Things to Do in Myanmar

From the temple plains of Bagan to Inle Lake's floating gardens - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them, when travel conditions allow.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Myanmar holds one of the most striking historic landscapes in Southeast Asia - thousands of Buddhist temples spread across the Bagan plains - alongside Yangon's golden Shwedagon Pagoda and Inle Lake's stilt villages. Political instability in recent years has significantly affected safe access to parts of the country, so current travel advisories should be checked carefully before any visit.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

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Bagan

Over 2,000 surviving Buddhist temples and pagodas spread across a plain in central Myanmar, built between the 9th and 13th centuries - best seen at sunrise or sunset, historically by hot air balloon, though this depends on current operating conditions.

📍 Bagan

🚉 Nearest station: Bagan (Nyaung-U), with the overnight train from Yangon taking around 18 hours; buses do it in nine, and e-bikes are how visitors move between the temples once there.

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Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon

A gold-covered Buddhist stupa believed to enshrine relics of four past Buddhas, and the most sacred Buddhist site in Myanmar - lit dramatically at night and considered one of the great religious monuments of Asia.

📍 Yangon

🚉 The Yangon Circular Railway loops the city, but the pagoda is best reached by taxi or bus to the southern gate on Shwedagon Pagoda Road, where the lifts and covered stairways begin.

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Inle Lake

A large freshwater lake in Shan State, known for fishermen who row with one leg wrapped around the oar, floating vegetable gardens, and stilt villages built directly over the water.

📍 Inle Lake, Shan State

🚉 Nearest station: Shwenyaung, on the Thazi-Shwenyaung line, then a 30-minute taxi to Nyaungshwe, the lakeside town where the long-tail boats leave from the canal.

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Mandalay

Myanmar's second-largest city and former royal capital, with Mandalay Hill's pagoda-lined stairway and U Bein Bridge - the longest teakwood bridge in the world - nearby at Amarapura.

📍 Mandalay

🚉 Nearest station: Mandalay Central, with trains from Yangon taking about 15 hours and the spectacular Goteik viaduct line running east towards Hsipaw.

Mark Myanmar, get the stamp

🇲🇲MYANMARVISITED

🇲🇲MYANMARLIVED

🇲🇲MYANMARWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

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Planning questions

How many days do you need in Myanmar?

10 days would traditionally suit Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake together - though current travel conditions should be your first consideration before planning any specific itinerary.

What's the best time to visit Myanmar?

November-February is traditionally the coolest, driest season - but check current travel advisories for your specific route before relying on seasonal guidance alone.

Is Myanmar good for a first-time visit?

Political instability has significantly affected safe access to parts of the country in recent years - check your government's official travel advisory carefully before planning any visit, as the situation varies by region and changes over time.

Do I need a visa to visit Myanmar?

Visa requirements and application processes vary by nationality and have changed as conditions in the country have evolved. Check the official visa information for your nationality: evisa.moip.gov.mm.

What are some things to do in Myanmar on a tight budget?

Under normal conditions, local food is inexpensive and Buddhist pagodas typically charge modest entry fees - but again, checking current safety and access conditions for your specific route matters more here than budget planning.

Can I rent a car in Myanmar, and what licence do I need?

Check your government's travel advice before planning anything: much of the country is affected by armed conflict, and several regions are closed to foreign visitors or require permits. Self-drive rental is effectively unavailable to visitors in any case - the standard arrangement is a car with a driver, booked through a hotel or agency, which also handles the checkpoints. Foreign licences are not recognised for driving; a Myanmar licence or a converted International Driving Permit is required. Official information is published by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism at tourism.gov.mm.