Top Destinations & Places to Visit in Myanmar
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1. Bagan- Region: eastern banks of the Irrawaddy
- Area: 104 km2
- Founded: 1044
- Population: 3,574
Top places to visit: Ananda Temple, Htilominlo Temple, Shwesandaw Pagoda, Shwezigon Pagoda, Mount Popa, Nyaung U Market
Top things to do: Discover temples, Fly in a hot-air balloon, Attend Bagan's festival, Explore local marketAmong all the cities in Myanmar, Bagan is the most ideal destination for tourists to visit regardless of the time of the year. Bagan is one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites, a sight to rival Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat but – for the time being at least – without the visitors.
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2. Mandalay- Region: Eastern banks of the Irrawaddy
- Area: 163.84 km2
- Founded: 1857
- Population: 1,727 million
Top places to visit: Mahamuni Pagoda, Myingyan, Bagaya Monastery, Mandalay Palace
Top things to do: Try Mandalay's tea, Stroll across U Bein bridge, Explore pagodas and palaceThe name ‘Mandalay' is perhaps the most evocative of any destination in Myanmar and yet it is a city whose significant charms need to be uncovered.
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3. Yangon- Region: Southern Myanmar
- Area: 199 km2
- Founded: 1035
- Population: 5,813,186
Top places to visit: Shwedagon Pagoda, Botataung Pagoda, Sule Pagoda, Allied War Memorial
Top things to do: Shopping, Join in cultural tours, Mountain bike tours, Walk through Chinatown, Visit pagodasExplore Yangon for a few days and you too will see why it’s such a unique destination that no traveler to Myanmar should miss. From getting lost in its bustling streets to sharing meals with locals or being awed by the diverse architecture and sacred structures, a trip to Yangon will be an incredible journey into local life of Burmese that you won’t find anywhere else.
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4. Kalaw- Region: Shan State
- Area: 85 km2
- Founded: 1970
- Population: 186,083
Top places to visit: Kalaw’s marketplace, Shwe Oo Min Paya, Elephant Camp
Top things to do: Support local community, Trek to Inle lake, Shop at local markets, Explore Buddha cave, Dine at local tea shopThe town of Kalaw is set amongst magnificent pine forests and the area has become very popular with trekkers. Pleasantly cool all the year round, this sylvan offers the best hill trekking views among the British colonial landscape.
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5. Inle Lake- Region: Shan Hills
- Area: 116 km2
- Founded: 1995
- Population: 70,000
Top places to visit: Phaung Daw Oo temple, Cat jumping monastery
Top things to do: Watch puppet show, Admire pagoda, Visit cutural museum, Take a boat trip on the lake, Check-in Phaung Daw Oo temple, Visit Cat jumping monasteryInle Lake is the second largest natural lake in Myanmar. It is a beautiful highland lake situated in the middle of the Nyaungshwe Valley of the Shan Plateau, nestled between two mountain ranges that extend from north to south, feels like a different world to the rest of Myanmar.
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6. Bago- Region: North-east of Yangon
- Area: 372 km2
- Founded: 1966
- Population: 254,424
Top places to visit: Shwemawdaw Pagoda, Hintha Gon Pagoda, Kyaik Pun Pagoda, Mya Tha Lyaung and Shwethalyaung statues, Kanbawzathadi Palace and Museum, Kalyani Ordination Hall
Top things to do: Visit pagodas, Check-in at famous statues, Explore museumBago is a town little visited by tourists located about 80 kilometers northeast of Yangon. The town has a long and rich history.
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7. Bhamo- Region: South of the capital
- Area: 186 km2
- Founded: 1970
- Population: 47,920
Top places to visit: Shwe Kyina Paya Temple, Theindawgyi Pagoda, Bhamo Harbor, Bamboo Bridge, Irrawaddy River, Local Market and Restaurants
Top things to do: Cross the bamboo bridge, Enjoy the gorgeous sunset at Bhamo harbour, Experience food at local restaurant, Join in river cruiseBhamo is a city of Kachin State in northernmost part of Myanmar, located 186 km south from the capital city of Myitkyina. The population consists of Chinese and Shan, with Kachin peoples in the hills around the town. It is the administrative center of Bhamo District and Bhamo Township.
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8. Myingyan- Region: The valley of the Ayeyarwady River
- Area: 9,583 km2
- Founded: 1970
- Population: 91,542
Top places to visit: Irrawaddy river, Ananada temple, Nat temple, Shwezigon pagoda, U Bein bridge
Top things to do: Enjoy rivers and U Bein bridge, Discover temples, Take hot air balloon ride over Bagan for temples bird's eyes viewMyingyan is a well-known city in the Mandalay Division of central Myanmar. It is currently the capital of Myingyan Township and lies along the National Highway 2.
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9. Irrawaddy River- Region: Centre of Myanmar
- Area: 2,170 km long
- Founded: 1970
- Population: 6.5 million
Top places to visit: River along the Bagan and Mandalay
Top things to do: Catch a glimpse of river and landscape attractivenessFlowing 1,350 miles through the centre of the country, the Irrawaddy is Burma’s lifeline and an essential element of Burma’s history, culture and economy. A commercial waterway for centuries, providing irrigation for agriculture, water for drinking and washing and even a spiritual link between communities, the banks of the river are busy with communities who farm or fish for a living. A few days on the river is a relaxed way to get between destinations
