Things to do in Yangon

Yangon is a huge but easy cityto get around, and seeing all of the pagodas, museums and monuments isn't strenuous. It's also a great place to enjoy southeast Asian cuisine, experience the nightlife centre of the country and get some shopping done too. Here are some of the major attractions:

Visit the City's Stunning Pagodas and Temples

The city's religious life is concentrated around its beautiful Buddhist pagodas, most of which are open for tourists to visit (but don't forget to take off your shoes when you enter). Make sure you leave out the diamond tipped spire of the Shwedagon Pagoda, the 2,500 year old Botataung Pagoda (which contains a relic of Gautama Buddha) or the Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda housing a 600 tonne statue of Buddha.

Shop for Local Specialities at Theingyi Zei Market

Shopping in Myanmar's capital is all about markets, where you'll find hundreds of stalls and a hive of commercial activity. Theingyi Zei is one of the biggest of them all. It's an incredible place to wander around, with the smell of spices and herbal medicines and stalls selling traditional fish sausage and shampoo made from acacia pods. Nearby, you'll also find Bogyoke Market, which is a great place to purchase ruby jewellery, paintings and jade necklaces.

Relax in Kandawgyi Park

If the city becomes too hectic and you need to take break, don't despair - the city was designed to incorporate large open spaces, and the most relaxing of them all is Kandawgyi Park. You can dine beside the park's huge reservoir and enjoy views across to the Shwedagon Pagoda, take a boat out onto the water, board a replica of a golden royal barge and head to the city zoo, which is next to the lake. It's a wonderful oasis for locals and tourists alike.

Take an Excursion to Hlawga National Park or Ayeyarwady

There's no reason to remain in the city for the entire duration of your stay and there are some convenient day trip destinations that are well worth getting out of the city for for. For example, Hlawgi National Park allows visitors to take elephant rides or bus safaris to see Myanmarese wildlife like tigers, pangolins and pythons. You can venture out to Ayeyarwady, where beaches like Chaung Tha and Ngwe Saung are ideal places to swim, snorkel and sunbathe to your heart's content.

Watch Some Fast and Furious Kickboxing (myanma let-hwei)

Myanmar's major city also offers some unique sporting spectacles for visitors to experience. If you are a boxing or wrestling fan, be sure to grab tickets to a traditional kickboxing match. You can catch regular bouts at the Thuwanna Indoor Stadium or, if you are feeling really adventurous and energetic, you can head to kickboxing gyms to learn how it's done.