Top places to visit in Mandalay

• U Bein Bridge

  wooden bridge · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's longest teak bridge at 1.2 km, built around 1850 with salvaged wood from the former Inwa royal palace. Crossing Taungthaman Lake on 1,086 wooden posts, it is Myanmar's most photographed sunset location.

• Mahamuni Pagoda

  pagoda · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of Myanmar's holiest pilgrimage sites — home to the sacred Mahamuni Buddha image, whose surface has accumulated a 15-cm layer of gold leaf applied by devout male worshippers over centuries.

• Mandalay Palace & Fort

  royal palace · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The last royal palace of the Burmese kings — a walled square palace-city with a moat, watchtowers, and the reconstructed Mya Nan San Kyaw palace buildings rising from the vast green interior.

• Mandalay Hill

  sacred hill · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 236-metre sacred hill crowned with gold-spired pagodas. The panoramic view from the summit sweeps across Mandalay, the Ayeyarwady River, and distant Shan hills — especially stunning at sunset.

• Kuthodaw Pagoda

  pagoda complex · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Home to the "world's largest book" — 729 marble slabs inscribed with the entire Pali Buddhist canon, each housed in its own small white pagoda. The forest of miniature temples surrounding the central golden stupa is a UNESCO site.

• Shwenandaw Monastery

  teak monastery · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The only surviving structure from the original Mandalay Palace complex — an intricately carved teak-wood monastery moved from the palace grounds in the 1880s. The finest example of Burmese teak craftsmanship.

• Mingun Pagoda & Bell

  ancient ruins · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  A massive unfinished pagoda begun in 1790 that would have been the world's largest — now a colossal ruin rising 50 metres. Nearby sits the Mingun Bell, the world's largest uncracked ringing bell at 90 tonnes.

• Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, Mandalay

  Temple · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

• Sandamuni Pagoda

  Temple · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

• Atumashi Monastery

  Monastery · about 0.4 h · check the fee at the gate

• Zegyo Market

  Market · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

Things to do

• U Bein Bridge Sunset Boat Boat · 1.5 h · from MMK 44,100 per person
• Ancient Capitals Day Trip — Amarapura & Sagaing Day Trip · 8 h · from MMK 77,200 per person
• Mandalay Hill Sunrise Walk Cultural · 2.5 h · from MMK 30,900 per person
• Mandalay Palace & Moat Cycling Cycling · 3 h · from MMK 39,700 per person
• Traditional Mandalay Lacquerware Workshop Arts Crafts · 3 h · from MMK 55,200 per person

Day trips and tours

• Mandalay Highlights Full Day 13 h · from MMK 137,000
• Ancient Capitals & Crafts Day 10 h · from MMK 121,000

Where to stay in Mandalay

• City Centre & Palace about MMK 4,500 per night

  The commercial heart of Mandalay — within cycling distance of the palace moat, Zegyo Market and the main pagoda trail. Most budget and mid-range hotels cluster here.

• Mandalay Hill & East about MMK 5,500 per night

  The residential quarter below Mandalay Hill offers a calmer base with boutique guesthouses. Best for early risers wanting to climb the hill at dawn without a taxi.

Hotels

• Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel 5-star · MMK 150,000 to MMK 350,000 per night
• Hotel by the Red Canal 4-star · MMK 70,000 to MMK 140,000 per night
• ET Hotel Mandalay 3-star · MMK 35,000 to MMK 70,000 per night
• Peacock Lodge 3-star · MMK 18,000 to MMK 40,000 per night
• Hotel Yadanarbon 3.5-star · MMK 25,000 to MMK 60,000 per night
• Hotel Shwe Pyi Thar 3-star · MMK 20,000 to MMK 45,000 per night

Where to eat

• Super 81 Restaurant Chinese, Burmese · about MMK 4,000 per person
• Marie-Min Restaurant Burmese · about MMK 3,000 per person
• Shan Ma May Restaurant Shan · about MMK 2,500 per person
• Green Elephant Restaurant Mandalay Burmese · about MMK 12,000 per person
• Mandalay Hill Viewpoint Restaurant Burmese · about MMK 4,500 per person
• A Little Bit of Mandalay Burmese · about MMK 8,000 per person
• Aye Myit Tar Myanmar Restaurant Burmese · about MMK 7,000 per person

Getting to Mandalay

Airport: Mandalay (MDL)

How visitors arrive in Mandalay

• Fly into Mandalay International Airport By air from Yangon · common

  The airport serves domestic routes and some international flights, and lies well south of the centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train from Yangon By train from Yangon · common

  Trains run from Yangon to Mandalay Central station; the journey is long. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus from Yangon By road from Yangon · common

  Overnight buses link Yangon and Mandalay; the main long-distance terminal is the Highway Bus Station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus from Inle Lake and Kalaw By road from Inle Lake · possible

  Buses also connect Mandalay with Inle Lake, Kalaw and Monywa. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train from Pyin U Lwin By train from Pyin U Lwin · possible

  Slow trains run from Pyin U Lwin, Hsipaw and Lashio. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Taxi from Mandalay International

  The airport is well south of the city, at Tada-U. Taxis go direct, and sharing a vehicle with other passengers is an option. Source: mandalayintlairport.com

• Shared airport bus

  A shared bus also serves the airport, but it may leave before you can change money or buy a SIM. Source: mandalayintlairport.com

From the bus terminal to the centre

• Pickup truck from the Highway Bus Station

  Terminal taxis are overpriced. Walk out of the yard to the west to find shared pickup trucks into town; some bus companies include hotel drop-off. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Car With Driver
• Motorbike Rental

  Motorbikes can be rented through some hotels on 25th Street for exploring the city and its surroundings independently.

• Scooter Rental

  Some guesthouses and hotels rent automatic and semi-automatic motorbikes for getting around Mandalay.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Jade and gem shop scam

  Around Mandalay city centre and hotel district

  Mandalay is Myanmar's jade capital. Tuk-tuk and cyclo drivers offer "free tours" to jade factories where they earn large commissions. Items are presented as investment-grade but rarely are.

  How to avoid it: Only buy gems from shops with government licences displayed. Treat any guide who suggests a "factory visit" as a commission earner. A good deal on jade from a stranger is almost always too good to be true.

• "Closed temple" misdirection

  Mandalay Palace, Kuthodaw Pagoda, Shwenandaw

  A stranger (often posing as a monk or student) approaches and says the temple or attraction is "closed today for a ceremony" and offers to take you to a better alternative — which is usually a shop or minor site.

  How to avoid it: Verify opening status independently. Major Mandalay temples are almost never fully closed. Walk past any such person and check the entrance yourself.

Best time to visit Mandalay

• Jan 30°C
• Feb 33°C
• Mar 37°C
• Apr 39°C
• May 37°C
• Jun 36°C
• Jul 35°C
• Aug 34°C
• Sep 34°C
• Oct 33°C
• Nov 32°C
• Dec 29°C

More in Myanmar

• Bagan
• Yangon
• Nyaungshwe
• Kyaiktiyo
• Ngapali
• Hpa-An

Frequently asked questions about Mandalay

How many days do you need in Mandalay?

A typical trip to Mandalay is 2-3 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Mandalay?

The highest-rated places in our Mandalay guide are Mahamuni Pagoda, U Bein Bridge, Shwenandaw Monastery, Mandalay Hill, Kuthodaw Pagoda.

Where should I stay in Mandalay?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Mandalay: City Centre & Palace, Mandalay Hill & East.

How do I get around Mandalay?

Ways to get around Mandalay covered in our guide: Car with driver, Motorbike rental, Scooter rental, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Mandalay?

Scams reported to us for Mandalay include Jade and gem shop scam; "Closed temple" misdirection. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Mandalay?

Average daytime highs in Mandalay run from 29°C in Dec to 39°C in Apr.

Which airport is nearest to Mandalay?

The nearest airport to Mandalay has the code MDL.