Dhaka Museums and Heritage Attractions
Travel advisory, as of October 2026. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts (Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban), and the US warns against travel there. Terrorist attacks are described as very likely in the UK advice, and hartals and demonstrations can turn violent quickly, so avoid them. Bag snatching from motorbikes and CNG auto-rickshaws has risen since 2024. Check the FCDO advice and travel.state.gov before you book anything.
Attractions worth a visit
Dhaka’s attractions are museums, a few surviving colonial and Mughal-era buildings, and memorials to the events that made modern Bangladesh. Most are inside the city, so the main planning problem is traffic. Use the elevated Metro Line 6 where you can: Agargaon, Shahbagh and Bijoy Sarani stations are the closest stops for three of the big museums. Tickets for foreigners cost more than local tickets, and the official online sites add a 4% service charge.
Liberation War Museum, Agargaon
This museum documents the 1971 Liberation War and the killings that came with it. The galleries are sobering, with archival film, photographs, documents and personal belongings, and some rooms restrict photography. Foreign entry is 500 BDT, against 50 BDT for Bangladeshis and 20 BDT for children. It opens 10:00 to 17:00 (to 16:00 in Ramadan) and is closed on Sunday only. Dress quietly, keep voices low and give yourself a couple of hours. It is not a place for small children.
Bangladesh National Museum, Shahbagh
The country’s largest museum covers Bengal’s sculpture from the Pala and Sena periods, folk crafts such as embroidered nakshi kantha quilts, and modern painting. Foreign entry is 500 BDT. It opens Saturday to Wednesday 10:30 to 16:30, on Friday from 15:00 to 18:30, and is closed on Thursday. Shahbagh Metro station is a short walk away.
Ahsan Manzil
The pink domed palace on the Buriganga was the residence of the Nawabs of Dhaka and now holds period rooms and photographs. Foreigners pay 500 BDT. It is open Saturday to Wednesday 10:30 to 16:30 with ticket sales stopping at 16:00, on Friday from 15:00 to 19:00, and closed Thursday.
Armenian Church and Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque
The Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection in Armanitola dates from 1781 and has a quiet churchyard with old Armenian and English gravestones. Entry is free; ring the bell at the gate and the caretaker will let you in. The Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque, built in 1706 on a raised platform near Lalbagh Fort, is also free and much calmer than the fort next door. Cover your shoulders and knees, remove shoes at the mosque and avoid prayer times.
Bangabandhu Military Museum, Bijoy Sarani
The museum has army, navy and air force galleries and a few vintage vehicles. Foreigners pay 800 BDT, SAARC visitors 500 BDT and Bangladeshis 150 BDT. It is closed on Wednesday, opens Sunday to Thursday and Saturday from 10:30 to 19:00, and on Friday from 15:00 to 19:00. The nearest Metro stop is Bijoy Sarani.
A site that is no longer a visit
The former Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road 32 was demolished in February 2025. Only a ruined shell remains, and the area can draw political crowds, so skip it.
Planning and guides
Combine Lalbagh Fort (200 BDT foreign) with Ahsan Manzil and Old Dhaka in one day, and keep the museums for another. Opening days differ, with Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday closures at different places, so line them up before you set out. If you want a driver and an English-speaking guide, compare listings at GetYourGuide and ask what ticket fees are included.
Read more: Dhaka sightseeing and Dhaka walking tours .