While the city has plenty of attractions to offer, don't forget to explore the rural areas surrounding Dhaka. Just two hours from the city, you'll find idyllic rice paddies and calm waters that you can explore on small boats.

Also explore the rural areas about two hours from Dhaka. Take in views of lush rice paddies or ride a small boat through the calm waters.

Old Dhaka or Puran Dhaka is a term used to refer to the historic old city of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It was founded in 1608 as Jahangirabad or Jahangirnagar, the capital of Mughal Province of Bengal and named after the Mughal emperor Jahangir. It is located on the banks of the Buriganga River. It was one of the largest and most prosperous cities of South Asia and was the center of the worldwide muslin trade. The then Nawab of Bengal, Murshid Quli Khan shifted the capital from Dhaka to Murshidabad in the early-18th century. With the rise of Calcutta (now Kolkata) during the British rule, Dhaka began to decline and came to be known as the "City of Magnificent Ruins". The British however began to develop the modern city from the mid-19th century.

Panam City was an ancient city, the archaeological ruins of which are situated at Sonargaon, Narayanganj, in Bangladesh. It is one of the earliest cities in Bangladesh that is still standing. The historic city, located near the present-day capital of Dhaka, includes several Mughal monuments—among them the Sonakanda River Fort, the Panch Pir Mazar Shrine, and Ibrahim's and Abdul Hamid's Mosque. British colonial architecture preserved in Sonargaon includes the Ananda Mohan Piddar House and other street-front houses. For travelers making their way along the 2,500 km long (1,600 mi) Grand Trunk Road from Peshawar in the Hindu Kush, Sonargaon marked the end of the line.

 Lively Old Dhaka is known for historic buildings like the Mughal-era Lalbagh Fort, set amid green lawns, and Dhakeshwari Mandir, a 12th-century Hindu temple. Period furnishings are on display at the Ahsan Manzil Museum, a vast palace with a pink facade. Street vendors sell breads and sweets, while Shankhari Bazar is a popular spot to find bangles, spices, and textiles. River boat trips depart from the Sadarghat area.