What To Do In Yangon?
Best Places To Visit In Yangon + Travel Tips
Yangon (also known as Rangoon) is one of the most important places in Myanmar. It was the capital of this country for many years (until 2006). The city is a perfect getaway for exploring the rest of Burma. In this post, you will find the best places to visit in Yangon and tips for visiting. If you wonder where to stay in Yangon, keep on reading, as I am recommending pretty awesome hotels and hostels here!
Even though Myanmar is located in the popular South East Asia, you won’t see many tourists in this country. It’s still untouched which makes it even more beautiful.
Burmese people look very original with a whitish-yellow paste called thanaka all over their faces. It’s quite surprising that men in Burma wear skirts! There were so many fascinating things about this country that I’ve written a separate post about Interesting facts about Myanmar.
Anyways, this post is about Yangon attractions. Keep on reading to find out what to do in Yangon.
Top Things To Do In Yangon
Shwedagon Pagoda
It is the most important temple in Myanmar. Shwedagon Pagoda is huge and it is visible from many places in the city.
After visiting hundreds of temples in South East Asia, I didn’t expect anything special from this pagoda. And I was wrong! It turned out to be the most beautiful Buddhist temple I have ever seen!
Shwedagon is one of the best Yangon Myanmar attractions. It is huge and monumental. You will need at least 2 hours to see everything inside. The main pagoda is 99 meters tall (325 ft).
Burmese people believe that it was built more than 2,600 years ago but this information is not confirmed by historians. Archeological investigations showed that Shwedagon Pagoda is 1,000- 1,500 years old.
Over the centuries, the temple was damaged many times. But it was always rebuilt bigger and stronger.
Burmese people believe that this temple contains relics of the 4 previous Buddhas, that’s why it is the most sacred place in the whole Myanmar.
Tips for visiting: In Myanmar, you have to be barefoot to get to the temple. You can’t even wear socks!
Shwedagon Pagoda is open every day from 4 am until 10 pm. Ticket price is 8,000 Kyat ($8) per person. More info here.
If you want to see the beautiful sunset in Shwedagon Pagoda and get to know more about this amazing temple, check out this evening tour.
Sule Pagoda
This temple is much smaller than Shwedagon Pagoda but it’s worth seeing as well. It’s a more local place so you can actually see local people praying and spending time in a pagoda.
Burmese people believe that Sule was built before Shwedagon Pagoda. So it must be more than 2,500 years old!
I haven’t found any information whether it’s true or it’s just a legend. But it really doesn’t matter- this temple is beautiful and it is definitely worth visiting, no matter how old it is.
Sule Pagoda is open every day from 5 am until 10 pm. Ticket price is 4,000 Kyat ($4) per person.
Night market at Maha Bandula road
Maha Bandula is the main road leading to the Sule Pagoda. It is always crowded, noisy and full of smells.
If you are looking for things to do in Yangon at night, you should definitely visit Maha Bandula after dark. You can drink traditional Burmese bear (called Myanmar), eat local food and even try fried insects!
Yangon Zoo
Due to the constant deterioration of animals’ living conditions in the zoo, I don’t recommend going there anymore!
One of the interesting things to do in Myanmar Yangon is visiting the zoo. It’s more than 100 years ago!
You need to know that Yangon zoo is quite a controversial place- some people accuse that the animals have very poor conditions of living there. And that it’s not a very safe place because of lack of bars and cages.
It’s true that in this zoo you can be really close to deadly animals like hippos. If you lean out, you could even touch them. No one is there to take care of the safety of tourists.
It is good and bad at the same time. Good, because you can take really awesome photos and hand-feed the animals. Bad, because if you are not careful enough, you can hurt yourself.
Yangon Zoo is open every day from 8 am until 6 pm. Ticket price is 3,000 Kyat ($3) per person.
Kandawgyi Lake
Kandawgyi Lake and Nature Park is one of the things to see in Yangon that you can’t miss. It is so quiet and lovely, that you could easily spend the whole day there.
The Great Royal Lake is one of the biggest lakes in Yangon and it is situated really close to the Shwedagon Pagoda and Yangon zoo. So after visiting the pagoda, you can walk to Kandawgyi Lake.
There are some restaurants in Kandawgyi Nature Park, so it is a really good place for lunch or dinner.
China Town
One of the places to visit in Myanmar Yangon for the foodies!
China town is the most interesting area of Yangon. You will find many restaurants and bars there with very cheap food and drinks. Be sure to join the China town food tour to make sure you will make the most of your trip!
The Night market at Maha Bandula road, Kheng Hock Keong Temple and Sule Pagoda are situated in the China Town area, so you can go sightseeing during a day and take a tour in the evening.
Bogyoke Aung San Market
The best place for shopping in Yangon!
If you want to buy yourself some clothes (including a traditional longyi), you will love this place. Bogyoke Aung San is a big market with really low prices. The biggest advantage of it is that it’s roofed, so your shopping in Yangon will be undisturbed, regardless of the weather.
Bygone Aung San Market is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am until 5 pm.
Kheng Hock Keong Temple
The most important, the oldest and the largest Chinese temple in the city. One of the Yangon tourist attractions that it’s worth visiting after your done with all the top sites mentioned above.
The temple is really small comparing to Shwedagon or Sule Pagoda.
The admission to the Kheng Hock Keong Temple is free.
Botahtaung Pagoda
It is believed that Botahtaung Pagoda is as old as Sule and Shwedagon Pagoda (more than 2,500 years old).
It is a peaceful temple situated on the riverside. An interesting fact about it is that it was completely destroyed during World War II.
Burmese people started rebuilding it in 1948 after they gained independence from the United Kingdom.
Botahtaung Pagoda is open every day from 6 am until 8 pm. The ticket price is 3,000 Kyat ($3) per person.
Check out the recommended tours to take in Yangon:
Where To Stay In Yangon?
For Luxury Travelers
If you are looking for high-end hotels in Yangon downtown, check out Yangon Excelsior. This five-star hotel is one of the best in the city.
The spacious rooms, outstanding service, delicious breakfast, and excellent location make it the perfect place to stay in Yangon.
The other luxurious hotels worth checking out are:
For those preferring to stay in luxury apartments, Shangri-La has a pretty interesting offer. More info here.
For Budget Travelers
Traveller’s House is a perfect choice for those whose budget is tight. You can get there a bed for less than $8! The location of this hostel is perfect plus it has excellent reviews.
If Traveller’s House is fully booked, check out also Hostel Wizaya and The Lodge.
Those who don’t want to sleep in a dormitory may enjoy staying at Ocean Pearl Inn-3 or Hostel H Way. Both hostels offer accommodation in a private room for as little as $15!
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2 Responses
Thanks for the fantastic tips! I’ll be in Yangon for 2 days at the end of the month. I’m so excited and these tips are really helpful. Pinning for later!
Best,
Sarah
Oh wow, you are so lucky to visit Yangon this month! We already miss this city.
Have fun and enjoy your stay in Myanmar, Sarah :)