Asia > Bangladesh > Dhaka (DAC)
The Car or no Car advice for Dhaka can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Dhaka ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Dhaka ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Dhaka?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🚇 Dhaka Metro: What exists, what is planned
Dhaka has finally begun moving toward modern rapid transit. The Dhaka Metro Rail (MRT Line 6) opened in stages starting in 2022. It runs on an elevated track, which avoids the engineering problems of such a low lying flood prone city.
The current line runs north–south and already carries large crowds. Several more lines are under construction or in the planning stage, including:
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MRT Line 1, which will include some underground sections
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MRT Line 5, mostly elevated
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Future east–west corridors
Even with the metro expanding, Dhaka’s streets are still dominated by buses, cars, rickshaws, motorcycles, and pedestrians. But the metro does provide a much-needed high-capacity alternative.
🛺 Getting around Dhaka without a car
Dhaka is a place where you absolutely do not want to self-drive. Instead, you can rely on:
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Rickshaws (for short hops and local neighbourhoods)
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Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Pathao
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Buses, both public and private
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Water taxis along rivers and canals
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The growing metro network
Traffic is extremely heavy, but locals know how to navigate it. For visitors, the experience is far easier when someone else is driving.
Most travellers stay in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, or Dhanmondi. These areas have restaurants, shops, and cafés within walking distance, so no car is needed for daily movement.
🎭 What to see in Dhaka
Dhaka is not about a single landmark. Instead, it offers a dense collection of cultural and historical sites:
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Lalbagh Fort, a Mughal-era fortress
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Ahsan Manzil, the Pink Palace on the Buriganga River
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Sadarghat, the chaotic and unforgettable river port
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The National Parliament Building, a masterpiece by architect Louis Kahn
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New Market, for intense, colourful shopping
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Hatirjheel Lake, with walkways and cafés
These are best accessed by rickshaw, ride-hailing, or hired driver — never by self-drive rental.
🏞️ What if you want to explore beyond Dhaka?
Even outside the city, self-driving is not recommended. Roads can be crowded, potholes appear without warning, and driving rules are… flexible. Instead, travellers usually choose:
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Private drivers booked through hotels
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Intercity trains, which reach Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, and Khulna
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Domestic flights, especially to Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet, or the Sundarbans gateway
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Long-distance buses, which are inexpensive and frequent
Bangladesh’s highlights — the tea estates around Sylhet, the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, and the beaches of Cox’s Bazar — are all best reached without renting a car.
Conclusion — Should you rent a car in Dhaka?
Should you rent a car in Dhaka? Almost never. The city has some of the world’s most challenging traffic, road conditions are unpredictable, and navigation is difficult for first-time visitors. With the metro expanding and ride-hailing apps widely available, you can explore the city much more comfortably without driving. For longer trips, trains, buses, and domestic flights do the heavy lifting.