Myanmar operates three international airports with regular commercial service: Yangon International Airport, Mandalay International Airport, and Naypyidaw International Airport. Yangon International Airport handles approximately 85 percent of international arrivals. The airport sits 15 kilometers north of downtown Yangon in Mingaladon Township. Terminal 1 serves domestic flights. Terminal 2, opened in 2016, serves all international flights. Airlines operating regular international routes include Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Korean Air, China Eastern, Air China, and Vietnam Airlines. Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Seoul, Kunming, and Hanoi constitute the most frequent direct connections. No United States or European carriers operate direct flights to Myanmar as of 2024.
Visa on arrival does not exist for Myanmar. All visitors must secure either an e-visa or embassy-issued visa before departure. The e-visa system operates at evisa.moip.gov.mm, the official Ministry of Immigration website. Processing typically requires three business days. The e-visa permits entry only through Yangon International Airport, Mandalay International Airport, and Naypyidaw International Airport for air arrivals. Land border entries require a separate approval process through embassies. Immigration at Yangon International Airport operates from dedicated counters in Terminal 2. Officers stamp passports with entry dates and permitted duration, typically 28 days for tourist e-visas. Overstaying carries fines of 3 USD per day and potential detention. Extension applications must occur at the Immigration Department office on Pansodan Street in downtown Yangon before visa expiration.
The airport currency exchange counters in Terminal 2 arrivals hall operate during all international flight arrival times. Exchange rates at the airport typically run 2 to 4 percent below downtown rates. Myanmar uses the kyat, abbreviated MMK. As of late 2024, the official exchange rate fluctuates between 2,100 and 2,200 kyat per USD, though black market rates often differ significantly. The Central Bank of Myanmar attempts to stabilize the official rate, but informal exchange remains common in Yangon. ATMs in the arrivals hall accept Visa and Mastercard. Union Pay cards work at specific KBZ Bank and CB Bank ATMs marked with Union Pay logos. Withdrawal limits range from 300,000 to 500,000 kyat per transaction depending on the bank. Most ATMs charge 5,000 kyat per withdrawal. CB Bank, KBZ Bank, and AYA Bank ATMs have the highest success rates for foreign cards. Credit cards see extremely limited acceptance outside high-end hotels in Yangon and Mandalay. US dollar cash remains the most reliable backup. Bills must be pristine—any mark, fold, or discoloration causes rejection. Myanmar banks and exchanges refuse pre-2006 US dollar bills due to historical counterfeiting concerns. The demonetization events of 1985, 1987, and 2013 created lasting caution regarding currency acceptance.
SIM cards sell from multiple carriers at dedicated counters in Terminal 2 arrivals, past immigration but before luggage collection. Ooredoo, Telenor, Mytel, and MPT operate these counters. Tourist SIM packages typically include 5 to 20 gigabytes of data valid for 30 days, priced between 8,000 and 15,000 kyat depending on carrier and data allocation. Registration requires passport presentation and photograph. The process takes 5 to 10 minutes. All carriers require completion before the SIM activates. Network coverage differs substantially: MPT has the most extensive rural coverage, inherited from its former state monopoly status. Telenor and Ooredoo provide faster data speeds in urban areas. Mytel, launched in 2018 as a joint venture involving Vietnamese military-owned Viettel, offers competitive rates but less coverage outside major cities. Internet speed averages 10 to 20 megabits per second in Yangon on 4G networks. The government maintains the authority to shut down internet access in specific regions, as occurred in Rakhine State and Chin State between 2019 and 2021, and periodically implements nationwide restrictions during political events.
Transportation from Yangon International Airport to downtown operates through official airport taxis, ride-hailing apps, and public buses. The airport taxi counter sits in the arrivals hall after customs. Fixed rates operate based on destination zones. Downtown Yangon hotels fall in Zone 1, priced at 8,000 kyat. Payment occurs at the counter; drivers do not handle cash. Journey time ranges from 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic, which intensifies between 7:00 and 9:30 AM and 4:30 and 7:00 PM on weekdays. Grab operates in Myanmar and functions at the airport. Fares to downtown typically range from 5,000 to 7,000 kyat during normal traffic periods. The YBS public bus system runs Route 51 from the airport to downtown for 500 kyat. Buses depart from a shelter 400 meters from the terminal exit, requiring a walk through the parking area. Service operates from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM at approximately 30-minute intervals. The journey takes 60 to 90 minutes with numerous stops. No luggage restrictions exist, but buses become crowded during peak commute hours.
Mandalay International Airport serves as the primary entry point for visitors heading directly to Mandalay, Bagan, or Shan State destinations. The airport sits 35 kilometers south of Mandalay city center, opened in 2000 and expanded in 2016. Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, and several Chinese carriers operate international routes. The airport taxi system functions identically to Yangon, with a prepaid counter in arrivals. Fixed fare to downtown Mandalay hotels runs 15,000 kyat. Journey time spans 50 to 70 minutes. Grab operates in Mandalay with airport pickup, typically charging 12,000 to 14,000 kyat for downtown destinations. Public transportation from Mandalay airport requires walking 1 kilometer to the main road where informal buses and shared taxis pass, but this option suits only travelers with minimal luggage and good command of Burmese or significant travel experience in Southeast Asia.
Naypyidaw International Airport opened in 2011 after the capital relocation from Yangon to Naypyidaw in 2006. The airport remains dramatically underutilized, designed for capacity far exceeding current demand. Thai Airways and a handful of Asian carriers operate routes. The airport sits 16 kilometers from the hotel zone of Naypyidaw. The taxi system mirrors other Myanmar airports with prepaid counters. Downtown Naypyidaw fare runs 12,000 kyat. The capital's massive scale and limited public transport make taxis essentially mandatory. Most international visitors do not use Naypyidaw as an entry point unless attending government business or conferences, as tourist infrastructure remains limited compared to Yangon and Mandalay.
Airport facilities across all three international airports include basic cafes and small shops in arrivals and departures. Food options remain limited to simple rice and noodle dishes, instant coffee, and packaged snacks. Prices run approximately 50 percent above street prices. Departure halls contain duty-free shops selling alcohol, cigarettes, and Southeast Asian cosmetics. Book shops sell English-language newspapers—primarily the state-affiliated Myanmar Times and Global New Light of Myanmar, plus regional publications like Bangkok Post. ATMs in departure halls often run empty during busy periods. The airports maintain no left luggage facilities.
First-time visitors frequently underestimate Yangon International Airport's distance from hotels. The 15-kilometer distance translates to substantial travel time due to traffic patterns and road conditions. Pyay Road, the main airport route, narrows in sections and passes through numerous traffic signals and populated townships. Early morning flights departing between 6:00 and 8:00 AM require departure from downtown hotels by 4:30 or 5:00 AM to ensure arrival two hours before departure, the standard international flight recommendation. Domestic flights within Myanmar operate from Terminal 1 at Yangon and from connected domestic sections at Mandalay and Naypyidaw. Domestic check-in typically requires 45 minutes before departure. Myanmar National Airlines, Golden Myanmar Airlines, Air KBZ, Myanmar Airways International, and several smaller carriers operate domestic routes. Safety records vary significantly among carriers. Air KBZ maintains the newest fleet with aircraft leased from international suppliers starting 2017.