Sleeping in Airports

Dhaka Airport Guide

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Dhaka Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit.  Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

the upstairs transit area is the best area and completely different from the usual Asian chaos below. – poodlemark

DAC Airport Overview

dhaka airport guideTo help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Dhaka Airport (code: DAC).

What to Expect

Dhaka Airport has three small, outdated terminals that are easy to navigate on foot: T1 and T2, for international flights, and the Domestic Terminal. Travellers have reported that security guards sometimes ask for bribes or speak in a harassing manner, but this may have improved in the last couple of years. The airport is notorious for its chaos, so expect disorganization, inefficient or non-existent security procedures, and odd policies like prohibiting water bottles in certain airport areas.

Facilities seem limited to a restaurant, cafe and a few small shops. Don’t expect clean toilets. Bring your own toilet paper and sanitizer, just in case. The free WiFi helps pass the time. For added comfort while you wait, economy class passengers can pay to enter a few airport lounges, two of which have showers for freshening up. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for location and access information.

Sleeping in Dhaka Airport

Travellers who have reported staying the night here generally don’t recommend it due to the poor facilities, lack of safety and security, and the presence of locals looking to “sell” various services. If you do risk spending the night, bring a sleeping bag and have a backup plan. For uninterrupted sleep, nearby hotels offer shuttle service. See our Airport Hotels section below for more info, or read traveller reviews for more tips.

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Dhaka Airport Guide.

In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.  For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.

Airport Hours

As of this update, we could not confirm the airport’s hours of operation. We recommend reading a few reviews before deciding to sleep in the airport overnight. If you know the airport hours, click here to update this airport guide and we will update this airport guide.

Rest & Relaxation Zones

There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Airport Hotels

If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Dhaka Airport:

  • Best Western Plus Maple Leaf – No airport shuttle.  » Check Rates
  • Richmond Hotel & Suites – No airport shuttle.  » Check Rates
  • Dhaka Regency Hotel & Resort – No airport shuttle.  » Check Rates

For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Dhaka Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.

Airport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!

  • Intercontinental Dhaka Balaka Executive Lounge – Location: Terminal 1, Airside, 2nd Floor. Showers are available. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
  • MTB Air Lounge – Location: Terminal 1, Airside, International Departures, 2nd Floor. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
  • Skylounge – Location: Terminal 1, Airside, 2nd Floor. Showers are available. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Lounge membership programs.

Related Pages: Dhaka Airport Lounges

Drinking Water

Information is unavailable. Does the airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.

Food & Drinks

According to a recent reviewer (Oct 2016), Spices is the only restaurant available. There is also a coffee shop called Barista (location is unknown).

Luggage Storage & Lockers

Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.

Mobile Charging

A reader tells us that mobile charging is available in the international departure area, landside.

Showers

Showers are located inside the lounges. [ see Airport Lounges above ]

WiFi/Internet

Free WiFi is available at Dhaka airport; however, a reader tells us you must have a local telephone number to use it. (October 2019)

More Airport Information

More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover

ATMs / Cash Machines – There is an on-site bank that may have an ATM.

Baby Care Facilities – If you are travelling with an infant, there are baby care facilities available both Landside and Airside.

Baggage Trolleys – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available free of charge throughout the airport.

Currency Exchange – A currency change office is opposite the baggage claim area.

Duty-Free & Shopping – Duty-Free is available in addition to a small variety of stores selling books, newspapers, snacks, etc.

Luggage Wrapping – Protect your bags from theft and damage by having them wrapped in plastic.

Medical Services – First Aid services are available. Seek assistance from airport staff if necessary.

Prayer Rooms – Male and Female prayer rooms are available in the Arrivals area of Terminal 1.

SIM Cards – A reader tells us, “There are multiple kiosks just past immigration that sell SIM cards to local carriers. There are also multiple money exchangers located in this area. On an unrelated note, the immigration process can take quite some time. The guards are individually inputting information, including your passport number and Bangladesh visa number. The luggage carousels are located to the left and the right of the immigration, and they may pull your luggage and set it against the wall if you have taken a longer time to get through the queue. It took me approximately an hour.”

Airlines
Dhaka Airport is served by the following airlines: Air Arabia • Air Asia • Air China • Air India • Biman Bangladesh Airlines • Cathay Dragon • China Eastern Airlines • China Southern • Druk Air • Emirates • Etihad Airways • flydubai • Gulf Air • Himalaya Airlines • IndiGo • Kuwait Airways • Malaysia Airlines • Maldivian • Malindo Air • Novoair • PIA • Qatar Airways • Regent Airways • Salam Air • Saudia • Singapore Airlines • Spicejet • Sri Lankan Airlines • Thai Airways • Thai AirAsia • Thai Lion Air • Turkish Airlines • US Bangla Air.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Car Rentals

There is a car rental desk outside the airport. The airport suggests that travellers “should beware of cheats and exorbitant rates. It is best to have your guide (most hotels provide guide assistance as a complimentary service) in Bangladesh to take care of this part of the journey.”

Hotel Shuttles

At the time of this update, we could not find any hotels offering an airport shuttle. See also Airport Hotels above.

Last updated: 2024-08-26

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or  write a review.