Welcome to our Best Things to Do in Mandalay guide. Mandalay is one of Myanmar’s most picturesque cities, known for its royal palaces, ancient pagodas, majestic landmarks, and lush mountains. Beyond its stunning beauty, Mandalay offers a wealth of incredible experiences and is the cultural heart of Myanmar, boasting some of the country’s most iconic monuments and buildings. As the former royal capital, Mandalay has preserved its regal charm, setting it apart from other major cities like Yangon. A visit to Mandalay is a must, and it’s well worth spending at least a day or two exploring this enchanting city on your Myanmar itinerary.
Mandalay is the second largest city and the economic hub of upper Myanmar. It is located in the central dry zone of Myanmar by the Irrawaddy river, 716 km (445 mi) north of Yangon. The city has a population of over 1 million people. Not only can you spend your time taking in all the majestic sites and iconic monuments, you can happily and easily spend your time eating your way around the city with its multi cultural cuisines.
Here are our recommendation of the best things to see and do in Mandalay including where to stay, best way to travel around Mandalay and best spots to eat.
** Please be aware that we visited Myanmar in 2019 and since then, there has been ongoing conflict in the region. We kindly recommend checking for current travel advisories and ensuring it is safe to visit before planning your trip. Your safety is paramount, so it’s essential to stay informed about the latest developments.
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What is the Culture?
Mandalay is Myanmar’s cultural and religious centre of Buddhism. There are countless monasteries and more than 700 pagodas. Here is where you can visit the worlds official “Buddhist Bible”, also known as the worlds largest book, in Kuthodaw Pagoda.
Since King Mandon who was a devout Buddhist, the styles of the Mandalay Buddha images and statues have changed many times. He filled Mandalay with them and over the years Mandalay Buddhist art became established as the pure art of Myanmar.
Best way to get around?
Mandalay is a very large city and quite spread out. To get around to all the different attractions you will either have to choose from a taxi, hire a motorcycle or a private driver.
If you know how to drive a motorcycle there are many rental shops in town. Prices range from 10,000-12,000 kyat a day ($10- $12 AUD). This is by far the best way to travel around Mandalay as it gives you the freedom to travel where you want.
Another option is to hire a private driver for the day. We hired a driver called JoJo who was recommended to us from friends. He picked us up from our hotel for sunrise and we had him until after sunset.
For a full day he charges 65,000 kyat which in our opinion is worth it. We didn’t have to worry about trying to carry all our camera equipment on a scooter and we didn’t have to worry about travelling long distances while bring tired. If you are wanting a reliable driver contact Jojos on his Whats app number +95 9 792 897853
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Best places to stay?
When it comes to deciding where is the best area to stay in Mandalay, the areas are split into 3 – Central Mandalay, Eastern Mandalay and Northern Mandalay.
We chose to stay in Central Mandalay at Hotel Friendship which is located in the city centre but doesn’t come with an expensive price tag. The staff are friendly, prices are very affordable, the hotel has a restaurant, room service is available, free bikes are provided and the front desk is 24 hours.
The location is close to many restaurants, shops, cafes, 15 minute walk from Sri Ganesh Temple and 650 meters to public transportation. Staff can help to organise tours, private drivers and bus tickets.
A superior double room costs approximately $29 AUD a night with breakfast included. Click here to check out prices of Hotel Friendship.
Where to eat in Mandalay?
When looking for places to eat we used a vegan app called Happy Cow to locate restaurants that served vegan and vegetarian food.
Cafe Nova is a 2 story Starbucks inspired cafe with a big open glass window with views of the street. Cafe Nova has a few vegan option and also serves soy milk.The matcha green tea and Vietnamese rice paper rolls were our favourite.
Aye Myit Tar Myanmar Restaurant was also recommended to us for the variety of vegetarian options. The restaurant serves a mixture of Burmese, Indian, curry dishes with rice, salads, soups, vegetables and meat. Its all you can eat and the staff come around and fill up your empty plates for you.
My Tree Cafe is a cute and fresh looking coffeehouse. Highly recommend for those who looking for tasty Burmese customised cuisine and amazing coffee.
Best things to do in Mandalay
1. Hsinbyume Pagoda
Hsinbyume Pagoda, also known as Myatheirtan Pagoda is a beautiful large pagoda in the town of Mingun. The pagoda is famous through out Myanmar for its incredible white architecture based on descriptions of the mythical Sulamani pagoda on Mount Meru. The seven wavy white terraces on the lower parts of the pagoda represent the seven mountain ranges around Mount Meru, the center of the Buddhist universe.
Hsinbyume Pagoda is named after a princess who died in childbirth and was built in 1816, completed in 1819 and restored in 1874, after suffering earthquake damage.
Walk through the stairways to the top of the pagoda to see the incredible views of the Ayeyarwady River and the Mingun Pagoda. Nowadays the pagoda is a popular tourist attraction for Buddhist pilgrims who believe the pagoda holds the power to make their dreams come true.
Hsinbyume has been one of the most beautiful pagodas we have seen in Myanmar. The best time of the day to visit is sunrise. As the sun comes up the light shines onto the side of the pagoda and makes for a perfect photograph.
Entry Fee: The pagoda opens daily and does not have an entry fee. However you are required to pay $4 for the Sagaing – Mingun Archeological Zone. This ticket is available to use in other destinations in the region such as Mingun Pagoda or Mingun Bell.
2. Mingun Pahtodawgyi
Conveniently located just up the road from Hsinbyume Pagoda is the magnificent Mingun Pahtodawgyi. A huge incomplete monument stupa which are the remains of a massive construction project. Buikt by King Bodawpaya in 1790 which was has been left intentionally unfinished and now lies in ruins ravaged by earthquakes. It’s the largest stupa in the world at height of 50 meters and 70 meters wide.
At the center of the pagoda facing the river is a huge decorated entrance. There is a small shrine with a Buddha image inside. In front of the pagoda facing the river are the remains of two giant lion statues about 29 meters high that are believed to be guarding the temple.
An earthquake on 23 March 1839 caused huge cracks to appear on the face of the remaining structure. The temple serves more as an attraction than a religious site.
The best side to take photo is the back of the building and when walking around you might be lucky to meet a few young monks.
3. U Min Thonze Pagoda
U Min Thonze Caves (meaning ’30 Caves’) is a temple complex famed for its crescent-shaped colonnade of 45 buddha images.
Inside the cave pagoda 45 beautiful gilded images are arranged in a curved formation which are unique in different sizes and facial expression. Behind them sparkling glass is decorated with different colours and patterns. The outside wall of the pagoda is decorated in beautiful pastel colours and the details have been coated in gold.
Tradition holds that it was established by King Tarabya I (r. 1323/27-1335/36) of the short-lived Sagaing kingdom. After undergoing 2 renovations and being hit with an earth quake, King Pagan Min (r. 1846–53) rebuilt the pagoda completing it in 1847.
Entry into U Min Thonze Pagoda is free however there is a donation box.
4. Visit Aung Myae Oo Monastic Education Center
Mandalay boast the nation’s highest density of monks so it’s the perfect city to visit a education Monastery or Monk School.
Aung Myae Oo Monastic Education Center was founded in 2003 by the Buddhist monk Ven Vilasa and had only 31 children attending. Today over 2600 children attend Aung Myae Oo. Most of the children are young novices and nuns who are educated according to Buddhist traditions and values. The boys dress in beautiful maroon robes and the girls in pink.
The main purpose of the school’s establishment is not only to give children a modern education but also to train them in moral education. Tuition is free for all students and the school is entirely funded by donation from the communities, tourists and governments.
We would highly recommend a visit to Aung Myae Oo. It’s a great insight to see what school at a Monestary is like, walk around the classrooms, chat to the young monks, play with them in the playground and learn the importance of Buddhism in the country. There are volunteer programs available and this is something we would love to do next time we visit.
Check out Aung Myae Oo Monastic Education Center Facebook page for more information.
Entry into Aung Myae Oo Monastic Education Center is free however there is a donation box and donations are grateful appreciated.
5. Kathodaw Pagoda
Kathowdow Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa, located at the bottom of Mandalay Hill that contains the world’s largest book. Now just to let you know that its not an actual book but we will get to why its named that in the next paragraph!
The golden stupa is surrounded by 729 kyauksa gu or stone-inscription caves, each containing a stone tablets that comprises the “world’s largest book.” Each ‘page’ is a marble slab about 150 x 100 cm, inscribed with instructions on how a Buddhist should lead a moral life. It is known as the Buddhist Bible.
The pagoda was built by King Mindon to be part of the traditional foundations of the new royal city of Mandalay in 1857.
It truly is something special but if you wanted to attempt to read each slab, you might need to extend your holiday. To get through reading all the slabs would take over 6 months.
Entry into Kathudow Pagoda is free however there is a donation box.
6. Sandamuni Pagoda
Sandamuni Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa located just down the road from Kathodaw Pagoda and is similar in style with it’s large number of slender whitewashed ancillary stupas and stone slabs. Built and commissioned by King Mindon Min in 1874, Sandamuni Pagoda is known for its large golden zedi (pagoda), the 1774 shrines containing inscribed marble slabs and for having the largest iron Buddha image in Myanmar, “The Sandamani” which it is named after.
Entry into Sandamuni Pagoda is free however there is a donation box.
7. Mandalay Hill
For the best views over looking the city at sunset head to the famous Mandalay Hill. Mandalay was named after the 240 meter hill and is located northeast of the city. Mandalay Hill is known for its abundance of pagodas and monasteries and has been a major pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists for nearly two centuries. Up the top Sutaungpyei Pagoda features a large patio and offers wonderful views over Mandalay City.
The hill has for a long time been a holy mount. Legend has it that the Buddha on his visit, had prophesied that a great city would be founded at its foot.
You can reach the top of the hill by car or if you love exercise you can walk up the long staircase. The entire walk up the stair case takes approximately 40 minutes and has to be done bare foot up a concrete covered staircase.
As you enter and walk up you pass small local shops selling local gifts, clothes and scarfs. Its a great place to meet local monks who love chatting and practicing their English. As we drove up we got the sense that the hill is a very popular spot for locals to get their exercise in. The walk up was busy with locals running, walking and bike riding.
Entry Fee: Although there is no fee to enter Mandalay Hill there is a 1000 Kyat fee for cameras.
8. Watch a sunrise at U bein Bridge- the best thing to do in Mandalay!
If you haven’t seen a sunrise over U Bein Bridge do yourself a favour and set your alarm for this one. U Bein Bridge is probably the most iconic sites in all of Mandalay. The 1.2 kilometre bridge was built around 1850 and stretches from Mandalay to Amarapura.
The bridge is made of wood and is famous for being the longest teak bridge in the world. It has been reinforced in places so that it doesn’t collapse.
The bridge has become one of Mandalay’s most popular tourist attractions and most photographed features. The best time to capture it would be sunrise and sunset when the sky turns orange and yellow. It is utilised by both locals and tourists.
For 15,000 kyat you can hire a small boat and be rowed out into the water which is the best spot for sunrise.
9. Mandalay Palace
What is so wonderful about Mandalay is how the city has been able to replicate palace’s once lived in by Burmese Kings. One of the most famous is Mandalay Palace, which was the last royal palace of the last Burmese monarchy.
The palace was constructed between 1857 and 1859 as part of King Mindon’s founding of the new royal capital city of Mandalay. Unfortunately, along with much of Mandalay it was devastated by bombing in the Second World War. However, it was reconstructed in the 1990s and is still worth a visit in order to get an impression of how the palace once looked. There are some original artefacts held at the museum.
Mandalay Palace was the primary royal residence of King Mindon and King Thibaw- the last two kings of the country. The walled citadel, surrounded by a large moat is situated in the middle of the city. The ground comprises of 40 different houses built from wood and resemble the originals built in the 1850s. Inside its walls is also a huge army camp and golf course.
Entry: Foreigners will have to pay the ‘Mandalay Zone Fee’ which is 10,000 kyat ($10 AUD) and gives you access to several sites including Mandalay Palace.
So there you have it, 9 of our best things to see and do in Mandalay! Although we would have liked to spend more time in Mandalay this list is enough to get you started. We hope you will love Mandalay just as much as we did.
If you get a chance to stay longer in Mandalay you could visit these places- Dat Taw Gyaint Waterfall, Shwe In Bin Kyaung, Yankin Hill, see a show at Mandalay Marionettes, Mahamuni Paya, Ta Moke Shwe Gu Gyi, Jade Markets, Pinya Stupa Ruins, Shwekyimyint Paya, Kyauktawgyi Paya, Shwenandaw Kyaung (the list goes on). If you do visit please leave a comment and tell us about your experience.
Thank you for reading our 9 things to do in Mandalay. We hope you find this blog helpful and that it has inspired you to visit when in Myanmar.
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Looking for more information for your trip to Myanmar? Check out our guides on Bagan, Inle Lake and our Ultimate 12 day guide that might help you with your trip planning.
