2025 Bagan Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

Bagan is one of Myanmar’s greatest treasures — a city rich in history and culture, with over 2,000 ancient pagodas and temples scattered across its vast landscape. Every corner tells a story from the past, making it a truly spiritual and timeless place. Bagan, proudly listed as a UNESCO World Heritage and represents the heart of Myanmar’s heritage 🇲🇲 From sunrise to sunset, the views are breathtaking, and the peaceful atmosphere makes it even more special. It’s a place where you can feel the beauty, history, and pride of the country all at once. #summervacay #myanmar #travel

Bagan feels like stepping into a dream. With thousands of ancient temples spread across a vast plain, the sunrise here is nothing short of magical 😊 Bagan’s beauty, history, and charm will leave you speechless. It’s a place that touches your soul and stays in your heart forever 🍀 Whether on an e-bike or from a hidden temple viewpoint, every angle is stunning ✨ #summervacay #travel #myanmar

Bagan View Hotel is located in the center of New Bagan, Myanmar, offering convenient transportation and electric scooter rentals, making it easy to visit the major pagodas and attractions with an e-bike. The hotel features a beautiful panoramic terrace and courtyard, providing a picturesque and traditional backdrop for photos, making it a perfect spot for social media enthusiasts. The front desk staff speaks fluent English, ensuring smooth communication, and they are very warm and friendly, giving guests a sense of the simple and warm hospitality of Bagan. The room type we stayed in was a 27-square-meter deluxe room, costing only 1000 TWD per night for a double room including breakfast, which is incredibly cheap and makes it worth staying for a few more nights. The room decor is simple with wooden floors and Burmese style, not particularly beautiful but clean and bright, with a more beautiful view from the balcony courtyard. The rooftop platform is perfect for stargazing, enjoying a beer, and feeling the breeze, and breakfast is also served on the rooftop. There are many restaurants around the hotel, so you won't go hungry. Overall, the value for money is quite good, and it is worth recommending.

In Bagan, Myanmar, riding an electric bike through the pagodas early in the morning to greet the magnificent sunrise has become the most unforgettable memory for my husband and me. Although the weather was muggy, the atmosphere of waiting for the sunrise filled us with anticipation. It is recommended to choose a higher-lying pagoda or viewing point and start at 4 a.m. to avoid crowds. When the sun shines on thousands of pagodas, the golden light is definitely worth getting up early for! Don’t forget to bring a water bottle, a light jacket, and sun protection. The sunrise in Bagan is not only a visual enjoyment, but also the best way to deeply experience this thousand-year-old city. 📍 Location: Bagan Pagoda #bagansunrise #MyanmarTravel#Christmas Good Places 2024

#2024TravelReview The "temple"-shaped pagoda #Thatbyinnyu Phaya has a white tower body and a gilded top. The overall structure is square and elegant. It is the tallest Buddhist temple in Bagan and is listed as a cultural heritage by UNESCO. But the white walls are a bit mottled and the paint may need some renovation. The Dabinu Pagoda was built in the middle of the 12th century. With its stepped terraces and cross-shaped square structure, it looks very much like a Christian monastery from the European Renaissance at first glance, exuding an elegant beauty. As Bagan once experienced a major earthquake, many pagodas have been damaged and the local government is gradually repairing them. However, there are thousands of pagodas in Bagan, and the restoration of the ruins is a huge project, and it is unknown how long it will take. #MyanmarTravel #PaganKingdom

Bagan is renowned for its sunrise and sunset views, and the best place to enjoy these is undoubtedly Shwesandaw Pagoda, the tallest pagoda in Bagan. The pagoda has five levels, each with a terrace to linger on, but you have to climb steep stairs first. Those afraid of heights might feel shaky, but once you reach the top, it's worth the effort. Shwesandaw Pagoda covers a large area, and because of its height and the lack of tall buildings in Bagan, the view from the top is excellent. You can even see the Irrawaddy River. Every day at sunrise and sunset, the place is packed with people eager to witness the beautiful scenery. During sunrise, you can also see hot air balloons drifting into the sky, which is quite a lucky sight. The pagoda is a standard red-brick structure, with the bottom two levels in red brick and the top three levels painted white, making it quite striking. Besides the panoramic views, the pagoda also houses relics of Buddha's hair and a large reclining Buddha statue, which are worth seeing. However, after the pandemic, for safety and heritage preservation reasons, climbing pagodas in Bagan has been completely banned. Climbing Shwesandaw Pagoda to enjoy the sunrise and sunset is now a thing of the past, which is quite a pity.

#2024Travel Review The Buddhist temple #Mahabodhi Temple next to the hotel in Bagan is a white pointed conical pagoda. The pagoda is full of Buddhist niches, and each frame is filled with Buddha statues. It is very un-Burmese style. It is said that it was built by King Hitlominlo in the 13th century. , modeled after the Mahabodhi Temple in Bengal, India, where the Buddha first attained enlightenment, it is an Indian-style Buddhist temple. The Mahabodhi Temple is small and admission is free, but you need to take off your shoes. It is quite empty inside. When you look up, you can see a cave. This is how it is described. But to be honest, the appearance of the Buddhist temple is more interesting and beautiful. Resembling a white-pointed stupa, hundreds of small niches decorate the outer walls and the aforementioned tower, each containing a small Buddha statue. The Mahabodhi Temple is really special. Its appearance is very different from the thousands of pagodas in Bagan. You can stop and admire it when you pass by. #MyanmarTravel #BaganKingdom

After visiting the founding pagoda of the Bagan Kingdom, we arrived at the last Burmese-style pagoda of Bagan, Htilominlo Pagoda, built by King Htilominlo in 1218. The spire stands prominently on the vast plain, making it quite conspicuous. Htilominlo Pagoda is a typical red brick structure, with a pyramid-like spire symbolizing Mount Meru, the sacred mountain in Buddhism. The main tower is tall and majestic, surrounded by smaller towers on all four sides, symbolizing the four corners of the earth. The corridors, statues, murals, and reliefs are adorned with brick carvings on the walls, and there are relief Buddha statues under the walls, resembling a fine piece of craftsmanship. When we visited, the bougainvillea was in full bloom, and the pagoda was surrounded by red and white bougainvillea flowers, making it a perfect spot for social media photos. Usually, there are vendors gathered around large pagoda temples. After worshipping the Buddha statues, you can browse the handicrafts and buy a cup of freshly squeezed sugarcane juice to quench your thirst and cool off.

Visited the Shwesandaw Pagoda, the founding pagoda of the Bagan Kingdom, on a hot afternoon. It is now one of the four major pagodas in Myanmar. The scale and grandeur are truly astonishing, and even the term 'resplendent' falls short of describing its magnificence. To enter the Shwesandaw Pagoda, you need to pass through a long corridor that provides some shade, making the walk relatively comfortable. However, once you reach the pagoda grounds, you have to take off your shoes! The ground is scorching hot, and you can only stand in the shaded areas outside to admire the pagoda, or else your feet will burn! Besides the resplendent main pagoda, there are three other highlights: a statue of the Naga descending from the sky, a small puddle that reflects the pagoda, and a father and son Buddha statue. Unfortunately, the top of the pagoda was under maintenance during our visit, covered with white cloth, making it look like it was wrapped in snow, which was quite cute. The Shwesandaw Pagoda, said to be the prototype of Myanmar's pagodas, features a three-tiered square base, an octagonal platform, and a bell-shaped tower, exuding stability and solemnity. Each of the four sides has a large niche housing a 4-meter tall standing Buddha.

#2024Travel Review There are thousands of pagodas scattered on the plains of Bagan, Myanmar. They are scattered on both sides of the plains and river valleys. Among them, there is the most special shape of the #Tamamayajig Pagoda, which looks like a pyramid from a distance. The tower-like appearance is quite majestic. The Mayaji Pagoda was built in 1170 AD. It is a typical pyramid-style building and the largest brick-walled structure among the existing pagodas in Bagan. It is made of red bricks from the inside to the outside. It is said that millions of dollars were spent on it. Bricks! And the seams are tight, with almost no gaps between bricks. The craftsmanship at that time was quite powerful. Walking through the outer wall to the inner courtyard, there are some small vendors, and the trees are covered with small humanoid puppets, which is a bit fantasy. The light and shadow changes in the pagoda are very beautiful, probably because it is large enough to be reflected on the wall, so it is also a popular place to watch the sunrise and sunset. #MyanmarTravel #BaganKingdom

# Gallery #100 Ways to Travel Because of the political turmoil, very few people will travel to #Myanmar. In fact, Myanmar is a Buddhist country and is more simple. Especially the ancient city #Bagan, which is also known as the city of a thousand pagodas, with thousands of pagodas. The pagodas are scattered in the valley of the Bagan plain, which is super spectacular! Coming here has a sense of adventure, no wonder it is so popular among Western self-guided travelers. If you want to understand the history of #BaganKingdom, in addition to visiting the pagoda, the best way is to visit #BaganArchaeological Museum Bagan Archaeological Museum, a museum and art museum that combines archaeological history and traditional skills. Built in the early 1990s, the museum has a collection of more than 800 items, including archaeological culture, Buddhist statues, pottery, murals, etc. The museum itself has a very distinctive building, imitating the shape of Bagan's pagoda, with an octagonal base. The two-story exhibition hall is divided into ten different themed exhibition areas: Bagan Kingdom, Bagan Literature, Social Life, Architecture, and Art. Crafts, statues, Buddhist art, murals, stupas and monuments, paintings. It’s actually quite interesting to walk around and look at the flowers. There is an area that displays popular hairstyles in ancient Myanmar. The wigs are displayed one by one, which is quite interesting! There is also a bronze statue of Hou Yi shooting the sun at the entrance of the museum? In fact, it is a legend that King Pyo, the third monarch of the Bagan Kingdom, killed his enemies with bows and arrows. #MyanmarTravel #BaganKingdom #Buddhist Pagoda #Art Gallery #100 Ways to Travel

#travel #myanmar #bagan 🇲🇲 📍Address: Bagan, Myanmar 🇲🇲 📍Address: Ancient City, Myanmar 🇲🇲 🏖️Ambiance/Facilities: Old town, Architecture 🌃 🏖️Ambiance/Facilities: Too much temples 💞Reasons to Recommend: UNESCO 💫 💞Reasons to Recommend: My Country 🇲🇲 Day-1 : Yangon, Myanmar 🇲🇲 to Bagan, Myanmar 🇲🇲 Day-2 : Bagan Pagodas, Temples, Mountains, Villages Day-3 : River Sightseeing and Swimming at Hotel Day-4 : Bagon, Myanmar 🇲🇲 to Yangon, Myanmar 🇲🇲 Hotel : Hotel Glorious 🏨 #naturalwonders

#ancienttown #100waysoftravel Bagan, an ancient town in Myanmar, is a breathtaking testament to the region's rich history and cultural heritage. Known for its vast landscape dotted with over 2,000 temples, pagodas, and stupas, Bagan offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the past. The sheer scale and architectural variety of these structures, dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries, create an awe-inspiring atmosphere. Sunrise and sunset views over the archaeological zone are particularly magical, with the golden glow casting an ethereal light across the ruins. Despite challenges such as tourism impacts and preservation issues, Bagan remains an invaluable historical treasure and a must-visit destination.

#poolhotel #bathhotel #100 ways to travel #BaganThandeHotel is located on the banks of the #Irrawaddy River. In the old city of #BaganKingdom, it is a wooden holiday house built by the water. There is a huge old tree in the outdoor dining area, with the sun shining between the branches and leaves, and the light and shadow changing. Thousands of them, set against the scenery of rivers and mountains, are so beautiful that people can’t help but marvel! The rooms at Bagan Thade Hotel are similar to holiday cabins, with beautiful outdoor swimming pools, turf green spaces, and beautifully maintained gardens. Stay here for one night and you can feel the different atmospheres during the day and night, especially dining under the trees. It's a great treat. The house price is surprisingly cheap. The most basic room type is 8 square meters in size, has a bathtub bathroom, and a double bed including breakfast for only $1,500 per night. The CP value is very high! In fact, accommodation in Bagan is very cheap. You can choose a resort you like to stay for a few nights and relax. #Bagan The ancient city of Bagan is a beautiful ancient city worth exploring. #Myanmar #Bagan #Buddha #Irrawaddy

#temples Trip to Myanmar isn't complete if you don't visit Bagan, a small and historical city in central Myanmar. It is also renowned as a sea of temples and it is one of the world's greatest archeological sites. So, you will see a bunch of temples whenever you go around Bagan. They made a unique idea on how to enjoy the panoramic view of this magical city, Bagan, by taking a ride on an hot air balloon. Everybody comes to the most iconic temples during sunrise and taking a ride on the balloon which make several hot air balloon gathered above the sky. This is one of the reason why you should come and visit Bagan. But if you feel you are not keen on take the balloon ride feel no worries as you still climb up to the top of Bagan viewing tower to enjoy the whole scenery of the city. Myanmar is a fun visiting! 📍Old Bagan, Bagan, Myanmar #bagan #myanmar #archeologicalsite

#100 Ways to Travel Visiting #BaganKingdom in Myanmar, the pagoda #Bupaya closest to the #Irrawaddy River is gold-plated. Under the afterglow of the setting sun, it looks even more golden, and the river surface is also dyed golden by the setting sun. It is really beautiful. What a beautiful sight! Bupaya is one of the oldest pagodas in Myanmar. Bu means gourd. It dates back to the third century AD, making it older than any temple in Bagan. However, the original pagoda was destroyed during the earthquake in 1975, and it was rebuilt later. The golden pagoda coupled with the vast river surface is an excellent place to enjoy the sunset, and it is next to the pier. You can also choose to enjoy it by boat, but it is more beautiful from the shore. As for the daytime, under the scorching sun, it is even more glittering. However, the floor is very hot and the sun is shining brightly. It is recommended to visit in the evening at sunset. #BurmaFreeTravel #BaganKingdom #City of Thousand Pagodas #Irrawaddy River

The sunset in the #Ayeyarwady River in the geography textbook turns out to be so beautiful. Aye Yar River View Resort is located on the bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River, with natural beauty, green land and blue sky, and Nanyang tropical-style resort architecture, which is very chill. On New Year's Eve of 2017, I visited #BaganKingdom in Myanmar and stayed at the second hotel in the ancient city of #Bagan. The resort's room type is a two-story villa building with simple earth tones, giving it a vibe of the dusty ancient city. The atrium is landscaped with a swimming pool, and the lights turn on at night to create a particularly atmospheric atmosphere. The overall environment of the Resort is quite comfortable, the beds are good, and the air-conditioning is cool. However, it is a rural outback after all, and many details are not so thoughtful. However, the outdoor swimming pool, bar, and Burmese restaurant are still indispensable. The ancient city of Bagan is known as the City of Ten Thousand Pagodas. The sunrise and sunset scenery here are world-famous. Whether it is at the pagoda or the Irrawaddy River, you can enjoy the amazing golden glow. It is extremely beautiful! #Myanmar #BaganKingdom #City of Ten Thousand Pagodas #aeyarwaddy #bagan

Bagan, Myanmar is a surreal place. Just a few hours south west of Mandalay by bus, it is home to over 2000 temples across a beautifully scenic plain which is actually only a fraction of how many were originally built. Every morning twenty plus hot air balloons take to the sky for those people who want to spend the money on the balloon ride, however it also gives those down on the ground a spectacular show, this sight is something that makes chasing sunrise here something that you will never get tired of. The people of Myanmar are incredible people dispite what the country has faced and I hope one day to return to this vibrant country. #mytripvlog #awesomepic #urbanexplorer #tripblazers #couplestrip

Myanmar (Burma) is a unique country with its rich history and ancient monuments. What I love the most are breathtaking sunrises and sunsets in Bagan. You can even take a balloon trip at sunrise. People are friendly also. #bagan #myanmar #burma #traveladdict

Unforgettable experience. A country you should explore and your mind will be blown away! Myanmar is a country that you must visit! #myanmar #travel #explorer #asiatrip

This tower has steps to go up to the second floor, and some people will ask you for a tip." Thatthe Mokgu Hpaya, Nyaung-U, Mandalay Region. We didn't buy an excursion, left the hotel and took a tuk tuk. The driver rode us all morning, showed us good places for a photo, we met the dawn. If you fly on an excursion to Myanmar, you should definitely drink alcohol. Still having problems with sanitation, I suffered from my stomach for a month after the trip. I've had a dream of visiting this country since childhood. I was satisfied, but the second time I don't want to, lol. Maybe in a couple of decades, when civilisation will be better there#mytripvlog

The Bagan Thande Hotel is situated in the heart of Old Bagan and has a dramatic location overlooking the Irrawaddy River. The hotel's river view rooms are spacious with wooden furniture and offer amenities such as air-conditioning, TV, mini-bar, a private bathroom as well as some of the best river views in Bagan. The hotel's restaurant is housed in an original 1922 pavilion used at the time of the Prince of Wales' (later Edward VIII) visit in the 1920s. Occasional entertainment is provided at the restaurant. Other facilities include a swimming pool and a terrace overlooking the river. location very nice #bucketlistreboot

An ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in Mandalay, Myanmar. From the 9th to the 13th centuries, this city was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom, the first kingdom of the Burmese people. During the kingdom's peak between the 11th and 13th centuries, more than 10,000 temples, pagodas, and monasteries were built on the Bagan plain. #Bagan Bagan is known as the "City of the Sea of ​​Pagodas" or "Land of Pagodas" because during its heyday, many pagodas were built on the Bagan plain. The first pagoda in Bagan was the Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta, the first king of the Bagan Kingdom. According to the pagoda-building tradition, the largest pagoda was built by the king, and the next smaller ones were built by nobles and ministers, descending in order of rank. In addition to the Shwezigon Pagoda, there are many other important pagodas and important temples.

Losing yourself among its innumerable temples and monuments, exploring them, feeling different sensations in each one of them, meeting their local people, enjoying the magic of their sunrises surrounded by balloons and colorful sunsets are one of the essentials of Bagan. 🤍 . . . #passionpassport #myanmar #urbanexplorer #summervacation #nationalpark #tripaway #couplestrip

The Ananda Temple is a popular landmark which you should visit if you are in Bagan. To move around this place and the area I recommend hiring a driver. You will be grateful especially for the air conditioning. The recommended sightseeing time is half an hour or maximum one hour. It is a big place, colourful and with a beautiful architecture. It is more comfortable to visit this place in the morning or late afternoon as the weather is quite hot. Remember to remove your shoes to walk inside the building. Remember to remove your shoes. It is strictly prohibited to step on this place with any kind of shoes. #createwithtrip #myanmar #holidays #exploring #createwithtrip

From the nat shrine, start up the many steps under a covered walkway and past the rows of trinket and souvenir shops and shrines to a revered local medicine man, Pomin Gawng. At a steady pace it shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes to reach the summit of this impressive rocky crag crowned with a picturesque complex of monasteries, stupas and shrines. Popa Taung Kalat Temple is but one of several buildings here that you can freely wander through. Along the way, you’ll pass platoons of highly aggressive monkeys (be very cautious near them and don't carry any food or drink) and a small army of locals selling drinks and endeavouring (not always successfully) to keep the steps clean of monkey poo in return for a possible tip. The views from the top are fantastic. You may be fortunate enough to spot one of the slow-walking hermit monks called yeti, who wear tall, peaked hats and visit occasionally.#nationalpark

It had have a long time fame of permitting for seeing sunset view once but now it can't be due to long term mantainance.Great scene of portrait view it have with wide green lawn and steep stairs of old temple for photography enthusiast. Used to be the climb for sunrises, but not now. This place is still beautiful, the symmetry is well worth a visit. There’s an amazing fritters/pakode place a few clicks away from here under a huge tree, yiu would see locals flocking! Check the pics below to find this hidden spot. Good view but it's so crowded here. There are plenty of other pagodas with less people and equally good view from the top. Not good for sunset since you have all the buses and parking lot in the picture...better for sunrise.#nationalpark

I really love cities that have a unique, charming atmosphere all over the place - the cities that feel like one big attraction, no matter where you are. It's way better than those places where you see only a few tourist spots just to tick them off the list. Mandaly is one of those cities where you can just feel the amazing touch of royal splendor and the beautiful charm in the air, everywhere. Very few western tourists, no con artist, no hustlers. Well, there's also a dark side to it - the ubiquitous pollution, but let's focus on the positive side. We spent only one and a half days in Mandalay but it felt like we had seen enough and explored the city well - not only the temples but also ordinary places where local people go about with their lives. It's an easy city to walk around - but if you're too tired, hailing a taxi won't break the bank. Just be careful of stray dogs - they seem to walk in packs in some places and can get aggressive. Take a look at what you can see and expect in Mandaly, besides the main Pagodas described below, you'll see many other, smaller, virtually at every corner.#nationalpark