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Voykit pocket guide · Bangladesh
Sylhet
Go for 2 days: the town itself takes half a day (shrines, clock tower, riverfront), then a day for Jaflong and Ratargul swamp forest. Skip if you have only one day and no interest in tea gardens or wetlands.
Sylhet, capital of Sylhet Division, sits in a lush valley of tea estates, rivers and haor wetlands. Its main attractions – Shah Jalal Dargah, tea gardens, Jaflong and Ratargul swamp – fit comfortably into a two‑day itinerary. Travel from Dhaka by plane or bus, then use rickshaws, CNGs or Uber within town.
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Best months
- Oct–Feb
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (heavy rain, floods)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BDT
- Money
- BDT in small notes (50s and 100s) for rickshaws, tea and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ৳1,200–1,800 excl. bed · Mid ৳1,800–2,800 excl. bed · High ৳3,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink sell SIMs at Dhaka airport with passport and biometric fingerprint registration.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 999
- Plugs
- Types C, D, G · 220 V · 50 Hz · Mixed sockets; universal adapter recommended.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge.; Guide / driver: ৳500–1,000 a day.; Rickshaw: Round up.; Hotel porter: ৳50–100.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; buy sealed bottles or use hotel filtered water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and malls; squat toilets with a hose or jug elsewhere. Carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea (cup) | ৳30–50 |
| Meal at local restaurant | ৳120–250 |
| Rickshaw (5 km (3.1 mi))Rickshaw (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ৳80–120 |
| Bus ticket Dhaka → Sylhet | ৳1,200–1,400 |
| Entry to Shah Jalal Dargah | ৳20–30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ZYL · Osmani International Airport
- Domestic flights from Dhaka; international flights to Doha, Dubai, London, etc.
Typical fares
- Osmani Airport → Sylhet city (taxi)
- ≈৳1,500, 20 min (check)
- Rickshaw 5 km
- ≈৳100 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Rickshaw and CNG auto‑rickshaw are common for short trips; Uber operates in the city; rental bikes are limited. Walkability is low.
See and do
Known for
- Shah Jalal Dargah
- Tea gardens
- Ratargul Swamp Forest
- Jaflong border scenery
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Jaflong | Bus or shared taxi 55 km (34 mi) east, about 1 h 30 min each wayBus or shared taxi 34 mi (55 km) east, about 1 h 30 min each way | ≈4 h round‑trip (check) |
| Ratargul Swamp Forest | Boat from Goainghat, about 30 min boat ride (check access from Sylhet) | ≈3 h total (check) |
Sleep
- Grand Sylhet Hotel & Resort
- Near airport, mid‑range, good for short stays.
- Nirvana Inn
- Centre of town, budget‑friendly, air‑conditioned.
- Hotel Golden City
- East Zindabazar, easy access to markets.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | দুঃখিতdukhito |
| Thank you | ধন্যবাদdhonnobad |
| How much is it? | এটা কত?eta koto? |
| Where is the bathroom? | বাথরুম কোথায়?bathroom kothay? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Assalamu alaikum' with a nod; handshake between men; avoid: Offering a hand to a woman first
- Invitations: Accept tea; bring sweets when visiting a home; avoid: Refusing all food
- Hands: Right hand for eating and giving; avoid: Left hand for food
- Curiosity: Expect crowds and questions; smile and answer briefly; avoid: Taking offence at stares
- Mosques: Shoes off, head covered, visit outside prayer times; avoid: Walking in front of people praying
Scams and watch-outs
- Footpaths are scarce; watch for traffic when walking.
- Pickpockets reported in crowded bazaars – keep valuables secure.
Sylhet is generally safe for tourists, but stay alert for pickpockets in busy markets and be cautious crossing traffic.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sylhet yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Shah Jalal Dargah
- Tea gardens
- Ratargul Swamp Forest
- Jaflong border scenery
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Sylhet: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Sylhet, revision 5243778 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5243778
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Sylhet
এই ঠিকানায় নিয়ে যান
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance999
British Consular Services in Sylhet (check address); Indian Visa Application Centre nearby.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/sylhet). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.