Yangon Travel Tips: 8 Things to Know
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Travel advisory: Myanmar has been under military rule since the February 2021 coup, with an ongoing civil war. Most governments currently advise against all or most travel, so check your own government’s current guidance before booking anything, and weigh the ethics too: some tourism spending reaches the military, so favor small, local, independent operators if you visit. These tips are for if and when it’s safe and ethical to go, not a push to book now.
Eight things worth knowing before you land in Yangon, starting with the one that trips up the most first-timers.
1. Bring Cash, Not Cards
This is the single most important tip on this list. International Visa and Mastercard, plus foreign ATMs, are unreliable to nonfunctional for tourists under current sanctions, even where a machine still shows the logos. Plan on cash for essentially everything.
2. Only Bring Pristine USD
You’ll change US dollars to Myanmar kyat locally, but exchange counters reject anything creased, torn, marked, or old. Bring crisp, newer bills, and check them before you leave home.
3. Watch the Exchange Rate Gap
There’s a real gap between the official rate (roughly 2,100 MMK per dollar) and the street rate (roughly 3,100-3,200). Changing at official bank counters loses you money, so budget in USD and expect the numbers to shift.
4. Yangon Isn’t the Capital
Yangon is Myanmar’s largest city and its former colonial capital, but the government moved to Naypyidaw back in 2005-06. It’s a small fact that trips up a lot of visitors.
5. Shwedagon Means Barefoot, All the Way
Shoes and socks both come off before you step onto the platform at Shwedagon and every other pagoda, no exceptions, and legs need to be covered too.
6. Be Careful With Your Camera
Genuinely be careful photographing anything near military, police, or checkpoints, a real risk here rather than just a rule of thumb. Keep political conversations private rather than posting about them online, since the risk to locals from that kind of exposure is real, not just a matter of politeness.
7. Dress and Behave Respectfully
Cover shoulders and knees at temples, don’t point your feet at Buddha images or monks, and don’t touch anyone’s head. A longyi is easy to rent or buy, and wearing one is genuinely welcomed rather than seen as costume.
8. Expect Occasional Disruptions
Power outages happen, and connectivity can be less reliable than you’re used to, including a history of shutdowns; pack a portable charger and don’t count on constant internet access.
| Tip | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Bring pristine USD | Worn or marked bills get rejected at exchange counters |
| Naypyidaw is the capital | Not Yangon, since 2005-06 |
| Shoes and socks off | Enforced at every pagoda, no exceptions |
Whatever else you plan for, get your cash logistics sorted on arrival: change USD to kyat as soon as you land, and keep small notes on hand for taxis, markets, and pagoda entry fees.
Check the US State Department Myanmar advisory or UK FCDO advice before you go. For the sights these tips apply to, see the Yangon travel guide or things to do in Yangon .