Private Dhaka City Tour: Old & New Highlights with Lunch

See Dhaka's colonial landmarks and riverfront life in one guided day

A private full-day tour of Dhaka with a local English-speaking guide covers the city's historic sites: Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil (the Pink Palace), Dhakeshwari Temple and Sadarghat waterfront, plus lunch and hotel pickup. The tour runs eight hours and includes entry to Ahsan Manzil. Lalbagh Fort closes Sundays and Ahsan Manzil closes Thursdays, so the itinerary adjusts to whichever day you book.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. National Parliament House30m
2. Ahsan Manzil1h · entry included
3. Lalbagh Fort2h · entry included
4. Dhakeshwari Temple30m
5. Sadarghat Port30m · entry included
6. Star Mosque15m
7. Armenian Church15m

Explore Dhaka's historic and cultural sites

• Visit National Parliament Building
• See Curzon Hall architecture
• Visit Language Martyrs Monument
• Tour Ahsan Manzil Pink Palace
• Explore Sadarghat Launch Terminal
• Visit Dhaka Shipyard
• Tour Lalbagh Fort
• Visit Dhakeswari Temple

The experience

The day starts at your hotel with pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle. Your guide leads you through Dhaka's layers: the National Parliament Building designed by Louis Kahn, Curzon Hall with its Renaissance and Indo-Saracenic blend, and the Language Martyrs Monument marking the 1952 Bangla language movement. These stops set the frame for what comes next: the older, deeper Dhaka along the river.

Lalbagh Fort stands incomplete on the Buriganga's bank, a 17th-century Mughal complex begun in 1678 by Muhammad Azam Shah, son of Emperor Aurangzeb. Ahsan Manzil, the Pink Palace, was the official residence of the Nawab of Dhaka and now operates as a national museum. Its Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture rises from the same riverbank where it was completed in 1872. Entry to Ahsan Manzil is included. Dhakeshwari Temple, built in the 12th century and said to be the namesake of the city itself, rounds out the cultural stops.

Sadarghat Launch Terminal brings you to the working riverfront: Bangladesh's busiest passenger port on the Buriganga, where ferries and launches move constantly. The Dhaka Shipyard nearby operates as a major industrial center for ship repair and vessel dismantling, employing hundreds of workers. Lunch is included during the tour. Bottled water travels with you, and parking fees are covered. The guide handles the route and timing so the day holds together without gaps.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with driver.
• local English-speaking guide for the full eight hours.
• entry fee to Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace).
• lunch.
• bottled water.
• parking fees.
• hotel pickup and return.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cholo Bangladesh Tours

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want a guide who knows the stories behind each stop and can adjust the route to your pace. The vehicle is yours alone, not shared with other travelers, so the timing stays flexible and the guide can linger where you're most interested. The eight-hour day covers more ground than a walking tour and reaches sites spread across Old and New Dhaka that would take much longer to navigate independently.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What happens if I want to visit Dhaka on a Thursday or Sunday?

Lalbagh Fort closes on Sundays and Ahsan Manzil closes Thursdays. If you book on either day, the guide will skip that site and substitute another stop so the tour still covers the full range of Dhaka's landmarks.

Does the tour include getting to and from my hotel?

Hotel pickup is included. The driver collects you at the start and returns you at the end of the eight-hour tour.

What is Ahsan Manzil and why is it worth seeing?

Ahsan Manzil, known as the Pink Palace, was the official residence and seat of the Nawab of Dhaka from 1872 onward. It now functions as a national museum and showcases Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture. Entry is included in the tour.

How much time do you spend at Sadarghat waterfront?

Sadarghat Launch Terminal is one of several stops on the itinerary. The guide takes you to the port to see Bangladesh's busiest passenger hub on the Buriganga River and observe the working riverfront life firsthand.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Lunch is included in the tour price. The specific restaurant or meal type is arranged by the operator based on the day's route and timing.

What is the Dhaka Shipyard and do we go inside?

The Dhaka Shipyard is a major industrial center on the Buriganga near Old Dhaka where ships are repaired and vessels are dismantled by hand. The tour passes by this working hub so you can see this vital part of the city's economy and employment.