Yangon

Understand

As the country's former capital, Yangon is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Myanmar, where you can find nightlife, quality international restaurants, and many of the country's museums. The city is an amalgamation of British, Burmese, Chinese, and Indian influences. Well-known for its colonial architecture, which although decaying, remains an almost unique example of a 19th-century British colonial capital in Asia. New skyscrapers began to rise from the 1990s forward as the government began to allow private investment, and with the introduction of liberalising reforms in 2013, many new buildings were constructed and refurbished in the city centre. Since the capital was shifted to Naypyidaw in 2005, former government buildings such as the massive Secretariat Building have benefited from large-scale restoration efforts. Yangon's former English name, Rangoon, was not the only victim of change; the country's name itself was changed from Burma to Myanmar. To add to the ongoing identity crisis, the city has been stripped of its status as the capital, relocated to a remote new site called Naypyidaw, built from scratch. The flag too has been changed in 2010, replacing the old one, which replaced another one slightly more than a decade earlier.

Read Our Home in Myanmar: Four Years in Yangon by Jessica Mudditt - An Australian freelance journalist recounts living in Yangon during the country's liberalisation between 2012–2015, working for an English-language newspaper. The author describes with fascination what her life was like, the stories she worked on, and the difficulties created by the Myanmar government for her husband, a Bangladeshi, in light of the beginnings of the Myanmar military's genocide of the Muslim Rohingya people.

Getting there

By plane 1 Yangon International Airport (Mingladon, RGN IATA) (about 30 min north of the city centre—allow 1 hr 30 min during the rush hours). There are several accommodation options in the immediate vicinity of the airport to fit every budget. (updated Mar 2025) Getting there/away:

The easiest way to get to and from the airport is by taxi (US$10 from airport to city or 20,000 kyat from the city to airport, all pre-paid). Grab Taxi, the dominant Uber equivalent in Southeast Asia, has a counter just before the exit. If you haven't download the app yet, ask the green-shirted Grab agent to book you one of their fixed-price taxis.

By public bus: exit the international terminal and turn right, walking along the road for about 10 min to Pyay Rd, where you can take public bus 51 which will take you one block east of Sule Paya (200 kyat). The cheapest way to get to the airport is to take that bus, get off at Airport Rd, and take a taxi for the remaining kilometre (about US$1 after bargaining) or just walk. To get to the city, you could ask the driver at the airport to drop you off at the bus stop called "Mile 10" on Pyay Rd and take line 51. You might have trouble being understood: have someone writes it down for you in Burmese script with precise instructions (e.g., someone at your hotel). Another option is to share a taxi. International:

There are direct flights to RGN from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Vientiane, Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Singapore, Beijing, Guangzhou, Kunming, Taipei, Seoul, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Dubai. International Airlines serving RGN include Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, China Airlines, Korean Air and Air India. The international terminal has free Wi-Fi. Coffee, tea and very basic snacks (packaged biscuits and single serving cakes) are available inside the security area. Since the 2021 coup and subsequent economic depression, the terminal's shopping area and food court is mostly closed; outside of a Coach outlet, a watch retailer and a bookshop, only a few low-end food and jewellery stalls remain. Domestic:

The domestic terminal is 200 m past the international terminal, and is old and tired looking. Facilities are minimal (espresso coffee, tea, local beer, limited hot food, and basic packaged snacks are available) but, as a consequence, check-in is simple and quick and bags arrive quickly from arriving aircraft. Ancient buses ferry passengers to their aircraft. Pre-paid taxis are available, paid at the taxi counter insi

Getting around

1 Aung Zha Bridge (take Hlaing River Rd across the river). Over Hlaing River connect Insein township with Hlaing Thar Yar township 2 Bayint Naung Bridge, Dagon Township. Over Hlaing River 3 Maha Bandula Bridge, Maha Bandula Rd, Dagon. A bridge over Ngamoeyeik Creek 4 Nga Moe Yeik Bridge, Upper Pazundaung Rd connect with Ayer Wun Main Rd. A bridge over Ngamoeyeik Creek 5 Pun Hlaing River Bridge (Hlaing Thar Yar township). 6 Thaketa Bridge, Dagon. A bridge over Ngamoeyeik Creek 7 Thuwunna Bridge, Wai Za Yan Tar Rd. A bridge over Ngamoeyeik Creek

By taxi

The easiest way to get around the city is by taxi and Yangon is the city where Toyotas come to live out the rest of their days. Plenty of old white Toyota Corolla taxis ply the streets and will pull over if you stick your hand out. Genuine taxis have red licence plates, carry a laminated green slip, and a large-print taxi driver identification card on the dashboard of the car, but all taxis are reliable. Be warned though that around lunchtime and late at night, it may be hard to hail one. Taxis are always available outside the bigger hotels, on Sule Pagoda Rd, outside Cafe Aroma, and, during the day, outside the south entrance to the Shwedagon Pagoda. Away from the city centre, for example, near the budget hotels in Pazundaung Township, you may have to wait a bit before a taxi shows up and it may be easier to ask your hotel to call one for you. If you're travelling in the early hours (for example, to catch a 04:00 train or flight), arrange one with your hotel the previous evening. You will always, at all hours, find a taxi outside the Central Hotel on Bogoyoke Aung San Rd. It is customary to negotiate prices prior to the trip but, other than tacking on an informal tourist surcharge, you'll very rarely be cheated. If you're not sure how much you should pay, it is safe to assume the driver is charging you an extra 500 kyat because you're a foreigner. Ask for 500 kyat less than the stated price if in doubt. Approximate fares are: city centre to airport, 6,000-8,000 kyat; city centre to Shwedagon Pagoda, 2,500-3,000 kyat; city centre to Pazundaung Township, 2,500 kyat; city centre to Aung San Suu Kyi's house, 3,000 kyat; city centre to Kandawgyi Lake area, 3,000 kyat; city centre to Aung Mingalar Bus Terminal, 5,000-6,000 kyat; city centre to Hlaing Thar Yar Bus Terminal, 4,000 kyat. Expect to pay more, sometimes twice as much, when it rains and late at nights. Most taxi drivers will be happy to negotiate an hourly (3,000 kyat) or daily (US$20-30) or longer rate. Taxis will take you anywhere and you

See

Relatively untouched by development compared of other major Southeast Asian cities, the city centre of Yangon is full of historical sights. Yangon is perhaps the best-preserved example of a European colonial capital in Southeast Asia.

Shwedagon Paya 1 Shwedagon Paya (A taxi from city centre costs 2,500-3,000 kyat. Taxis are available for the return trip at the bottom of the main entrance. Can also take bus 204, 100 kyat. Catch this on Shwe Dagon Pagoda Rd across from the public toilets just as you cross the overpass. From China Town it's a 30-min walk (2.5 km).). Daily, 06:30-22:00. The pagoda opens at 05:00 but generally tourists are not allowed in until 06:30. 10,000 kyat. Ticket booths are at the top end of the flights of steps on all entrances. If you get in at 05:00 and get out by 06:00 you'll probably escape paying the fee (but risk not being allowed in). Tickets are valid for one day only (not a 24-hour period) and must be retained throughout your visit. A sticker has to be displayed on your clothes to identify you as having a valid ticket, but it is unusable the next day as another colour is used. ATMs available at the platform. (updated Feb 2022) The Shwedagon Pagoda or Paya is the most important religious site in Myanmar. The pagoda stands on the top of Singuttara Hill, and, according to legend, that spot has been sacred since the beginning of time, just before our present world was created. At that time, five lotus buds popped up on the hill, each bud signifying the five Buddhas who would appear in the world and guide it to Nirvana. Gautama, the Buddha as we know him, is the fourth of these five (Maitreya, the fifth, will announce the end of the world with his appearance) and, according to the legend, two brothers brought eight hairs of the Buddha to be enshrined in this sacred location, inaugurating the Shwedagon Pagoda. Whatever the truth of the legend, verifiable history records a pagoda at the site since the 6th century CE. Built and rebuilt, gilded and regilded, almost nothing in the pagoda is likely to be old, except whatever is hidden deep inside the stupa. An 18th-century earthquake destroyed the upper half of the pagoda spire and many buildings. Burmese Buddhists are practical people who constantly build and rebuild pagodas for merit.The pagoda is an interesting place: multicoloured neon highlighting a galaxy of colours, textures and shapes. It is also a jungle of spires with superior Burmese woodcarving embellishment, playfully mixed and matched with modern building materials such as corrugated roofing. Unlike other religious sit

Do

1 Bogyoke Aung San Stadium, Zoological Garden Road (take bus to stop York Lan, north of Yangon Central Railway Station). Dallah Ferry (Pansodan Rd Jetty across from the Strand Hotel). To Dallah, a small village across the river from Yangon, an interesting ferry ride. The ride is brief, but filled with all the craziness of a Burmese ferry: you can buy freshly sliced watermelon, cheroots, cigarettes, tea, all kinds of interesting-looking food, various knick-knacks from the many vendors who pack the ferry. The ferry ride seems more like a floating market than a means of transportation. Combine the ride with a trip to Twante for a half- or full-day trip. There is a pagoda at Dallah worth a visit, but otherwise the village is not really a destination. 4,000 kyat roundtrip fare for foreigners.. (updated Feb 2016) 2 Ferris Wheel, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd (Inya Lakeshore eastside). 3 Kokkine Swimming Club, Kokkaing Swimming Club Lane (take bus to stop 'Har Mit Tic'). 4 Kyaikkasan Grounds, South Race Course Rd (near the National Library). A sportfield. Market Tour and Cooking Demonstration (Governor’s Residence Hotel). The cooking demonstration takes place upstairs in the hotel's Mindon Lounge where you will learn to prepare a traditional Burmese salad. US$60 for a half-day tour including lunch (US$40 excluding lunch), excluding drinks. 5 National Swimming Pool, U Wisara Road. 6 National Theatre, Myoma Kyaung St. 7 Thamada Cinema, Alan Pya Pagoda St (take bus to Stop York Lan). 8 Thein Byu Sport Ground, Kan Yeik Tha Rd (take a bus to Stop Masar Set). 9 Thuwana National Stadium (Thuwunna Indoor Stadium), Wai Za Yan Tar Rd (Hnin Si Gone Railway Station Northeast ~700 m). Cinemas – There are a number of cinemas that play new release English movies. Local cinemas cost only a few dollars and are usually in a good condition but the best cinema might be in Myanmar plaza. remember to stand in silence for the national anthem. 10 Hlawga National Park (လှော်ကားအမျိုးသားဥယျာဉ်). 09:00-17:00 daily. Big wildlife area along with mini zoo and elephant and safari rides. (updated Aug 2020)

Buy

Valuable and expensive woodcraft, gemstones, food ingredient, and souvenirs. Shopping is fun in Yangon for variety of things being available, unlike other crowded countries, foreigners can visit on certain times view things without distraction. Bargaining is expected, although tourists will be charged higher prices. Street vendors in the centre are not allowed to open their shops until 18:00, by government mandate.

1 A.K.K. Shopping Centre, Lay Daungkan Rd (Thin Gan Gyun Station E0.7km). Bespoke Clothing. Although not as well known as Bangkok or Hong Kong, Yangon is an excellent place to have a shirt tailored. One can have a shirt with a traditional Burmese collar (mandarin collar) made for around US$6. 4-5 days should be sufficient for a shirt to be made. 2 Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scotts Market). An excellent source for Burmese handicrafts, such as wood carvings or lacquerware. However some lacquerware are not made in the country but are sold in high prices. 3 Capital Hypermarket, Min Nandar Road (east of Nga Moe Yeik Bridge). Capital Hypermarket is a huge supermarket to shop freely with confidence for fresh vegetables, meat and rare ingredients. The top and only floor of the building has rare electronics, clothes for both adults and child with affordable prices, leather made clothes, shoes and bags. You can also find cheap Blu-ray Discs at the top floor near the televisions. The ground floor is full of restaurants, and on some days with discounts on furniture. Has an artist gallery on the second floor. Chinatown. 15:00-21:00. A wide selection of street vendors. Colonial coins, Chinese calendars, Chinese temples, tea shops, several markets and small running businesses. 4 Junction Square Shopping Centre, Kyun Taw Road (Bus to stop Seik Pyo Yay). The main attraction is the cinema, crafty stationery with high-prices and various food restaurants which is on the top floor. 5 Kyee Myint Dine Night Market, Zay Gyi Road/Mani May Kha Lar Street (Bus to stop Night Market/Nya Zay). 6 Kyauk Myaung Market, Kyatk Ka San Road (Kyauk Myaung Zay Bus Stop). 7 Market Place by Citymart, Dhama Zedi Road (near to the Singapore Embassy). Good for food shopping. 8 Mingalar Zay, Banyardala Road (Take a bus to stop Mingalar Zay). Market Hall?

Shwedagon Paya. The entrance hallway offers many shops that sells, fresh and cheap coconuts, handmade bags, wooden and metal chests, paper owl charms, carved wood statues, beautiful fans, charming accessories with affordable price made from jade, and Buddha statues ranging from different sizes. 9 Super One Supermarket, L

Eat

Yangon has seen an explosion of restaurants in the last ten years and a wide selection of international cuisines is available: French, Italian, Japanese, Thai and Korean. Local cuisine reflects the multi-ethnic nature of the city and the country. Along with Bamar food, there are a large number of Indian and Chinese restaurants as well as a few places specializing in ethnic Shan food. Fast food restaurants (usually with table service) serving burgers and pizza, and a few cafes complete the scene. The cost of food ranges considerably. Restaurants and cafes in hotels and the airport charge prices that are normal in Western countries, yet at a streetside stall a whole meal costs 500–2,000 kyat. Biryani, a rice and meat dish with roots in the Mughal Empire, is a speciality and there are many biryani restaurants (dan-PAO-sain in Burmese) in the city centre, especially along Anawratha Rd. The three main competing restaurant chains (all halal, but vegetarian biryani is usually available) are Yuzana, KSS (Kyet Shar Soon), and Nilar.

Budget

Street Food: Anawratha Rd and Mahabandoola Rd are dotted with food stalls, but Yangon street ambiance is not conducive to al fresco eating. Betel-nut spitting pedestrians do not add to the ambience either. Myanmar street food is mostly deep fried, and often served in a puddle of oil. Dishes are washed at the roadside "dunk" style, without soap and without running water. The green tea is free but before drinking from the cups pour some tea, swill it, empty it on the street and then pour yourself the cup of tea. Alternatively, use the provided tissue at the table as the locals do. There are many buffet-style street stalls where you point at the food to order. Street vendors sell samosas, onion balls, and other Indian snacks around Anawratha St between Sule Paya Rd and Shwe Bontha St in central Yangon for under 200 kyat. Many restaurants and food stalls close as early as 20:00 or 21:00. It is best go around 19:00.

999 Shan Noodle Shop, 130 34th St. Tiny snack joint with very good noodle dishes. The staff will play harmless entertaining tricks on your table such as flipping the pepper bottle if you look friendly. Around 2,000 kyat. (updated Jul 2019) Aung Mingalar Shan Noodle Shop, Corner of Nawaday Street and Bo Yar Nyunt Road, ☏ +95 1 385 185. 09:00-22:00. A lively restaurant specializing in Shan cuisine. The price is hard to beat and the waitresses are friendly. 2,000-6,000 kyat. (updated Aug 2019) Family Thai & Chinese Restaurant (in the shopping mall next to Parkroyal Hotel; get on the escalator to the top floor food c

Drink & nightlife

Nightlife in Yangon is split between local bars or "beer stations" as they are called which close early (around 21:00-00:00), but offer drinks at bargain prices (about 800 kyat for a pint glass of Myanmar Beer, local whiskies cost 2,000 kyat a glass). Expect to get a lot of attention when going to the local bars, since theses places are not frequented by foreigners. Drinking is not culturally acceptable for women in Burma, so don't expect to pick up any girls except in nightclubs and Western-style venues, local bars are places where men meet to talk and chew betel nut (very popular in Myanmar). In stark contrast to local bars are the trendy cocktail bars and nightclubs that are springing up in the more modern areas of town, this is where you will find the expatiates and wealthy Westernized locals. Drinks are expensive and the DJs are unreliable- but expect a more or less Western experience, girls drink, most venues are LGBT friendly and all "the people" are there.

Bars Asia (A5IA), nicely decorated, across from Ko San Ko San Double Happiness Bar, cheap and friendly on 19th Street Port Autonomy, very trendy and in a new location, but expensive by Yangon standards 7 Joint Bar. One of the first bars in the city and still popular. (updated Oct 2019)

Nightclubs Nightclubs in Yangon are not world famous and the music is often variable. Many upmarket discos and nightclubs can get quite lively, with locals eager to socialise with foreigners.

The Music Club (at the Park Royal Hotel (admission, US$6, hotel guests, free); Paddy O'Malley's (Sedona Hotel, admission, US$5, including one drink). Fuse nightclub Pioneer nightclub, mostly rich local kids but has reliable DJs, always popular. Go with four people and buy a 80k package that includes a liter of vodka. Security is tight. Level 2 nightclub, probably has the best DJs in the city, frequent events. Attached to the trendy Alchemy Bar. Pyrite, has a gay night (under repair as of 7 July 2019 but will re-open soon) Crush Bar in the north of the city Safehouse

Sleep

The government requires all foreigners to register their passports at hotels. It is illegal to stay in a private residence without registering with the local Township authorities. With the near-total collapse of tourist demand following the 2021 coup and subsequent civil war, accommodation in Yangon is now very cheap compared to the likes of Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City. Many international chains have pulled out of the Myanmar market, leaving their properties to either rebrand or cease operations altogether. Some of Yangon's largest and most luxurious hotels have been shuttered indefinitely, including the Pullman Centrepoint and Sule Shangri-La. Even the legendary Strand is only open for food and beverage, not accommodation, as of March 2025. Rooms are abundant except at the height of the tourist season (Dec-Jan), and then only in the popular backpacker hotels. Reservations are almost never necessary. Tourists can still pay in US$ (bring only newer US$ banknotes in good condition), but the kyat is more commonly used now. Credit cards are increasingly accepted at hotels. Budget hotels are mostly away from city centre. The upside is that the hotels are quieter, the city centre can be quite noisy, and you get a little more room for your money. You'll need a taxi to get to the main sight, the Shwedagon Pagoda anyway. The downside is that most restaurants are in the city centre, a long walk or taxi ride away and choices outside the centre are limited, usually with the only choice being a restaurant attached to the hotel with indifferent cuisine and which may be closed if business is slow. Pazundaung and Botataung Townships seem to have the highest concentration of budget hotels. Some rooms, the cheaper ones, in many budget hotels have no windows. There are a few budget central hotels but, except for a couple, are quite shabby. Mid-priced hotels are scattered about the city, with one set concentrated in the few blocks around Sule Pagoda and a second set just north of the Shwedagon Pagoda. Luxury hotels are concentrated around Kandawgyi Lake or city centre. Rates for hotels are usually quoted as single/double. The room is usually the same but you pay a little extra, about US$5-10, if two people share the room. Breakfast is almost always included and the quality and variety increases with the cost of the hotel. In a budget hotel, expect a banana, an egg, some bread and coffee made from "coffee mix" (a pre-packaged mix of coffee powder, milk powder and lots of sugar). An important factor in choosing a hotel is electricity. Electricity supply is subject to frequent

Go next

Yangon International Airport - Taxi from the city centre to the airport is around 30,000 kyat, including baggage. Your hotel manager may well drive you to the airport. There is a beautiful 3-storey mural, a nice composition of Burmese countryside and lifestyle in the style of idyllic romanticism worth taking souvenir photo of as you go to immigration on the second floor departure area. Bago (Pegu) - an important city with pagodas and monasteries 60 km north of Yangon. An easy day trip. Mandalay - overnight buses, and expensive government trains, leave for Mandalay daily. Bus tickets can be booked at the number of travel agents just north of Yangon railway station. Mawlamyine - A pleasant seaside city with a few daytrip possibilities. 9 hr express train runs there each morning about 06:15 (and an 11 hr slow train at 07:00). Ordinary tickets (with no seat reservations) cost foreigners US$5, while upper class tickets are US$14. You get your own seat and it's slightly less crowded, but there isn't much difference between classes. Pathein (Bassein) - famous for its paper umbrellas and stunning religious architecture, and an overnight boat away (or 4 hours by rented car, more by bus) to the west. From Pathein it's only a few hours by bus or pick-up truck on to the beaches of Chaungtha and Ngwe Saung. Taukkyan - about an hour's drive (35 km) of central Yangon, and site of the Taukkyan War Cemetery. Thanlyin - once an important city on the Irrawaddy Delta, and gateway to Kyauktan (Syriam), a small island in the Yangon River, which is the site of the 4th century Ye Le Paya. Twante - the most accessible delta town to Yangon, makes for a nice half- or full-day trip.