Myanmar · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Myanmar
These are the places worth your time in Myanmar, from the pagodas and teahouses of Yangon and the royal sights of Mandalay to the temple plain of Bagan, the stilt villages of Inle Lake and the quiet sands of Ngwe Saung. Some sites were damaged in the 2025 earthquake and travel conditions change quickly, so check your government's advice and confirm opening before you go.
Places to Visit in Yangon
Arts and Culture
- Shwedagon Pagoda (Bahan)
The gilded stupa on Singuttara Hill is the spiritual heart of the country and glows at sunset. - Sule Pagoda (Downtown)
An ancient octagonal stupa that sits in the middle of a downtown roundabout. - Botahtaung Pagoda (Botahtaung)
A riverside pagoda with a hollow, mirrored interior you can walk through. - Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple (Bahan)
A huge reclining Buddha with finely painted feet, under a simple shed. - Ngahtatgyi Pagoda (Bahan)
A serene seated Buddha with a carved teak backdrop, across the road from Chaukhtatgyi. - National Museum of Myanmar (Dagon)
The Lion Throne and royal regalia tell the story of the Burmese kingdoms. - Taukkyan War Cemetery (Mingaladon)
A peaceful, well kept Commonwealth cemetery for Second World War soldiers. - Yele Paya (Kyauktan)
A pagoda on a tiny island in the river, reached by boat, where pilgrims feed huge catfish. - Kyaik Khauk Pagoda (Thanlyin)
A hilltop golden stupa with wide views over the Bago River. - Karaweik Palace (Kandawgyi Lake)
The golden royal barge replica on Kandawgyi, prettiest when lit at night.
Nature and Outdoors
- Kandawgyi Lake (Mingalar Taung Nyunt)
A wooden boardwalk around the lake gives views of Shwedagon and the Karaweik barge. - Inya Lake (Kamayut)
The city's big lake, where locals gather on the embankment for sunset breezes. - People's Park (Dagon)
Shady lawns and fountains below the western stairway of Shwedagon.
Shopping and Markets
- Bogyoke Aung San Market (Pabedan)
The colonial era covered market for longyi, lacquerware, jade and handicrafts. - Theingyi Zei (Pabedan)
A sprawling wholesale market for spices, herbs and everyday goods where locals shop. - Junction City (Pabedan)
A modern air conditioned mall with a food court and cinema, good on a hot afternoon.
Bars and Nightlife
- 19th Street (Chinatown)
Plastic stools, grilled skewers and draught beer on the liveliest street in Chinatown.
Restaurants
- Rangoon Tea House (Pansodan Street)
A stylish take on the Burmese teahouse with mohinga, tea leaf salad and milky tea. - Feel Myanmar Food (Dagon)
A buffet of Burmese curries and salads where you point at what looks good. - 999 Shan Noodle Shop (Downtown)
A tiny downtown favourite for Shan noodles and tofu soup. - Danuphyu Daw Saw Yee (Downtown)
A long running Burmese curry house serving rich, oily curries with rice and sides.
Cafés
- Lucky Seven Tea Shop (Mingalar Taung Nyunt)
A classic local teahouse for sweet tea, samosas and morning mohinga.
Stays
- The Strand Hotel (Strand Road)
The grand colonial hotel by the river, also lovely for afternoon tea. - Sule Shangri-La (Downtown)
A reliable international hotel in the centre near Sule Pagoda. - Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon (Tamwe)
A large hotel beside Kandawgyi Lake with a pool and family rooms.
Things to Do
- Yangon Circular Railway (Yangon Central Railway Station)
A slow loop train through suburbs, markets and paddy fields that shows daily life. - Dala ferry (Pansodan Jetty)
A short ferry across the river to a village world away from downtown.
Events
- Thingyan Water Festival (Citywide)
The April new year water festival turns the whole city into a joyful water fight. - Tazaungdaing Festival (Citywide)
The November full moon brings lanterns, robe weaving contests and night markets.
Places to Visit in Mandalay
Arts and Culture
- Mandalay Hill (Chanayethazan)
Climb the covered stairway past shrines to a sunset view over the plains. - Kuthodaw Pagoda (Chanayethazan)
Hundreds of white shrines hold marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist scripture. - Mahamuni Pagoda (Chanmyathazi)
The most revered Buddha image in the country, washed each dawn by monks. - Shwenandaw Monastery (Chanayethazan)
A teak monastery covered in carvings, the last surviving building of the royal palace. - Atumashi Monastery (Chanayethazan)
A rebuilt monastery with tall stucco terraces beside Shwenandaw. - Sandamuni Pagoda (Chanayethazan)
Rows of white shrines and a quieter alternative to Kuthodaw. - U Bein Bridge (Amarapura)
The long teak footbridge across Taungthaman Lake, famous at sunset. - Mahagandayon Monastery (Amarapura)
A large monastic college where you can see daily life near U Bein Bridge.
Shopping and Markets
- Zegyo Market (Chanayethazan)
The old central market for textiles, spices and everyday goods. - Mandalay Jade Market (Chanmyathazi)
Watch traders cut, polish and haggle over jade in a busy, gritty market.
Cafés
- Nylon Ice Cream Bar (Chanayethazan)
An old school ice cream parlour loved by locals for decades.
Stays
- Mandalay Hill Resort (Chanayethazan)
A large resort hotel at the foot of Mandalay Hill with a big pool. - Sedona Hotel Mandalay (Chanayethazan)
A long standing hotel facing the palace moat.
Things to Do
- Mandalay palace moat walk (Chanayethazan)
A flat walk along the moat at dusk with views to Mandalay Hill.
Nature and Outdoors
- Yankin Hill (Chanmyathazi)
A quieter hilltop temple with views and fewer visitors than Mandalay Hill.
Events
- Taungbyone Nat Festival (Taungbyone)
A loud, colourful August spirit festival with dancing nat kadaw mediums.
Places to Visit in Bagan
Arts and Culture
- Ananda Temple (Old Bagan)
The best known temple on the plain, with four standing Buddhas and gilded spires. - Shwezigon Pagoda (Nyaung U)
A golden bell shaped stupa that set the style for later pagodas. - Dhammayangyi Temple (Bagan Archaeological Zone)
The biggest temple on the plain, with mysteriously sealed inner corridors. - Thatbyinnyu Temple (Old Bagan)
The tallest temple in Bagan, a white landmark you see from everywhere. - Sulamani Temple (Bagan Archaeological Zone)
Fine murals and elegant brickwork in one of the late great temples. - Htilominlo Temple (Bagan Archaeological Zone)
A tall temple with surviving stucco and a lively souvenir lane. - Gawdawpalin Temple (Old Bagan)
A tall, graceful temple near the river, restored after earthquakes. - Bupaya Pagoda (Old Bagan)
A gourd shaped stupa on the riverbank, lovely in late afternoon light. - Manuha Temple (Myinkaba)
Cramped halls of giant Buddhas built by a captive Mon king. - Gubyaukgyi Temple (Myinkaba)
A small temple with some of the oldest murals and inscriptions in Bagan. - Bagan Archaeological Museum (Old Bagan)
Context for the temples, with the Myazedi inscription and fine Buddha images. - Tharabar Gate (Old Bagan)
The last surviving gate of the old city walls, guarded by nat spirits. - Minnanthu village (Minnanthu)
A farming village beside quiet temples with fine murals like Lemyethna. - Pyathada Temple (Bagan Archaeological Zone)
A broad temple known for open views across the plain.
Nature and Outdoors
- Mount Popa (Popa)
A dramatic volcanic plug crowned with a monastery, home of the nat spirits.
Things to Do
- Ayeyarwady sunset boat (Nyaung U jetty)
A slow boat on the great river as the temples turn gold.
Shopping and Markets
- Nyaung U Market (Nyaung U)
The morning market for thanakha, longyi, produce and snacks. - Myinkaba lacquerware workshops (Myinkaba)
See the many layered craft of Bagan lacquerware being made by hand.
Events
- Ananda Pagoda Festival (Old Bagan)
A full moon festival in January or February with ox cart pilgrims and markets.
Places to Visit in Nyaungshwe
Nature and Outdoors
- Inle Lake boat trip (Inle Lake)
A day on the lake with leg rowing fishermen, stilt villages and floating gardens. - Inle floating gardens (Inle Lake)
Tomato gardens on floating mats of weed, tended from canoes.
Arts and Culture
- Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda (Inle Lake)
The lake's holiest shrine, its Buddha images covered in gold leaf. - Nga Phe Kyaung (Inle Lake)
A teak monastery on stilts with a fine collection of Shan Buddha images. - In Dein pagodas (In Dein)
Hundreds of crumbling stupas in bamboo groves up a narrow creek. - Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery (Nyaungshwe)
A teak monastery with oval windows where young monks study. - Yadana Man Aung Pagoda (Nyaungshwe)
The oldest stupa in town, with a small museum.
Shopping and Markets
- Mingalar Market (Nyaungshwe)
The town market for Shan noodles, snacks and hill tribe produce. - In Paw Khone weaving village (Inle Lake)
Weavers turn lotus stem fibre and silk into cloth on wooden looms.
Things to Do
- Cycling to Maing Thauk (Maing Thauk)
An easy ride to a village with a long wooden bridge into the lake.
Bars and Nightlife
- Red Mountain Estate (Nyaungshwe)
A hillside vineyard for sunset wine tasting over the valley.
Events
- Phaung Daw Oo Festival (Inle Lake)
In autumn, the sacred images tour the lake on a golden barge with leg rowing races.
Cafés
- Nyaungshwe teahouses (Nyaungshwe)
Morning tea and Shan noodles with locals before the boats leave.
Places to Visit in Ngwe Saung
Nature and Outdoors
- Ngwe Saung Beach (Ngwe Saung)
A long, quiet silver sand beach on the Bay of Bengal. - Lovers Island (Ngwe Saung)
A small island you can walk to at low tide at the south end of the beach. - Chaung Tha Beach (Chaung Tha)
A lively local beach town, busy with families from Yangon.
Things to Do
- Ngwe Saung village cycle (Ngwe Saung)
Ride past fishing boats, drying fish and village life.
Restaurants
- Ngwe Saung beach seafood restaurants (Ngwe Saung)
Simple places grilling the day's fish and prawns.
Arts and Culture
- Shwemokhtaw Pagoda (Pathein)
The golden pagoda that anchors the delta city of Pathein.
Shopping and Markets
- Pathein parasol workshops (Pathein)
Watch painted cotton and silk parasols being made by hand.
Bars and Nightlife
- Ngwe Saung sunset beach bars (Ngwe Saung)
Sand, a cold drink and the sun dropping into the sea.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- House of Memories (Kamayut, Yangon)
Burmese and Shan dishes in a colonial villa once used by Bogyoke Aung San. - Shan Yoe Yar (Bahan, Yangon)
Refined Shan cooking in a restored wooden house. - Bogyoke Aung San Museum (Bahan, Yangon)
The modest family home of the independence hero, preserved as he left it. - Twante pottery sheds (Twante, Yangon)
Workshops where huge glazed water pots are still thrown by hand. - Pansodan Gallery (Pansodan Street, Yangon)
A downtown gallery showing contemporary Burmese painters. - Hlawga Park (Mingaladon, Yangon)
A wildlife park with deer and woodland walks on the edge of the city. - Mandalay Palace (Chanayethazan, Mandalay)
The walled royal city and moat that defined the last Burmese capital. - Sagaing Hill (Sagaing, Mandalay)
Hills dotted with stupas and nunneries across the river from Mandalay. - Inwa (Inwa, Mandalay)
A former royal capital explored by horse cart among ruins and a teak monastery. - Mingun Pahtodawgyi (Mingun, Mandalay)
The vast unfinished stupa reached by a river boat trip. - Hsinbyume Pagoda (Mingun, Mandalay)
A white, wave shaped pagoda said to represent the mythical Mount Meru. - King Galon gold leaf workshop (Gold leaf quarter, Mandalay)
Watch artisans beat gold into thin leaf for offerings at pagodas. - Mandalay Marionettes Theatre (Chanayethazan, Mandalay)
Traditional puppet shows that keep an old royal art alive. - Moustache Brothers (Chanmyathazi, Mandalay)
The satirical comedy troupe, a piece of the city's history of dissent. - Shwe Pyi Moe Café (Chanayethazan, Mandalay)
A busy teahouse for breakfast noodles and fresh pastries. - Too Too Restaurant (Chanayethazan, Mandalay)
Home style Burmese curries served from pots at the counter. - Mingalabar Myanmar Restaurant (Chanayethazan, Mandalay)
A popular sit down spot for a full Burmese spread with many side dishes. - Pyin Oo Lwin Botanical Gardens (Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay)
Cool hill station gardens with lakes and colonial houses nearby. - Mandalay Chinatown night market (Chanayethazan, Mandalay)
Evening stalls of skewers, noodles and fresh fruit. - Balloons over Bagan (Bagan, Bagan)
The famous dawn balloon flights over the temples, when operating. - The Moon Vegetarian Restaurant (Old Bagan, Bagan)
Simple vegetarian Burmese food near Ananda Temple. - Sarabha Restaurant (Old Bagan, Bagan)
Garden dining near Tharabar Gate. - Weather Spoon's Bagan (Nyaung U, Bagan)
A traveller favourite for curries and fresh juices on restaurant row. - Black Rose Restaurant (Nyaung U, Bagan)
A friendly family restaurant with Burmese and Chinese dishes. - Aureum Palace Hotel Bagan (Bagan Archaeological Zone, Bagan)
Villas and a pool set among the temples. - Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort (Old Bagan, Bagan)
Riverside rooms and gardens close to the Old Bagan temples. - Khaung Daing hot springs (Khaung Daing, Nyaungshwe)
Warm pools on the lake's western shore, good after a cycle. - Lotus Restaurant Nyaungshwe (Nyaungshwe, Nyaungshwe)
Homely Shan and Intha dishes in the middle of town. - Viewpoint Restaurant (Nyaungshwe, Nyaungshwe)
Modern Shan cooking beside the canal bridge. - Everest Nepali Food Centre (Nyaungshwe, Nyaungshwe)
A long running traveller favourite for curries and dal. - Inle Princess Resort (Inle Lake, Nyaungshwe)
Wooden chalets over the water on the eastern shore. - Inle Heritage (Inle Lake, Nyaungshwe)
A lakeside hospitality school with rooms and a cat sanctuary. - Kalaw to Inle trek (Kalaw, Nyaungshwe)
A two to three day walk through hill villages that ends at the lake. - Pindaya Caves (Pindaya, Nyaungshwe)
Limestone caves filled with thousands of Buddha images. - Bay of Bengal Resort (Ngwe Saung, Ngwe Saung)
A large beachfront resort with a pool. - Memento Resort (Ngwe Saung, Ngwe Saung)
Bungalows and a beachfront garden. - Ngwe Saung Elephant Camp (Ngwe Saung, Ngwe Saung)
An elephant camp in the hills behind the beach.