Karen and myself had planned on spending 11 days exploring Myanmar. Because we wanted to give Bagan and Inle Lake the proper time it deserves, we decided to dedicate only one day exploring Yangon.
I felt like we made the right decision; though we missed the circle train that goes around the city.
If you are short on time in Yangon, here is my suggestion on what to do and see:
1) Stay in a hostel or hotel close to the airport for easy access to the circle train
Fortunately, most of the accommodations by the airport are located close to the train that goes around Yangon. Right after you land at Yangon International Airport, you won't even have to travel too far to get to your accommodation. You can easily drop off your luggage, and begin your exploration!
Right after you land at Yangon international airport, you don't have to travel far to check in your accommodation. You can easily drop off your stuff and get ready to start exploring Yangon.
The circle train is hop on hop off style allowing you to really explore Yangon comfortably and efficiently.
2) Sample Burmese street food
There are plenty of food options available, especially at night, when all the street food vendors open for business. Karen and myself sampled grasshoppers that tasted like salted potato chips, deep fried sweet corn, quail eggs and hot noodles. Just be sure to choose carefully though, Myanmar is notorious for food poisoning!
3) Visit the Shwedagon Pagoda
The Shwedagon Pagoda is hands down, the most important tourist destination in Yangon. As a matter of fact, former US president Barrack Obama visited it a few years ago.
The architecture, serene atmosphere and people are what makes the Shwedagon Pagoda such an amazing place. You can truly experience the pinnacle of the Buddhist religion there, even if you are not religious.
Feel free to strike up a conversation about enlightenment with the monks, or wish for good fortune with family, relationships and business at the various praying areas.
4) Explore the markets
When we visited Yangon, we ended up exploring the local markets with two rowdy American tourists. I'm glad we tagged along with them because their flamboyant attitudes made the exploration much more enjoyable.
You can find pretty much anything at these markets. From textiles, trinkets and simple handmade souvenirs, to more expensive jewelry pieces. The two Americans we were with each purchased a traditional Burmese Longyi, and attracted quite a bit of attention as they bargained for a better deal. I assumed the locals would find their behaviour disrespectful, but it was the complete opposite. Despite the locals being conservative and quiet in general, they actually loved watching foreigners doing weird stuff. So don't be afraid to act goofy in front of them!
Yangon would have to be my second favorite place to visit, after Inle Lake. Most people don't spend too much time in Yangon, because frankly you can see everything in one day. Save the remainder of your time exploring Bagan and Inle Lake, you won't regret it!
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