In a nutshell
Currently, travel to Myanmar is not recommended. The foreign ministry has issued a travel warning, as the security situation in the country is still considered critical. It is currently unclear when the situation will improve.
How much time should you plan for Bago?
In an area of just about 5×2 km, there are more than 20 temples, pagodas, and Buddha statues — some of which rank among the most beautiful and impressive in all of Myanmar.
Half a day is enough to explore the main highlights in Bago. In that time, you can visit around five or six of the many sights.
We spent one night in Bago. But it’s also totally possible to visit as a day trip from Yangon, or as a stop on your way south from Yangon or toward Mandalay.
We’ll walk you through the different options in the second part of this article. But first, let us show you why Bago is absolutely worth a visit.
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Things to Do in Bago: The Top Attractions
In total, Bago has more than 20 temples and pagodas worth visiting. We spent about four hours getting around by tuk-tuk and checked out six of the most impressive sights.
Admission to the Kanbawzathadi Palace, the Shwethalyaung Pagoda, the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, and the seated Buddhas of Kyaik Pun totals 10,000 Kyat.
You simply buy a ticket at the first site and show it again at the other three. At one of the pagodas, we also had to pay a very small photo fee.
We’ve listed the attractions here in the order we visited them.
Kanbawzathadi Palace
The 16th-century Kanbawzathadi Palace has been restored and partially rebuilt in recent years.
The complex is certainly worth seeing, but in our opinion it’s not a must-see when visiting Bago.
So if you’re short on time, we’d leave the palace out.
Shwemawdaw Pagoda
The Shwemawdaw Pagoda is somewhat reminiscent of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. In fact, at 114 meters, the Shwemawdaw is actually taller than the Shwedagon — making it the largest stupa in all of Myanmar.
Shwethalyaung Pagoda
The Shwethalyaung Pagoda is home to one of the most famous reclining Buddhas in Myanmar — measuring 50 meters in length and 16 meters in height.
On the back side, the history of the pagoda is illustrated with pictures and English text, which is a really nice touch.
Mahazedi Pagoda
The Mahazedi Pagoda is, for once, not completely covered in gold. Still — or maybe precisely because of that — we really loved it.
Reclining Buddha: Mya Tha Lyaung
The Mya Tha Lyaung reclining Buddha was built in 2006 and is honestly the most beautiful reclining Buddha we saw on our entire trip through Myanmar.
Its friendly smiling face and the fact that it lies outdoors without a roof make this Buddha figure truly special.
The Four Buddhas of Kyaik Pun
The four Buddha figures of Kyaik Pun are located a few kilometers from the other points of interest in Bago. The four statues sit back to back, each facing a different cardinal direction.
Unfortunately, it was already dark when we arrived at Kyaik Pun — so plan your timing better than we did!
Getting Around Bago: Transportation
The area is a bit too spread out to explore all the things to do in Bago on foot. Many hotels rent bicycles, so you can still set out on your own if you prefer.
More comfortable, though, is hiring a driver. Tuk-tuk drivers and motorbike drivers wait at the train station and bus station, ready to take you around.
We arranged a tuk-tuk tour through our hotel. For half a day (four hours), we paid 15,000 Kyat — which is apparently the going rate at the station as well.
Half a day is definitely not enough to see everything. We had to limit ourselves to six sites and skip some highlights, like the snake temple.
We did have a bit of bad luck with the weather though, and had to wait under a roof for a while when it started pouring rain.
Our Hotel Recommendation for Bago
We stayed at the Kanbawza Hinthar Hotel in Bago, which we can definitely recommend. One heads-up: smoking appears to be allowed in some rooms — our first room smelled of smoke. But we switched without any trouble and the second room was odor-free.
It’s best to mention this when you book. The hotel isn’t in the center of Bago, but that’s no big deal. There isn’t much going on in the center anyway, and its location on the outskirts means it’s nice and quiet.
We were even picked up from the train station for free and taken back to the bus station the next morning. The rooms are modern and comfortable, and the breakfast is decent.
There seem to be about ten staff members for every guest. When we arrived, four young women were standing behind the reception desk alone — a desk barely a meter wide. Quite the squeeze.
The hotel also rents bicycles and arranges tuk-tuk tours. For a short stay in Bago, it’s a really solid choice.
Check out the Kanbawza Hinthar Hotel
If you’d like to know which hotels we stayed at on our trip through Myanmar and what we thought of them, read our full roundup: Myanmar Hotel Tips: All Accommodations from Our Trip.
Getting to Bago
We traveled from Yangon to Bago by train, and we seriously recommend doing the same. The journey takes about two hours and is a real experience in itself. The train crawls out of Yangon at a walking pace and then gradually picks up speed.
The ride takes you past small villages and rice paddies and offers great photo opportunities all along the way. The ticket costs just 1,000 Kyat in Upper Class, which we’d definitely recommend.
It’s not exactly luxurious, but it’s far more comfortable than the cramped wooden seats in Ordinary Class.
We bought our ticket an hour before departure. If you’re traveling during peak season, it might be worth picking up a ticket the day before or booking online.
Book your train ticket from Yangon to Bago
Alternatively, buses also run from Yangon. The most comfortable option is taking a taxi as a day trip from Yangon — you can book this at any hotel or travel agency on site.
From Bago, buses run regularly to Kinpun at the foot of the Golden Rock. That was our next stop as well.
Our Verdict on Bago
Skipping Bago on a trip through Myanmar would be a real mistake. We honestly don’t know why the place is so overshadowed by the country’s other attractions.
Since it’s also super conveniently located, there’s really no reason not to go. One night is more than enough, and if you’re really pressed for time, you can skip the overnight stay altogether and continue south or toward Mandalay after sightseeing.
We absolutely loved Bago. Have you been there too and maybe have a few tips to share? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
