planningtravel

I will end my trip to Burma in Rangoon. I plan on traveling around the city by taxis. I am interested in seeing these sights:-

Colonial architecture, Independence Monument and Maha Bandoola Garden
The Circular Railway
Shwedagon Pagoda
Sule Pagoda
Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple
Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue
Bogyoke Aung Sung Market
The National Museum (only if time permits)

My itinerary has me arriving at 11.40 am to RGN (on a domestic flight) and will stay for two nights. I haven't booked my outbound flight as yet, I can depart in the morning or at 4 pm which will give me a half day or sightseeing the day I leave Burma.

Is it possible to see these sights in a day and a half? Are there any must see sights I've omited?

Am I better off hiring a taxi for the entire day or getting taxis at each of the sights?

How should I group the sights?

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Kathie

So much to see... so little time. Some of the things listed can take 30 minutes or 3 hours, so it is hard to say what you can fit in.

For the colonial architecture, I highly recommend a self-guided walking tour. The Strand has maps with commentary for a hour-long walk in the center of the historic downtown. We did this several years ago, starting before 7 am (as Yangon is the hottest city I have experienced).

The Shwedagon Pagoda is an absolute must-see. Go in the evening as it is getting dark.

The circular railway takes more than half a day, so it may not be practical with the agenda you have.

We hired taxis point to point, but you might prefer to hire someone for the day.

CaliforniaLady

We had two half days in Yangon, when arriving, and when departing for our international flights. We found it sufficient, so yes, a day and a half should be plenty.

The synagogue is tiny--it's really just one big room, so maybe 45 minutes top there should be sufficient. They don't ask for money, so it would help the community if you bought a little trinket in their gift shop.

We took a modified version of the circle train that took about an hour. We went in one direction, and then we took another train back. You can ask at the train station, and they can help you. We really enjoyed it--ladies came on the train selling watermelons on their heads, and a college student struck up a conversation with me. Then, we walked around the houses just outside the train station, and had some nice chats with people.

We also did a walking tour of the historic buildings. My son found a map online, so we used that. We also went to the market, and found it fascinating.

I wouldn't bother with a museum--the whole city is living history, and you will have more intrigue just walking around. We walked as much as we could, and used taxis otherwise.

sartoric

You could group Sule Pagoda, the independence monument, the park and colonial buildings. Download a walking tour, or follow the Strand map, the sites are all close. The park is nondescript, although a place to observe daily Myanmar life. Think picnics with lots of children running around burning extra energy, much like in the west.
I haven't been inside Sule Pagoda, I believe it's uniqueness stems from its location in the middle of a traffic roundabout. Negotiating the traffic is not too bad, just cross one lane at a time.

Kandawgyi Lake is very near to Shwedagon, (best seen at sunset as Kathie said) don't miss the laneways between the Pagoda and the lake for local colour.

The Bogyoke market is closed on Mondays, and doesn't really get going until 10.00 on days when it's open. Skip the museum.

I took the circle train and found it underwhelming. Clearly CaliforniaLady had a different experience. You never know til you try, but a standard ride will eat nearly four hours.

Find a taxi driver you can understand, agree a price for the day and see how you go. There are other worthy sites you might fit in with a sympathetic driver.

What time of year are you going ? The temperature will make a difference.

Kathie

Also, be aware that traffic in Yanogn is horrible. The first couple of times I went to Yangon, traffic was not a problem, and one could get anywhere in the city in 30 minutes or less. When we were there last year, it took an hour to get from the airport to the Strand, and all of the places we wanted to go in town took an hour. The new "overpass" into the city from the airport is now open, so that should be imprpoved.

LancasterLad

Yikes, the trafgic is bad...

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/nat...ms-yangon.html

...but if there were motorbikes as well on the roads in Yangon it would be intolerable.....I imagine Mandalay is!

Smeagol

I would also says Shwedagon is a must, go late afternoon and stay until sunset, when the light changes it's even more magical....
Traffic is way worse in Yangon than Mandalay so bare that in mind
Agree with Kathie/Crellston the city IS a walking museum...we had a guide via Santa Maria travels and we went across the river but you don't have time for that,

CaliforniaLady

Sartoric, I don't think that the train we took was actually the "circle train." The guy in the train ticket office said that a circle train was not leaving for awhile, so we could take another train up a ways, and then came back on another train. It took about an hour total. I do agree with you that there is not much to see outside that train, but we felt that the "show" inside the train was worth it, with vendors selling food, and people chatting with us. I thought it was a cultural experience, not a great sightseeing trip.

I also agree that Shwedagon is important to see at sunset. The place is huge, so allow lots of time.

Yangon is a photographer's dream. When we went to the market, all the ladies selling stuff smiled for my son, and did not mind having their picture taken at all.

planningtravel

Thank you for the helpful replies.

I am now thinking I didn't allocate enough time for Rangoon and I'm inclined to book the later flight the day I depart.

I'll be in Rangoon in January.

planningtravel

If I book the 4 pm flight, which activities should I do in the morning the day I depart? I need to be at the airport by 2 pm to check in.

I can add an extra to Rangoon but don't really want to do this as I'd rather spend the day in Singapore which is where I'm flying to after Rangoon.

sartoric

Hmm, have you been to Singapore before... I'd prefer an extra day in Yangon.
The weather should be good in January, hot, but not like a blast furnace.

Here's what I'd do -
The afternoon you arrive take a taxi to Chauhktatgyi Pagoda, have him wait. If you're interested, the Bogyoke Aung San museum is nearby, (it was his residence at the time of his assassination) and worth a quick look. Get dropped on the western side of Kandawgyi lake and walk about 500m to Shwedagon. Stay until sunset, taxis will be easy to find.

Next morning start early, take a self guided walking tour, (have a look at the LP one). It takes around 3 hours and covers everything else on your list except the museum and circle train. Try to fit in some time at a tea shop. Finish your walk at the market, spend some time there, and again taxis will be easy to find.

More info than you asked for, but hope it helps.

planningtravel

Yes, I've been to Singapore. It's one of my go to places in Asia. My original plan was to fly to Singapore on a flight that leaves Rangoon in the morning and spend two nights in Singapore. That would give me a day and half in the city.
If I add an extra day to Rangoon, I'd only have half a day in Singapore. It's been a little over two years since my last trip to Singapore.

Need to give this more thought and book my flight from Rangoon to Singapore accordingly.

Smeagol

At a push you could do it if you still take the morning flight to SP but traffic really is horrid these days in Yangon...