Why visit Myanmar?
Myanmar offers graceful pagodas, misty highlands, and riverside cities where daily life still moves at a gentle pace. You experience a country balancing timeless traditions with emerging modern comforts.
What to expect
From the former capital Yangon to the temple plains of Bagan and the floating villages of Inle Lake, each region reveals a different side of the country. The Ayeyarwady River links many of these landscapes, adding relaxed journeys by water.
Plan your trip
You can fly into Yangon as the main international gateway, then continue by domestic flight, car, or river boat to other regions. Myanmar also pairs well with wider journeys across Southeast Asia, with Singapore as a convenient connecting hub.
Discover Myanmar
Discover Myanmar
Top experiences in Myanmar
Explore Yangon's historic downtown
Wander past colonial-era buildings, leafy avenues, and bustling street life in the heart of Myanmar's largest city.
Admire Shwedagon Pagoda at sunset
Watch the golden stupa glow as the sky changes colour, and take in sweeping views over Yangon.
Cruise along the Ayeyarwady River
Sail past riverside villages, sandbanks, and distant pagodas on leisurely day or multi-day river journeys.
Discover the temples of Bagan
Cycle or drive between thousands of ancient temples scattered across a vast plain beside the Ayeyarwady.
Glide across Inle Lake
Travel by wooden boat past stilt houses, floating gardens, and traditional leg-rowing fishermen.
Hike in the Shan Highlands
Follow cool mountain trails between small towns, tea plantations, and rural communities.
Browse local handicraft workshops
See artisans producing lacquerware, textiles, and metalwork using long-practised techniques.
Experience Myanmar's way of life
Getting around
Most international travellers arrive via Yangon, then continue by domestic flight to key regions such as Bagan, Mandalay, or Inle Lake. In and around cities, you can also move by taxi, private car, train, or river boat depending on your plans.
Local life & culture
Daily life often centres on neighbourhood tea shops, lively markets, and community spaces. You notice regional differences in language, dress, and architecture between coastal areas, central plains, and the highlands.
Where to unwind
You find quiet corners along lakeshores, in hill stations, and beside rivers where the pace naturally slows. Many travellers also choose simple resorts and guesthouses that open directly onto gardens, paddy fields, or the waterfront.
A taste of Myanmar
National dishes & specialties
You can try rich curries, fragrant rice dishes, and salads that balance sour, salty, and crunchy textures. Yangon and the central regions are especially known for showcasing dishes from across the country in one place.
Casual & modern dining hubs
In larger cities like Yangon, you find everything from family-run eateries to modern cafes and rooftop spots. Smaller towns and rural areas offer simpler places focused on fresh ingredients and home-style cooking.
Signature & scenic dining
Some restaurants and teahouses sit along lakes, rivers, or hilltops, turning every meal into a view-filled pause. In Yangon, elevated venues and heritage buildings provide memorable settings to end a day of exploration.
Retail therapy in Myanmar
Malls & lifestyle hubs
Yangon offers modern shopping centres where you can find international brands, local boutiques, cinemas, and dining in one place. These malls are convenient stops to cool down, shop, and take a break between sightseeing.
Markets & local crafts
Across Yangon, Mandalay, and Bagan, markets showcase textiles, lacquerware, wood carvings, and everyday essentials. Visiting these markets lets you see local craftsmanship up close and pick up meaningful mementos.
Evening retail scene
In bigger cities, some shopping streets and centres stay open into the evening with a relaxed atmosphere. Night-time is also when smaller stalls appear, selling snacks and light shopping as the air cools.
Best time to visit Myanmar
Peak season: November to February is generally cooler and drier, with temperatures around 20–30°C (68–86°F) in many regions, making it popular for sightseeing.
Shoulder season: March to May can be very warm, often 30–38°C (86–100°F), with clearer skies but higher heat, especially in central areas.
Low season: June to October brings the monsoon, with frequent rain and temperatures around 24–32°C (75–90°F); coastal and delta regions can be especially wet, while some inland areas see shorter showers.