Dhaka to Chattogram by Bus: Travel Time, Bus Types, Boarding and Tips

The Dhaka to Chattogram bus is one of the busiest intercity routes in Bangladesh. Students, business travellers, families and holidaymakers heading for the port city, the hills or the coast all use it, and there are departures through the day and night. This guide covers how long the trip takes, how to choose a bus and what to expect along the way.

How far is it, and how long does the bus take?

The road from Dhaka to Chattogram is roughly 250 kilometres along the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. On a normal day the bus takes about 5 to 7 hours. The biggest variable is traffic: getting out of Dhaka can take a long time at rush hour, and the highway slows down around market towns, on Thursdays and Fridays, and before public holidays. Around Eid the same trip can take much longer.

Treat the arrival time on your ticket as an estimate, and leave some slack if you have a train, a meeting or an onward bus to catch in Chattogram.

What you pass on the way

The highway runs south-east through some of the country’s busiest towns:

• Kanchpur and Mograpara, just outside Dhaka, where the turn-off for Sonargaon and Panam City is
• Cumilla, about halfway, home of the Mainamati ruins
• Feni, where many buses stop at Mohipal on the highway
• Mirsharai and Sitakunda, where green hills appear on the left and the sea is a few kilometres to the right

Most buses make one meal break on the way. Keep your ticket and valuables with you when you get off, and note the bus number and the time you need to be back.

Day bus or night bus?

Because the journey is only five to seven hours, both work well.

Day buses are good if you want to arrive with time to check in and rest, or if you like watching the countryside. Morning departures beat the worst of the city traffic.

Night buses save a day: you board in the evening and arrive early in the morning. They suit people who sleep easily on a bus. Arriving very early means you may wait a little before you can check in, so plan for that.

AC or non-AC?

• AC buses are quieter, cooler and more comfortable, and worth it from March to October when it is hot and humid
• Non-AC buses cost less and are fine in the cooler months, especially on a day trip
• On a night bus, look at the seat layout: wider seats and more recline make it far easier to sleep

Read the cancellation and change rules before you pay, so you know your options if plans shift.

Boarding in Dhaka and arriving in Chattogram

Dhaka has many bus terminals and counters, and buses on this highway mostly leave from the Saydabad and Jatrabari side of the city, with other counters elsewhere. Choose the boarding point nearest to you: crossing Dhaka in evening traffic to reach a far counter can take longer than you expect. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early.

In Chattogram, coaches usually stop at counters around Dampara, GEC and Oxygen. Your ticket shows the exact drop-off point. CNG auto-rickshaws and ride-hailing apps work across the city, and rickshaws are fine for short hops.

Where to sit and what to bring

• Middle seats give the smoothest ride; the back row feels every bump
• Window seats are best for sleeping; aisle seats make breaks easier
• Bring water, a light snack, a power bank and a light jacket for the AC
• Keep your phone charged, since your e-ticket is on it

What to see in Chattogram

Once you arrive, there is plenty to do in and around the city. Our Chattogram guide has food, neighbourhoods and getting around. Favourites include:

• Patenga Sea Beach, past the airport, for sunset over the Bay of Bengal
• Foy’s Lake in Khulshi, among low hills
• Chittagong War Cemetery, a quiet, well-kept Second World War cemetery
• Bayazid Bostami Shrine in the north of the city

Try mezbani beef, the dish Chattogram is proudest of, and kala bhuna with paratha.

Stops worth breaking the journey for

The stretch of highway between Feni and Chattogram has several places that are easy to reach from a bus:

• Mohamaya Lake at Mirsharai: get off at Thakurdighi and take a CNG
• Khoiyachora Waterfall: get off at Boro Takia and walk the forest trail, ideally with a local guide
• Chandranath Hill above Sitakunda, a 1.5 to 2 hour climb; start early
• Guliakhali Sea Beach, a grassy shore a short CNG ride from Sitakunda

These make good day trips from Chattogram too, by bus up the highway.

Going further

Chattogram is the gateway to the hills and the coast. Buses from the city reach Rangamati for Kaptai Lake and Bandarban in about 2.5 to 3 hours each, and Cox’s Bazar in about 4 hours. For the hill districts, carry your national ID card or passport for the checkpoints and check the current rules before you go.

When to book

Seats sell fastest for Thursday evening and Friday morning departures, long weekends and the winter holiday season, and most of all before Eid. Booking a few days ahead gives you a real choice of time and seat.

Book your seat

See departures, compare buses and pick your seat on the Dhaka to Chattogram bus page. Your e-ticket arrives as soon as you pay, and you can search any other route the same way.