Old Dhaka and Ship Breaking Yard Day Trip with Local Guide

Walk the chaotic streets of Old Dhaka, then step into the working ship breaking yard where industrial life unfolds.

A 10-hour private tour of Old Dhaka and the ship breaking yard with a local English-speaking guide, starting with hotel pickup and moving through the narrow streets, historic temples and mosques, colonial landmarks, and the working port at Sadarghat before ending at the shipyard. Lunch and all activities are included. The tour suits all fitness levels and vegetarian meals are available on request.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ahsan Manzil1h · entry included
2. Armenian Church1h · entry included
3. Sadarghat Port2h · entry included
4. Lalbagh Fort1h · entry included
5. Star Mosque1h · entry included
6. National Parliament House30m
7. Dhakeshwari Temple30m · entry included

Explore Old Dhaka and Shipyard

• Visit Ship Breaking Yard
• Enter Central Mosque of Dhaka
• Tour Ahsan Manjil Museum
• See Armenian Church
• Explore Sadarghat Boat Terminal
• Try rowing boat crossing river
• Visit historical Hossaini Dalan
• Explore Lalbag Fort
• See Star Mosque
• Visit University of Dhaka building
• View National Parliament House outside
• See Dhakeshwari Temple

The experience

The narrow, winding streets of Old Dhaka are where the city's rhythm lives: crowded, layered, and built on centuries. A local guide leads you through this teeming quarter, stopping at Ahsan Manzil, the 19th-century Pink Palace that once housed Dhaka's royal family, and the Star Mosque with its intricate tilework. You'll see the Armenian Church, Lalbagh Fort (built in the Mughal period), and Dhakeshwari Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in the city. The National Parliament House (one of the world's largest legislative buildings) appears on the route, and you'll visit the Central Mosque of Dhaka, the 10th largest in the world.

Sadarghat Port is where the day shifts. You walk through the lively, colorful terminal, see the interior cabins and deck layout of working boats, and try rowing across the river yourself. Then comes the ship breaking yard: the industrial heart most visitors never reach. This is where Bangladesh's shipbuilding industry operates: vessels are dismantled, salvaged, rebuilt. Life happens here in a way that extends your sense of what a working city can be.

The tour runs 10 hours with a private vehicle, a local guide who speaks English, and lunch included. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off are part of the booking, as are all activities and local taxes. Vegetarian meals are available if you request them when you book.

What’s included

• Local English-speaking guide.
• buffet lunch with vegetarian option available.
• private vehicle transport.
• hotel or port pickup and drop-off.
• entry to all attractions and activities.
• local taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 69 years) · Senior (70 and older) · Youth (6 to 11 years) · Child (3 to 5 years): free · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by TaabuTour

Is this one for you?This tour works best for travelers who want to see Old Dhaka's historic core and are willing to spend a full day moving through crowded streets and industrial sites. The private vehicle and local guide mean you navigate the chaos with someone who knows the rhythms, but the pace is steady and the day is long.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 11 years); Child (3 to 5 years): free; Infant (under 3): free.

What is Ahsan Manzil and why is it called the Pink Palace?

Ahsan Manzil is a 19th-century mansion that served as a pleasure house for Dhaka's royal family and is now a museum. It is known as the Pink Palace because of its distinctive pink exterior and ornate architecture from that era.

Can I actually row a boat at Sadarghat Port?

Yes, the tour includes trying a rowing boat to cross the river at Sadarghat, so you get hands-on time on the water as part of the port visit.

What exactly happens at the ship breaking yard?

The ship breaking yard is an active industrial site where vessels are dismantled and salvaged for materials and parts. You explore this working environment as part of the tour to see how Bangladesh's shipbuilding industry operates.

Is lunch included, and can I eat vegetarian?

Lunch is included as a buffet. Vegetarian options are available if you let the operator know when you book.

How long is this tour and what time does it start?

The tour runs 10 hours total. Hotel or port pickup is included, though the specific start time should be confirmed when you book.