How To Get Around in Yangon - The best way to explore Yangon

Walking in downtown Yangon is the best way to explore the city. The stunning architecture, the beautiful landscapes and the people going by with their daily agendas can all be experienced and witnessed if you walk along the roads of downtown Yangon. There are many different restaurants and cafes in the area which will allow you to enjoy some locally made sweets and tea if you wish to treat your palette. If you are staying at a Yangon hotel you can walk from the hotel to the restaurants and cafes and several shopping centres but you will need to take another mode of transport if you are planning to visit touristy locations such as Inya Lake, Shwedagon Pagoda or the Museums.

Taking a taxi in Yangon is an easy task. There are so many companies that provide the service where you can call and arrange for a taxi for a particular trip or the entire day. Having a dedicated driver and a taxi with you if you are going to several locations is convenient as you will not have to spend time finding taxis after each visit. You can also opt to get a taxi from the road outside the hotel Pan Pacific Yangon as there are many independent taxi drivers parked around popular hotels in the city. Most taxis charge by the number of kilometres but it is best to discuss the pricing beforehand so there is no grey area and you are able to calculate the prices yourself. If you are hailing a taxi off the road it is best to ask if it is a meter taxi so that the driver cannot overcharge you since this tends to happen to a lot of foreigners. One of the downsides of taking a taxi is the heavy traffic during peak hours, but if you are planning to travel a long distance you need not worry about it. The best time to travel within the city limits is either early morning or in the evening.

If you are willing to do some exercise while on vacation and enjoy the surrounding and weather in Yangon you can hire a bicycle and explore the location. There are several companies and some hotels where you can rent bicycles for the day or by the hour and go exploring. While this may sound hectic it is actually a rewarding experience as you get to enjoy the weather and also experience the day to day life of the locals.

There are busses that you can take for a short distance as well as long-distance travelling but the public transport system is not developed in Yangon. The busses tend to get crowded and do not travel on time even though there is a time schedule for the departure abut they are a good option for those travelling on a budget.

There are bicycle-drawn carriages that are used for short distances but these are overpriced and unpopular currently. These are only used by some foreigners who want to experience it and take photographs of the moment.