When is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Dhaka?
With Netflights, you can easily compare deals from top airlines and look month-by-month to find the lowest rates. Dhaka has a hot and humid summer, monsoon season (April to September) and a drier and cooler winter (October to March). Prices for return flights peak during July and August, although they can also be more expensive over Christmas and New Year’s. Book your Dhaka flights in advance for the best deals, but keep your eyes open for last-minute flight deals all year.
When is the Best Time to Book your Flight to Dhaka?
The best time to pick up cheap flights to Dhaka is at least two months before departure. This will also give you the biggest selection of routes at reasonable rates. The Bangladeshi New Year is in April, meaning prices for flights to Dhaka will like rocket skyward, so plan your trip in advance to travel at this time.
Flying to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport DAC
Dhaka Airport, officially called Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) and often known simply as Shahjalal International Airport, is the largest airport in Bangladesh. Located in Kurmitola, 20 kilometres north of the city centre, it has become absorbed by the city due to its expansion and prompting talk of relocation. There are no direct Dhaka flights from the United Kingdom (UK) at the moment, so most journeys will require at least one stopover. Compare return flights and last-minute flights from Aer Lingus, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Flybe, Gulf Air, Jet Airways, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Turkish Airlines. Check-in for flights to Dhaka at airports around the UK, including London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
On Arrival and Getting Around the Airport
There are three terminals in Shahjalal International Airport (DAC): T1, T2 for international flights and a domestic terminal. The ground floor serves as the arrivals hall. The first floor is reserved for departures in T1 and T2, and the domestic terminal is located on just one level. Lifts and escalators facilitate moving throughout the airport. Facilities include duty-free shopping, male and female prayer rooms, a room for parents, Wi-Fi and restaurants. There are also banks and hotel booking booths, currency exchange facilities and places to book taxis and shuttle buses for your onward journey.
Getting to the City from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport DAC
Trains depart from Biman Bondor Railway Station to the city centre. The station is located opposite the airport and is accessible via Airport Road. Public buses also run between the airport and the city, departing from the main road, which is five minutes from the airport building. Buses are often very crowded. Taxis and shuttle buses are available for hire as are rickshaws and auto rickshaws. Make sure to confirm the cost of your journey before you leave. By road, the journey to the city centre takes around 40 minutes, depending on traffic.
Why visit Dhaka?
The ancient Mughal capital of Bengal, Dhaka’s Old Town is filled with ancient monuments, like the unfinished 17th-century Lalbagh Fort, now containing a museum, pavilion and mosque, and the serene Chawk Mosque. The Sadarghat River is the lifeblood of the city and country, with boats constantly coming and going. In addition to boats, Dhaka is famous for its brightly painted rickshaws. Head to Bangshal Road to browse and buy paintings on thin strips of tin. The Shankhari Bazar, also known as ‘Hindu Street’, is another must-see, colourful market.
Other famous Dhaka sights include the enormous pink palace, Ahsan Manzil, and the beautiful Botanical Gardens. The city is home to some of the nation’s top museums, like the National Museum, the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Fine Arts. Whether you’re immersing yourself in the bustle of street life, wandering through tranquil exotic gardens or peering up at ancient Islamic art, Dhaka is a feast for the senses.
Don't Forget Before you Fly
Travellers with a British passport need a visa to enter Bangladesh. Visas can be obtained from the Bangladesh High Commission in London or a one-month visa can be issued upon arrival for tourism purposes. Visas can be extended at the Department of Immigration and Passport of Bangladesh in Dhaka. Your passport only needs to be valid for the duration of your stay in Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi taka can be exchanged at the airport or withdrawn at ATMs.
