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Bangladesh
Dhaka in May
🌧️ Rainy seasonHot, humid and very wet. Watch for hazy air and tropical cyclone & flood risk.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics · N95 mask for hazy days
Why May scores 5.4What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort5.1
- !Hot (34°C highs / 25°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 24.7°C)
- !Wet: ~272 mm rain, ~9 heavy-rain days
- Air quality4.5
- !Unhealthy for sensitive groups (PM2.5 ~46 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards7.0
- !Tropical cyclone: Peak of the North Indian Ocean cyclone season
- !Flood: ~9 heavy-rain days (≥10 mm) in an average May
- Safety baseline5.5
- ·High caution
| May | Apr | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 5.4 Fair | 7.0 Good |
| Season | 🌧️ Rainy season | 🌦️ Shoulder (showers) |
| High / low | 34° / 25° | 34° / 24° |
| Rain | 272 mm | 128 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 25° | dew pt 21° |
| PM2.5 | 46 µg/m³ | 39 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Dhaka weather-station normals. Rainfall: Dhaka weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Eid al-Adha 17–19 May · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: May Day (1 May)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore DhakaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyBangladesh's huge, energetic capital is famous for rickshaws, river life and Mughal-era monuments in Old Dhaka. Visitors come for history, food and a full immersion in city life.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
Victory DayEvery year16 December every year
Marks victory in the 1971 Liberation War.
Why go: Public holiday with ceremonies.
Where: National Martyrs' Memorial and across the city
International Mother Language Day (Ekushey)Every year21 February every year
Honours those who died in the 1952 language movement.
Why go: A solemn holiday; the February book fair also runs through this month.
Where: Central Shaheed Minar
Independence DayEvery year26 March every year
National holiday marking independence in 1971.
Why go: Public holiday with ceremonies; some closures.
Where: Across the city
Lalbagh Fort
Unfinished 17th-century Mughal fort with gardens and a mausoleum.
Ahsan Manzil
Pink former palace of the Nawabs of Dhaka, now a museum.
Star Mosque (Tara Masjid)
Mosque decorated with star-patterned mosaic tiles.
💡 Dress modestly and avoid visiting during prayer times.
National Parliament House
Landmark modernist complex designed by Louis Kahn.
💡 View from the surrounding grounds; interior access is restricted.
Sadarghat
Busy river port on the Buriganga where you can take short boat rides.
💡 Go with a guide and keep valuables secure.
Kacchi biryani
Fragrant rice layered with marinated mutton, a Dhaka favourite.
💡 Old Dhaka restaurants
Ilish (hilsa)
The national fish, often cooked in mustard sauce.
💡 Bengali restaurants
Bhorta
Mashed vegetables, fish or lentils mixed with mustard oil and chilli.
💡 Bengali restaurants
Fuchka
Crisp hollow puffs filled with spiced tamarind water.
💡 Street stalls
Jamdani sari
Fine hand-woven muslin, recognised by UNESCO.
💡 Specialist shops and craft stores such as Aarong
Nakshi kantha
Embroidered quilts with folk motifs.
💡 Craft shops
Rickshaw art
Brightly painted panels and souvenirs in rickshaw style.
💡 Craft shops and markets