Top places to visit in Yangon

• Shwedagon Pagoda

  golden stupa · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Myanmar's most sacred Buddhist site — a 98-metre gilded stupa crowned with 4,500 diamonds and 2,000 rubies, dominating Yangon's skyline for over 2,500 years. Especially magical at dusk when the gold glows deep orange.

• Bogyoke Aung San Market

  bazaar · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Yangon's iconic covered bazaar — built in 1926 as Scott Market — packed with over 2,000 stalls selling lacquerware, gemstones, jade, longyi fabric, silver jewellery, puppets, and fine Burmese handicrafts.

• Sule Pagoda

  stupa · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 48-metre golden stupa at the very heart of downtown Yangon, said to be 2,500 years old and containing a hair of the Buddha. Sitting in a busy traffic roundabout, it anchors the historic city grid laid out by the British.

• Kandawgyi Lake & Nature Park

  lake park · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A large natural lake in central Yangon offering beautiful views of Shwedagon Pagoda's reflection on the water. The ornate Karaweik Palace — a royal barge replica — floats on the eastern bank.

• Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple

  reclining buddha · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Home to one of Myanmar's largest reclining Buddhas — a 66-metre giant with intricate detailing and bejewelled golden sandals — housed in a large open-sided pavilion. Far less touristed than Shwedagon yet equally impressive.

• Yangon Circular Train

  train ride · 4.2 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 3-hour loop on the colonial-era Yangon Circular Railway — one of Asia's great slow-travel experiences, rattling through urban neighbourhoods, paddy fields, and markets as locals commute with vegetables, chickens, and street food.

• National Museum of Myanmar

  national museum · 4.0 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Yangon's principal museum displaying the Regalia of the Last Burmese Kings, the Royal Lion Throne, ancient coins, traditional costumes, musical instruments, and natural history exhibits across six floors.

• Botataung Pagoda

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

• Yangon Central Railway Station

  Heritage · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

• The Secretariat (Yangon)

  Heritage · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

• Maha Wizaya Pagoda

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

• Yangon Chinatown Night Market

  Market · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

Things to do

• Shwedagon Pagoda Evening Guided Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from MMK 39,700 per person
• Colonial Heritage Walking Tour Historical Tour · 3 h · from MMK 33,100 per person
• Yangon Street Food Night Walk Food Tour · 2.5 h · from MMK 48,500 per person
• Yangon Circular Railway Half-Day Sightseeing · 3 h · from MMK 17,600 per person
• Kandawgyi Lake Sunrise Cycling Cycling · 2 h · from MMK 26,500 per person

Day trips and tours

• Yangon Heritage & Food Full Day 12 h · from MMK 106,000
• Yangon Nature & Local Life Half Day 5 h · from MMK 48,500

Where to stay in Yangon

• Downtown & Colonial Quarter about MMK 6,500 per night

  Yangon's atmospheric riverside core — walkable to Sule Pagoda, the Strand waterfront and the city's best colonial buildings. The density of restaurants, cafes and heritage hotels makes this ideal for first-time visitors.

• Shwedagon & Dagon about MMK 9,500 per night

  The upscale residential belt surrounding the sacred Shwedagon Pagoda. Quieter and greener than downtown with good mid-range and luxury hotels. Short taxi ride to the colonial core.

Hotels

• The Strand Yangon 5-star · MMK 250,000 to MMK 600,000 per night
• Governor's Residence 5-star · MMK 180,000 to MMK 450,000 per night
• Savoy Hotel Yangon 4-star · MMK 80,000 to MMK 180,000 per night
• Classique Inn Yangon 3-star · MMK 25,000 to MMK 50,000 per night
• Pan Pacific Yangon 5-star · MMK 100,000 to MMK 250,000 per night
• Kandawgyi Palace Hotel 5-star · MMK 120,000 to MMK 320,000 per night

Where to eat

• 999 Shan Noodle House Shan, Burmese · about MMK 2,000 per person
• Feel Myanmar Food Burmese, Shan · about MMK 7,000 per person
• Rangoon Tea House Burmese, Fusion · about MMK 8,000 per person
• Aung Thukha Restaurant Burmese · about MMK 3,500 per person
• The Strand Grill Continental, Burmese · about MMK 50,000 per person
• House of Memories Burmese · about MMK 15,000 per person
• Le Planteur French, Fusion · about MMK 45,000 per person
• Padonmar Restaurant Burmese · about MMK 18,000 per person

Getting to Yangon

Airport: Yangon (RGN)

How visitors arrive in Yangon

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

  The airport has direct flights from many Southeast Asian, Chinese, Indian and Gulf cities. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train from Mandalay By train from Mandalay · common

  Yangon Central station connects with Mandalay via Bago, with connections for Bagan and Inle Lake. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Long-distance bus from Mandalay and Bagan By road from Mandalay · common

  Long-distance buses arrive at Aung Mingalar Bus Terminal from Mandalay, Bagan and Kalaw. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Inland ferry By ferry from Pyay · possible

  Inland Water Transport ferries run on the rivers, a slow traditional option. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Taxi from Yangon International

  Taxis wait outside both terminals; most have no meter, so agree the fare before getting in. Grab can be booked in its app, with the international arrivals pickup point at Door 5. Source: insightmyanmar.org

• Public bus 51 from Pyay Road unconfirmed

  A Yangon Bus Service airport shuttle links the airport with Yangon Central station via Kaba-Aye Pagoda and Sule Pagoda; check the current route number at the stop. Source: en.wikipedia.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Train to Yangon Central

  Yangon Central station links to Mandalay, with connections to Bagan and Inle Lake, and to Pyay and Mawlamyine. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the bus terminal to the centre

• Long-distance bus to Aung Mingalar

  Long-distance buses use Aung Mingalar terminal in the north or Hlaing Thar Yar terminal across the river. Ticket offices near the main station can arrange a shuttle. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus limited to a few areas

  Yangon Bus Service buses run on numbered routes, but signs and route numbers are in Burmese, so a map app can help.

• Ride Hail

  Grab is listed as a ride-hailing option in Yangon, though some drivers accept only cash.

  Get Grab Myanmar

• Taxi

  Taxis can be flagged down in the street and gather outside large hotels; the fare is normally agreed before getting in, as meters are rarely used.

• Walking

Paying

• Some Grab drivers refuse app payment, so carry cash as a backup. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety and scams to avoid

• Taxi overcharging at Yangon Airport

  Yangon International Airport arrivals hall

  Unofficial taxi touts approach arrivals and quote inflated fares (sometimes 5–10x the fair price). They may claim the meter is broken or that the real taxi stand is far away.

  How to avoid it: Use Grab (the app pre-installed before landing) or join the official taxi queue outside arrivals. Fair airport rate to downtown is 8,000–12,000 MMK.

• Gem shop commission trap

  Downtown Yangon, near Bogyoke Market and colonial quarter

  A friendly local "student" or "government worker" strikes up a conversation, eventually steering you to a gem shop where they earn a commission on anything you buy. The goods are often low-quality or overpriced.

  How to avoid it: Politely decline any offer to take you shopping. Legitimate gems should be bought from licensed Gems Museum shops or established jewellers with receipts.

Best time to visit Yangon

• Jan 33°C
• Feb 35°C
• Mar 37°C
• Apr 38°C
• May 35°C
• Jun 31°C
• Jul 31°C
• Aug 30°C
• Sep 31°C
• Oct 33°C
• Nov 34°C
• Dec 33°C

More in Myanmar

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

Frequently asked questions about Yangon

How many days do you need in Yangon?

A typical trip to Yangon is 2-3 days.

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

The highest-rated places in our Yangon guide are Shwedagon Pagoda, Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple, Bogyoke Aung San Market, Sule Pagoda, Kandawgyi Lake & Nature Park.

Where should I stay in Yangon?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Yangon: Downtown & Colonial Quarter, Shwedagon & Dagon.

How do I get around Yangon?

Ways to get around Yangon covered in our guide: City bus, Ride-hailing app, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Yangon?

Scams reported to us for Yangon include Taxi overcharging at Yangon Airport; Gem shop commission trap. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Yangon?

Average daytime highs in Yangon run from 30°C in Aug to 38°C in Apr.

Which airport is nearest to Yangon?

The nearest airport to Yangon has the code RGN.