Orientation
Natore is a city in western Bangladesh and the headquarters of Natore District. The Narod river runs through the centre of the city, so it helps to think of the town as divided by the waterway when you plan your movements. As a district headquarters town rather than a major metropolis, Natore is compact and its transport options are straightforward: you will mostly be choosing between walking, local buses and buses from the terminal, and trains for longer journeys.
Getting around the city
Natore is a small city, and the practical way to cover short distances within the centre is on foot. Because the Narod river passes through the middle of the city, some trips will naturally involve crossing it, so it is worth noting where the crossings are relative to your accommodation before you set out.
For longer hops across town, local buses and the services based at the bus terminal are the main public transport available. The source material does not describe a metro, tram, or suburban rail network within Natore itself, so you should not expect one; rail in Natore is oriented towards intercity travel rather than moving around the city.
Rail
Natore is served by intercity trains, which are the comfortable option for reaching the city from elsewhere and for leaving it. There are a number of luxurious intercity services between Dhaka and Natore each day. The main ones are the Padma Express, the Silk City Express and the Dhumketue Express.
- Silk City Express — runs from Dhaka to Rajshahi, passing through Natore, and from Natore to Dhaka. It does not operate on Sundays.
- Padma Express — runs from Dhaka to Rajshahi via Natore, and from Natore to Dhaka. It has no service on Tuesdays.
- Dhumketue Express — departs Dhaka in the early morning and reaches Rajshahi around midday, then departs Rajshahi late at night and reaches Dhaka in the early hours. It does not run on Mondays.
Note that the source warns that timings may change, so confirm schedules before you travel. For long-distance trains, the major station is Rajshahi Railway Station, north of the Rajshahi city centre — useful to know if your journey involves connecting through Rajshahi rather than stopping directly at Natore.
Buses and other public transport
Buses are the workhorse of travel to and from Natore. From the capital, Dhaka, the road journey takes approximately five hours, and a number of bus services run from Dhaka via Natore, some of them air-conditioned. One named service on this route is Shamoli Paribahan.
Natore's bus terminal is also the place to go for services to other major districts, so if you are continuing onward rather than returning to Dhaka, start your search there. Within the city, buses are likewise the main form of public transport for getting around.
Taxis and ride-hailing
The source material does not describe taxis or ride-hailing services in Natore. Plan on buses and walking as your reliable options rather than assuming an app-based car service will be available.
Walkability
Walking is the sensible default for short trips in the city centre. Natore is a district headquarters city of modest size, and the main practical consideration is the Narod river running through the middle, which shapes which routes are direct and which require a crossing. Bear in mind that the river carries pollution from upstream industrial developments, so choose your riverside routes with that in mind.
Getting from the airport into the city
Natore does not have its own airport in the source material. The practical air gateway is Shah Makhdum Airport, the primary airport of Rajshahi city.
- Flights: United Airlines operates flights from Dhaka on Thursdays and Sundays, and flights from Saidpur. The schedule changes frequently, and sometimes the airport has no services at all — so verify before booking.
- Onward to Natore: From Rajshahi, travel by bus for about 45 minutes to reach Natore.
- Where to catch the bus: After reaching Rajshahi, buses are available at Vodra and Talaimari Mor, where there is a BRTC bus counter.
Arriving by car
If you are driving from Dhaka, the journey is roughly five hours depending on traffic, and you must cross the Jamuna Bridge to reach the city. Build in extra time for traffic and for the bridge crossing.