Dhaka — Neighborhood Guide
Old Dhaka — the Mughal city of Nawab Shaista Khan — is where the city's history lives: the Lalbagh Fort's garden mausoleums, the Ahsan Manzil's pink Italianate façade above the Buriganga, and a street-food culture of astonishing richness.
Quick Answer
Old Dhaka — the Mughal city of Nawab Shaista Khan — is where the city's history lives: the Lalbagh Fort's garden mausoleums, the Ahsan Manzil's pink Italianate façade above the Buriganga, and a street-food culture of astonishing richness.
5 hotels reviewed · Price range: $, $$$$, $$$ · Last updated March 2026
About This Guide
Puran Dhaka's lanes are among the most intense urban experiences in South Asia — rickshaws three abreast on streets barely wide enough for two, spice merchants and weaving workshops and temple courtyards in compressed sequence. The Shakhari Bazar conch-shell workers, the Armenian Church, and the Buriganga River ghats at dawn are among Bangladesh's most rewarding experiences for the committed traveller.
Insider Tips
Hire a local guide for Old Dhaka — the lanes require both navigation and cultural context to fully appreciate.
The boat journey from Sadarghat across the Buriganga at sunset is one of Dhaka's essential experiences.
Biryani at one of the old Dhaka specialist restaurants (Hajir Biryani is legendary) is a culinary pilgrimage.
Our Picks
5 hotels · Updated February 2026
Motijheel
Named for the liberation year, Hotel 71 is Dhaka's most historically resonant mid-range property — a smart, contemporary hotel in the commercial heart of Motijheel, priced at a fraction of the Gulshan properties and consistently well-reviewed for its clean rooms, attentive Bangladeshi service, and central positioning near the historic buildings of the old commercial district.
Kawran Bazar
The Pan Pacific Sonargaon is Dhaka's most established five-star landmark — a 28-floor tower in the commercial heart of the city that has hosted every head of state visiting Bangladesh since it opened in 1981. The rooftop restaurant, the heated pool, and the 24-hour room service of international standard make it the most dependable luxury address in the country for business travellers.
Gulshan
The Amari Dhaka is the finest new hotel in Gulshan — a contemporary Thai-brand property that brings Amari's signature warmth and design sensibility to Dhaka's diplomatic district. The rooftop pool and bar are the most scenic in the city; the Mosaic restaurant's international and Bangladeshi menus are consistently excellent; and the location on the Gulshan 2 circle is among the most convenient in the city.
Minto Road
Occupying a landmark position near the diplomatic enclave, the InterContinental Dhaka is the city's most architecturally polished luxury property — a recent renovation has brought it fully into the contemporary luxury tier, with rooms of generous proportions, a well-equipped spa, and the Café Bazar restaurant's buffets widely regarded as the finest in the city.
The Radisson Blu Water Garden is Dhaka's most distinctive hotel — a series of pavilions set around a 3-hectare artificial lake in Uttara, just 10 minutes from the airport. The lake-view rooms, outdoor swimming pool, and extensive meeting facilities make it the primary choice for business events and airport-convenience stays in the city.
Common Questions
Old Dhaka rewards the adventurous traveller who is comfortable with intense urban environments — it is not recommended as a hotel base but essential as a day-trip from Gulshan.
Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil palace museum, Shakhari Bazar, the Star Mosque, and the Buriganga River boat life.
Approximately 45 minutes from Gulshan by taxi or CNG auto-rickshaw; river boat taxis from Sadarghat are a wonderful way to approach Old Dhaka.
More Destinations
Prices and availability change daily. Lock in the best rate by booking early — most of our top picks offer free cancellation.
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