Bagan Myanmar – Best Value Hotels and Guesthouses

Bagan is an area that is primarily driven by the tourist economy. As more and more travellers started to visit these amazing temples and the country began to open itself up to tourism many people uprooted from other less developed areas of the country and moved to Bagan in search of jobs. The benefits of this are that the infrastructure is good and there are many options when it comes to accommodation. The negatives are that due to the area being predominantly in business for tourists they are trying to generate as much money as possible from this very lucrative market!

Prices and standards

Don't expect high standards of accommodation without a hefty price tag – we found hotels, hotels and guesthouses all far more expensive here than in other areas of Myanmar whilst the accommodation itself was definitely more basic. As you'll be spending most of your time exploring pagodas and other local attractions it doesn't matter too much, but it's best to be prepared!

Old Bagan

The best location by far if you have deep pockets and want a luxurious experience is Old Bagan. Based in the heart of the area with temples, restaurants and attractions right on the doorstep it's the best for accessing all the sights and for staying somewhere with charm and atmosphere.

Many of the nicest hotels here will offer rooms that boast pagoda views – allowing you to enjoy those sunrises and hot air balloons from your own private balcony. Expect to spend upwards of 3 figures per night to stay here unless you catch a last minute bargain.

A couple of the top choices in Old Bagan include The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate which offers riverside views for around USD180 per night and has a pool and spa to help you relax after a long day of exploring pagodas. Another option is the Bagan Hotel River View where for about USD100 per night you can enjoy a perfect location and a great onsite restaurant.

New Bagan

New Bagan is another popular option that boasts more modern accommodation and has a lot of hotels to choose from. It was established more for the growing local population rather than for tourists so some find it a little remote and missing the charm of Old Bagan.

The Arthawka Hotel is a good 3* option in the town with modern facilities including a pool, restaurant, helpful tour desk and bike rentals starting at around USD60 per night. The Ruby True Hotel is just 20 minutes from the airport and a great option if you're on a tighter budget from USD40 per night for a double room.

Nyaung U

Finally, the best place by far if you're trying to find cheap accommodation and if you want good transport links is Nyaung U. This is where the jetty is located for boats to and from Mandalay and where most buses arriving into Bagan stop.

Favoured by backpackers it's around 5km away from the temples and the accommodation isn't of the highest standards from what we saw, but it's cheap and fairly convenient. It takes up to 20 minutes by e-bike to most of the centrally located temples so be careful not to run out of battery which seems to be a common occurrence!

Guesthouses like the New Wave and New Park are well situated and cost from USD25 for economy rooms that don't include breakfast. For a standard double with breakfast and a reasonably comfortable place to stay expect to pay upwards of around USD35 per night - very pricey for basic accommodation in South East Asia. You'll find one of the best breakfasts at Aung Su Pyae which has a great location on the main road.

Most accommodation will also offer good prices on things like e-bike hire and bicycle hire and will be happy to share their local knowledge and help you to plan out your route through the pagodas.