Best Places to Live in Dhaka for a First Time Visitor

If you are moving to a new city, one of the first things you need to ensure before setting foot on foreign soil is to find suitable accommodation. Once you’ve decided on a city to move to, you’ll need to invest quite some time in finding a proper neighborhood. Unless you’re already familiar with your new destination, the step of choosing the proper neighborhood may demand unfathomable time and effort on your part. Depending on whether you will be staying for a short or a long period of time, there are a number of factors to take into consideration. Before making a big move, consider not just your finances but also the area’s environment, safety, proximity to your workplace, social amenities, transit options, schools, and recreation facilities, among other things. After all, moving into a bad neighborhood unintentionally will only increase your misery. All of your positive experiences will be overshadowed by the negative ones you may have in a neighborhood that turns out to be a terrible choice for you and your family. 

A neighborhood can have an enormous impact on your and your family’s lifestyle. You also need to take into account the preferences of your family members while making the decision. So, research thoroughly beforehand and make a list of the pros and cons. and cons of each neighborhood that has been caught on your radar. In these cases, a good real estate agent can help you a lot in finding out the benefits or drawbacks of a particular area. Meanwhile, if you have been thinking of moving to Dhaka for the first time, it might be even harder to find the right neighborhood. Despite being one of the major metropolitans of South Asia, Dhaka’s population of over 20 million makes it challenging to maintain a comfortable standard of living. A significant portion of this city has been built without much planning, leading its habitants to suffer year after year. So, finding a good neighborhood in this metropolis is not an easy task. Even so, there’s no need to panic! Due to being the country’s capital, Dhaka attracts foreign investors and is already home to many expats. Moreover, the demand for healthy housing amongst the affluent and civilized portion of the population has led to the development of several attractive residential neighborhoods all over Dhaka. For your convenience and to help you save time, here we have compiled a list of the best areas to live in Dhaka.

Best residential Place in Dhaka

Gulshan

Gulshan, Dhaka’s most upscale neighborhood, was primarily developed for diplomatic as well as residential purposes. You may expect Gulshan to be the most popular neighborhood for foreigners living in Dhaka. In addition to the fact that almost all foreign embassies and high commissions are located across Gulshan, the neighborhood’s standard of living is also higher than almost all the other areas of this city. 

As you go through this area, you’ll find luxurious apartment buildings embellished with first-class amenities. It is, without a doubt, the city’s cleanest neighborhood. Apart from this, Gulshan has a lot to offer in terms of making your stay more comfortable. At Gulshan, you’ll find only the best for everything from education to amusement to healthcare to other aspects of daily life. To make sure your child gets the best education, you can choose from a wide range of well-known institutions with a reputation for excellence and international standards, such as Scholastica, Sidney International School, Faith International School, etc. 

For recreational purposes, Gulshan offers several parks and lake-side recreational spots. Several exclusive private clubs, such as the Gulshan Club, the Canadian Club, and others, offer their members excellent opportunities to spend their time. Gulshan is also home to the highest number of 5-star hotels in Bangladesh, including the Westin, Six Seasons, and more. In addition, restaurants such as Nandos, Gloria jeans coffee, White Canary café, and others provide food on par with that seen in other countries. You may find anything from groceries to designer clothes at several marketplaces across the area, including Gulshan DCC, Police plaza, Pink city, and others. Labaid, United Hospital, and several other top-notch healthcare institutions can be found in this area. Additionally, there are a lot of well-planned public transit choices to choose from. Let’s take a quick look at the shortlist of pros and cons of this lavish area :

Advantages

1. Luxurious apartments with top-notch modern amenities 
2. Excellent healthcare facilities 
3. Reputed private educational institutions 
4. Several good choices for recreation
5. Popular international restaurants 
6. Well-planned public transportation 
7. High-end security and a serene environment 

Disadvantages

1. Extremely expensive apartments 
2. Fewer alternatives for cheap food
3. Lack of public educational institutions 
4. Lack of cheap public healthcare

Baridhara

Separated from Gulshan only by a lake,  Baridhara offers almost all the top-notch facilities Gulshan provides. Unlike Gulshan, which is more commercial in nature, this region has a more domestic feel to it.

Baridhara is home to a huge number of defense officials, high commission and embassy officers, expats, and foreign tourists, therefore, the living and security standards are unquestionably excellent. It’s a beautiful place to live, with luxurious apartments and building complexes. The roads and traffic are in excellent condition and well-monitored at all times. Security protection is very tight here – checkpoints at each entrance and 24/7 police surveillance are strictly regulated. Local transportation is scarce here due to strict security rules, but as it is within walking distance of major roads, this lack of public transportation will not be an issue.

Baridhara’s educational institutions include Cambrian School, American International School, etc., which offer great facilities for both Bangla and English curricula. Within its highly secured zone, Baridhara also offers shopping complexes like the Anannya shopping complex and other big super shops for its residents to use. Several hospitals in the area, such as United hospital, Baridhara general hospital, etc., may meet your needs for high-quality healthcare. Lake-side recreational spots and exquisite clubs here will give you ample choices to keep yourself entertained. 

Advantages

1. Sophisticated accommodations
2. Top-notch security protection 
3. Serene and calm environment 
4. Offers all high-end facilities 
5. The clean and polished area
6. Less traffic because of strict traffic regulations 

Disadvantages

1. Expensive living standard 
2. Lack of public transport facilities 
3. Fewer options for restaurants 
4. Very few shopping places

Bashundhara R/A

Bashundhara R/A, which is situated adjacent to Baridhara, offers even more cutting-edge amenities for a residential neighborhood. This area’s calm and picturesque view makes it an excellent location to live.

Bashundhara, like Gulshan and Baridhara, provides top-notch security with checkpoints at every entrance and tight security surveillance. Small villas, duplexes, apartment complexes, and even bungalows may be found in this neighborhood. If you’re moving to Dhaka for the first time, this neighborhood offers a wide variety of housing options that are priced to suit a wide range of budgets, either for buying or renting. Residents in Bashundhara have access to a wide range of services and amenities. The presence of rickshaws makes it easy to get around the neighborhood.

Several renowned educational institutions are located here for your child’s excellent education. Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, HURDCO International School, Ebenezer International School, and many other institutions provide the best facilities for educational purposes. And the cherry on top is that three reputed private universities in the country – North South University, the Independent University of Bangladesh, and the American International University of Bangladesh, are all located within a few blocks of each other in this area. One of the leading hospitals in Dhaka, Evercare Hospital, is situated in Bashundhara. From diagnosis to treatment, Evercare hospital has the best facilities for your healthcare needs.

The world’s third-largest shopping mall, the famous Jamuna Future Park (JFP), is located in Bashundhara and offers products from top international. The amusement park in front of JFP is an excellent recreational spot for people of all ages. Furthermore, JFP’s gaming corner and the Blockbuster cinema complex are great places to unwind and have fun. Bashundhara is home to a massive retail mall as well as several high-end supermarkets and superstore chains, including Mehedi Mart and Bazar Sharabela. Many good-quality restaurants and fast-food chains are operating their business here, serving great quality foods at various pricing ranges. 

Advantages

1. High security and maintenance 
2. Well-planned transport facilities 
3. Best for shopping 
4. High-quality educational services
5. Good healthcare facilities 
6. Great place for amusement and recreation 
7. Eye-soothing scenic views
8. Gives off foreign vibes

Disadvantages

1. Expensive accommodation 
2. Located on the outskirts of Dhaka
3. Intracity traveling to other places can be very time-consuming

Banani

To the west of Gulshan, Banani is a strong candidate for the title of the best neighborhood in our capital city. Banani has a fair share of exclusivity to offer when it comes to choosing a living place. Banani boasts some of the city’s most well-developed streets at the moment. The entire neighborhood has been carefully developed to include both business and residential zones. Few embassies and many important business organizations are located in this area, making it one of the corporal hubs of Dhaka. Banani is a popular choice for employees who want to be close to their workplaces in order to save time. From apartment buildings to high-rise structures, Banani offers exquisite housing with modern amenities. Read this article on a guide to buying a new house in Dhaka before you jumpstart your endeavor. Rickshaws and air-conditioned buses like Dhaka Chaka and Gulshan Chaka are available for local transportation. These buses not only run within Banani but also to and from Gulshan-2 and the surrounding areas.

If there’s one place in Dhaka to take a foodie who loves to indulge, it’s Banani. Ranging from traditional to international cuisine, Banani has to offer abundant restaurants, fast food chains, and a wide variety of cuisine outlets. The affordability of these restaurants also serve both the affluent and middle-income. Not only restaurants but 5-star hotels such as Intercontinental Hotel, Hotel Tulip, etc., are also located in Banani. Banani Supermarket, Bangladesh-UAE Moitry retail complex, branch outlets of reputed brands, and many more chain shops serve the purpose of shopping for all sorts of necessities. Though Banani lacks top-notch healthcare services right around the block, there are still diagnostic centers like Prava Health, Banani clinic, etc., providing healthcare amenities. 

Advantages

1. High security and road maintenance 
2. Modernized accommodation facilities 
3. Quality education 
4. Banani lake for ample recreation
5. bundance of playground facilities for children
6. Both luxurious and affordable restaurants 

Disadvantages

1. Lack of good quality hospital facilities 
2. Expensive accommodation 
3. Fewer options for intercity transportation 
4. Expensive shopping centers 

Dhanmondi

Dhanmondi is one of the old neighborhoods of Dhaka city. Since the 1950s, Dhanmondi has grown steadily, evolving into a trendy neighborhood. If you’re looking to live in a relatively cheap but modern area than the luxurious places described above, go no further than Dhanmondi. To begin, Dhanmondi features well-constructed infrastructure and wide, well-planned streets. Dhanmondi is home to lavish residential buildings, aesthetically pleasing structures, and even some historic structures. Top-quality educational institutions, for instance, Scholastica, MasterMind, Oxford International, and many more are rooted here. This area is home to several prestigious educational institutions, including Dhaka College, one of Bangladesh’s oldest colleges, as well as Bir Shreshtha Noor Mohammad Public College, Dhaka City College, ULAB, and Stamford University. Dhanmondi has a wide range of healthcare facilities, including Labaid Specialized Hospital, Medinova, Ibn Sina Hospital, Bangladesh Eye Hospital, and Bangladesh Medical College.

The Dhanmondi lake, however, is by far the most popular tourist attraction in Dhanmondi. It’s one of the city’s most popular hangouts. This long, vast greenery on both sides provides recreational facilities such as speed boating, small restaurants, and street foods. Rabindra Shorobor is located on the lake’s shore, where various events and performances are held from time to time. You may relax your body and mind just by sitting on the edge of this lake or walking along the pavement next to the lake. Dhanmondi also has the Star Cineplex, where people can go to watch movies on the weekends for fun. Restaurants of different kinds can be found in Dhanmondi, and they vary from traditional to international food. As one of the nation’s largest foodie hotspots, it is seeing an unprecedented influx of new restaurants open their doors. For shopping, Dhanmondi is heaven for shoppers. Excellent collections from different brands are available at affordable prices in Shimanto Square, Anam Rangs Plaza, Rapa Plaza, Shimanto Sombar, Metro Shopping Mall, etc. There are plenty of rickshaws and other public transit options available to get around. 

Advantages

1. Tasteful apartments with good facilities within a more affordable range 
2. Quality education for all levels of students
3. Best healthcare facilities 
4. Lakes, clubs, cinema halls for entertainment 
5. Shoppers’ heaven
6. Best place to try out different cuisines
7. Public transportation facilities 

Disadvantages

1. Expensive for lower-middle-class incomed
2. Traffic congestion during school hours 
3. Usually crowded because of various recreational facilities (lake, restaurants, shopping malls)
4. A negligible amount of hotels

Summary

Finding a new neighborhood to live in Dhaka is both exciting and stressful. There are diverse types of neighborhoods in this always-happening capital city, so it can be difficult to narrow down your options. However, after careful homework and considering the kinds of things you really care about (like transport, cost, environment, restaurants, etc.), you may find the perfect option for you and your family.

F.A.Q.

How hard is it to find suitable housing in Dhaka?

Ans: Finding suitable housing in Dhaka can be pretty challenging. To make this process less stressful, you can contact professional real estate agents to guide you through the whole journey.

Is living in Dhaka cheap or expensive?

Ans: The accommodation cost in Dhaka can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. However, compared to other western metropolitans, Dhaka is relatively cheaper for living.

What should I check before buying a Flat in Dhaka?

Ans: Follow this article to know about the important things to check before buying a flat in Dhaka.

Which area of Dhaka is best for educational institutions?

Ans: Dhaka’s educational hub, Dhanmondi, is home to several of the country’s most famous schools, colleges, and universities.