Arrive · Dhaka
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC)
DAC to Gulshan: one pre-booked hotel car or a ride-hail from the pickup zone, 30–75 minutes for about 8 km (5 mi); the risk is the visa and biometric queue and traffic that does not follow the clock.DAC to Gulshan: one pre-booked hotel car or a ride-hail from the pickup zone, 30–75 minutes for about 5 mi (8 km); the risk is the visa and biometric queue and traffic that does not follow the clock.
Key facts
- Default ride
- Pre-booked hotel car or ride-hail to the hotel door
- Ride time
- 30–75 min
- p50–p90
- Fare
- BDT 800
- Late night after
- 22:00
- on demand
Rules in force · 9Old Dhaka's lanes are blocked by rickshaws, stalls and op…
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Bangladesh ↗Apply for a visa only on the official government e-visa portal or at an embassy; lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules differ by nationality.
- Bangladesh ↗Dress modestly in cities and near mosques: cover shoulders and knees, and women carry a scarf for mosques and shrines.
- Bangladesh ↗Carry Bangladeshi taka in small notes; rickshaws, markets and small shops are cash-only, and foreign cards are not accepted everywhere.
- Bangladesh ↗Political rallies, strikes (hartal) and blockades can close roads and cut mobile internet with little notice: check the news and your hotel before any transfer day and stay away from demonstrations.
- Dhaka Division ↗Fridays are the weekend and the quietest day for traffic: Old Dhaka's monuments are calmer, though many shops and museums shorten their hours.
- Dhaka ↗Old Dhaka's lanes are blocked by rickshaws, stalls and open drains, and many streets have no pavement: large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Dhaka ↗A 10 km ride in Dhaka can take an hour or more at almost any time: plan one cluster per outing, and never book a tight connection on the same day.
More
Map of the airport
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Your landing time, your bags, your bed
Lock your path to bed
Take Pre-booked hotel car or ride-hail to the hotel door at 23:45. Bed by ~01:02 (+1) (p90).
Sleep area not decided? Check the area first.
On the groundHideSteps from the gate, and what to do if it breaks
On the ground
Step by step from the gate, and what to do if it breaks
Zero-brain vs precision
- Daytime default
- Hotel car booked before you fly, or a ride-hail from the official pickup zone, straight to the hotel door.
- Precision
- Gulshan is close to the airport but the roads are congested; pickup zone position, night availability and fares are desk estimates (field-verify).
- Late-night threshold
- 22:00
Steps from landing
5 / 10 min
Gate to immigration
all arrivals30 / 75 min
Immigration (e-visa / visa check, biometrics)
only intl checked, intl cabin25 / 50 min
Baggage claim + customs
only intl checked, domestic checked15 / 30 min
SIM/cash, then the pickup zone
all arrivals30 / 75 min
Pre-booked hotel car or ride-hail to the hotel door
on demand, any hour · BDT 800
If it breaks
- The immigration and biometric queue can pass an hour and a half when several flights land together; message the hotel with your flight number before you fly.
- Use the hotel car or the app; decline people who offer rides inside the hall.
- Confirm your hotel keeps the door staffed at night, and avoid travelling during protests or strikes.
Other flights, questions and sourcesHideOther flights
Deep dive
Other flights
Sources
| Field | Value | Source type | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| primary.yen | BDT 600–1,500 | secondary | 40% |
| primary.ride_p90 | 75 min | secondary | 40% |