Bagan, Myanmar (Burma) Travel Guide

Explore Bagan: A timeless wonderland of ancient temples and rich cultural heritage, offering mesmerizing sunrise views and vibrant local markets.

Bagan, nestled in the heart of Myanmar, is a land of ancient temples and timeless beauty. Known for its vast expanse of over 2,000 Buddhist monuments, Bagan offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the country's rich history. The city was once the capital of the Pagan Kingdom and remains one of the world's greatest archaeological sites. Start your journey by exploring the Ananda Temple, one of Bagan's most revered and well-preserved structures. Its golden spires and intricate carvings are sure to captivate any visitor. For a panoramic view of the temple-studded landscape, take a hot air balloon ride during sunrise or sunset. This unforgettable experience provides a unique perspective of Bagan's sprawling plains and the Irrawaddy River. Don't miss the chance to visit the bustling Nyaung U Market, where you can immerse yourself in local culture and sample traditional Burmese cuisine. The market is a vibrant hub of activity, offering everything from fresh produce to handcrafted souvenirs. Additionally, make time to visit the Shwezigon Pagoda, a stunning golden stupa that holds significant religious importance. For those interested in history, the Bagan Archaeological Museum provides a deeper understanding of the city's past. Here, you can find a collection of artifacts, sculptures, and ancient manuscripts. After a day of exploration, relax at one of the local tea houses, where you can enjoy a cup of Burmese tea and watch the world go by.

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Bagan.

Rent an e-bike for easy and eco-friendly travel between temples.
Visit temples early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat and crowds.
Dress modestly when visiting religious sites; shoulders and knees should be covered.
Carry cash, as many local vendors and smaller establishments do not accept credit cards.
Try traditional Burmese breakfast dishes like mohinga (fish noodle soup) at local eateries.

Neighbourhoods in Bagan

Old Bagan

New Bagan

Nyaung-U

Explore All Neighbourhoods in Bagan

Explore Bagan: Things to Do, Places to Eat, Hotels & More

Handpicked recommendations for top attractions, local dining, accommodations, and more

Best attractions in Bagan

Top-rated picks

Best Attractions

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Shwezigon Pagoda

Discover the majestic Shwezigon Pagoda in Nyaung-U, a stunning Buddhist temple known for its golden stupa and rich cultural heritage.

4.6

Ananda Temple

Explore the majestic Ananda Temple in Bagan, Myanmar, a masterpiece of ancient architecture and a spiritual haven for travelers.

4.7

Dhammayangyi Temple

Explore the grandeur of Dhammayangyi Temple, Bagan's largest temple, where history and spirituality come together in a breathtaking architectural marvel.

4.6

Bagan Viewing Tower (Bagan Nan Myint Tower)

Experience the majestic beauty of Bagan from the heights of Bagan Viewing Tower, offering stunning views of ancient temples and breathtaking landscapes.

4.3

Best landmarks in Bagan

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Shwezigon Pagoda

Discover the sacred beauty of Shwezigon Pagoda in Nyaung-U, a stunning architectural marvel and spiritual haven in Myanmar.

4.6

Ananda Temple

Experience the serene beauty and architectural brilliance of Ananda Temple, a must-visit Buddhist landmark in Bagan, Myanmar.

4.7

Dhammayangyi Temple

Explore the grandeur of Dhammayangyi Temple, an ancient Buddhist masterpiece in Old Bagan, known for its stunning architecture and rich history.

4.6

Bupaya

Discover the beauty and history of Bupaya Pagoda, a stunning landmark in Old Bagan, Myanmar, perfect for sunset views and cultural exploration.

4.4

Best restaurants in Bagan

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The Moon Vegetarian Restaurant

Discover delectable vegetarian cuisine at The Moon Vegetarian Restaurant in Taungbi – where flavor meets sustainability!

4.3

Star Beam

Experience authentic Burmese cuisine at Star Beam in New Bagan - where tradition meets flavor in a welcoming atmosphere.

4.3

Khaing Shwe Wha Vegetarian Restaurant ခိုင်ရွှေဝါ(သားသတ်လွတ်စားသောက်ဆိုင်)

Discover delightful vegetarian cuisine at Khaing Shwe Wha Vegetarian Restaurant in Nyaung-U – where flavor meets health in every bite.

4.6

Elodie Restaurant

Experience authentic Burmese cuisine at Elodie Restaurant in New Bagan – where every dish tells a story.

4.6

Best bars in Bagan

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HTI Bar & Restaurant

Discover the lively HTI Bar & Restaurant in Nyaung-U, where delicious food meets innovative cocktails in a vibrant atmosphere.

4.4

Bagan Zay

Discover Bagan Zay, a lively bar in Nyaung-U offering a diverse drink menu and a welcoming atmosphere for tourists exploring the wonders of Bagan.

4.4

Erawati Raft

Experience the enchanting beauty of Old Bagan at Erawati Raft, a riverside bar where local flavors and stunning views come together.

4.3

Mi San Restaurant

Experience the authentic flavors of Myanmar at Mi San Restaurant in Old Bagan, where traditional cuisine meets a welcoming atmosphere.

4.5

Best nightclubs in Bagan

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HTI Bar & Restaurant

Experience the perfect blend of local flavors and exotic cocktails at HTI Bar & Restaurant in Nyaung-U, a culinary haven for discerning travelers.

4.4

Bagan Zay

Experience the lively ambiance and diverse drink selection at Bagan Zay, a must-visit bar in Nyaung-U, perfect for unwinding after temple explorations.

4.4

Erawati Raft

Discover tranquility at Erawati Raft, a charming bar on the Ayeyarwady River in Old Bagan, perfect for relaxing with stunning views.

4.3

New Bagan Market

Explore the vibrant New Bagan Market, where local culture, delicious street food, and unique crafts come together in a bustling atmosphere.

3.9

Best shops in Bagan

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ပုဂံအိမ်

Explore Bagan House in New Bagan for unique gifts and authentic Myanmar handicrafts that capture the spirit of the region.

4.2

Jasmine Family Lacquerware Workshop

Discover the intricate art of lacquerware at Jasmine Family Lacquerware Workshop in Old Bagan, where tradition meets craftsmanship.

4.7

Golden Cuckoo Lacquerware

Explore the rich tradition of Burmese lacquerware at Golden Cuckoo Lacquerware, a vibrant gift shop in Myin Ka Bar that showcases exquisite craftsmanship.

4.8

MBoutik Handicraft Shop

Explore the rich craftsmanship of Myanmar at MBoutik Handicraft Shop in New Bagan; a unique destination for authentic handicrafts and home goods.

4.6

Explore Bagan on the Map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Bagan, mapped for you.

Bagan Essentials

Bagan is accessible by air, road, and river. The nearest airport is Nyaung U Airport, which has regular domestic flights from major cities like Yangon and Mandalay. You can also take an overnight bus or private car from Yangon or Mandalay, which takes approximately 9-10 hours and 4-5 hours respectively. For a more scenic route, consider taking a river cruise on the Ayeyarwady River from Mandalay to Bagan.
Once in Bagan, you have several options for getting around. E-bikes are a popular choice for tourists, offering a convenient and eco-friendly way to explore the area. You can also rent bicycles, hire a private car with a driver, or take a horse cart for a more traditional experience. Taxis are available but may be more expensive. Public buses are limited, so renting a vehicle or bike is recommended.
The official currency in Myanmar is the Myanmar Kyat (MMK). While some hotels and high-end restaurants accept credit cards, most local establishments prefer cash. ATMs are available in Nyaung U and some major hotels, but it is advisable to carry enough cash for day-to-day expenses. Currency exchange services are available at the airport and in major towns.
Bagan is generally safe for tourists, but standard precautions should be taken. Avoid walking alone at night in poorly lit areas and keep your belongings secure in crowded places. There are no specific high-crime areas targeting tourists, but it is always best to stay vigilant. Be cautious of pickpockets in busy tourist spots and markets.
In case of emergency, dial 199 for police assistance and 192 for medical emergencies. The closest hospital is Nyaung U Hospital, which is equipped to handle basic medical issues. For more serious conditions, you may need to travel to Mandalay or Yangon. It is highly recommended to have travel insurance that covers medical emergencies.
Fashion: Do dress modestly, especially when visiting temples and pagodas. Avoid wearing revealing clothing. Religion: Do remove your shoes and socks before entering religious sites. Be respectful and avoid touching religious artifacts. Public Transport: Do be polite and give up your seat to elderly passengers. Don't eat or drink on public transport. Greetings: Do greet people with a slight bow or a traditional 'Mingalaba'. Avoid touching people on the head. Eating & Drinking: Do try local dishes and accept food offerings graciously. Don't refuse hospitality, as it may be considered impolite.
To experience Bagan like a local, visit the morning markets in Nyaung U where you can buy fresh produce and traditional Burmese goods. Engage with locals, as they are often friendly and willing to share stories about their culture and history. Don't miss the opportunity to watch the sunrise or sunset from one of the pagodas for a truly magical experience. For an authentic taste of local cuisine, try the traditional Burmese breakfast dish 'Mohinga'.

When is the best time to visit Bagan?

With Eve

Useful Local Phrases for Bagan

You don't need to speak the language perfectly. Even learning a few simple words can make conversations warmer—and locals usually appreciate the effort.

— Eve

6 phrase groups English + pronunciation

Here are the phrases I use most often in Bagan. Try a few—you'll be surprised how far they go! 😊
❤️

- Helloမင်္ဂလာပါ
  [mingalarbar]
- Goodbyeသွားပါ
  [thwa ba]
- Yesဟုတ်ပါတယ်
  [hote par tal]
- Noမဟုတ်ပါ
  [ma hote par]
- Please/You're welcomeကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်
  [chay zu tin ba tal]
- Thank youကျေးဇူးပါတယ်
  [chay zu ba tal]
- Excuse me/Sorryခွင့်ပါတယ်
  [kwin ba tal]
- How are you?ဘယ်သူ့ကိုယ်သူ့ကိုယ်ဘယ်သာလား
  [be thwar ko su thwar ko be thalarr]
- Fine. And you?ကျေးဇူးပါတယ်။ နင့်ဘယ်သူ့လား
  [chay zu ba tal. nang be thwar lar]
- Do you speak English?အဂၤလိပ်မဲ့သူ့ကိုယ်ရာလို့
  [egale mae su ko yar loe]
- I don't understandကျေးဇူးထားပါတယ်
  [chay zu tar ba tal]
- I'd like to see the menu, pleaseမီနူးကြောင်းကြာရှိရင်တောင်းပါတယ်
  [menu kyar go yar nae tot ngo ba tal]
- I don't eat meatဟမ်းမဖော်ပါတယ်
  [hman ma pe ba tal]
- Cheers!စေးသွား
  [se thwa]
- I would like to pay, pleaseစျေးဝယ်ဘူးပါတယ်
  [se yae bu ba tal]
- Help!အင်းအဝေး
  [in awe]
- Go away!ကြားပါ
  [kwa ba]
- Call the Police!ရုံးလိုင်းပါ
  [yon loe nying ba]
- Call a doctor!ဆရာဝန်ပါ
  [sha ya wan ba]
- I'm lostခြောက်တယ်
  [hauk tal]
- I'm illနှင့်အားလုံးတယ်
  [ning a lone tal]
- I'd like to buy...ဝယ်ယူပါတယ်
  [yae yu ba tal]
- I'm just lookingကြည့်ရင်းပူတယ်
  [chin yar nae pu tal]
- How much is it?ဘယ်ဘက်လို့
  [be ba loe]
- That's too expensiveဒီလို့ချိုင်းရင်ခွင့်ပါတယ်
  [di loe choung na kwin ba tal]
- Can you lower the price?စစ်ထဲ့နိုင်းလို့
  [sat te nying loe]
- What time is it?ဘယ်နာရီလို့
  [be na ri loe]
- It's one o'clockတစ်နာရီ
  [tit na ri]
- Half past (10)ရှေ့ ဆယ် နာရီ
  [se shi tit na ri]
- Morningနန်းတောင်း
  [nam taung]
- Afternoonနေ့လုံး
  [ne lone]
- Eveningနော်စန်
  [nao san]
- Yesterdayမနေ့
  [ma ne]
- Todayယနေ့
  [ya ne]
- Tomorrowမနက်ဖြန်း
  [ma ne prawn]
- 1တစ်
  [tit]
- 2နှစ်
  [hna]
- 3သုံး
  [saun]
- 4လေး
  [lay]
- 5ငါး
  [nga]
- 6ခြောက်
  [hauk]
- 7ခွေး
  [khwe]
- 8ရှစ်
  [she]
- 9ကိုး
  [ko]
- 10ဆယ်
  [shi]
- Where's a/the...?ဘာလေးနဲ့...ဆယ်လို့
  [ba lei ne ... shi loe]
- What's the address?လိပ်စာဆယ်လို့
  [le sa shi loe]
- Can you show me (on the map)?ဒီမြို့နဲ့ကြည့်နိုင်းလို့
  [di mwe ne chin nying loe]
- When's the next (bus)?နော်လို့သော...ဆယ်လို့
  [nao loe sau ... shi loe]
- A ticket (to ....)လက်မှတ်ကြွယ်လို့
  [lak mat kway loe]

History of Bagan

According to local legends and historical records, Bagan was founded in the mid-9th century by King Pyinbya. It began as a small fortified city on the banks of the Irrawaddy River and quickly grew into a significant political and cultural center. The establishment of Bagan marked the beginning of the Bagan Kingdom, which would dominate the region for several centuries.
King Anawrahta, who ruled from 1044 to 1077, is often credited with unifying Myanmar and transforming Bagan into a major center of Theravada Buddhism. Anawrahta's reign was marked by numerous military campaigns that expanded the kingdom's territory. He also initiated a series of religious and cultural reforms, including the construction of many of Bagan's most iconic temples and pagodas, such as the Shwezigon Pagoda.
The period from the 11th to the 13th centuries is considered the Golden Age of Bagan. During this time, the city became a thriving hub of commerce, culture, and religion. Thousands of stupas, temples, and monasteries were constructed, showcasing the architectural and artistic achievements of the Bagan civilization. This era also saw a flourishing of literature, with many religious texts being transcribed onto palm leaves.
In 1287, Bagan faced a significant threat from the Mongol Empire. The invasion, led by Kublai Khan's forces, resulted in the sacking of the city and the eventual decline of the Bagan Kingdom. While the Mongols did not occupy Bagan for long, their invasion disrupted the political and economic stability of the region, leading to the fragmentation of the kingdom into smaller states.
For centuries, Bagan remained largely forgotten and neglected, with many of its temples falling into disrepair. However, in the 19th century, renewed interest in the site emerged during the British colonial period. Archaeologists and historians began to document and study the ruins, leading to a gradual restoration effort. Today, Bagan is recognized as one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.