A Cool Weekend in Yangon, Myanmar
N.B. Myanmar has ongoing civil unrest, and as of the time of the writing, is under the “Do Not Travel” list from the U.S. State Department. Monitor the situation as you are planning your travels.
Myanmar (aka Burma) is a beautiful country with a lot of religious and historical significance. It’s one of the larger countries in Southeast Asia, and I was lucky to go for a weekend in the summer of 2019. We went to the capital city of Yangon to experience some gorgeous temples, eat delicious food, and enjoy a beautiful culture. Here’s a snapshot of how you could spend a couple of days in Yangon to make the most of your time there!
Day 1: Explore Yangon’s religious and cultural history
With more than 90% of Myanmar being Buddhist, the religion certainly has a huge impact on the culture of its capital. Given this, the main attractions in Yangon are pagodas, which are temples/shrines for practicing Buddhism. The famous ones are enormous and extremely ornate, making it an awesome way to learn about the religion while admiring such a magnificent structure.
Once arriving in Yangon and settling in, you should dive straight into this culture by visiting the Sule Pagoda in the downtown. You can step inside provided you are not wearing shoes and covering your legs + shoulders. It is extremely accessible to many of the delicious street food options in the city, but if you want to opt for a restaurant in the area, I’d suggest Rangoon Tea House for some fusion options.
After this, see some history at the Bogyoke Aung San Museum, which is the former home of the founder of Myanmar. You can take a tour if you want, but just walking around the museum for a half-hour is enough to pick up on a lot of cool cultural + historical tidbits of the country. Nearby to the museum is Kandawgyi Park, where you can do a nice walk around a massive lake. It’s a great place to bring some snacks and drinks from the area and enjoy the peace away from the bustling city.
Finally, close your day by visiting the most famous sight in Myanmar: Shwedagon Pagoda. It is so easy to get lost in this massive and ornate temple, but make sure to check out all of its nooks and crannies. There will be many vendors outside if you need appropriate clothing or want to shop for trinkets. This was the highlight of our trip, because of how you can see up close the dedication the citizens have to their culture.
Day 2: Explore the variety in the city suburbs
For your second day in Yangon, you’re going to want to explore a bit more than just the downtown. Start off at Bogyoke Market, a fun bazaar to practice your bargaining and come away with some souvenirs. Pretty much anything you could possibly want is at this market, so spend your morning shopping! Wander around the area to find a myriad of breakfast and lunch options.
There is one last pagoda on your agenda, and I promise it is worth it. It’s the Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple, which features a reclining Buddha. While not as famous as the one in Thailand, this statue is 217 feet long, which absolutely blew me away. The fact that I was as big as the Buddha’s toe was an astonishing realization! I felt extremely at peace at this pagoda, given that it was not nearly as crowded as some of the others in downtown Yangon.
Finally, have a local experience by riding the Circular Train. It’s a main mode of transport throughout the city and suburbs, and you really get a chance to see how the locals live on the day-to-day just by people-watching. Start at the Central Railway Station to buy yourself a ticket (for only ~$0.15). As it is a circle, you can take the entire 3 hour ride to end back at Central, or hop off wherever you feel comfortable to call a taxi to the airport. Regardless, I think it’s a great way to see the culture and landscapes of Yangon.
I think that just about wraps up a great weekend in Myanmar. Hope you get a chance to go soon!
