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DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar by @breathingtravel

By Two Monkeys Travel - Contributor February 20th, 2017 Posted in Asia Travel Blog, DIY Travel, Travel Blog 30 Comments

Myanmar, formerly and today also still known as Burma, is rapidly becoming a new travelers hotspot in Southeast Asia. Justly, as I find since the country has a vivid history, which is reflected in its people, architecture, and food. Once the capital of Myanmar, Yangon today is the largest city in the country counting 5.2 million people its inhabitants. No matter where you start your journey through Myanmar, you will surely have to make a stop in Yangon. There are many things you may not know before coming to Myanmar, for example, you may wonder why many streets are scattered with red dots on the ground or why people wear “dirt” in their face.

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar

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Travel Tips

A Note On Traffic

Traffic can be very heavy around the main arteries of the city, so it’s best to stay either close to Sule Pagoda in the heart of downtown Yangon to be able to easily walk around and take in the main sights. Or if you want to stay a bit away from the hustle bustle, choose to lay down your head near the gleaming Shwedagon Pagoda and People’s Park.

Getting Around

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar

The easiest way to get around town is by taxi. You surely won’t miss them as they are all white and have a sign on top. Normally, Taxi drivers speak some English. Busses are a bigger challenge to take since the city is so big. Another alternative for shorter distances are Trishaws (like Tuk Tuks in Thailand), but be sure to know your rough price or you will easily be ripped off.

Long Distance Out of Yangon

For long distance trips I recommend using JJ Express or Elite Bus as they both are quite comfortable and since there is a new highway through the country, you will have a smooth ride to get to Bagan in the northern part of Myanmar.

Currency

US dollar is widely used especially in the tourism industry however now this is cut back more and more and the use of kyat, the local currency, is promoted. It’s smart to come with some US dollar anyways, bring the freshly printed crisp looking ones, for some reason they always favored them more than the ones my grandma duck out of her cupboard from 1968.

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Trip Highlights

Yangon has many things to do and see, even if you stay in town for a few days, you will not get tired of exploring the streets full of life and character.

Shwedagon Pagoda

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar

First things first, you’ll love the 2,500-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda for it’s impressive size, its hundreds gold plated stupas, temples, and statues and for a vibe that you feel as locals and tourists alike flock to this special place. It’s one of the wonders of the religious world, and you will have an easy time to spend a whole afternoon discovering the nooks and crannies of the pagoda. Sunset is an amazing time to be here too as you will be sucked into the celebratory atmosphere as people worship the statues, make flower offerings or meditate.

Downtown Yangon

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar

Of course, you will have to explore Downtown Yangon. The best way to do that is by foot. Either join one of the Yangon Free Walking Tours or take off on your own. Make sure you stop in at the central Sule Pagoda and take in the busy traffic circling around it, go for a shopping spree at the local Bogyoke Aung San Market, marvel at the old Railway Station, view British Colonial architecture along Strand Road and don’t miss to pay a visit to the rather hidden Pansodan Gallery, where you can see some interesting artwork, and there is always great people to meet and chat with.

Kandawgyi Lake

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar

A little off the beaten path lies Kandawgyi Lake, a tranquil oasis if you feel like getting out of the chaos of Downtown Yangon. As one of the two major lakes in Yangon, it’s green with trees around it and has a lovely boardwalk to take a walk along. You will spot people working out, and from here you also have a great view of the Shwedagon Pagoda in the distance, especially cool to view when the sun sets, and the Pagoda is enlightened. Be sure to take a snap of Karawiek Palace looking like a royal barge where you can watch traditional dances and cultural shows. There are a handful of cafés around the lake to have a drink and relax.

The Yangon Circular Train

This slow train takes you around the city in about 3 hours. You’ll not only get to see the city but the surrounding villages and countryside, fresh markets along the way and real Myanmar life. Possibly one of the best ways to meet the locals. In general, the population of Myanmar is very open and curious to learn from foreigners, so they won’t be shy to chat you up.

Transportation Tip: If you’re looking for the cheapest way to book the Trains, Buses, Ferries, Transfers on this route, we use 12Go.Asia to compare the prices!

Powered by 12Go Asia system

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Where to Eat

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar

With Myanmar being influenced by all its neighbors India, China, and Thailand, the flavors and dishes of their cuisine are almost as diverse and adventurous. The national dish called Mohinga, a bowl of rice noodles tasting like a mild curry, it available almost everywhere and should be on your must dishes to try. Another favorite of mine is tea leaf salad. And of course, you gotta have a cup of tea – one thing that seems to have remained from the British colonization. Hygiene, especially at street stalls, are not always the best, just be aware and look for places where there are many people so food turnover is high and it’s not lying around for a long time but is freshly made and thoroughly cooked.

Chinatown

Your best pick when it comes to trying a huge variety of food for cheap is the area between 18th and 24th Street in Chinatown. It becomes packed at dawn when locals and tourist flock into the streets and food vendors present their fresh vegetables, meat, and fish, ready to cook! You have to try grilled pork skewers. Especially, 19th Street is known for its barbecue. As you arrive in this street lined with Chinese restaurants, you will simply pick your choice of skewers, and your food is freshly cooked for you. This is also where the nightlife is buzzing in Yangon.

Food Tour

No matter if your favorite meal is breakfast, lunch or dinner, touring around Yangon will give you the opportunity to get to know the local food and culture first hand. And you are supporting a great cause two by joining a tour as it’s a social company aiming to reduce poverty. Curries, noodles, bread buns, Burmese salads, there is so much to try. If you feel like get cooking yourself, join their cooking class where you also visit the local market to pick your ingredients freshly.

Green Elephant Restaurant

If you happen to be on Inya Lake, another big lake in Yangon, and you enjoy healthy, non-oily food, your best pick is the Green Elephant Restaurant. On the menu, you find mainly Burmese and Thai food, but be careful to order little or non-spicy. There is a nice terrace to site quietly and enjoy the food.

The Strand Hotel

Everyone knows the Strand Hotel in Yangon, a place where the past and present meet and one of the most luxurious hotels in town. You can, of course, dine here finely, but it’s almost even better to come here for a drink instead. The cocktail menu is huge and happy hour is every Friday until 10 pm which means cocktails are half price!

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Where to Stay in Yangon, Myanmar

Best Budget Hostel in Yangon, Myanmar – Pickled Tea

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar

There are some great budget places in Yangon with many more popping up every month as the tourist stream seems to grow. My favourite one is the beautiful boutique hostel called Pickled Tea in Sanchaung Township near the Shwedagon Pagoda. They offer comfy bunk beds with enough space, personal power socket, lights, lockers and even have rain showers. Great area with some wonderful cafés and restaurants around.

Best Mid-Range Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar – Merchant Art Boutique Hotel

Merchant Art Boutique Hotel is green, full of unique art and only five short minutes walk from Shwedagon Pagoda.

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar

Or the Loft Hotel in Downtown near the Central Railway Station

Best Luxury Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar – Sule Shangri – La, Yangon

Sule Shangri-La Yangon is located a 7-minute walk from Bogyoke Aung San Market and Sule Pagoda. It offers an outdoor pool, fitness center and sauna. Free parking is provided. Guests also enjoy complimentary WiFi access in hotel limousines.

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar

Sule Shangri-La Yangon is a 10-minute drive from Shwedagon Pagoda, National Museum, and China Town. Yangon International Airport is a 30-minute drive away.

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar

Modern rooms are fitted with a cable/satellite TV, minibar and tea/coffee-making facilities. Ironing amenities and a personal safe are provided.
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Travel Budget

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Travel Itinerary

Three days is plenty of time to explore Yangon to it’s fullest. If you have more time, there are still things to see a little outside the city or take a deeper dive into the architecture and history without rushing around

Day 1

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar

Arrive in Yangon and check into your hotel. The ride from the airport into town will take a while, especially since traffic is dense around Downtown. Put your comfy shoes on and go on a walk around the city in the afternoon. Marvel at the colonial architecture, visit Sule Pagoda, take in the views of City Hall and Yangon Region Court, pass by Yangon Central Railway Station, and check the offers at Bogyoke Aung San Market, visit the National Museum, stop for hot tea or tea leaf salad at one of the street stalls. Finish off your day with a fresh barbecue at 19th Street in Chinatown.

Day 2

Take the circular train to see a little more of Yangon than just the city center. This is a great start to the day when markets and life are buzzing, and the daily commuters join the train to transport their wares. Start at 9.30am, and you’ll be back for lunch in the city. After lunch takes off to the Shwedagon Pagoda. Walking around exploring the many temples will fill all your afternoon, stay until sunset to feel the special vibe and see the Pagoda alight with the dark sky at the backdrop.

Day 3

Enjoy your morning with a walk around Kandawgyi or Inya Lake, have a coffee or some traditional snacks before you take off to your next destination.

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar

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Visa Requirements

To enter Myanmar, you need a passport, which is at least valid for six more months beyond your stay in the country. Most nations have to apply for a Tourist visa which is valid for 90 days from the issue date and allows you to stay 28 days (single entry) from the date of arrival. You can easily apply online for the visa. It costs US$50, and you are only allowed to stay at registered hotel and accommodation providers. Not all boarder points in Myanmar allow people to enter on eVisas so check ahead before you apply. If you fly in you will have fewer troubles especially when arriving in the main hubs of either Yangon or Mandalay.

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Transportation Tip: If you’re looking for the cheapest way to book the Trains, Buses, Ferries, Transfers on this route, we use 12Go.Asia to compare the prices!

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About the Writer

DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, MyanmarOriginally from Germany, Carolin is today traveling the world for a living. Since becoming a digital nomad two years ago, she has called many places home: Chiang Mai, Sydney, Bali, Barcelona, and Brisbane. Carolin works entirely location independent as a social media specialist and content creator while doing the odd web design project and running her travel blog breathingtravel.com. Ask her anything about house sitting, Instagram (!!!), being a digital nomad and Australia, her favorite country in the world. Follow along on Instagram for daily wanderlust inspiration @breathingtravel.

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30 thoughts on “DIY Travel Guide to Yangon, Myanmar by @breathingtravel

  1. You must visit Indian Restaurants in Yangon. Recently opened in Yangon, Myanmar, Delhi Deli is the ideal place to experience a delicious blend of traditional and contemporary Indian cuisine in a comfortable, pleasant, and warm environment.

  2. Hey Caroline, great blog about Myanmar.. My next destination to visit is Myanmar.. and thanks for sharing this info, it will be helpful to visit this country….

  3. Hi

    Thank you for recommending our humble JJ Express for your transportation in Myanmar. We have been always working hard to serve our customer best and now we have introduced a website to buy JJ Express bus ticket online directly https://jjexpress.net to make the process easier.

    Please share your satisfaction with other and share potential for improvement with us.

    “Je zu tin ba deh”, With a lot of thanks,
    JJ Express Family

  4. Thanks for these advice. It help me a lot during my stay in Yangon and Myanmar. There is one place i would like to add in your blog is a new french creperie in yaw Min Gyi own by a really friendly french. It called O’Thentic. with my friend we have spent a warming evening. the food was excellent and with really reasonable price. i would recommend to stop by O’Thentic during your stay in Yangon.

  5. HAI..i love ur sharing~~ It is a good sharing.. i am planning a trip~~ can i noe around how much usd from airport to downtown? and if last day, my flight is early in the morning, any suggestion where to stay before that night? thanks`~~ i really love ur sharing..,

    1. Thanks Cameron and yes, Myanmar is a really amazing place especially Yangon so I hope you’ll visit there someday 🙂

    1. Hi Otilia, Pickled Tea offers the best service for a hostel yet at a very affordable price that’s why it’s one of the most recommended hostels in Yangon. 🙂

  6. I would love to visit the temples as well as try their local food! It’s good to learn more about where you can stay and what attractions you can visit! I can’t wait to see all of these in person!

  7. I’ve never been to Myanmar! I’ve heard lovely things about it and it’s nice that you’ve shared this with us as well. It would be nice to experience their culture especially their food someday soon.

    1. Yes! Myanmar is a great country with attractions full of wonderful uniqueness and scrumptious food too! So I hope you can visit Myanmar someday and share your journey there 🙂

  8. I loved that you included a travel itinerary – the recommendations of what to and how best to spend the time traveling to Mayanmar were interesting to look at. I liked that you didn’t try to fit too much in, but still kept each day going. Sounds like the makings of a great trip!

  9. Such an awesome travel group. It’s so neat seeing ppl travel and learning and experiencing new things.

  10. sounds like a great trip! I’ve never thought of visiting Myanmar earlier but it sounds worth exploring.

  11. Mohinga as a national dish sounds rather delicious how Yangon is inspired by different cultures. The hotels are beautiful, really luxurious and it is great that there are so many things to see and do there x

  12. I have always wanted to go there and these tips will make it easy when I finally do get there. Thanks for the great info about the area.

  13. I have heard a lot of great things about Myanmar but haven’t really got an opportunity to visit the place as of now but I really plan on visiting soon and this post is a good guide.

  14. I’m loving this detailed guide. I want to go to Yangon too so I’ll definitely bookmark this. Looking at your photos, it reminds me of the old Cambodia. Can a lot of Burmese communicate in English? I hope we won’t get ripped off when we go there.

  15. Myanmar is such an exotic country. With all the architecture and structures you showed, it’s truly a beautiful and magnificent country. It’s such a nice thing to be going here and breathing out. This is the first time that I’ve read it’s better to ride taxis. Well, I guess when you’re in the Philippines, the mode of going around varies depending on the area that you will go to.

  16. I would love to explore Myanmar’s pagodas. I am not really a fan of that country but if ever given the chance to travel the place, I would love to do so. I noticed that somehow it looks like the Philippines.

  17. Thank you for sharing this article about Myanmar. I admit it isn’t in my 5-year travel plan but it looks so interesting I want to visit it soon. The place looked clean unlike in some areas in Manila. Sigh! Oh and of course I want to try their food. I wonder how it would fare compared to other Asian dishes.

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Written by Two Monkeys Travel - Contributor

Two Monkeys Travel Group – Community Travel Blog is a travel blog and website. We quickly grew into a valuable source of inspiring travel stories, advice, itineraries and travel guides, with the aim of demonstrating how to live a sustainable life of travel, whilst living your own definition of success. If you'd like to contribute and write a guest post, contact us at [email protected]