Myanmar: 12 top things to do in Yangon (Rangoon)
Though many people believe Yangon is the capital city of Myanmar, it’s actually not. Well, it has been until 2005. It was then moved to the ghost city of Naypyidaw. This is by far the largest city of Myanmar in terms of surface. But other than the parliament and some vast empty highways, there’s not much to see in Naypyidaw. Yangon, on the other hand, is an exciting city with tons of activities and sightseeing options. You’ll find trendy restaurants, amazing roof terraces, an abandoned amusement park and lively city parks. Today we share the 12 highlights in Yangon that you shouldn’t miss!
1. The Schwedagon pagoda
This 98-meter high pagoda is covered with a stunning 50,000 kilos of gold leaf. It is an absolute must see . It doesn’t matter how many temples, churches and mosques you have visited in your life. This gigantic, architectural wonder is always worthwhile your time. The grandeur, the amount of gold, the gems and the hundreds of small stupas and temples that have been built around this pagoda make for an impressive sight. In stories of plundering Portuguese, stealing Brits and deadly protests, this pagoda has always been the centre of attention. Visiting this place gives a great insight into the eventful history of Myanmar. A visit you can’t skip!
2. Free walking tour
Every Wednesday and Sunday, Free Yangon Walks organizes free walking tours in downtown Yangon. A guide takes you along narrow streets, colonial buildings and a local markets. The tour starts at Maha Bandula Park, opposite the large, white city hall . We chose the history walk and thus get to know the city and its history well on one of our first days in Yangon. You can also opt for the architecture walk or the contemporary walk . It depends on your own interest which one you should pick.
3. Bicycle tour in Dala
You’re gonna have to get up pretty early. But trust me; it’s worth it! This bicycle tour is perhaps the highlight of our stay in Yangon. You’ll go on an adventure just opposite the big river, where you will experience the other side of Yangon. Our cheerful guide explains to us that running water is still missing in Dala and many people live without electricity. You will get a good insight into real life in Myanmar. Along the way, you will pass temples, churches and mosques. You will walk through small neighbourhoods, where everyone welcomes you with a big smile. The last stop is a lovely, little sustainable company: ChuChu Design . In this small shop, they produce and sell souvenirs made of old bicycle tires, plastic bottles and other products that we like to call ‘waste’. Buying these well-designed souvenirs you not only support the shop owner and locals who produce the products, but you also contribute to reducing the waste problem in Dala. A win-win!
4. Relaxing in Maha Bandula Park
The Maha Bandula Park is a small city park in the centre of Yangon. The park is surrounded by beautiful, historic buildings. On the east side, there’s a daily street food market that starts somewhere around lunchtime. Our favourite activity in Maha Bandula Park is to just sit and relax and watch all the locals passing through and playing around. The best time to visit is late afternoon when the local people gather for picnics or meet up with family.
5. The shade in Inya Lake park
When looking at the map of Yangon, you will see a big blue spot in the middle of the city. This is Inya Lake (not to be confused with the Kandawgyi Lake). During your taxi ride from either the airport or the largest bus station, you must have passed the lake. In early evenings, when the city starts to cool down, hundreds of Burmese men and women gather in the park to relax on the little dike that is covered with flowers and palm trees. It’s a great place to hide from the sun and enjoy the view over the lake. But be aware! Kissing is not allowed.
6. Trendy restaurants
Yangon has a lot to offer when it comes to cool and trendy restaurants. Examples of great sports are Rangoon Tea House, Sofa & Co and Pansuriya. A fairly new restaurant, recommended to us by a local, is the Bodhi Nava Café. But also the vegan Nourish café is worth a visit. One thing’s for sure: there’s enough to choose from.
7. Great viewpoints
The city is scattered with great rooftop bars and amazing viewpoints. Looking out over the sparkling city lights, you get a better picture of the vastness of this metropole. For the best view, head to Esperado Lake View Hotel. It’s a chic hotel that lacks character, but the view is phenomenal. Take the elevator to the rooftop restaurant, order a drink and take a seat on the roof terrace. You’ll get a great view over the Kandawgyi Lake and the rest of Yangon. The best time to visit is during sunset or when it’s dark outside. The bright red sky, the sparkling light and the illuminated Schwedagon pagoda turn it into a magical view.
8. The abandoned amusement park
Ever heard of urban exploring? This is when people discover old buildings or places that have been abandoned for years. Almost everywhere in the world, there are hospitals, factories, schools and even underground locations that can be visited by urban explorers. Yangon has a very special location too. It’s an abandoned amusement park. The park was built during the time of the military dictatorship to show the people nice things are happening too in Myanmar. Meanwhile, mother nature is striking back and swallows everything around her. Grass, moss, shrubs and trees grow in and on deserted attractions and food stalls. The underlying story is still a bit unclear. But the most plausible story tells that after the independence of the country, the owner took off because the government could no longer financially support his park. Be aware of the dogs!
The entrance to the abandoned amusement park can be found here. Of course, it’s not considered an official tourist attraction. But as long as you behave and don’t break or take anything, people are fine with you entering the park.
9. KTV
Do you like karaoke? Then Yangon is the right place for you! There are various karaoke cafés (KTV) in the bustling city centre. These popular entertainment venues in Asia offer room for families, friends and couples to sing karaoke together in their own private room. A well-regarded bar in Yangon is the Voice Industry Family KTV on 48th street. The newly opened KTV café The Great Garden Bar on 17th street has a great rooftop bar, where you can recover from displaying your amazing talent for singing.
10. BBQ street
If you like to eat with the locals, BBQ street on 19th street is your place to be. It’s a very busy street that offers outdoor seats and grilled foods every night of the week. Dozens of restaurants have perfected the art of barbecuing and will try to grab your attention and seduce you to take a seat at their restaurant. While the freshly caught fish is grilling on the fire, you enjoy a cold beer and a good conversation. As can be expected at a street called ‘BBQ street’, most of the food you’ll find here will be meat or fish. But, as a vegetarian, we’ve also managed to enjoy this lively place. We just needed to look a little longer for that one or two places that have a fair share of vegetables and marinated tofu on a stick.
11. Beach Road Night Market
Many tourists have found their way to the BBQ street. But rather unknown is the Night Market, just around the corner on Strand Road. This market stretches westward from the walkway, near the famous The Strand Hotel Yangon, all the way to the end of Strand Road. The Night Market starts at 3 pm and ends at around 11 pm. Here you can find all kinds of products; phone covers, watches and plastic toys. But that’s not what you are here for. So head straight to the food stalls for some delicious noodles, grilled vegetables and exotic fruit snacks. You won’t see many tourists here!
12. The circular train
The circular train is a means of transport that is widely used by the local people. The train travels in a circle around the city in about 3 hours. You can hop on and hop off as you like, without having to buy a new ticket every time you do. It’s a great way to discover Yangon and meet the locals. It might not be the most comfortable ways to move around in the city, but it surely is an adventurous one. Take some extra water with you, because there won’t be any air conditioning. Local foods and snacks are sold on the train and on the stations.
Accomodationtip: BaobaBed Hostel Yangon
If you are looking for a new, cosy and clean hostel we can highly recommend the BaobaBed Hostel in Yangon. We stayed here for several nights in a private room. Bathrooms are shared but very clean. They have a small coffee bar attached to the hostel and it’s located in the heart of the city centre.
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- 18 May 2018
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