Naypyidaw
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The UK Foreign Office currently advises against travel to all or parts of Myanmar. This guide is for a safer time. Check the latest travel advice.
At a glance
- Country
- Myanmar
- Region
- Naypyidaw Union Territory
- Population
- around 925,000
- Best time to go
- November to February
- Main airport
- Naypyidaw International (NYT)
- Coordinates
- 19.76°N, 96.08°E
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Overview
Naypyidaw replaced Yangon as Myanmar's capital in 2005, a city built from scratch in the central plains. It is famous for its scale and emptiness: multi-lane highways with little traffic, ministries spread far apart and vast hotel zones.
This guide is written for a time when travel to Myanmar is advisable again. When it is, Naypyidaw is a curious detour rather than a highlight, best combined with journeys between Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan.
Things to see
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Photo: Hybernator, CC BY-SA 3.0 Uppatasanti Pagoda
A near-replica of Yangon's Shwedagon, slightly shorter, with a hollow interior you can walk inside.
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National Landmarks Garden
A large park with scaled-down models of famous sites from across the country.
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Photo: Hybernator, CC BY-SA 3.0 Water Fountain Garden
A landscaped park of fountains, lawns and lakes, popular with local families in the cool of the evening.
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Photo: Tetsuya Kitahata, CC BY-SA 4.0 Gems Museum
A collection of Myanmar's famous rubies, sapphires and jade, alongside a gem market.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Photo: Thawng, CC BY-SA 4.0 See the city's scale
Drive along the enormous boulevards and past the parliament complex to appreciate this unusual planned capital.
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Photo: Hybernator, CC BY-SA 3.0 Naypyidaw Zoological Gardens
A large, modern zoo and safari park on the edge of the city.
Find tours -
Photo: Hybernator, CC BY-SA 3.0 Visit a local market
Myoma Market is where everyday life happens, with food stalls, fabrics and fresh produce.
Where to stay
Hotel Zone
Most hotels are clustered here, spread along quiet roads; transport is needed for everything.
Hotels in Hotel ZonePyinmana
The older town to the south has simpler guesthouses and more local street life.
Hotels in Pyinmana
Getting around
Distances are huge and public transport is limited, so you need a car and driver or taxis arranged through your hotel.
The airport is south-east of the city, roughly half an hour by car from the hotel zone; the city also sits on the main road and rail line between Yangon and Mandalay.
When to go
November to February is the cool, dry season. March to May is very hot, and the monsoon brings heavy rain from June to October.
Plan your trip to Naypyidaw
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.