Dhaka City Tour: Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil & Star Mosque

Walk through four centuries of Dhaka's architecture, from a 17th-century fortress to a 19th-century palace on the river.

A private full-day tour of Dhaka covering six major sites — Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Sadarghat river port, Ahsan Manzil palace, Star Mosque, Armenian Church, and Lalbagh Fort — with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, lunch and all entry fees. The tour runs nine hours and includes a one-hour boat ride on the Buriganga River. Lalbagh Fort closes Sundays and Mondays; Ahsan Manzil closes Thursdays.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Dhaka city sightseeing

• Hotel pick-up at 8:00 am
• Visit Baitul Mukarram Mosque
• Explore Sadarghat riverfront
• Enjoy one hour boat ride on Buriganga river
• Visit Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace)
• See Star Mosque with blue star motifs
• Visit Armenian Church in Armanitola
• Tour Lalbagh Fort historical site
• Visit Dhakeshwari Temple
• See Shaheed Minar monument
• Visit Curzon Hall at University of Dhaka

The Experience

Your driver picks you up at 8:00 am from your Dhaka hotel and takes you first to Baitul Mukarram Mosque, the national mosque of Bangladesh. Completed in 1968, it holds 30,000 worshippers and ranks as the 10th largest mosque in the world. From there you head to Sadarghat, the bustling river port on the Buriganga, where you board a boat for a one-hour ride through the water traffic and activity that defines this stretch of the city.

The afternoon moves through Old Dhaka's architectural landmarks. Ahsan Manzil, also called the Pink Palace, was the residence of the Nawabs of Dhaka and sits on the riverbank; it is one of Bangladesh's most significant architectural heritage sites. Next is the Star Mosque (Tara Masjid), built in the first half of the 19th century and decorated with ornate blue star motifs throughout its design. A short walk away stands the Armenian Church, a 17th- and 18th-century monument that marks where an Armenian community once lived in the city. Lalbagh Fort, the incomplete Mughal fortress begun in 1678 by Prince Muhammad Azam, closes the day with its tomb of Pari Bibi, mosque, audience hall and bathing place — all built into a 17th-century palace complex.

You also visit Dhakeshwari Temple, an important Hindu shrine dedicated to the goddess Dhakeshwari, the Shaheed Minar national monument commemorating the 1952 Bengali Language Movement, and Curzon Hall, a British Raj-era building from 1904 now part of the University of Dhaka. A tasty Bengali lunch is included midday. Your guide speaks English throughout, and the air-conditioned vehicle handles all transport between sites. Hotel drop-off happens at the end of the nine hours.

What’s included

• Transport by air-conditioned private vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• English-speaking tour guide for the full nine hours.
• tasty Bengali lunch.
• Sadarghat boat ride.
• all entrance fees to Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Ahsan Manzil, Star Mosque, Armenian Church, Lalbagh Fort, Dhakeshwari Temple, Shaheed Minar and Curzon Hall.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by MAM Holidays Limited

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private vehicle and guide to move between Dhaka's main historical sites in one day, covering Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, Sadarghat, and the Star Mosque—just avoid Sundays and Mondays when Lalbagh Fort is closed.

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Top questions

What is Lalbagh Fort and when can I visit it?

Lalbagh Fort is a 17th-century Mughal palace fortress on the Buriganga River, begun in 1678 by Prince Muhammad Azam. It remains open Tuesday through Saturday; it closes Sundays and Mondays, so plan your tour date accordingly if this site is a priority.

Does the tour include a boat ride, and how long is it?

Yes, the tour includes a one-hour boat ride on the Buriganga River at Sadarghat, the river port in central Dhaka. You'll see the working waterfront and the city from the water.

What is the Star Mosque known for?

The Star Mosque, built in the first half of the 19th century, is decorated with ornate blue star motifs throughout its design. It stands in the Armanitola area of Old Dhaka and is one of the city's most visually distinctive religious sites.

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

Yes, a tasty Bengali lunch is included in the tour. It gives you a break midday and a chance to taste local cuisine without stopping to arrange a separate meal.

What time does the tour start and end?

Hotel pickup begins at 8:00 am. The full tour runs nine hours, so you return to your hotel in the late afternoon. Pickup and drop-off times may shift due to local traffic.

Do I need to pay for entry to the sites, or is that covered?

All entrance fees to the sites — Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Ahsan Manzil, Star Mosque, Armenian Church, Lalbagh Fort, Dhakeshwari Temple and the other stops — are included in the tour price.