Dhaka City Tour: 8 Stops from Parliament to Sadarghat Port

Ship Repairing Yard tour: see massive vessels dismantled by hand, a hidden side of Dhaka

An 8–10 hour guided tour of Dhaka covering eight stops: the National Parliament House, Dhakeshwari Temple, Lalbagh Fort, Star Mosque, Armenian Church, Shankhari Bazar, Sadarghat Port and Ahsan Manzil, plus the Ship Repairing Yard. A private vehicle with air conditioning, lunch and an English-speaking guide are included. Pickup is arranged. Minimum age is 17.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. National Parliament House20m
2. Dhakeshwari Temple20m · entry included
3. Lalbagh Fort40m · entry included
4. Star Mosque20m · entry included
5. Armenian Church30m
6. Sadarghat Port30m · entry included
7. Ahsan Manzil50m · entry included

Explore Dhaka's historic and cultural sites

• Visit National Parliament House
• Tour Dhakeshwari Temple
• Explore Lalbagh Fort
• See Star Mosque
• Visit Armenian Church
• Walk through Shankhari Bazar
• Experience Sadarghat Port and boat ride
• Tour Ahsan Manzil museum
• Explore Ship Repairing Yard

The experience

You start at the National Parliament House, an architectural landmark designed by Louis I. Kahn and surrounded by gardens and a lake: your guide walks you through the geometric logic of the building while you photograph the grounds. From there the tour moves through Dhaka's religious and cultural layers: the Dhakeshwari Temple, a 12th-century Hindu site still active with daily worship, then Lalbagh Fort, a 17th-century Mughal complex with the Tomb of Pari Bibi and a small museum of imperial artifacts. The Star Mosque in Old Dhaka stops you in front of intricate tilework: Japanese and Chinese tiles imported in the 18th century, arranged in star and floral patterns that fill the walls.

The Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection, built in 1781, sits quiet in the Old Dhaka streets with preserved tombstones and stained glass: a remnant of the Armenian community that once lived here. Shankhari Bazar, a narrow lane of centuries-old temples and colorful houses, immerses you in the Hindu artisan quarter where craft shops and street life move at the pace of the neighborhood. Then you reach Sadarghat, the river port on the Buriganga where hundreds of boats and launches load and unload passengers and cargo: a short boat ride here shows you how the city's transport actually moves. Ahsan Manzil, the 19th-century Pink Palace, rounds out the formal stops with its restored rooms, colonial-era furniture and riverside setting.

The Ship Repairing Yard is where the tour departs from the usual circuit. Laborers dismantle and repair massive vessels by hand using traditional methods. You watch the work happen on the riverbank, a raw look at the city's maritime industry and working-class life. Lunch is included during the day, and the air-conditioned vehicle moves you between stops. The tour runs 8 to 10 hours with an English-speaking guide who provides context for each site.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• lunch.
• an English-speaking guide.
• pickup from your location.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (17 to 85 years) · Under 17: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by beentours

Is this one for you?This is a private, guided tour, so you move at the pace the guide sets and stop where the itinerary goes. The eight sites are fixed, not chosen by you. Choose it if you want context and narrative for each place rather than the freedom to linger or skip. The guide's knowledge of Dhaka's history, architecture and working life is what makes the stops cohere into a single story instead of a list of sights.

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Top questions

What is the National Parliament House and why is it on this tour?

The National Parliament House is a 20th-century architectural masterpiece designed by American architect Louis I. Kahn, surrounded by gardens and a lake. It's included because it represents modern civic design and engineering, and the geometric layout is distinctive enough that a guide's explanation of it changes how you see the building.

Can I take photos at all eight stops on the Dhaka City Tour?

Yes. Ahsan Manzil, the Star Mosque, Lalbagh Fort and the National Parliament House are all photographed by visitors; the Armenian Church and Shankhari Bazar offer quieter, detailed shots; Sadarghat and the Ship Repairing Yard are visually dramatic and heavily photographed for their activity and scale.

What happens at Sadarghat and why is it worth a stop?

Sadarghat is one of the world's busiest river ports on the Buriganga River, where hundreds of boats and launches move passengers and goods daily. You take a short boat ride to see the scale of the operation and understand how the city's transport system actually functions on the water.

Is this tour good for a first visit to Dhaka?

Yes. The eight stops span Dhaka's religious sites, imperial history, colonial architecture, artisan quarters and working-class industry. You move through the city's layers in a single day with a guide explaining the context and significance of each place.

What is included in the tour price?

Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, lunch, and an English-speaking guide are all included. Pickup is arranged as part of the booking.