts.
- Narayanganj Riverside district east of Dhaka: the medieval capital Sonargaon with Panam City, jamdani weaving villages and the Shitalakshya port city of Narayanganj. 4 stays
- Narsingdi Textile district north-east of Dhaka on the Old Brahmaputra and Meghna, home to the Wari-Bateshwar excavations of an early historic fortified town. 1 stays
- Rajbari Small Padma-side district known for the Goalanda and Daulatdia ferry ghats, the Godar Bazar riverbank and the grave of writer Mir Mosharraf Hossain.
- Shariatpur Char-land district between the Padma and Meghna, named after Haji Shariatullah; the southern approach of the Padma Bridge runs through its Jajira upazila.
- Tangail Large district north-west of Dhaka, famous for Tangail saris and Porabari chomchom, the zamindar houses of Mohera and Delduar, Madhupur forest and the Jamuna Bridge. 2 stays
Chattogram Division
Bangladesh's coast and hills: Cox's Bazar beach, Saint Martin's Island, the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari, and the port city of Chattogram.
- Bandarban Bangladesh's highest hill country: Nilgiri and Nilachal viewpoints, the Golden Temple, Boga Lake and Nafakhum falls, with Marma, Bawm and Mro villages along the Sangu. 9 stays
- Brahmanbaria Titas river district beside the Tripura border with a strong musical heritage and the Akhaura land port; rarely on tourist routes.
- Chandpur River-port town at the Padma–Meghna confluence, famed for hilsa; launches from Dhaka’s Sadarghat make it a classic short river journey.
- Chattogram Bangladesh's second city and main seaport between hills and the Karnaphuli: Patenga beach, Foy's Lake, shrines and the gateway to the Hill Tracts and Cox's Bazar. 17 stays
- Cox's Bazar The country's favourite seaside: a beach of well over 100 km, Marine Drive, Himchari, Inani and boats to Saint Martin's Island, with Bangladesh's largest choice of beach resorts. 43 stays
- Cumilla The old Tipperah capital east of Dhaka: Buddhist ruins at Mainamati and Shalban Vihara, a Commonwealth war cemetery, khadi cloth and rasmalai. 1 stays
- Feni Small district on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway with the Muhuri Project reservoir and Bijoy Singh Dighi; mostly a stop on the way south. 1 stays
- Khagrachhari Hill Tracts district with the Alutila cave, Richhang and Hazachhara waterfalls, and the road that leads up to Sajek Valley.
- Lakshmipur Meghna-estuary district south-east of Dhaka known for coconuts, betel nut and soybeans, with char lands along the river; few visitors.
- Noakhali Coastal district at the Meghna mouth whose Hatiya upazila includes Nijhum Dwip, an island national park known for spotted deer and winter birds. 1 stays
- Rangamati Lake district of the Hill Tracts: boat trips across Kaptai Lake, the hanging bridge, Rajban Vihara, Shuvolong falls and the ridge-top resorts of Sajek Valley. 1 stays
Rajshahi Division
North-western heartland of ancient Bengal: Paharpur and Mahasthangarh, the Puthia temples, Natore palaces, Padma-side Rajshahi and the mango orchards of Chapainawabganj.
- Bogura North Bengal trading town and gateway to Mahasthangarh, the oldest known urban site in Bangladesh; famous for its sweet yoghurt (doi). 3 stays
- Chapainawabganj Mango country on the Indian border: the Choto Sona Mosque and other monuments of medieval Gaur, and huge orchards of Fazli and Langra mangoes.
- Joypurhat Small farming district north of Bogura with a large sugar mill and the archaeological mounds of Pathar Ghata and Lakma; rarely visited.
- Naogaon Home of the Paharpur Buddhist Vihara (Somapura Mahavihara, UNESCO), plus the Kusumba Mosque and the Dibar Dighi stone pillar.
- Natore Known for the Natore Rajbari, the Uttara Ganabhaban palace at Dighapatia, the Chalan Beel wetland and kanchagolla sweets.
- Pabna Padma-side district with the Hardinge Bridge at Paksey, the Jor Bangla temple and Sitlai zamindar house; mostly seen in transit. 2 stays
- Rajshahi Green Padma-side city of silk, mangoes and universities, with the Varendra Research Museum, a long river promenade and the Puthia temples nearby. 8 stays
- Sirajganj Jamuna riverbank district with the Jamuna Bridge, Tagore’s Shahzadpur Kachharibari and one of the largest handloom weaving clusters in the country.
Khulna Division
The south-west: Sundarbans mangrove cruises from Khulna and Mongla, the Mosque City of Bagerhat, Lalon’s shrine in Kushtia and the Benapole road to Kolkata.
- Bagerhat The UNESCO-listed Mosque City of Bagerhat, with the Sixty Dome Mosque and Khan Jahan Ali’s monuments, and the eastern gateway to the Sundarbans via Mongla.
- Chuadanga Small border district with the Darshana sugar mill and Carew & Co distillery, and quiet farming country on the Mathabhanga river.
- Jashore South-western hub with an airport, Michael Madhusudan Dutt’s birthplace at Sagardari and the Benapole land border on the road to Kolkata. 4 stays
- Jhenaidah Farming district with the Barobazar mosque ruins, the Shailkupa Mosque and one of Asia’s largest banyan trees at Mallikpur.
- Khulna Bangladesh's third city on the Rupsha and the main base for Sundarbans cruises, now well connected to Dhaka by road and rail over the Padma Bridge. 7 stays
- Kushtia Cultural district on the Gorai: the shrine of mystic poet Lalon Shah at Cheuria and Rabindranath Tagore’s Kuthibari at Shilaidaha.
- Magura Quiet Nabaganga river district between Jashore and Faridpur, with farmland, rural temples and few visitor facilities.
- Meherpur Small border district home to the Mujibnagar memorial, where the provisional government of Bangladesh was sworn in on 17 April 1971.
- Narail Chitra river district, home of painter S. M. Sultan, whose house and museum stand on the riverbank in Narail town. 1 stays
- Satkhira South-western border district whose Shyamnagar upazila gives access to the western Sundarbans; known for shrimp farms and mangoes.
Barishal Division
River and delta country: overnight launches from Dhaka, floating guava markets, Durga Sagar, Bhola island and the sunrise-and-sunset beach of Kuakata.
- Barguna Coastal district on the Bay of Bengal with the Tengragiri mangrove forest and quiet beaches; low-key and rarely visited.
- Barishal The 'Venice of Bengal': rivers and canals, the Durga Sagar tank, the Guthia Mosque and floating guava markets nearby, reached overnight by launch from Dhaka. 1 stays
- Bhola Bangladesh's largest island, in the Meghna estuary, with the Char Kukri Mukri mangrove sanctuary and Monpura island; known for buffalo-milk curd.
- Jhalokati Small river district with the floating guava market at Bhimruli and zamindar houses at Kirtipasha; best visited by boat in July and August.
- Patuakhali Southern coastal district whose Kuakata beach lets you watch both sunrise and sunset over the sea, with Rakhine villages and the Fatrar Char forest nearby. 7 stays
- Pirojpur River district on the Baleshwar and Kocha with the floating guava market at Atghar-Kuriana and old zamindar houses.
Sylhet Division
Tea country and wetlands in the north-east: Sreemangal's estates, Lawachara forest, Ratargul, Jaflong, Tanguar Haor and the country's best-known luxury resorts.
- Habiganj Tea and forest district on the Dhaka–Sylhet highway: Satchari National Park, Rema-Kalenga wildlife sanctuary and some of the country’s largest luxury resorts. 1 stays
- Moulvibazar Tea-estate heartland around Sreemangal: Lawachara forest, Madhabkunda waterfall, Hakaluki Haor and the best range of tea-garden resorts in Bangladesh. 10 stays
- Sunamganj Haor country under the Meghalaya hills: houseboat trips on Tanguar Haor, Niladri Lake, Barikka Tila and the songs of mystic poet Hason Raja. 1 stays
- Sylhet Sylhet city’s shrines and tea estates plus Jaflong, Ratargul swamp forest, Bichanakandi and Lalakhal near the Meghalaya border, served by an international airport. 29 stays
Rangpur Division
The far north: the Kantajew Temple and Ramsagar in Dinajpur, Tajhat Palace in Rangpur, Teesta Barrage and Kanchenjunga views from Tetulia in Panchagarh.
- Dinajpur North-western district famous for the terracotta Kantajew Temple, the huge Ramsagar tank, Dinajpur Rajbari, fragrant rice and litchis.
- Gaibandha Brahmaputra and Teesta char district north of Bogura; rarely visited, with riverside villages and old zamindar houses. 1 stays
- Kurigram Remote river district where the Brahmaputra enters Bangladesh, with the Chilmari river port and wide char islands.
- Lalmonirhat Teesta-side border district with the Teesta Barrage at Dalia and the Tin Bigha corridor to the Dahagram–Angarpota enclave.
- Nilphamari North-western district with the Nilsagar tank, the railway town of Saidpur and its airport, the gateway to the far north. 1 stays
- Panchagarh Northernmost district: Tetulia’s views of Kanchenjunga on clear autumn mornings, flatland tea gardens and the Banglabandha land port.
- Rangpur Divisional capital of the north with the Tajhat Palace museum, Begum Rokeya’s birthplace at Pairaband and the shatranji rug weavers of Nisbetganj. 3 stays
- Thakurgaon Quiet north-western district known for the giant Surjapuri mango tree at Baliadangi and the Jamalpur zamindar mosque.
Mymensingh Division
Brahmaputra plains and Garo hills: Mymensingh’s riverside city, Birishiri and the Someshwari in Netrokona, Gazni in Sherpur and nakshi kantha in Jamalpur.
- Jamalpur Brahmaputra and Jamuna district known for nakshi kantha embroidery, the Gandhi Ashram at Melandah and the Lauchapra hill park near the border.
- Mymensingh Old Brahmaputra city with Shashi Lodge, the Zainul Abedin art museum and the agricultural university campus; gateway to the Garo hills. 2 stays
- Netrokona Hill-and-haor district whose Durgapur–Birishiri area offers the Someshwari river, Bijoypur’s china-clay lakes and Garo and Hajong culture.
- Sherpur Garo hills border district with the Gazni and Madhutila eco parks among sal forests; a local weekend destination rarely seen by foreigners.