Flights from Riyadh to Dhaka

Dhaka on the Buriganga river

Like many ancient cities, Dhaka is set beside a river, which gives its many old mosques and temples a romantic and magical feel. The capital of modern Bangladesh, Dhaka is a buzzing business and trade centre.

Dhaka - when go?

Dhaka has a tropical, Monsoon climate, and from May to September it's also stormy as well as wet. Visit anytime from mid-September till March for the best weather.

Dhaka events

The Dhaka Art Summit is in February. Chobi Mela, a photography festival, is held at the end of January; and Dhaka World Music Festival takes place in February - making this a good winter destination. The Islamic festivals are celebrated as are the Hindu Festivals, for which dates vary so it's wise to check before you go.

Dhaka - before you go

You will need a visa if you're British. Apply at the Bangladesh High Commission, and note that British Passports should be valid for the length of your stay.

Before you set off, make sure you're up to date on inoculations, especially Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid. Consider the following vaccinations as well: Cholera, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis and Rabies. However, luckily, there's only a low risk of malaria in Dhaka.

Bengali is the main language in Dhaka, but Urdu and Hindu are also spoken by a number of people and some can also speak English. The food is great and often vegetarian and much cheaper than the UK, a restaurant meal costs from ca. Tk 60. Try the Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara areas for upmarket restaurants.

Getting into town and local transport

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is 20 km north of Dhaka. There's a Public Airport Bus from airport road, just outside the airport. It's around BDT 10 to go to Gulistan Bus station in the centre of the city. However, buses are often overcrowded, so avoid taking a bus if you have a lot of luggage. A taxi would be about BDT 400, and takes roughly 30 minutes to reach the centre of the city; agree with the driver about the exact fare before setting off.

The airport departure tax of BDT300 is often included in ticket prices, but check to make sure.

Once you are there, it will be about Tk 60 for a cheap hotel room and around Tk 4,100 for a mid priced room.

Getting around Dhaka is easy. Cycle rickshaws cost between about Tk 30 to 50 (15 minutes), but the fares are best agreed upon before the journey. Auto rickshaws are metered and fares will amount to about TK 150-250 for 8 kimolemtres, Tk 25 for first 2 km then Tk 7 per km. Taxis are also metered, but still negotiate and note that yellow taxis have air conditioning. Traffic can be very heavy, so plan extra time for journeys if you have an appointment.