Opening hours
daily: 04:00 – 22:00 hrs; last admission is at 21:45 hrs!
The Shwe Dagon Pagoda is open 24 hours on:
Waxing Day of Tabaung = the day before Full Moon Day of Tabaung (March)
Waxing Day of Wabaung = the day before Full Moon Day of Wabaung (June).
Entrance fee
Foreign visitors have to pay an entrance fee of Kyat 10.000 (around US$ 8). The ticket is now valid only for a single entry, so if you return later that day you will have to pay again! For those visitors who like to spend the day for religious
reasons this is a serious drawback as one cannot leave the Pagoda for lunch or otherwise. So best is you select a time meeting with your requirements: in the morning for a walkabout gazing at the shiny Pagoda and visit the many pavillions or in the evening and enjoy the sunset and the fairy tale beauty of the Pagoda and listening to the bells up high.
Local visitors are of course used to donating anyway to the Pagoda. So one may find donation boxes all around Shwedagon Pagoda for spontaneous contributions in cash. These donation boxes are labeled (in Burmese) for specific purposes such as for gold plating, electricity, waterand maintenance, among others.
Codes of behaviour
Please do mind the dress code:
Wear trousers or at least knee-length shorts or skirt; t-shirts with elbow-length sleeves are also compulsory and you are expected to be barefooted when entering Shwe Dagon Pagoda. So-called spaghetti shirts are not allowed!
Please do mind thebehaviour code:
Never sit with your legs pointed at the Pagoda, don’t touch the images unwantedly, be always respectful. It is the tradition to walk around with your right side towards the Pagoda, though many Myanmar don’t observe that for practical reasons as they take the shortest route home!