Bangladesh

Bangladesh is intense, warm, and surprisingly welcoming, especially if you like your travel a little unscripted. Dhaka’s traffic may be legendary, but so is the hospitality, and conversations with curious locals often become the highlight of a trip. To ease your arrival, sort your Hello eSIM before you land so your phone connects as soon as you switch it off airplane mode – useful for ride-hailing apps, maps, and translating.

Most travellers focus on a few key areas: Dhaka for history and chaos in equal measure, Cox’s Bazar for long sandy beaches, Sylhet and Srimangal for tea gardens and green hills, and the Sundarbans for mangrove forests and wildlife. It’s worth building in slower days; journeys can take longer than expected, especially by road.

Use Hello’s trip planning tools to map out city stays, internal flights, and river journeys in one place. A rough daily budget of 3,000–6,000 BDT (about 25–50 USD) covers mid-range stays, local meals, and transport for most travellers, though you can spend far less with street food and guesthouses. Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) outside beach areas, and carry a light scarf for religious sites. November to February is generally the most comfortable period, with cooler, drier weather ideal for exploring.

Moving around Bangladesh can be half the adventure. In cities, you’ll rely on a mix of cycle rickshaws, CNG-powered tuk-tuks, ride-hailing cars, and occasionally the Dhaka metro. Rickshaws are perfect for short hops; always agree a fare beforehand and keep small notes handy. Expect short rides to start around 30–60 BDT (roughly 0.30–0.60 USD).

For longer distances, intercity buses and trains link Dhaka with Chattogram, Sylhet, Khulna, and Rajshahi. Air-conditioned “business” or “executive” class buses are worth the small extra cost on bumpy roads. Trains are atmospheric but sell out on popular routes, so reserve in advance when possible. Domestic flights can save hours on routes like Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar or Dhaka–Sylhet.

One unforgettable experience is taking a paddle steamer or river boat overnight from Dhaka towards the south, watching life unfold along the banks. Bring a light jacket and earplugs; it can be cool and noisy.

Stay online with your Hello eSIM so you can check live traffic, share your route with friends, and show drivers your exact destination in Bangla script. If you’re travelling in a group, use Hello’s expense splitting to divide bus tickets and ride-hailing fares without awkward math at the roadside.

Bangladeshi food is hearty, fragrant, and often pleasantly fiery. In Dhaka’s Old Town, follow your nose to stalls serving kachchi biryani, beef or mutton slow-cooked with rice and spices in huge pots. A filling meal at a simple local restaurant can cost around 150–300 BDT (1.50–3 USD). Try panta bhat (fermented rice), hilsa fish curry, and bhorta – mashed vegetables or fish with mustard oil and chilies.

For snacks, look for fuchka (crispy puris filled with tamarind water), chotpoti (spiced chickpeas), and fresh sugarcane juice. In Sylhet and Srimangal, sit in a tea stall and order layered seven-colour tea – part performance, part drink. Save room for sweets: roshogolla, mishti doi (sweet yogurt), and chomchom are local favourites.

Stick to busy stalls where food is cooked fresh in front of you, and peel fruit yourself. Bottled water is widely available and cheap; many travellers avoid ice unless they trust the source. Use Hello’s budget tracking to keep an eye on your daily food spend in taka so you know when you can splurge on a rooftop dinner.

Groups can use Hello’s expense splitting for shared feasts – no need to work out who ate more biryani when everyone is full and sleepy.

The local currency is the Bangladeshi taka (BDT), and cash is still king outside high-end hotels and malls. ATMs are common in larger cities but less reliable in rural areas, so withdraw extra before heading to places like Srimangal or the Sundarbans. Many smaller shops and rickshaw drivers cannot break large notes, so collect 20, 50, and 100 BDT bills whenever you can.

Day-to-day costs are generally low: a simple guesthouse room might be 1,500–3,000 BDT (15–30 USD), street snacks from 20 BDT, and city buses a few dozen taka. Use Hello’s budget tracking to log cash payments and card charges in BDT, and set a daily limit to keep longer trips on track.

Staying connected makes everything easier, from ordering rides to finding halal restaurants or vegetarian options. Activate a Hello eSIM before you fly so you can message your hotel at immigration, check currency conversions, and load maps offline. Download key addresses in Bangla script to show drivers, and save the local emergency number (999) in your phone.

Dress modestly, remove shoes in mosques and many homes, and ask before taking close-up photos of people. A few Bangla phrases like “Dhonnobad” (thank you) go a long way – often rewarded with a smile and, occasionally, an invitation for tea.