Day Trips from Dhaka: 6 Places to Visit in a Day and Be Back by Evening
Six places you can visit from Dhaka in a day: Panam Nagar in Sonargaon, Baliati Zamindar Bari, the Padma Bridge and hilsa at Mawa, Bhawal and the Safari Park, Mainamati, and Narayanganj's Mughal forts. How to get there, how long it takes and what it costs.
- Places
- 6, 1–2.5 hours from Dhaka
- Cost
- ৳500–2,000 per person (one day)
- When to leave
- By 7–8 am
- Weekly closures
- Some museums and sites close one day a week
- Best time
- October–March
Trip ticket
One day off a week, no time to go far, but desperate to escape Dhaka's crowds? Within one to two and a half hours of the city are Mughal forts, a 19th-century merchants' town, zamindars' palaces, sal forest and the country's biggest bridge. Here are six places you can visit in a day and be back by evening, each with how to get there, how long to allow and what it costs.
1. Sonargaon: Panam Nagar and the Folk Art Museum
Distance: about 27 km, 1–1.5 hours · District: Narayanganj
Sonargaon was once the capital of Bengal. Its Panam Nagar is an abandoned street lined with the two- and three-storey houses of wealthy 19th-century merchants, ornate old buildings on both sides. There are few lovelier places near Dhaka for photos. Nearby, the Folk Art and Crafts Museum in Bara Sardar Bari has nakshi kantha, wood and clay crafts, and gardens around a lake.
- Getting there: a Meghna- or Madanpur-bound bus from Gulistan or Jatrabari to Mograpara Chourasta, then 2–3 km by rickshaw.
- Time: 3–4 hours
2. Manikganj: Baliati Zamindar Bari
Distance: about 65 km, 2–2.5 hours · District: Manikganj
Baliati Zamindar Bari in Saturia is a 19th-century palace of seven large buildings with a huge pond in front, now a Department of Archaeology museum. It's one of the most beautiful zamindar houses near Dhaka. With time, add Teota Zamindar Bari on the Jamuna in Shibalay, and river views and fresh fish at Aricha Ghat in the afternoon.
- Getting there: a bus from Gabtoli to Manikganj or Saturia, then an auto or CNG.
- Time: Baliati 2 hours; a full day with Teota and Aricha
3. Munshiganj: the Padma Bridge at Mawa, Idrakpur Fort, Arial Beel
Distance: about 35–40 km, 1 hour on the expressway · District: Munshiganj
Driving the expressway to Mawa to see the Padma Bridge and eat fried hilsa by the river is now one of Dhaka's favourite days out. Munshiganj town has Idrakpur Fort, built by Mir Jumla around 1660; Tongibari has the two tall Sonarang twin temples side by side; and Sreenagar has Arial Beel, a vast wetland in the monsoon.
- Getting there: a bus to Mawa from Gulistan or Jatrabari; separate buses or launches to Munshiganj town.
- Time: Mawa 2–3 hours; a full day with the fort and temples
4. Gazipur: Bhawal National Park, the Safari Park, Nuhash Polli
Distance: about 40–50 km, 1.5–2 hours · District: Gazipur
The best day out with family and children. Bhawal National Park at Rajendrapur, ringed by sal and gajari forest, is good for picnics and walks. The Safari Park at Sreepur has tigers, lions, zebras and giraffes in open enclosures, with safari drives. And at Pirujali is Nuhash Polli, author Humayun Ahmed's garden house, where he is buried.
- Getting there: a Mymensingh-road bus from Mohakhali to Rajendrapur or Bagher Bazar, then a CNG or auto.
- Time: the Safari Park 3–4 hours; all three in a full day
5. Cumilla: Mainamati
Distance: about 100 km, 2–2.5 hours · District: Cumilla
A bit further, but doable in a day. At Kotbari, the 7th–8th-century Shalban Vihara and the Mainamati Museum beside it; on the Cumilla–Sylhet highway, the Second World War Mainamati War Cemetery; and in town, the Dharmasagar pond. Don't forget rasmalai from Matribhandar on the way home.
- Getting there: a bus from Sayedabad to Cumilla (Asia, Tisha and others), then a CNG to Kotbari.
- Time: a full day
6. Narayanganj: the Mughal forts on the Shitalakshya
Distance: about 20 km, 1 hour · District: Narayanganj
The closest history for half a day. Hajiganj Fort, built by the Mughals on the Shitalakshya to fend off Magh and Portuguese pirates, and, across by ferry in Bandar, Sonakanda Fort with its tall gun platform. You can add Sonargaon on the same day.
- Getting there: a bus from Gulistan or a train from Kamalapur to Narayanganj, then a rickshaw and ferry.
- Time: 2–3 hours
Which one for whom
| You want | Go to |
|---|---|
| Photos and old architecture | Panam Nagar, Baliati |
| A day with children | The Safari Park, Bhawal |
| River and food | Mawa, Aricha Ghat |
| Ancient history | Mainamati, Idrakpur |
| Something close and quick | Narayanganj's forts, Panam Nagar |
Cost of a day trip
Per person, on public transport:
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Bus or train (return) | ৳150–600 |
| Rickshaws, autos, CNGs | ৳100–500 |
| Entry fees | ৳20–300 (more at the Safari Park) |
| Food | ৳250–600 |
| Total | ৳520–2,000 |
Hiring a car for the day usually costs ৳4,000–7,000 depending on distance; split among 4–6 people it works out about the same.
A few tips
- Bring water, a hat and comfortable shoes; most places involve walking
- Don't write on the walls of historic sites or climb on ruined parts
- Ask the price of hilsa at Mawa first
- Head back before dark; highway traffic builds up at night
Each place is covered in detail in the district guides: Narayanganj, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Gazipur, Cumilla. For a day inside the city, read Old Dhaka in one day.
Questions and answers
What are the best day trips from Dhaka?
Panam Nagar in Sonargaon, Baliati Zamindar Bari in Manikganj, the Padma Bridge at Mawa, the Safari Park and Bhawal in Gazipur, Mainamati in Cumilla and Narayanganj's Mughal forts.
How do I get to Panam Nagar?
A bus from Gulistan or Jatrabari to Mograpara Chourasta, then 2–3 km by rickshaw; an hour to an hour and a half in all.
Where can I take children near Dhaka?
Gazipur's Safari Park and Bhawal National Park are the best for families.
Can I visit Cumilla from Dhaka in a day?
Yes. Leave in the morning and you can see Shalban Vihara, the Mainamati Museum, the War Cemetery and Dharmasagar and be back by evening.
How much does a day trip cost?
On public transport, roughly ৳500 to ৳2,000 per person, depending on the place and entry fees.
See it on the map, plan your trip
Look up the places, routes and costs, then put your own trip together.
