Myanmar
Phone Code
+95
Capital
Nay Pyi Taw
Population
54 Million
Native Name
မြန်မာ
Region
Asia
South-Eastern Asia
Timezone
Myanmar Standard Time
UTC+06:30
On This Page
Myanmar (officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, formerly Burma) is a 676,000-square-kilometre Southeast Asian country bordered by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand. The Irrawaddy River runs north-to-south through the country's centre, the Bay of Bengal coastline runs along the west, the Shan plateau rises to the east, and the Andaman Sea touches the southern Tanintharyi region. Around 54 million people speak Burmese as the national language and follow Theravada Buddhism in the great majority. Yangon (Rangoon), the former capital and still the largest city, holds the gilded Shwedagon Pagoda — among the most revered Buddhist sites in Asia — and a remarkable belt of preserved British colonial architecture; Naypyidaw is the current administrative capital, built from scratch in the 2000s. The cultural and historical core is in central and northern Myanmar: Bagan, on the Irrawaddy plain, preserves over two thousand surviving Buddhist temples and stupas built between the ninth and thirteenth centuries — one of the world's densest archaeological landscapes; Mandalay was the last royal capital before British annexation and remains the centre of Burmese craft, monastic education and traditional dance; Inle Lake in Shan State is famous for its stilt villages, leg-rowing fishermen and floating gardens. Other distinctive places include the Mergui Archipelago in the Andaman Sea, the railway hill stations of Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) and Kalaw, and the cliff-hung Buddhist site of Mount Popa above Bagan. Important note: the security situation in Myanmar has shifted significantly in recent years, and most Western government travel advisories restrict travel to large parts of the country — consult the current advisory from your home government before any planning.
Visa Requirements for Myanmar
Myanmar issues most tourist and business visas through its e-visa portal at evisa.moip.gov.mm. Citizens of around one hundred eligible nationalities — including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most of Latin America — can apply online for a 28-day single-entry tourist e-visa for USD 50. Standard processing is 3–5 working days; the visa is valid for entry within 90 days of issue. Required documents are a passport scan (valid at least 6 months from the date of entry, with at least one blank visa page), a recent colour photograph, and accommodation details. Citizens of ASEAN states (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei) and a small number of others enter visa-free or visa-on-arrival under regional agreements. Some nationalities are required to apply through a Myanmar embassy or consulate; visa-on-arrival options have been narrowed in recent years and the e-visa is the most reliable route for most international travellers. Yangon International Airport (RGN) is the principal entry point; Mandalay International (MDL) and Naypyidaw (NYT) also operate but with fewer international flights. Important note: most Western governments currently maintain significant travel advisories for Myanmar — always consult the current advisory issued by your home government before booking and verify that travel insurance covers the country under current advisory levels.
Common Visa Types
Tourist e-Visa (28 Days, Single Entry)
Tourism and family visits for citizens of around one hundred eligible nationalities — including the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most of Latin America.
Business e-Visa (70 Days)
Business travel, conferences and short professional engagements for eligible nationalities, applied online before travel.
Embassy Visa
Tourism, business or longer stays for nationalities not covered by the e-visa system, or for travellers who require longer stays or specific visa categories.
ASEAN Visa-Free / Visa-on-Arrival
Free movement and short stays for citizens of ASEAN member states and a small number of others under regional or bilateral agreements.
Important Travel Information
Travel Guide
Myanmar's traveller appeal is concentrated in three or four extraordinary places, all reachable on internal flights from Yangon. Yangon itself is the natural starting point: the gilded Shwedagon Pagoda dominates the city day and night and is one of the most revered Buddhist sites in Asia; the surrounding belt of British colonial architecture along Pansodan Street and around Sule Pagoda is among the best-preserved in Southeast Asia; the Bogyoke Aung San Market is a labyrinth of jade, lacquerware and longyi cloth. Bagan, an hour's flight north, is the heart of the country — over two thousand Buddhist temples and stupas built between the ninth and thirteenth centuries spread across a 100-square-kilometre Irrawaddy plain. Sunrise from a temple terrace, with hot-air balloons rising through the morning mist, is the country's defining travel image. Mandalay, the last royal capital before British annexation in 1885, anchors the cultural north — the Mahamuni Pagoda's gold-leafed Buddha, the U Bein teak bridge across Taungthaman Lake at sunset, and the surrounding ancient capitals of Amarapura, Sagaing (one of the largest monastic centres in the country) and Inwa. Inle Lake, in southern Shan State, is famous for its stilt villages, leg-rowing Intha fishermen, floating tomato gardens and the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda. Beyond these four anchors lie the Mergui Archipelago's untouched islands, the colonial-era hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin, the trekking country around Kalaw and Hsipaw, and the cliff temple of Mount Popa above Bagan. Burmese tea-shop culture — sweet milk tea (laphet yay) and mohinga noodle soup at any time of day — is its own quiet pleasure. Brief reminder: consult current government advisories before any travel.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Bagan preserves over two thousand surviving Buddhist temples and stupas built between the ninth and thirteenth centuries across a 100-square-kilometre plain on the east bank of the Irrawaddy. Sunrise and sunset from a temple terrace, hot-air balloon flights at dawn (operating seasons permitting), the Ananda and Dhammayangyi temple complexes, and the cliffside Mount Popa above the plain are the headline experiences. Old Bagan, New Bagan and Nyaung-U are the three accommodation hubs.
Yangon is the country's largest city and natural arrival point. The gilded Shwedagon Pagoda — said to enshrine eight hairs of the Buddha — is the spiritual centre. The downtown belt around Sule Pagoda, Pansodan Street, the Strand Hotel and the High Court building preserves one of Southeast Asia's most complete British colonial architectural ensembles. Bogyoke Aung San Market is the main craft and gem market; tea shops and street food fill every corner.
Mandalay, the last royal capital before British annexation in 1885, remains the centre of Burmese craft, monastic education and traditional dance. The Mahamuni Pagoda's gold-leafed Buddha, the U Bein teak bridge across Taungthaman Lake at sunset, Mandalay Hill at dawn, and the surrounding ancient capitals of Amarapura, Sagaing (one of Asia's largest Buddhist monastic centres) and Inwa form a multi-day circuit.
Inle Lake, in southern Shan State at 880 metres above sea level, is famous for its stilt villages, leg-rowing Intha fishermen, floating tomato gardens, and the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda whose gilded Buddha images travel between villages each year. Boat tours are the standard way to see the lake; surrounding hills allow trekking towards Kalaw and Pindaya cave-temples.
Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo), the British colonial-era hill station two hours from Mandalay, retains its botanical garden, half-timbered villas and horse-drawn carriages. The trekking country around Kalaw, Hsipaw and Pindaya offers multi-day routes through Pa-O, Danu, Palaung and Shan villages — typically with overnight stays in monasteries or family homes.
The Andaman Sea coast holds Ngapali, Myanmar's main beach destination with palm-fringed white sand and luxury resorts; Ngwe Saung and Chaungtha are quieter alternatives reachable by road from Yangon. Far south in the Tanintharyi region, the Mergui Archipelago of more than eight hundred islands is one of Southeast Asia's least-developed island regions, accessible mainly by liveaboard dive boats out of Kawthaung.
Money & Currency
Myanmar Kyat (MMK)
Currency code: MMK
Practical Money Tips
Myanmar Kyat (MMK) — USD essential; notes must be pristine, unfolded, unmarked, printed 2006 or later; EUR and other currencies very difficult to exchange; bring all USD cash from home; licensed forex counters and KBZ/AYA bank branches for exchange
Myanmar uses the Myanmar Kyat (MMK, K). The US Dollar (USD) is the essential secondary currency for travellers — bring USD for accommodation, tours, and major purchases. USD notes must be in perfect condition: no folds, tears, marks, stains, writing, or ink stamps; printed 2006 (with the large portrait) or later. Damaged notes will be refused. Other currencies (GBP, EUR, AUD, SGD) are extremely difficult to exchange outside Yangon, Mandalay, and Naypyidaw. Exchange at licensed forex counters in hotels, at CBM (Central Bank of Myanmar) authorised exchange booths, or at KBZ, AYA, CB Bank, or UAB branches. The official and unofficial (parallel) exchange rates may differ — use licensed counters. International ATM access has been significantly reduced since 2021, and the situation evolves — verify before travel.
International ATMs severely restricted since 2021 — KBZ and AYA Bank branches in Yangon and Mandalay may accept some international cards but reliability is not guaranteed; withdraw at your last international connection (Bangkok, Singapore, KL) as a precaution; bring all cash from home
International ATM access in Myanmar has been severely constrained. Before 2021, a network of ATMs at KBZ, CB Bank, AYA, and UAB accepted Visa and Mastercard. Availability for international cards is unreliable. Some travellers report occasional success at KBZ Bank ATMs in Yangon (Chinatown area, Sule Pagoda Road). Do not rely on ATM access. Strategy: bring all the USD cash you need for your entire stay, plus an emergency reserve. Withdraw additional cash at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Singapore Changi, or Kuala Lumpur KLIA during your transit — these airports have reliable international ATMs. Notify your bank before travel.
Card payments not available for tourists — no Apple Pay or Google Pay; credit and debit cards not accepted at most businesses; some five-star hotels in Yangon and Mandalay may accept Visa but do not rely on it; cash-only economy for travellers
Credit and debit cards are effectively unavailable for tourist use. Apple Pay and Google Pay do not function — no NFC infrastructure exists for international visitors. A small number of five-star international hotels in Yangon (Belmond Governor's Residence, Strand Hotel, Sedona Hotel) may accept Visa or Mastercard, but even this is unreliable. Do not plan any part of your itinerary requiring card payment. The travel economy is USD-cash-based: accommodation deposits, tours, internal flights (Yangon–Bagan–Mandalay–Inle Lake–Ngapali), entrance fees, boat trips, restaurants, and transport all require USD or MMK cash. Myanmar is a genuine cash-only destination for all practical purposes.
Budget ranges: guesthouse USD 15–50/night; mid-range hotel Yangon USD 60–150/night; restaurant meal USD 3–10; Shwedagon Pagoda entrance fee USD 10; balloon over Bagan USD 350–450; internal flight USD 60–150; boat Mandalay–Bagan USD 25–35
Budget guesthouse outside Yangon/Mandalay: USD 15–40/night. Mid-range hotel Yangon: USD 60–150/night. Restaurant meal (mohinga noodle soup, tea leaf salad, biryani, grilled fish): USD 3–10 at local restaurant; USD 15–30 at tourist-oriented restaurant. Shwedagon Pagoda entrance: USD 10 (paid in USD at the ticket booth). Balloon over Bagan (October–March season): USD 350–450 per person (paid in advance — USD cash or sometimes online). Internal Myanmar Airways or FMI Air flight (Yangon–Bagan, Yangon–Mandalay, Mandalay–Inle Lake): USD 60–150. Boat Mandalay to Bagan (Irrawaddy River, 12 hours, Malikha or MGRG): USD 25–35 (foreigner rate, paid in USD). Inle Lake boat hire: USD 15–25/day.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
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