Summary
The forgotten temple city of Bagan in Myanmar is like a bizarre fairytale, with a landscape of mysterious and exotic pagodas that goes beyond just culture shock.
We felt like time travelers stepping into the ancient ruins of the Bagan Myanmar temples. In ages past, there were more than 10,000 shrines and monasteries here, and the Bagan temples still standing are completely fascinating to explore and photograph.
This travel guide for Bagan will explain how to get there, which temples to see, and everything else you need to know before you go!
History Of Old Bagan
Old Bagan was once known as Pagan, a temple city founded by the Pagan kingdom in ancient Burma during the 9th century.
At that time, it was a religious city and capital of the rich Pagan empire, and more than 10,000 Buddhist monasteries, stupas, and small temples were built there over the course of 250 years.
In the late 13th century, the Pagan empire was conquered by Mongol invaders under Kublai Khan, and the temple city of Pagan was slowly abandoned and fell into decay.
Repeated earthquakes damaged Bagan over the years and destroyed many temples, and only about 2,000 remain to be seen today.
Sadly, some of these temples were further ruined by botched government renovation attempts in the 1990s (around the same time Burma became Myanmar).
The temple city of Bagan finally gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 2019 for its cultural, historic, and religious significance, and its popularity has continued to grow since then.
Today, the Old Bagan temples are the main tourism attraction of Myanmar, and the country welcomed 4.5 million tourist arrivals in 2019.
Best Bagan Tour Packages
First of all, if you’re looking for a reliable driver/guide to show you around the Myanmar temples, there are various options that include guided full-day tours by van, motorbike tours, and private taxi drivers in Bagan.
These prices are quite competitive based on what we saw being quoted in Myanmar, and the online reviews are very positive too.
We’ve used these companies for numerous tours and activities around the world, and they’re great! Highly recommended.
How To Get To Bagan
Bagan is located in central Myanmar, about 110 miles (180 km) southwest of Mandalay city.
The most popular way to reach Bagan is by air or road, although you can also go by train or slow boat.
See below for more info on each of these options!
• Flights
Flying is the quickest (but most expensive) way to get to Bagan.
It has a small airport in Nyaung-U (NYU) with domestic flights from other airports in Myanmar, but no international routes as of 2024. One-way flights from Yangon (RGN) take 1.5 hours and cost up to $100 USD, while flights from Mandalay (MDL) take only 30 minutes and cost $65.
You can shop for flights to Nyaung-U at Skyscanner.
• Taxi
A one-way private taxi to Bagan from Mandalay takes about 3-4 hours, and can be arranged by your Bagan hotel or booked online.
You can arrange a private taxi on GetYourGuide for $87 USD, which is one of the cheapest prices I’ve seen online or offline, and they have good ratings.
We had a great experience with the taxi service. The vehicle was clean and had good A/C. The driver picked us up at the Mandalay airport and then dropped us off directly at our hotel in New Bagan.
• Bus
There are daily buses running to Bagan from Yangon, Mandalay, and Inle Lake.
The trip to/from Mandalay costs $7 and takes about 5 hours. In the future, I believe we would opt for this in both directions rather than use the pricey taxi.
We booked the bus online with JJ Express when we traveled back to Mandalay from Bagan, and we were really happy with their service. The bus had good A/C and the seats were very comfortable.
Visiting The Bagan Temples
• Entrance Fee
The ticket price for the Bagan area is 25,000 Kyats or 20 USD/EUR.
You can pay in either currency, but with the current exchange rates, it’s probably cheapest to pay in Myanmar Kyats.
The ticket is valid for all the Bagan temples and lasts 5 days. However, they rarely check tickets anywhere in Bagan and it’s a hard rule to enforce because the temples are so spread out, so there’s a good chance you won’t even have to pay at all.
We spent days exploring all of these Bagan Myanmar temples, and the only place we were ever asked to pay for tickets was when we went to the man-made hill at Sulamani for viewing the sunset (which was pretty mediocre anyway).
We were kicking ourselves afterward. If we hadn’t gone to that one spot, we never would’ve had to pay anything to visit Bagan!
• Dress Code
Myanmar is a pretty conservative country, and Bagan is the city of temples.
This means knees and shoulders will need to be covered when you’re inside the bigger temples, although shorts are acceptable as long as they reach your knees.
On the other hand, most of the smaller temples in Bagan are unstaffed and no dress code is enforced, so it’s fine to show shoulders as long as you bring a sarong to cover up with, if needed.
At the bigger temples, they do check your dress code at the entrance and you’ll have to go barefoot inside, so sandals are the best choice of footwear in Bagan Myanmar.
How To Get Around Bagan
The Bagan Myanmar temples are spread out over an area covering 40 square miles, so you’ll need transport to get around effectively.
The main ways to navigate Bagan are by taxi, bicycle, horse cart, or e-bike (electric scooter). Each has its own benefits and drawbacks:
- E-Bike: Most popular and one of the cheapest options (~$5 per day). No license required. These are silent, battery-powered scooters. No real downside unless you don’t feel comfortable driving motorbikes in general.
- Taxi: Safest and most comfortable way to get around. Most temples are still accessible by car, although you may have to walk a little extra. The main downside is the expense (~$30 per day).
- Horse Cart: The old-fashioned way to get around, offering a unique experience. The main downside is it’s slower and may be dusty.
- Bicycle: The cheapest form of transport (~$1 per day), offering some exercise. The main downside is the heat and effort involved in cycling around Bagan.
We arranged a private car and driver for our first day touring Bagan, then rented e-bikes from our hotel for the second day.
This approach was perfect as it allowed us to experience the Bagan temples via both types of transport and became familiar with the area comfortably before tackling it by scooter.
The e-bikes are incredibly fun, allowing for unmatched freedom during exploration.
If you choose the more powerful Taiyuan model, you can fit 2 people per bike, and the battery easily lasts a full day and then some.
Best Bagan Temples To See
You might be wondering which are some of the best Myanmar temples and top attractions in Bagan. This is not a complete list, as there are thousands of interesting temples, monasteries, and archaeological sites to explore, but these are some highlights that stood out during our visit.
We had to skip a few major temples (Htilominlo, Sulamani, etc.) because they were under reconstruction when we visited.
• Ananda Temple
One of the most popular and well-preserved Myanmar temples in Old Bagan town.
It was built in the 1100s AD.
• Bupaya Pagoda
Bupaya was built 1,800 years ago and then destroyed in an earthquake, but this reconstruction is quite faithful to the original.
• Dhammayangyi Temple
This is the largest temple in Bagan Myanmar, though it isn’t in the best shape. There’s a dirt mound nearby that’s perfect for sunset watching.
• Dhammayazika Pagoda
A striking red and gold pagoda surrounded by some smaller buildings.
• Gawdawpalin Temple
A massive white temple from the 12th century. You can’t visit the upper story anymore, but the exterior remains stunning.
• Lay Myet Hna Temple
A lovely site between Old and New Bagan, where artists sell paintings and handmade souvenirs.
• Mee Nyein Gone
This was one of our favorites near Old Bagan town, featuring two large temples and a few smaller ones. Climbing to the tops would be amazing, but they’re blocked off.
• Pagoda 761
A cluster of smaller temples near Dhammayangyi, in excellent condition.
• Shwezigon Pagoda
A stunning shiny gold leaf stupa built in the 11th century, situated in Nyaung-U. Great for photography, just like the gold temples in Yangon!
• Soemingyi Pagoda
The pagoda itself was under renovation when we visited, but the surrounding smaller temples were great for photos and sunset viewing.
• Ta Wet Hpaya
One of our absolute favorite Bagan temples, it looks mysterious and surreal. There’s a photogenic doorway, and the temple is surrounded by an old wall.
• Thatbyinnyu Temple
Another grey/white temple similar to Gawdawpalin; however, parts were under reconstruction when we visited.
• Yin-Ma-Na-Hpaya
A group of small temples near Htilominlo, but without tourists.
• Unknown Temple #1
This is a group of small Myanmar temples on the edge of New Bagan town, near the Hotel Temple View Bagan. We were alone here except for a local and his cows.
• Unknown Temple #2
This was one of our favorite Bagan temples, but remarkably unknown. It’s across the road from the Bagan Lodge Hotel. This temple is large, and we had it entirely to ourselves.
• Unknown Temple #3
The Google Maps pin at this location humorously states “beautiful and clean toilet.” It’s near Htilominlo temple. Several pagodas and temples are found here, along with local handmade souvenirs for sale.
Where To Stay
There are three different towns situated around the Bagan Myanmar temples, but they’re all quite similar:
- Old Bagan: More expensive, with high-end hotels. Many of the most famous Myanmar temples are located here.
- New Bagan: An array of budget-friendly and mid-range accommodations. Temples are very accessible. This is where we stayed, and we wouldn’t change a thing!
- Nyaung-U: Cheapest accommodation options and numerous restaurants. Also home to NYU airport and the Nan Myint Tower for sunset viewing.
Sorting through these areas was initially confusing for me while planning our Bagan trip, but after immersing in the locale, I’m pleased to say it truly doesn’t make a considerable difference where you stay.
The towns are all near the temples worth visiting, have excellent dining options and hotels, and they’re not distanced far from each other (just a couple miles).
Find a Bagan hotel that fits your travel budget, and enjoy!
Is Myanmar Safe?
Is Bagan Myanmar a safe travel destination? Generally, yes.
While a few isolated areas in Myanmar experience occasional violence and instability, these hotspots are far from Bagan, and tourists are not targeted.
We felt very welcomed everywhere we ventured in the country. The Burmese people are overwhelmingly friendly—often nicer than Thais or Cambodians, in my opinion.
Though Myanmar is relatively new in terms of tourism, many foreigners visit every year and have great experiences.
How Long To Stay
You can see the highlights and best temples of Bagan in 2 or 3 days.
One day would definitely be short, while four days may feel excessive unless you have additional time and an insatiable appetite for Myanmar temples.
We spent two full days exploring temples yet wished for an additional day.
Best Time To Visit Bagan Myanmar
The optimal time to visit Bagan depends on your preferences:
- October – February: Allows for the best weather, with cooler temperatures (under 80 °F). These are the peak months for tourists, especially in December and January.
- March – May: These months are the hottest, with temperatures of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher, attracting fewer tourists than peak season.
- June – September: The rainy season, but since Bagan is located in a dry plain with low annual rainfall, these months are not too bad either.
Regardless of the month you choose to visit, the Bagan temples are bound to be spectacular.
Happy travels!
