Chittagong (চট্টগ্রাম): travel guide

The commercial capital and primary gateway to the Southeastern Hill Tracts and Bay of Bengal beaches.

Chittagong is in Chattogram district, Chattogram division, Bangladesh. Compare bus, train and air fares to Chittagong and see the route on a map.

Things to do in Chittagong

  • Chittagong War Cemetery: Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery with 731 Commonwealth burials from World War II, plus 20 foreign national graves (19 Japanese soldiers and one Dutch seaman). Historical, free entry
  • Chandanpura Mosque (চন্দনপুরা মসজিদ): Also called Masjid-e-Siraj ud-Daulah, a landmark mosque on Nabab Siraj ud-Daulah Road known for its many brightly painted domes and minarets; renovated in 1952. Religious, free entry, best time: Outside prayer times
  • Foy's Lake: A lake created in 1924 by the Assam-Bengal Railway, ringed by hills, with an amusement park, boat rides and a small zoo. Park, entry about 300 BDT
  • Chattogram Court Building (Parir Pahar) (চট্টগ্রাম কোর্ট বিল্ডিং): Red-brick colonial court house built in the 1890s on Parir Pahar (Fairy Hill), still home to the Chattogram district court, in an Indo-British style modelled on Kolkata's Writers' Building. Historical, free entry, best time: Weekday daytime (working court)
  • Chattogram Zoo (চট্টগ্রাম চিড়িয়াখানা): A 10.2-acre zoo at the entrance to Foy's Lake, best known for Bangladesh's first white tigers born in captivity. Park, entry about 70 BDT
  • Patenga Sea Beach & Karnaphuli River Estuary (পতেঙ্গা সমুদ্র সৈকত): Bay of Bengal beach about 14 km south of the city near the mouth of the Karnaphuli River, lined with food stalls known for fried spicy crab. Coast, free entry, best time: Late afternoons for breeze and night lights
  • National Ethnological Museum (জাতিতাত্ত্বিক জাদুঘর): Bangladesh's only ethnological museum, covering the daily life and history of the country's ethnic groups. Museum, entry about 20 BDT
  • Shrine of Bayazid Bostami (বায়েজিদ বোস্তামীর মাজার): Hilltop shrine at Nasirabad with an old Mughal-era mosque; its pond holds the rare black softshell (Bostami) turtles, which are cared for by the shrine. Religious, free entry
  • Batali Hill: The highest hill in Chattogram city (about 280 ft), near the Tiger Pass crossing in Khulshi, with city views; WWII anti-aircraft guns were placed here. Viewpoint, free entry
  • Naval Beach & Bangabandhu Tunnel (কর্ণফুলী টানেল ও নেভাল সৈকত): Naval Sea Beach at Patenga, on the Karnaphuli river mouth, near the city end of the Karnaphuli Tunnel (opened 2023 as Bangabandhu Tunnel, renamed Feb 2025), South Asia's first underwater road tunnel, 3.32 km long, linking Patenga to Anwara. Landmark, free entry, best time: Evening drive

Where to stay in Chittagong

  • Hotel Agrabad (MidRange), about ৳6,100 - ৳15,500/night. 101 rooms, six-lane swimming pool, Thai spa, four restaurants, free parking
  • Hotel Saint Martin (MidRange), about ৳4,000 - ৳6,000/night. 3-star hotel in Agrabad with spa, gym and free parking
  • Best Western SKS Chattogram (MidRange), about ৳5,400 - ৳10,700/night. Indoor swimming pool, gym, spa and free buffet breakfast in Agrabad
  • Well Park Residence Boutique Hotel & Suites (MidRange), about ৳4,800 - ৳12,500/night. Rooftop BBQ, Coral Thai Spa, near GEC Circle
  • Hotel Tower Inn (MidRange), about ৳4,000 - ৳8,900/night. Central 3-star hotel about 0.7 km from Chattogram railway station, free airport pick-up
  • Foy's Lake Resort (Resort), about ৳7,500 - ৳20,000/night. Lake and hill views inside Foy's Lake, with amusement park access in some packages and boat rides
  • The Peninsula Chittagong (Luxury), about ৳8,400 - ৳15,800/night. 144 rooms, rooftop swimming pool, gym and spa, complimentary breakfast; near GEC Circle
  • The Avenue Hotel & Suites (MidRange), about ৳4,600 - ৳7,900/night. Opened 2019, free buffet breakfast and free parking

Travel advice for Chittagong

  • Beef kala bhuna: Slow-fried beef cooked until it turns almost black, a Chattogram speciality usually eaten with rice or paratha. Zamzam's Restaurant near GEC Mor serves it.
  • Naval Academy near Patenga is closed to tourists: The Bangladesh Naval Academy at the Patenga river mouth, next to Patenga beach, is a military training academy for navy officer cadets. It is not a tourist site: visits happen only by official arrangement, so enjoy it from the public beach instead.
  • Museum and Foy's Lake opening days: The Ethnological Museum in Agrabad is closed on Sunday and public holidays. Foy's Lake park is open 10 AM-7 PM Sunday to Thursday and 10 AM-8 PM on Friday, Saturday and holidays. Hours can change, so check before going.
  • Mezbani beef curry: Chattogram's signature feast dish: beef cooked with a special mezbani spice mix, served with rice and mezbani chonar dal. Mezzan Haile Aaiun (branches at Jamal Khan, Chawkbazar, Lalkhan Bazar and Agrabad), Mezban Bari and Hotel Zaman are known for it.
  • Bela biscuit at Gani Bakery: Bela biscuit, a crisp tea-time biscuit with Portuguese-era roots, is Chattogram's oldest bakery speciality. Gani Bakery, founded in the 19th century, is the name most associated with it and also sells popular milk toffees.
  • Loitta fry: Loitta (Bombay duck), fresh or as shutki, is a Chattogram staple. Bir Chattala on SS Khaled Road serves loitta fry, and Hotel Zaman is known for loitta shutki dopiyaja.

More places to explore in Bangladesh

JatraSathi is a free Bangladesh trip planner in English and Bangla. Prices are estimates; check before you travel.