Yangon Central Railway Station

Even if you don’t have a train to catch, the Yangon Central Railway Station is worth a stop. Duck into the eye-catching building to explore; with travelers passing through, a transient population, shopkeepers, and employees, it’s nearly a city in its own right. If you’re hoping to see Yangon on the historic Yangon Circular Train—with a tour guide or on your own—this is likely to be the departure point. A 3-hour ride will take you through the circle and back to the Yangon Central Railway Station.

• This is a must-see for railway and architecture buffs.
• You may be required to present your passport when purchasing tickets on the Yangon Circular Train.
• If you’d like to ride the Yangon Circular Train but don’t want to budget (at least) three hours, it’s possible to get off at any point and catch a taxi back downtown.

With a central location on Kun Chan Road, the Yangon Central Railway Station is just north of downtown Yangon. As there’s always a throng of taxis waiting outside, it’s easy to reach from any point in the city. While bus travel can be daunting for visitors who don’t speak Burmese, Pansoedan Bus Stop on Bo Gyoke Road is just a short walk from the station.

To enjoy less-crowded, cooler cars on the Yangon Circular Train, plan to visit in the morning. A morning train ride is also ideal for snacking on local treats as you loop through Yangon’s colorful neighborhoods. Roving vendors step onto the trains hawking foods that range from sliced watermelon to noodles, but often sell out by the afternoon.

Pick up tickets for the Yangon Circular Train on platform 7 in the Yangon Central Railway Station—it’s the door marked ‘Enquiries.’ Trains, which often run late, make the trip going both clockwise and counter-clockwise, and pass markets, residential areas, and a series of smaller train stations along the way. If you’re hoping to snap photos from the train, avoid the air-conditioned cars, which have windows that don’t open.