Yangon Myanmar – Top Thrilling Things to Do and to See
As tourism in Myanmar continues to grow, more and more tour operators are springing up and catering for travellers with activities and packages that include everything from yoga and massages to city tours, cooking classes and guided tours of the city’s incredible pagodas. Be sure to pick up a tour to get the ultimate low down on the history and culture of this fascinating city – there’s something for everyone when it comes to choosing which activities to try, and here’s some of our best recommendations.
For history buffs – or the lazy-bones who do not investigate all by themselves – there are city tours to get a proper introduction to the city and its main sights. Be sure to pick one that includes markets if you can, as we always find these are a great way to get to understand local culture and customs. City tours in Yangon tend to be available on either a half or full day basis and tend to cost USD20-USD50 depending on which itinerary, mode of transport and length of time you opt for.
Walking tours are always popular and aren’t too fast paced, giving you the best opportunity to take loads of pictures and see plenty of sights along the way. A typical half day walking route will take in places like the Sule pagoda, Bogyoke Aung San Market and Kandawgyi Lake.
With all the traffic, cycling in the city can be intimidating so many places offer small group bicycle tours where you can take in everything from markets and temples to quieter residential areas and spots where old colonial architecture is still visible. These often include lunch, and even visits to traditional teashops.
Other transport for city tours includes the famous circular train, which gets you up close and personal with locals who use the railway for their daily journeys around Yangon, and lets you see everything from the urban centre to quieter more rural spots outside of the city. It’s less than 1USD for a ticket to take a solo train ride, but a guide will be able to point out lots more along the journey.
Alternatively, explore the Rangoon River on a boat cruise, a particularly popular option for late afternoon to allow you to take in a sunset over the city.
For tours specifically focusing on the history and culture of the city, you can’t go wrong with a tour of the Shwedagon, Sule and Botatung pagodas – pick up a local tour guide while you’re there for a few dollars per person although sometimes the spoken English isn’t 100% or arrange one with any tour agency.
Culture shows are also a great way to learn about Myanmar history – for USD20-USD30 these include a great value buffet dinner, and showcases traditional dance and costumes from Yangon. Karaweik Palace, an impressive royal boat on the river is a great place to see one of these.
The food in Myanmar, as with the rest of Asia is fantastic, and we found Yangon a particularly good place for dining out on everything from cheap street food to top quality restaurants. Street food here can be a little intimidating, with a lot of items not entirely recognisable so a food tour is a safer option than just trying random BBQ skewers that you’ll see being served up – these tend to last 2–3 hours and take in the best foodie spots like Chinatown and downtown Yangon and cost from around USD20.
For a more professional experience where you’ll learn to cook dishes like tealeaf salad or Shan noodles, cooking classes are amazing value and really fun – for USD25 you’ll learn with a group how to cook traditional food and enjoy it together at the end.
For more relaxing activities, try a massage at one of the many spas in Yangon, traditional massages cost as little as USD5 and you’ll be pummelled and manipulated every which way, leaving you feeling surprisingly supple and relaxed at the end of it all!
Meditation and yoga are also popular with the Indian influences you’ll see consistently throughout Myanmar. Yoga classes with certified instructors are available from less than USD10 per class, and meditation centres are located throughout the city where you can take part in retreats and workshops.