Pathein

• • Shwemokhtaw Pagoda — The main sight of Pathein is this Buddhist temple founded (according to local legend) by King Asoka of India in 305 BCE. Bagan's King Alaungsithu raised the height of the stupa to 11 m in 1115 CE, and King Samodogossa raised it to 40 m in 1263. The stupa is now 46.6 m tall, with the topmost layer made of 6.3 kg of solid gold, the middle tier of pure silver, and the third tier of bronze, with some 829 diamonds, 843 rubies and 1,588 semi-precious stones.
• • St. Peters Cathedral — The cathedral was built in 1872 and sits in a Catholic educational compound. — Address: Maxwell Rd — Hours: 06:00-18:00 — Price: Free
• • Harbour — Go to the harbour and watch the hustle and bustle of stevedores loading ferries and passengers transiting from the ferry terminals. Many of the town's historic buildings are also located along the waterfront.
• There are a number of small umbrella workshops, which have been operating for more than 200 years. The umbrellas are hand painted and are very cheap to buy (a few US dollars each). The waterproofing for the umbrellas must dry in the sun for several days, though, so there is little to see here during the rainy season, but they will show you the shop.
• • Cultural Museum of the Ayerwaddy Delta — The small museum houses and displays local handicrafts along with artefacts of the region. — Address: Mahabandoola Road — Directions: On the lefthand side heading towards the waterfront — Hours: 10:00-16:30 — Price: 2,000 kyat foreigners, 200 kyat if resident with FRC card

• • Myaungmya — A day trip is possible to Myaungmya (pronounced meouw miah), a busy, clean river town with the local pagoda overlooking the river. The town also boasts a church and mosque. You may also take a motorcycle taxi one-way for about 7,000 kyat. — Directions: buses leave Pathein across the street from the fire station a half a block from the river — Hours: The bus is supposed to leave at 06:30, but may leave at 09:30. Buy the ticket 30 minutes before. The trip is about two hours. Return bus at 15:00, buy the ticket early or you may end up with one of the uncomfortable plastic stools in the middle of the aisle

• • Hnin Wai Lwin Myanmar Cuisine — Try some authentic Burmese food here.
• • Night market — After sunset, the night market pops up. Grab a snack and people watch. Food stands are alongside the river, there are also street vendors/push carts with BBQ in the hotel area. — Hours: 17:00 - 22:00
• • Me Mf Lay — Provides decent breakfast and delicious drinks. — Directions: next to Taan Taan Ta Guesthouse
• • Super Cool Restaurant — Famous for serving beer and the terrace. — Directions: the GPS coordinates might be wrong, so ask the locals — Price: 2-3,500 kyat
• Beer garden with food for 2,000-4,000 kyat, overlooking the river.
• Teashops are everywhere and easy to find. A cup of tea is 300 kyat, a plate of noodle salad is 800.

• • New City Coffee & Tea Shop — This is popular with locals and an excellent start to your morning. — Directions: south and next to all the central hotels

• • CB Bank — The large CB Bank will change money from Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 15:00, and has an ATM available. Credit card service can be unavailable, so ask your hotel when is the right time to go. — Address: Corner Merchant St / Pagoda Rd — Directions: in the commercial district, on the same block with all the tourist hotels
• • Central market — A standard small-town market in Myanmar. You can buy food, fabric, baskets, etc. — Hours: M-Sa
• • Shwe Sar — Good place to buy hand made parasols and umbrellas. Small umbrellas are priced at 8,000 kyat each, and 20,000 for medium sized umbrellas. A discount of 1,000 kyat is offered if you ask. If you are willing to walk away to another workshop a larger discount could be offered. — Address: 653 Tawyakyaung Rd — Email: moemoe@carefreight.com.mm

• • Sein Pyae Wi Yan — Free WiFi, in lobby (low signal). Basic accommodation, fan, shared toilet. — Address: Min Gyi Rd — Directions: across from the New Pammawaddy — Price: US$8-9
• • Taan Taan Ta Guesthouse — First two storeys not very comfortable with shared bathroom, but 3 and 4 have bigger rooms with private bathroom. The friendly and English speaking Algun will help you with your travel and in case you have questions. A good budget choice. — Address: 7 Merchant St — Price: Less than 20,000 kyat — Phone: +95 42 22290, +95 42 24502 — Email: taantaanta25@gmail.com
• • (New) Pammawaddy — Strong Wi-Fi signal. Not the best value for money, but very good travel advice. — Address: No. 14/A, Min Gyi Rd — Directions: in the center, one block east from the Central Market — Price: 25-30,000 kyat
• • Paradise Hotel — Has 20 inexpensive and comfortable rooms. It is away from any main road and therefore can be expected to be more quite than Pammawaddy and Sein Pyae Wi Yan around the corner. — Address: No. 14, Zay Kyaung St — Directions: just north of the New City Coffee Shop — Price: 10,000 kyat — Phone: +95 42 25055
• • La Pyae Won — Has ups and downs, but acceptable for this price. Four-storey building with AC. WiFi & BBC TV. — Address: No. 30, Min Gyi Rd — Directions: in between the other hotels — Price: 25-35,000 kyat — Phone: +95 42 -25592
• • Htike Myat San Motel — Sometimes misspelled "Hyike". 26 very clean rooms for a good price. The owner will help organize bus tickets for you - of course he will. Including breakfast on the roof. Free WiFi. Quiet air-con. Only a few minutes to the night market. Helpful and friendly staff. Free bicycles. Hot shower. — Address: No. 8, Maharbandoola Road — Directions: At the junction of Jail Rd — Price: US$20/30 (shared/en-suite bathroom) — Phone: +95 42 22742
• • Delta Hotel — Includes all services needed, AC, WiFi, phone, TV, clean bathroom, minibar. The good thing is that it is in a rather quiet part of the city not (yet) along of one of the main roads. Staff is friendly and speaks English. — Address: 101 Strand Rd — Directions: Opposite the smaller, northern pagoda at the river — Price: 20-40,000 kyat — Phone: +95 42 23418, +95 9-422480780, +95 9-422450101 — Email: info@deltahotelpathein.com

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• • Pathein Airport — Myanmar National Airlines from Thandwe and Yangon

The town is small enough that you can see much of the town on foot. Motorbike taxis are also readily available and the standard fare for a trip is 1,000 kyat (which however seems a little excessive).

A local ferry can take you to the Karen village across the river.