I'll be honest: before I landed in Dhaka, I didn't know what to expect. I'd heard about the traffic — everyone has heard about the traffic — but nobody had prepared me for how warm the city would feel. Not the weather (though October is warm), the people. As a Pakistani arriving in Bangladesh's capital, I was met with a curiosity and friendliness that genuinely surprised me. My first-impression vlog of Dhaka became one of my most commented-on videos, mostly from Pakistanis and Bangladeshis talking to each other in the comments. This guide is for Pakistanis planning their first visit — the first-day itinerary, the must-see areas, and how the city actually feels.
Arrival: Getting Into the City
Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is chaotic in the way all South Asian airports are chaotic — but manageable. Immigration for Pakistanis: check the current visa requirements before you fly, because policies shift. Pakistani passport holders have historically needed a visa in advance for Bangladesh — do not assume visa-on-arrival; verify with the Bangladesh High Commission or a reliable travel source before booking.
The airport-to-city journey is your first taste of Dhaka reality: the drive into the city can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours depending on traffic. Pre-book a hotel car or use a ride-hailing app (Uber and Pathao operate in Dhaka) rather than haggling with touts at the arrivals curb. Keep small taka notes handy — currency exchange at the airport is available but the rate in the city is usually better.
One immediate comfort for Pakistanis: food is not a problem. Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority country, halal is the default, and the flavor profile will feel like home — rice, lentils, fish, beef, the same masala family you grew up with, just with its own Bengali character. You will not go hungry and you will not miss home cooking as much as you expect.
First-Day Itinerary: How to Spend Day One
Don't try to conquer Dhaka in a day — the traffic will punish ambition. Pick a zone and do it well. Here's my recommended first day:
Morning — Old Dhaka (Puran Dhaka): this is the soul of the city. The narrow lanes, the Mughal-era mosques, Lalbagh Fort, the Ahsan Manzil (the Pink Palace) on the Buriganga riverfront. Old Dhaka is dense, loud, and utterly alive — rickshaw bells, spice smells, shops spilling into the street. Hire a cycle rickshaw for the morning (agree the fare first, or ask your hotel what a fair rate is) and let the rickshaw-wallah guide you through the lanes. Budget roughly 3–4 hours here.
Midday — food break: Old Dhaka is famous for its food — biryani (the Dhaka version is its own glorious thing), kacchi, morog pulao, and the legendary bakarkhani bread. Eat where the locals eat: busy, fast-turnover spots. A full meal at a local restaurant runs a couple of dollars — check locally for current prices, but Dhaka street and local-restaurant food is very cheap by international standards.
Afternoon — New Dhaka contrast: head to the Dhaka University area, Shahbag, and the National Parliament House (designed by Louis Kahn — an architectural landmark worth seeing from outside even if you can't go in). The contrast between Old and New Dhaka in a single day tells you the whole story of the city: Mughal roots, colonial layers, and a modern capital straining at the seams.
Evening — riverfront or rooftop: end the day at Sadarghat, the Buriganga river terminal — one of the busiest river ports in the world, and a photographer's dream at sunset with the wooden boats and launches. Or find a rooftop restaurant in Gulshan or Banani for dinner with a view. Either way, plan to be back at the hotel by nightfall on day one — you'll be tired, and Dhaka rewards an early start.
How Dhaka Actually Feels for a Pakistani Visitor
This is the part no guidebook captures. As a Pakistani in Dhaka, I felt... welcomed. Genuinely, unexpectedly welcomed. The shared history is complicated — everyone knows that — but on the street level, in 2025, what I found was curiosity and warmth. Shopkeepers asked where I was from, and when I said Pakistan, the reaction was interest, not hostility. "Pakistan se aaye ho?" — you've come from Pakistan? — followed by questions about Lahore, about cricket, about whether I'd tried the local biryani.
The language helps enormously. Urdu and Hindi are widely understood in Dhaka thanks to decades of Bollywood and shared vocabulary — I got by with a mix of Urdu, English, and gestures everywhere. Younger people especially speak good English. You will not feel linguistically stranded.
The traffic is real and it is spectacular. Dhaka's traffic is not a rumor; it's a defining feature of the city, and the rickshaws are the stars of it — hand-painted, bell-ringing, weaving through gaps that shouldn't exist. My advice: surrender to it. Build traffic time into every plan (double whatever Google Maps says), use the metro rail where the route fits (it's modern and fast), and treat a rickshaw ride as entertainment, not just transport.
One cultural note: Dhaka is conservative in the familiar way — like Lahore or Karachi, not like a Gulf city. Dress normally, be respectful at mosques and religious sites, and you'll fit right in. Photography in Old Dhaka is generally welcomed, but ask before photographing people closely, especially women.
Practical Essentials
Money: the currency is the Bangladeshi taka (BDT). Cash is king — carry it, in small notes. Cards work at malls and upscale restaurants, not at street level. Exchange in the city for better rates than the airport.
Getting around: the metro (MRT Line 6) covers a useful corridor; ride-hailing apps (Uber, Pathao) for cars and motorbikes; cycle rickshaws for Old Dhaka lanes; CNG auto-rickshaws for medium distances (agree fares or insist on the meter where available). Avoid driving yourself — you don't want that stress.
Stay: first-timers should base in Gulshan or Banani — the diplomatic/upscale zones with the best hotels, restaurants, and relative calm — or Dhanmondi for a more local, lively feel at lower prices. Old Dhaka has guesthouses but they're basic; visit, don't sleep there, on your first trip.
Safety: Dhaka is as safe as any big South Asian city — normal precautions, nothing special. Keep valuables discreet in crowds, avoid walking alone late at night in unfamiliar areas, and keep your hotel's number saved. Political demonstrations happen; if you see a large gathering, walk the other way — it's not your fight.
Connectivity: buy a local SIM at the airport or in the city (Grameenphone or Banglalink have the best coverage) — you'll need data for maps and ride-hailing, and it's cheap.
Dhaka surprised me, and I travel for a living — surprises are hard to come by. It surprised me with its warmth toward a Pakistani, with the beauty of its river at sunset, with food that tasted like a cousin of home cooking. If you're a Pakistani considering Bangladesh, stop considering and go. The city is waiting, the biryani is hot, and someone in Old Dhaka is already asking: "Pakistan se aaye ho?"
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