Getting Around Sylhet
Sylhet is a busy commercial city in northeastern Bangladesh, and its transport options reflect that role: a modern airport, a railway station, and bus terminals linking it to the rest of the country. Within the city itself, visitors generally rely on a mix of ride-hailing, auto-rickshaws, and short rickshaw trips rather than on any large urban rail system.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Sylhet does not have a metro or tram network. Rail in Sylhet is about intercity travel, not moving around town. Sylhet railway station sits on the south side of the Surma River and is the city's main railway station. Daily train services connect Sylhet with Dhaka, Chittagong and Comilla. From Dhaka, the named services are Joyontika, Kalni, Parabat and Upoban, departing in the morning, at noon and in the evening. From Chittagong, the Udayan and Paharika trains depart in the morning and at night. For a visitor, the train is a way of arriving in or leaving Sylhet, not a way of getting across the city.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Sylhet's bus connections are primarily long-distance. Many luxury coach and bus services run from Dhaka to Sylhet, including operators such as Hanif, Ena Transport, Green Line and London Express. These services are available from 5:30AM to 12:30PM, and it is recommended to contact the particular company for the latest schedule.
Two operators are worth noting for booking:
- Green Line — Humayun Rashid Chattar, 22 Kadamtoli Mur; phone +88-01970060036. Daily services with Dhaka.
- London Express — phone +88 09613444222, londonexpressltd@gmail.com. Daily services with Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.
Within the city, there is no metro-style public transport to speak of. Instead, short journeys are made by rickshaw, CNG auto-rickshaw, or ride-hailing apps.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Ride-hailing is the most straightforward option for visitors. Uber ride sharing is available for travel within the city, and a rental service called Jatri is also available to move around. CNG auto-rickshaws are widely available in the city and are a common way to get around. For short distances, a rickshaw ride can be a good option.
Walkability
Sylhet is not a walkable city. It lacks good quality footpaths, so visitors should not expect to cover meaningful distances on foot, particularly in busy or commercial areas. Plan on using a rickshaw, CNG auto-rickshaw, or a ride-hailing app even for relatively short trips.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Osmani International Airport (ZYL) serves Sylhet. It is served by Biman Bangladesh Air, US Bangla Airlines, Novoair and Air Astra. Domestic flights are available to Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Dhaka. International flights are available to Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, London, Manchester and Sharjah.
Once you land, the practical options for reaching the city mirror the options for getting around it: ride-hailing through Uber, a Jatri rental, or a CNG auto-rickshaw. Because Sylhet is not a walkable city and lacks good footpaths, arranging a vehicle at the airport rather than attempting to walk is the sensible approach.