Tourism in Bangladesh includes tourism to World Heritage Sites, historical monuments, resorts, beaches, picnic spots, forests, tribal people, and wildlife of various species. Activities for tourists include angling, water skiing, river cruising, hiking, rowing, yachting, beachgoing and sea bathing.
In the northern part, comprising the Rangpur and Rajshahi Divisions, there are archaeological sites, including the temple city Puthia in Rajshahi; the largest and most ancient archaeological site, Mahasthangarh in Bogra; the single largest Buddhist monastery, Paharpur in Naogaon; the most ornamental terracotta Hindu temple, Kantaji Temple, and many rajbaris or palaces of old zamindars.
In the southeastern part of the Chittagong Division, there are natural and hilly areas like the Chittagong Hill Tracts, along with sandy sea beaches. The most notable beach, in Cox's Bazar, is a contender for the title of the longest unbroken sandy sea beach in the world.
In the southwestern part, mainly the Khulna Division, there is the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world with the royal Bengal tiger and spotted deer. The historically and architecturally significant sixty domed mosques in Bagerhat are notable sites. In the northeastern part of the Sylhet division, there is a green carpet of tea plants on small hillocks. Natural reserved forests are great attractions. Migratory birds in winter are also beautiful, particularly in the haor areas.
The Ministry of Tourism and The Civil Aviation Ministry designs national policies for developing and promoting tourism. The Ministry also maintains the Beautiful Bangladesh campaign. Bangladesh Government has formed a Tourist Police unit to protect local and foreign tourists better and look after the nature and wildlife in the tourist spots.
Economic impact The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reported in 2026 that Bangladesh's travel and tourism industry directly generated 1.2% of the country's total employment in 2025, which ranked Bangladesh 164 out of 184 countries worldwide. A direct and indirect career in the industry totalled 3.6% of the country's total employment. The WTTC predicted that by 2036, travel and tourism would directly generate 1.3% of the country's total employment and support an overall total of 3.9% of the country's total employment. This would represent an annual growth rate of 1.9% in direct jobs. Domestic spending generated 96.5% of direct travel and tourism internal spending in 2025. Bangladesh's world ranking in 2025 for travel and tourism's direct contribution to GDP, as a percentage of GDP, was 169 out of 184.
In 2024, 650,000 foreign tourists visited Bangladesh, an increase from 621,000 in 2019 and 552,000 in 2018.
Chattogram Division
Cox's Bazar
Cox's Bazar is a seaside town, a fishing port and district headquarters in Bangladesh. It is known for its wide and long sandy beach, which is considered by many as the world's longest natural sandy sea beach. The Cox’s Bazar beach stretches unbroken for about and features a gentle slope into the Bay of Bengal. It is south of the Chittagong Seaport. Cox's Bazar is also known by the name Panowa, whose literal translation means "yellow flower". Its other old name was "Palongkee".
St. Martin's Island
St. Martin's Island is a small island (area only 8 km2) in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, and forming the southernmost part of Bangladesh. There is a small adjoining island that is separated at high tide, called Chhera island. It is about 8 km west of the northwest coast of Myanmar, at the mouth of the Naf River. The first settlement started just 250 years ago by some Arabian sailors, who named the island 'Zajira'. During British occupation, the island was named St. Martin Island. The local names of the island are "Narical Gingira", also spelled "Narikel Jinjira/Jinjera", which means 'Coconut Island' in Bengali, and "Daruchini Dip". It is the only coral island in Bangladesh.
The city of Chittagong has many high end, private hotels such as the Hotel Agrabad, the Hotel Well Park Residence, The Peninsula Chittagong, the Hotel Harbour View, the Hotel Meridian, and Avenue Hotels and Suites.
The JW Marriott, Westin and Radisson Blu are among the upcoming five-star hotels in Chittagong city.
Chandpur Mohona Boro Station Chandpur Rupali Hilsa Chandpur is supported by the reputation of 'Home of Hilsa'. Returned from Dhaka to Japan. As a result, you can partake of fresh hilsa and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery of many moons every day. It is difficult to find him while traveling around Chandpur. Molehead, the confluence of Padma, Meghna and Dakatiya Nala, has also become known. The sight of sunset in the three estuaries, the sound of small boats drifting by, the sound of lapping water may conjure up in another's mind, which makes dawa.
Sajek Valley
Sajek Valley is an emerging tourist spot in Bangladesh situated among the hills of the Kasalong range of mountains in Sajek union, Baghaichhari Upazila in Rangamati District, Chittagong. The valley is 1,476 feet (450 m) above sea level. Sajek valley is known as the Queen of Hills & Roof of Rangamati. The name of Sajek Valley came from the Sajek River that originates from Karnafuli river. The Sajek river works as a border between Bangladesh and India.
Bandarban District
Bandarban is a district in South-Eastern Bangladesh, and a part of the Chittagong. Bandarban is regarded by many tourists to be one of the most attractive travel destinations in Bangladesh. Bandarban (meaning the dam of monkeys), or in Marma or Arakanese language as "Rwa-daw Mro" is also known as Arvumi or the Bohmong Circle (of the rest of the three hill districts Rangamati is the Chakma Circle, Raja Devasish Roy and Khagrachhari is the Mong Circle, Raja Sachingprue Marma). Bandarban town is the hometown of the Bohmong Circle Chief (currently King, or Raja, U Cho Prue Marma) who is the head of the Marma population. It also is the administrative headquarters of Bandarban district, which has turned into one of the most exotic tourist attractions in Bangladesh. Rangamati
Rangamati is the administrative headquarters of Rangamati Hill District in the Chittagong. Kaptai lake, the hanging bridge and Pablakhali reserve forest are some of the notable locations to visit in Rangamati.
Khagrachhari District
Khagrachhari is a district in south-eastern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Chittagong. Its local name is "Chengmi". Khagrachari is also known as Phalang Htaung (ဖလံေထာင္) or the Mong Circle (of the rest of the three hill districts Rangamati is the Chakma Circle (သက္ေထာင္) and Bandarban (ဗိုလ္မင္းေထာင္) is the Bohmong Circle). Tourist destinations in Khagrachari include Alutila Cave, Richhang waterfall, Yonged Buddha Bihar and the Dighinala Touduchhori Waterfall.
Patenga beach
Patenga is a sea beach located south of the Chittagong City. It is near the mouth of the Karnaphuli River. Patenga is a popular tourist spot. The beach is very close to the Bangladesh Naval Academy of the Bangladesh Navy and Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport. Its width is narrow and swimming in the seas is not recommended. Part of the seashore is built-up with concrete walls, and large blocks of stones have been laid to prevent erosion. During the 1990s, a host of restaurants and kiosks sprouted out around the beach area. Lighting of the area has enhanced the security aspect of visiting at night. It is guarded by large stones to protect it from tsunamis.
A tourist attraction near Patenga beach is the Butterfly Park.
Foy's Lake
Foy's Lake is a human-made lake in Chittagong City. The lake was once just a lake and spillway constructed by Assam-Bengal Railway engineer. It was dug in 1924 and was named after the English engineer Mr. Foy. The lake is next to Batali Hill, the highest hill in Chittagong Metropolitan area. An amusement park, managed by the Concord Group, is located here.
Heritage Park There is a heritage park called Shaheed Zia Memorial Complex and Mini Bangladesh at Chandgaon which reflects the most notable structures and instances of Bangladesh. This 71-metre tower in Mini Bangladesh in Chittagong has a restaurant on the top that rotates once every 90 minutes. The museum includes a revolving restaurant. One can perceive of the country's architectural beauty, ethnic traditions and archaeological inheritance through having a glimpse of the heritage park. Replicas of major structures of the country include Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (parliament building), National Memorial of Savar, Ahsan Manzil, Curzon Hall of Dhaka University, Paharpur Monastery, Kantajew Temple of Dinajpur, Lalbagh Fort and Sona Masjid. The park also has different rides for children.
Ethnological Museum of Chittagong
The Ethnological Museum of Chittagong located in Agrabad, established in 1965, is the only ethnological museum in the country, and presents the lifestyles and heritage of various ethnic groups of the country. The museum authority collected rare elements used in everyday lives of different ethnic groups, of which some had already become extinct while others were on the verge of extinction. The museum contains four galleries and a small hall. Three galleries of the museum feature diverse elements of twenty nine ethnic groups in Bangladesh, while the rest of the gallery displays the lifestyles of some ethnic groups of India, Pakistan and Australia.
WWII cemetery and Circuit The War Cemetery on Badshah Mia Road contains the graves of 755 soldiers, and is protected and maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. There are a number of museums in Chittagong. The most prominent is the Zia Memorial Museum which is housed in the old circuit house building. President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated there on 30 May 1981. This commemorative museum houses the late President Ziaur Rahman's mementos and personal belongings. It was established in 1993 with 12 galleries.
Sylhet Division
Bichnakandi
Bichnakandi is a village in Rustompur Union in Gowainghat Upazila of Sylhet District. In recent years there has been an influx of tourists to its river.
Jaflong
Jaflong is a hill station and popular tourist destination in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh. It is located in Gowainghat Upazila of Sylhet District and situated at the border between Bangladesh and the Indian state of Meghalaya, overshadowed by subtropical mountains and rainforests. Jaflong is famous for its stone collections and is home of the Khasi tribe.
Madhobpur Lake
Madhobpur Lake is a lake of Srimangal in Maulvi Bazar District of Bangladesh. It is one of the popular tourist spot in Bangladesh.
Ratargul Swamp Forest Ratargul Swamp Forest is a freshwater swamp forest located in Gowainghat, Sylhet. It is the only swamp forest located in Bangladesh and one of the few freshwater swamp forest in the world. The forest is naturally conserved under the Department of Forestry, Govt. of Bangladesh. The evergreen forest is situated by the river Goain and linked with the channel Chengir Khal. Most of the trees growing here are the Millettia pinnata (করচ গাছ "Koroch tree"). The forest is submerged under 20–30 feet water in the rainy season. For the rest of the year, the water level is about 10 feet deep.
Dhaka Division Dhaka Division is an administrative division in Bangladesh. Dhaka (formerly "Dacca") is the largest and capital city of Bangladesh.
Lalbagh Fort