Visit the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon
A gilded Buddhist stupa considered Myanmar's most sacred site, said to enshrine relics of four past Buddhas and glowing spectacularly at sunset.
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Southeast Asia
Things to do in Myanmar
Thousands of ancient Buddhist temples scattered across the Bagan plain, one of Southeast Asia's most striking archaeological landscapes, with tourism currently limited to established circuits given the country's ongoing civil war.
Explore Myanmar on the map →Budget$
Best for9-11 days, limited to established circuits
CapitalNaypyidaw
VisaE-visa required for most nationalities including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders, applied for at least a week in advance; entry is only possible by air through Yangon or Mandalay, as land borders remain closed to tourists.
CurrencyMyanmar kyat (MMK)
LanguagesBurmese (official)
InternetRestricted and inconsistent, with periodic shutdowns
Typical lodging$15–$35/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage230V / 50Hz (Type C/D/G plug)
Time zoneUTC+7 to UTC+8
Emergency numberVaries by country. Save the local number on arrival.
Dialing code+95
★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Photography★★★★★ Adventure
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled or purified water only. Not customary. Rounding up is common.
The Bagan Archaeological Zone holds the remains of more than 2,000 Buddhist temples and pagodas built between the 9th and 13th centuries, making it one of the richest concentrations of ancient religious architecture anywhere in the world, comparable in scale and significance to Angkor. Myanmar has been in civil war since a February 2021 military coup, with armed resistance movements controlling significant territory outside the main cities; core established circuits including Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, and Inle Lake continue to see regular tourist traffic, but most Western governments maintain a Do Not Travel advisory for the country overall.
When to go
Cool, dry seasonNovember–February
The most comfortable and popular window nationally for Bagan and Inle Lake, with lower humidity and clearer skies.
Hot seasonMarch–May
Rising temperatures across the country, particularly intense in central Myanmar around Bagan and Mandalay.
Monsoon seasonJune–October
Heavy rain nationwide, with some travel routes affected, though the established Yangon-Bagan-Mandalay-Inle circuit generally remains workable.
Transition periodOctober–November
Rains easing as the cool, dry season approaches, a good value window with fewer crowds.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
8Explore Inle Lake's floating villages and gardens
A freshwater lake known for distinctive leg-rowing fishermen and floating agricultural gardens, among Myanmar's most iconic landscapes.
Visit the ancient royal city of Mandalay
Myanmar's last royal capital, holding the reconstructed Mandalay Palace and Mandalay Hill's hilltop pagodas and views.
Explore the stilt villages of Inle Lake's Intha people
The Intha people's distinctive stilt-house villages and floating gardens reflect centuries of adaptation to lake life.
Visit the Golden Rock (Kyaiktiyo Pagoda)
A gravity-defying gilded boulder balanced on a cliff edge, one of Myanmar's most sacred and visually striking Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
Visit the ancient city of Mrauk U
A remote former royal capital in Rakhine State holding hundreds of centuries-old temples, considerably less visited than Bagan.
Visit the Mahamuni Buddha Temple in Mandalay
Home to one of Myanmar's most revered Buddha images, continuously gilded by devotees for centuries until it developed a distinctive lumpy gold surface.
Visit the ancient temples of Sagaing Hill
A hill near Mandalay covered in hundreds of pagodas and Buddhist monasteries, historically a major center of monastic learning.
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Adventure & outdoors
4Balloon ride over the Bagan plain at sunrise$300–420
Hot air balloon flights over Bagan's temple field offer one of the most celebrated sunrise views in Southeast Asian travel.
Explore the temples of Bagan by e-bike$300–420
Electric bikes are the standard way to explore Bagan's vast temple field independently, covering ground between the thousands of scattered structures.
Explore Kalaw's hill-tribe trekking routes
A cool hill station historically popular as a starting point for multi-day treks to Inle Lake through ethnic minority villages.
Cruise the Ayeyarwady River between Mandalay and Bagan$300–420
A scenic riverboat journey along Myanmar's principal waterway, historically one of the most relaxed ways to travel between the two cities.
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Photography
2Watch sunrise over the temples of Bagan$300–420
More than 2,000 Buddhist temples and pagodas built between the 9th and 13th centuries, one of the richest concentrations of ancient religious architecture in the world.
Visit U Bein Bridge near Mandalay
The longest teakwood bridge in the world, spanning Taungthaman Lake and offering a genuinely striking silhouette at sunset.
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Food & drink
6Eat Myanmar mohinga, fish noodle soup
A fish and rice noodle soup widely considered Myanmar's national dish, typically eaten for breakfast at street stalls nationwide.
Try Myanmar tea leaf salad (laphet thoke)
A distinctive fermented tea leaf salad found nowhere else in quite the same form, considered a genuine Myanmar culinary signature.
Try Myanmar mont lin maya, fermented rice fritters
Fried rice fritters typically served with a savory dipping sauce, a beloved traditional Myanmar street food.
Try Myanmar shan noodles
Rice noodles served with a savory pork or chicken sauce, originating from Shan State and popular across the country.
Try Myanmar ohn no khao swe, coconut chicken noodle soup
A rich coconut-milk noodle soup with chicken, reflecting Myanmar's culinary crossroads between South and Southeast Asia.
Try Myanmar Shan-style fermented tofu
A distinctive chickpea-based tofu from Shan State, used in salads and soups and quite different from soy-based tofu found elsewhere.
Common questions
▾Is it safe to visit Myanmar right now?
Most Western governments maintain a Do Not Travel advisory for Myanmar overall given the ongoing civil war since the 2021 coup, though core established circuits including Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, and Inle Lake continue to see regular, closely managed tourist traffic. It's essential to check current, area-specific conditions and travel only with an established operator.
▾Do I need a visa for Myanmar?
Most nationalities, including US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian citizens, need an e-visa applied for at least a week in advance; entry is only possible by air through Yangon or Mandalay, as land borders remain closed to tourists.
▾Why is Bagan considered so significant?
It holds the remains of more than 2,000 Buddhist temples and pagodas built between the 9th and 13th centuries, one of the richest concentrations of ancient religious architecture anywhere in the world.
▾Which areas of Myanmar should be avoided entirely?
Areas outside the established Yangon-Mandalay-Bagan-Inle Lake circuit generally see active conflict and shifting front lines, and should be avoided. Stick to well-established routes and licensed operators who track current conditions closely.
▾How many days does Myanmar need?
9-11 days lets you combine Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, and Inle Lake along the established circuit, given this is currently the only region most operators and governments consider workable for tourism.
▾How much does a hot air balloon ride over Bagan cost?
A 45-60 minute flight over Bagan's temples typically runs $300-420 per person, making it one of the pricier balloon rides in the world, well above similar flights in Turkey or Egypt. Flights only operate October through March outside of monsoon season, so factor that into when you visit if a balloon ride is a priority.
