Shwedagon Pagoda Half-Day Guided Tour
A guided half day at Yangon’s great golden stupa, with the stories behind the shrines, the planetary posts and the pilgrims who fill the terrace from dawn to night.
Myanmar
Yangon
Yangon is the largest city in Myanmar and the gateway for most visitors, a humid, green river city where the golden Shwedagon Pagoda rises above one of the largest collections of colonial buildings in Southeast Asia.
Its downtown grid of faded town halls, courts and merchant houses surrounds the Sule Pagoda, while tea shops, street food stalls, Chinese temples and Hindu shrines show the many communities that built the city. Beyond the centre, easy trips lead to the old Mon capital of Bago with its giant reclining Buddha, to the rural villages and pottery workshops across the river at Dala and Twante, and to the Golden Rock at Kyaiktiyo, a gilded boulder balanced on a cliff. Twickly gathers 19 guided tours and day trips, 9 hotels from lakeside resorts to local budget stays, and 6 practical guides. Travel conditions for Myanmar vary and can change, so check your own government’s current advice before you plan or book.
Don't miss
Shwedagon Pagoda Half-Day Guided Tour
A guided half day at Yangon’s great golden stupa, with the stories behind the shrines, the planetary posts and the pilgrims who fill the terrace from dawn to night.
Yangon Circular Train Tour with Walking and Local Food
A guided ride on the local circular railway, with market stops, walking and street food tasting along the way.
Yangon Evening Street Food and Market Walking Tour
An evening walk through busy streets and night markets, tasting Burmese noodles, grilled skewers, salads and sweets with a local guide.
Bago Full-Day Tour from Yangon
A day trip to the old Mon capital of Bago, with its towering Shwemawdaw Pagoda, giant reclining Buddha and ancient pagodas.
Things to do in Yangon
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Yangon Heritage Walking Tour of Downtown and Shwedagon
A half-day walk through Yangon’s colonial downtown, past City Hall, the old courts and Sule Pagoda, ending with the golden terrace of Shwedagon.
Yangon Full-Day City Tour
A full day covering the big names of Yangon, from the reclining Buddhas and Botataung to Kandawgyi Lake, Chinatown and Shwedagon at sunset.
Yangon Circular Train Tour with Walking and Local Food
A guided ride on the local circular railway, with market stops, walking and street food tasting along the way.
Yangon Evening Street Food and Market Walking Tour
An evening walk through busy streets and night markets, tasting Burmese noodles, grilled skewers, salads and sweets with a local guide.
Traditional Myanmar Cooking Class with Market Tour
Shop for ingredients at a local market, then cook a Burmese meal with a local host and sit down to eat what you made.
Yangon Bike and Bite Tour
A guided cycle through city lanes and riverside neighbourhoods, stopping to eat along the way.
Dala Ferry and Village Day Tour from Yangon
A short ferry across the Yangon River to Dala, where trishaws, village lanes, pagodas and riverside life feel a world away from downtown.
Dala and Twante Biking Adventure
A guided cycling day that crosses the river to Dala and rides rural lanes toward Twante, with village stops along the way.
Bago Full-Day Tour from Yangon
A day trip to the old Mon capital of Bago, with its towering Shwemawdaw Pagoda, giant reclining Buddha and ancient pagodas.
Bago by Train Full-Day Sightseeing Tour
A day trip to Bago that uses the local train for part of the journey, mixing temple visits with a slice of everyday travel.
Golden Rock Day Trip from Yangon
A long but rewarding day trip to Kyaiktiyo, where a gilded boulder balances on the edge of a cliff in Mon State.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$Sule Shangri-La Yangon
Downtown (Sule)
A large downtown hotel beside the Sule Pagoda, with city and pagoda views, several restaurants, a pool and easy walks to colonial landmarks.
Check rates →
$$$$Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon
Kandawgyi Lake
A lakeside hotel on Kandawgyi Lake, with views toward Shwedagon, large grounds, a pool and a calm atmosphere close to the Karaweik hall.
Check rates →Inya Lake Hotel
Inya Lake (Mayangone)
A long-established lakeside hotel on Inya Lake with garden grounds, retro character and a quieter side of Yangon.
Check rates →Sedona Hotel Inya Wing
Inya Lake (Kaba Aye Pagoda Road)
A wing of the Sedona Hotel beside Inya Lake, with comfortable rooms, lake outlooks and a calm base north of downtown.
Check rates →Savoy Hotel Yangon
West Yangon (Kamayut area)
A boutique-style hotel in a colonial-inspired building, with a garden, a pool and a relaxed atmosphere away from the busiest streets.
Check rates →Grand Mercure Yangon Golden Empire
Yangon (check map)
A modern upscale hotel with spacious rooms, a pool and several restaurants, suited to leisure and business stays.
Check rates →Lotte Hotel Yangon
Yangon (check map)
A modern upscale hotel with large rooms, several restaurants, a pool and spa, built for comfortable stays.
Check rates →
$$Rose Garden Hotel Yangon
Yangon (check map)
A mid-range hotel offering practical comfort, handy for travellers watching their budget while still wanting a pool and restaurant.
Check rates →Hotel Grand United Ahlone Branch
Ahlone
A well-regarded local mid-range hotel in Ahlone, handy for the river, the old western quarter and affordable stays.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Shwedagon Pagoda Half-Day Guided TourStay
Sule Shangri-La YangonDowntown (Sule)
Do
Yangon Circular Train Tour with Walking and Local FoodStay
Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake YangonKandawgyi Lake
Do
Yangon Evening Street Food and Market Walking TourStay
Savoy Hotel YangonWest Yangon (Kamayut area)
Yangon guides
First Time in Yangon: What to Know, What to Book and How to Get Around
A practical primer for a first visit to Yangon: entry and travel advice, money, dress, getting around, what to book ahead and how to split your time.
Yangon in Three Days: A Practical Itinerary for Pagodas, Streets and Day Trips
A three-day plan for Yangon that balances the big pagodas with downtown walks, food and a day trip to Bago or across the river to Dala.
Eating and Drinking in Yangon: Tea Shops, Street Food and Burmese Classics
A guide to Yangon’s food, from mohinga for breakfast and tea leaf salad to street food, Indian and Chinese influences, tea shops and cooking classes.
Best Time to Visit Yangon: Seasons, Weather and Festivals
When to visit Yangon: the cool dry season, the hot months, the monsoon, festivals and how weather shapes day trips and sightseeing.
Day Trips from Yangon: Bago, Dala, Twante, Thanlyin and the Golden Rock
Which day trips from Yangon are worth your time: Bago, Dala, Twante, Thanlyin and the Golden Rock, with distances, timing and tips.
Where to Stay in Yangon: Neighbourhoods and Hotels Compared
A guide to choosing where to stay in Yangon: downtown, Kandawgyi Lake, Inya Lake, Ahlone and the quieter residential districts, with hotel suggestions.
