Best Time to Visit Yangon

November to February: the cool, dry season

This is the time to come. December is the best month here, with warm days, cooler nights and almost no rain. November is nearly as good, though the air still feels a bit damp after the monsoon. January is also pleasant and slightly warmer.

Days are good for walking. You can climb the steps of Shwedagon Pagoda, the gold-covered temple that dominates the city, without feeling flattened by heat. Try it near sunset, when the stone floor has cooled and the gold glows. Wander downtown around Sule Pagoda and the old colonial buildings, then try mohinga, the fish noodle soup locals eat for breakfast.

This is also high season, so expect more visitors and higher demand for rooms. Still, Yangon never feels overrun. Book ahead for the best-value hotels, especially in December and January.

March to May: hot, then humid

March and April are the hardest months. Highs reach 39°C, and by midday you'll want to be indoors. February is a milder warm-up at 36°C, so it's fine if you keep afternoons easy.

Mid-April brings Thingyan, the water festival that marks the Burmese New Year. People soak each other with hoses and buckets, and street stages (called pandals) pop up around town. It's loud, wet and fun, and many shops close for several days. If you want a quiet city break, avoid it. If you want to join in, wear clothes you don't mind getting drenched.

By May the rains begin. Afternoons turn heavy and sticky, and the sun mostly hides.

June to October: the monsoon

From June to September, rain falls on most days. July and August are the wettest, and July is the wettest of all. The sun barely shows. Streets can flood, and traffic crawls.

So why go? Hotels are quiet, the city is green, and you'll often have temples nearly to yourself. Rain tends to come in bursts, so you can duck into a tea shop or the Bogyoke Aung San Market and wait it out. It suits budget travellers and anyone who doesn't mind getting wet. It's a poor choice if you want photos or long days on foot.

October is a shaky in-between month. Rain eases, but it's still damp. Around the full moon of Thadingyut, usually in October, the Festival of Lights sees homes and pagodas decked with lanterns and candles. It's a lovely time to be in the city, even with a few showers.

Our pick: December for comfort, November if you want slightly fewer visitors.