Yangon
Occupying the 1870s building that was once the HQ of the exporters Steel Brothers Ltd, the Excelsior cleverly blends colonial heritage with contemporary design. Beds in all high-ceiling and parquet-floor rooms are king-sized and the stone- and tile-clad bathrooms sport rain showers.
There's also a spa and small gym, as well as a couple of restaurants.
1.84 MILES
One of Buddhism's most sacred sites, the 326ft zedi (stupa) here is adorned with 27 metric tons of gold leaf, along with thousands of diamonds and other…
1.48 MILES
Even though the museum's collection is poorly labelled and often badly lit, the treasures that lie within this cavernous building deserve a viewing. The…
2.71 MILES
Housed in a large metal-roofed shed, this beautiful 215ft-long reclining buddha is larger than a similar and better-known image in Bago. The statue's…
0.61 MILES
After many years of being off limits, this spectacular red-brick complex, which takes up a 16-acre block and was once the British seat of government for…
2.58 MILES
One of Yangon's, if not Myanmar's, most gorgeous buddha images is this 46ft-tall one at the Ngahtatgyi Paya, sitting in calm gold-and-white repose and…
7.64 MILES
Situated next to the Nga Moe Yeik creek, this Disneyland-ish pagoda is a hoot. Larger-than-life 3D stucco depictions of the Buddha's life and practice…
1.65 MILES
Also known as Royal Lake, this artificial lake built by the British as a reservoir is most attractive at sunset, when the glittering Shwedagon Paya is…
0.16 MILES
Not many cities have a primary traffic circle occupied by a 2200-year-old golden temple. This 46m zedi (stupa), said to be older than Shwedagon Paya, is…
0.11 MILES
Built in the 1860s, this is thought to be Yangon's oldest surviving Muslim place of worship. Its pair of large minarets flanks an equally imposing arched…
0.11 MILES
Completed in 1918, this is the largest of a handful of Shia mosques in Yangon, occupying a broad plot between 29th and 30th Sts along Mahabandoola Rd. The…
0.12 MILES
In late 2019, following a major heritage-restoration project overseen by the nonprofit Turquoise Mountain, this stately colonial building reopened. Much…
0.13 MILES
Looking like a giant vault, this monumental neoclassical structure was originally built in 1937 to house the Reserve Bank of India. In December 2015 it…
0.15 MILES
A green breathing space in the heart of downtown Yangon, this park provides lovely views of surrounding heritage buildings, including City Hall, the High…
0.16 MILES
This 165ft white obelisk inside Mahabandoola Garden is surrounded by two concentric circles of chinthe (half-lion/half-dragon deities). Designed by Sithu…
0.16 MILES
Not many cities have a primary traffic circle occupied by a 2200-year-old golden temple. This 46m zedi (stupa), said to be older than Shwedagon Paya, is…
0.2 MILES
If you were wondering where all the street art in Yangon is, you need to start looking down back alleys. This pair of alleys, which can be toured as a…