Becky is an avid rock climber and outdoor enthusiast and is now living in France as an expat. When she is not writing about travel gear and various destinations she has visited during her travels, you can find her playing with her two dogs.
Yangon may not yet be a modern and developed city, but what it lacks in infrastructure it more than makes up for in historical charm. If you want the city vibe in Myanmar, this largest city is the place to be. With pavements full of food and book vendors, colorful open-air markets, towering temples and beautiful mosques, you can enjoy the simple pleasures just walking the streets. What tourists come to see though is the awe-inspiring golden pinnacle that is the Shwedagon Paya. With adventurers, tourists and investors all wanting a piece of Yangon, here are our recommendations on the best places to stay for both hotels and hostels.
Interested in street food, markets and city walks? Good news! The amazing value for money Backpacker (Bed & Breakfast) is heaven for any traveler with a tight budget and a love for food and culture. A great location right in the city center, you are near the Sule Pagoda, the Shwedagon Pagoda, Chinatown, and Zeygo market. The bed and breakfast offer very ample and clean rooms, with comfortable beds and a great breakfast included in the room rate. Oh, and did I mention that you have breakfast on the rooftop with views of the whole city around you? I don’t know about you but that’s a perfect way to start the morning. (Prices start at $12 a night for a bed in a dorm)
For a quieter stay slightly outside of the city center, Thanlwin Guesthouse is a cheap choice with beautiful gardens and friendly staff. You may not be in the center but you are only a short walk away from the new Yankin Centre Shopping Mall and Inya Lake. As well as an ideal location, the guesthouse also offers simple and clean rooms with quite modern furnishings. Start each morning with a local or western breakfast at the outside communal table, each as delicious as the other. Spend your days exploring the surrounding parks and finish off with flavourful delicacies at the local restaurants. (Prices start at $9 a night for a dorm bed)
Four Rivers Youth Hostel offers you everything you would want from a budget hostel: comfortable beds, warm showers and in a central location with lots of things going on! A happy and friendly place, the hostel is the perfect hub for socializing with travelers whilst also providing you with privacy to just relax or nap. The hostel is actually a fairly new and refurbished colonial building containing bright and basic rooms with good AC. Remember that perfect location I mentioned? Well, you’re never too far away from amazing street food, oh yeah! (Prices start at $11 a night for a dorm bed)
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Located in the heart of China Town in downtown Yangon, 15th street @ Downtown Yangon is a really affordable accommodation option where you get value for your money. Located within a short walk or drive from the main sites, you can get around really cheaply on this side of town. You’re also right next to the food night market so you can get all the quick food fixes you want! If you want to venture further, the staff are amazing with helping you organize and book buses and transfers. Rooms are very spacious with home-like decorations and a delicious breakfast included in the rate. (Prices start at $45 a night for a budget double or twin room)
For a home away from home, you can have a very attentive and comfortable stay at Bamboo Place Yangon. A family run hotel, they do their best to create a very relaxed and homey atmosphere. The hotel itself is also very warm. Full of character over functionality, Bamboo Place is a complete Burmese experience. The rooms are very basic but really spacious and comfortable. The hotel is surrounded by beautiful gardens and is also just a walk away from Inya Lake, so the perfect place to have a wander. The icing on the cake as well is the super fast WI-FI, can I get a hell yeah! (Prices start at $35 a night for a standard double or twin room)
How would you like to stay in a place that is supporting the local economy? Well, Lotus Bed & Breakfast does just that! The family that runs the B&B have a hospitality school attached where they train future cooks and hotel staff with the money that they make. How cool is that? As you’re doing your bit for the local society, you also get so much in return! Very clean and colorful rooms, main sites a short walk away and an amazing breakfast included. Seriously, it has been said to be the best, offering everything from Burmese to American with an Asian twist!  (Prices start at $25 a night for a budget single room)
A great hotel in the center of everything is the Best Western Chinatown Hotel. A fairly new hotel, Best Western offers contemporary designed rooms with elegant furnishings and plenty of space. The view from the rooms facing the Shwedagon Pagoda is also reason enough to stay here! The food is supposed to be a luxury, from the international breakfast buffet to the a la carte menu for lunch and dinner. For your money you also get impeccable service and crazy good views from your rooms and the rooftop terrace. Â (Prices start at $80 a night for a superior double or twin room)
Like to stay in a more modern and trendy hotel? Well the stylish Merchant Art Boutique Hotel is as trendy as it gets. In an area known for its historic temples and full of local art, there’s no wonder this hotel is so cool. The hotel and its rooms are very spacious with minimal but modern furnishings. It also has a really stylish roof deck bar that offers amazing views of the Shwedagon Pagoda at night. Although not close to downtown Yangon, you can walk to local temples and take very cheap taxis into the city. (Prices start at $60 a night for a art concept double or twin room)
Thanks for sharing these places! I hope to go to Myanmar next year so these tips are very useful!
x
No problem @stephaniestraveldiary:disqus ! Glad to help you plan your trip, enjoy 🙂