Discover Mandalay 2026

The palace of the last Burmese royal dynasty, enclosed by a square wall and a wide moat, was largely destroyed in World War II and later faithfully rebuilt, with a watchtower offering a wide view over the entire palace grounds.

The roughly 1.2-kilometer bridge, built in the 19th century from recycled teak wood of a demolished palace in nearby Amarapura, is considered the longest teak bridge in the world and makes a popular photo subject especially at sunset, when monks and locals cross it.

Over 1,700 covered steps lead past numerous shrines and statues up to the summit, from where a spectacular panoramic view over the city, the Irrawaddy River and the surrounding plain unfolds at sunset.

The city's most important pagoda houses a highly venerated Buddha statue that has been covered with so much gold leaf by devotees over the centuries that its original shape is barely recognizable, a significant pilgrimage destination for Buddhists from across Myanmar.

Mandalay International Airport lies about 35 kilometers south of the city and is served multiple times daily from Yangon in about one hour flight time. Alternatively, overnight trains and buses run from Yangon in about 8 to 12 hours.

The palace of the last Burmese royal dynasty, enclosed by a square wall and a wide moat, was largely destroyed in World War II and later faithfully rebuilt, with a watchtower offering a wide view over the entire palace grounds.

The roughly 1.2-kilometer bridge, built in the 19th century from recycled teak wood of a demolished palace in nearby Amarapura, is considered the longest teak bridge in the world and makes a popular photo subject especially at sunset, when monks and locals cross it.

Over 1,700 covered steps lead past numerous shrines and statues up to the summit, from where a spectacular panoramic view over the city, the Irrawaddy River and the surrounding plain unfolds at sunset.