Backpacker’s Guide to Yangon (Burma)
Quick answer: This backpacker’s guide to Yangon covers the essentials: sunrise at the Shwedagon Pagoda, Burmese food at People’s Park, a relaxed afternoon at Kandawgyi Lake, the quirky Drug Elimination Museum, the National Museum, Chinatown’s night street food and souvenir shopping at Bogyoke Market.
Yangon is Myanmar’s gateway city, where golden pagodas, lakeside cafés, busy markets and British colonial buildings sit side by side. Here is how to spend your time there on a backpacker’s budget.
Things to Do in Yangon
Watch the Sunrise at Shwedagon Pagoda
Watching the sun rise over the glittering dome of the Shwedagon Pagoda is a rewarding way to start your journey in Myanmar. The 99-metre pagoda sits on Singuttara Hill, west of Kandawgyi Lake, and dominates the Yangon skyline.
Eat Burmese Food at People’s Park and People’s Square
Restaurants in People’s Park and People’s Square, right opposite the pagoda’s southern exit, serve typical Burmese cuisine. It is the perfect meal after an hour of incredible shrines and stupas.
Relax at Kandawgyi Lake
Close to the Shwedagon Pagoda, Kandawgyi Lake is home to lush vegetation and relaxing restaurants and cafés, making it a wonderful place to spend a lazy afternoon. The area near the Karaweik Palace restaurant on the lake is lively throughout the day.
Visit the Drug Elimination Museum
The Drug Elimination Museum is one of the quirkier museums in the world, unusual in both name and nature. It was built by the previous military government to show how seriously it was tackling the country’s drug problems, and it exhibits what that government did to people addicted to drugs.
Learn About Myanmar’s Past at the National Museum
If you want to learn about Myanmar’s history, stop by the National Museum. Its artefacts cover different aspects of the country’s past, celebrations of Myanmar’s various ethnic groups and the Taungoo dynasty.
Yangon Chinatown and Downtown
Explore Chinatown (Tayoke Tan) at Dusk
At dusk, the streets of Chinatown fill with hawkers. Chinatown (Tayoke Tan) is in the centre of Yangon and takes in 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd and 24th streets, plus Sint Oh Dan, Latha and Bo Ywe roads.
The stalls on 17th to 19th streets offer a typically Chinese ambience and authentic food served the traditional way.
Walk the Downtown Grid
Walking through the gridded, gridlocked streets, you experience the most vibrant part of the city. Hawkers sell almost everything, from maps to souvenirs, and it is also a magnificent place to see the impressive colonial buildings from the British era.
Shop at Bogyoke Market
Bogyoke Market, downtown, is the spot to pick up typical Myanmar arts and crafts to take home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda?
Sunrise, when the sun lights up the glittering dome, is a rewarding way to start your day in Yangon.
Where can I eat Burmese food near Shwedagon Pagoda?
At the restaurants in People’s Park and People’s Square, opposite the pagoda’s southern exit.
Where is the best street food in Yangon?
Chinatown, especially the stalls on 17th to 19th streets, comes alive with food at dusk.
Where should I buy souvenirs in Yangon?
Bogyoke Market downtown is the place for Myanmar arts and crafts.
Conclusion
From the golden Shwedagon Pagoda and peaceful Kandawgyi Lake to Chinatown’s night stalls and colonial downtown, Yangon is an easy and rewarding city for backpackers. Use this backpacker’s guide to Yangon to plan a day or two before heading further into Myanmar.
