If you are arriving at Yangon International Airport and want to reach downtown Yangon by public bus, you may need to make one transfer before reaching Sule Pagoda.
The airport shuttle service no longer provides a simple airport-to-Sule journey for passengers at the terminal. Current travel information indicates that passengers may need to travel from the airport area to around 9 Mile or 10 Mile first, then continue by YBS. A commonly used option is to take a local shared vehicle from the airport area to 10 Mile and then transfer to YBS 37, which continues toward Sule. (Reddit)
For visitors who want to save money and experience Yangon like a local, this can be a useful alternative to taking a taxi or ride-hailing service all the way from the airport.
The basic route
The journey can be broken into two parts:
Yangon International Airport → 9 Mile / 10 Mile → YBS 37 → Sule
The important part is that the airport is not currently the starting point of the YBS journey all the way to downtown. Instead, you first need to get out to the main road around the 9 Mile or 10 Mile area.
10 Mile Kone is a recognized YBS bus stop near Yangon International Airport. The airport is roughly 1.5 miles north of the 10 Mile Kone area. (Mapcarta)
Once you reach the 10 Mile area, YBS 37 is one of the useful buses for continuing toward Sule.
Step 1: Leave Yangon Airport
After collecting your luggage and exiting the terminal, you need to get toward the 9 Mile or 10 Mile area.
One option reported by recent travelers is a small shared vehicle operating around the airport area. These vehicles can take passengers toward the 9 Mile or 10 Mile bus-stop area before they transfer to YBS. (Reddit)
If you prefer convenience, you can instead use a taxi or Grab for this short section.
The idea is simple:
Airport → 9 Mile / 10 Mile
You do not need to take a car all the way to downtown if your goal is to use YBS for the main part of the journey.
Important: Availability and pickup arrangements around Yangon International Airport can change. Ask airport staff or the driver where the current shared vehicles for 9 Mile or 10 Mile are boarding before leaving the terminal.
Step 2: Find the YBS stop at 9 Mile or 10 Mile
After reaching the main road, look for the YBS stop around 9 Mile or 10 Mile Kone.
Both areas are on Pyay Road, and 10 Mile Kone is an established YBS stop. (Mapcarta)
If you are unsure which side of the road you should use, check the direction of the bus before boarding.
For the trip toward downtown, look for a bus heading toward Sule rather than one travelling north toward Htauk Kyant or other northern destinations.
Step 3: Take YBS 37 toward Sule
One of the simplest options from the 9 Mile / 10 Mile area is YBS 37.
YBS 37 runs through:
10 Mile Kone → 9 Mile → 8 Mile → 7 Mile → Hledan area → Myaynigone → Sanchaung → downtown → Sule
Current route information lists 10 Mile Kone, 9 Mile and Sule City Hall among the stops served by YBS 37. (Yangon Bus Routes)
The route continues into central Yangon and terminates around Sule City Hall, making it particularly convenient for visitors staying around downtown.
YBS 37 has also been documented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s Yangon bus-service project, which provides route information for Yangon public buses. (Yangon Bus Project)
What to look for on the bus
Before getting on, check the destination displayed on the bus.
You want a YBS 37 travelling toward:
Sule / ဆူးလေ
Do not simply board a bus because it is numbered 37. YBS routes can operate in different directions, so confirming the destination is important.
Step 4: Get off at Sule
Stay on YBS 37 until you reach the Sule area.
The route includes Sule (Shangri-La) and Sule (City Hall) stops. (Yangon Bus Routes)
If your destination is around downtown Yangon, Sule is a useful arrival point because it is close to many important central locations.
From Sule, you can walk toward places such as:
- Sule Pagoda
- Yangon City Hall
- Maha Bandula Garden
- Bogyoke Aung San Road
- downtown hotels and guesthouses
- Yangon Central Railway Station area
Sule is one of the major landmarks and transport points in central Yangon. (sacministry.gov.mm)
The journey at a glance
| Stage | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive at Yangon International Airport |
| 2 | Take a shared vehicle, taxi or Grab toward 9 Mile / 10 Mile |
| 3 | Find the YBS stop on the correct side of the road |
| 4 | Take YBS 37 toward Sule |
| 5 | Get off at Sule City Hall or another suitable downtown stop |
| 6 | Walk or continue to your hotel |
Should you use 9 Mile or 10 Mile?
If you have a choice, 10 Mile Kone can be a straightforward transfer point because it is a clearly identified YBS stop and YBS 37 passes through it on the way to downtown. (Mapcarta)
However, you do not necessarily need to travel specifically to 10 Mile if your airport-side transport drops you at 9 Mile.
YBS 37 also passes through 9 Mile, so you can board there when you find the correct stop and direction. (Yangon Bus Routes)
Is this better than taking Grab?
It depends on what you value.
If you want the easiest journey
Taking Grab or a taxi directly from Yangon International Airport to your hotel is simpler. You do not need to carry your luggage between vehicles or find another bus stop.
If you want to save money
Using a short airport-side ride followed by YBS can significantly reduce the amount of the journey that you need to pay for by car.
It also gives first-time visitors a chance to experience Yangon’s ordinary public transport rather than travelling entirely by private vehicle.
If you have heavy luggage
A direct car is usually more comfortable.
Changing from a small airport-side vehicle to a city bus can be inconvenient with large suitcases, particularly during busy periods.
How to find the right bus with YBS GO
If you are unfamiliar with Yangon, checking the route before boarding can make the transfer much easier.
With YBS GO, you can search for the bus route, check bus stops and view the route on a map. This is particularly useful when you are standing at 9 Mile or 10 Mile and want to confirm which bus will take you toward Sule.
You can also use the app to check the route before leaving the airport, so you know what to look for when you reach the main road.
YBS GO is an independent Yangon bus guide and is not affiliated with YRTC. (Google Play)
A simple plan for first-time visitors
If this is your first trip to Yangon, the easiest version of the public-transport journey is:
Yangon Airport
↓ Short shared vehicle / Grab / taxi
↓ 9 Mile or 10 Mile
↓ YBS 37 toward Sule
↓ Sule City Hall
↓ Walk to your hotel
You do not need to understand the entire Yangon bus network to make this trip. The main thing is to remember the transfer point and confirm that the YBS 37 you board is heading toward Sule.
Before you leave the airport
Keep a little cash ready for the first short vehicle and the bus.
Also make sure your phone has enough battery for navigation, especially if you are arriving late at night.
Most importantly, do not assume that an old travel guide describing a direct Airport → Sule bus is still accurate. Yangon bus services and airport access arrangements can change, so check the current situation when you arrive. Older guides describe an airport shuttle running directly between the airport and Sule, but more recent traveler reports indicate that airport-side access and the shuttle’s stopping point have changed. (Wikipedia)
For current route information, check YBS GO before boarding.
Sources
- Japan International Cooperation Agency — Project for Improving Public Bus Service in Yangon: YBS route information. JICA Yangon Bus Service Project
- Yangon Bus Route — YBS 37 route and stop information. YBS 37 Route Guide
- Mapcarta — 10 Mile Kone bus stop information. 10 Mile Kone Bus Stop
- Yangon International Airport — official airport information. Yangon International Airport
- Recent traveler reports on current airport-side bus access. Tripadvisor discussion on Yangon Airport to Sule by bus
- YBS GO — current app information and features. YBS GO on Google Play