Flights to Yangon, Myanmar

Yangon, once known as Rangoon, is Myanmar's largest city and its main commercial centre, spread along the Yangon River in the south of the country. Its skyline is crowned by the golden spire of the Shwedagon Pagoda, and its downtown grid still holds some of the richest collections of colonial-era buildings in South-East Asia. Many travellers from Malaysia take flights to Yangon to visit family, for work or to see the pagodas, markets and tea shops that give the city its character. This guide covers the airport, connections from Malaysia, seasons and highlights for your trip.

About Yangon International Airport

Location

Yangon International Airport (RGN) is in the Mingaladon area, in the northern part of the city. The ride downtown follows some of Yangon's main roads south through the city, and traffic can be slow at rush hour, so plan extra time when heading back for a departure.

Terminals

The airport has separate buildings for international and domestic flights. International passengers pass through a modern terminal with check-in halls, duty-free shops, money changers and SIM card counters. If you are connecting to a domestic flight to another part of Myanmar, check which building it leaves from and allow time to move between them.

Getting to and from the airport

Taxis are available outside arrivals, with a counter in the terminal where you can agree on a fare to your destination before you leave. Ride-hailing apps also operate in Yangon, and airport bus services to downtown have run in the past, so ask at the information desk what is operating when you land. If you are being met by family or a pre-booked car, arrange a clear meeting point in the arrivals hall.

Direct and connecting flights to Yangon

There are nonstop flights from Kuala Lumpur to Yangon, one of the most convenient ways to reach Myanmar from Malaysia. Travellers from Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu or Kuching usually connect in Kuala Lumpur, and some routes also connect through Bangkok or Singapore. Use the Direct filter to see only nonstop flights, then compare departure times and cabin classes, including business class on the Kuala Lumpur to Yangon route.

Yangon is also the main hub for domestic flights within Myanmar, linking the city with places such as Mandalay and Heho for Inle Lake, though domestic routes can change at short notice. Travel conditions in Myanmar can change, so check your government's latest travel advice and the entry requirements for your passport before you book and again before you fly.

When to fly to Yangon

Yangon has three broad seasons. The cool, dry months from around November to February are the most comfortable for sightseeing. March to May is very hot, and the south-west monsoon usually arrives around late May, bringing heavy rain until about October. Downpours can flood streets briefly but rarely last all day.

Thingyan, the Myanmar New Year water festival in April, is the busiest and most joyful time of the year, when many Myanmar people working in Malaysia fly home and offices close. Demand from Malaysia also rises during school holidays, Hari Raya and the year-end break. To find a good airfare to Yangon, compare the fare chart on this page and set a Price Alert well ahead.

Popular places in Yangon

Shwedagon Pagoda

The city's great golden stupa sits on Singuttara Hill and is Myanmar's most sacred Buddhist site. Visit at sunset, when the gold glows and families gather to pray. Shoes and socks come off at the entrance, and shoulders and knees should be covered.

Sule Pagoda and downtown

At the centre of the downtown grid, Sule Pagoda is surrounded by colonial-era buildings, the City Hall and Maha Bandula Park. Walking the nearby streets reveals old trading houses, mosques, temples and churches side by side.

Bogyoke Aung San Market

This covered market is the place for longyi fabric, lacquerware, jade, gems and handicrafts. It is closed on Mondays and some public holidays, so plan your visit accordingly.

Kandawgyi Lake

A wooden boardwalk loops around this peaceful lake, with views of the Shwedagon in the distance and the ornate Karaweik, a replica of a royal barge, on the eastern shore.

Chaukhtatgyi reclining Buddha

This enormous reclining Buddha image, with intricately decorated soles on its feet, is one of the most impressive in the country and quieter than the major pagodas.

Where to stay in Yangon

Downtown, around Sule Pagoda and the riverfront, is lively and walkable, with markets and street food at every turn. The area around Kandawgyi Lake is greener and closer to the Shwedagon. Bahan and Golden Valley are upscale residential districts with quieter streets, while the neighbourhoods near Inya Lake suit longer business stays and are a little closer to the airport.

Food to try in Yangon

Mohinga

Myanmar's national breakfast is a rice noodle soup with a fish broth flavoured with lemongrass, banana stem and crispy fritters. Street stalls serve it from early morning.

Lahpet thoke

A salad of fermented tea leaves mixed with crunchy fried beans, peanuts, sesame, tomato and garlic, salty, sour and moreish.

Shan noodles

Rice noodles from the Shan hills topped with a lightly spiced tomato sauce with chicken or pork, served with pickles and clear soup.

Samosa thoke

Chopped samosas tossed in a salad with lentil soup, cabbage and spices, a popular street snack that shows Yangon's South Asian influences.

Whether it is a family visit or a first look at the Shwedagon, the trip usually begins with the short hop from Kuala Lumpur. Find flights to Yangon, Myanmar, on Traveloka, and keep Easy Reschedule and 24/7 customer service to hand in case your dates need to move.