Set on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, Mandalay is Myanmar’s second-largest city. The combination of crumbling colonial charm, elegant Buddhist temples, and lush hilly surrounds have rendered many a traveller hopelessly intoxicated. Visiting here is like stepping back 50 years in time: beat-up buses trundle along wide avenues, men in longyis cycle serenely around the moat, and monks pad silently through dusty temple courtyards. Don’t miss a trip up Mandalay Hill to take in panoramic city views; sunset at Ubein Bridge (the longest teakwood bridge in the world); the Buddhist Mecca of Sagaing, encompassing scores of temples and the Buddhist University; and a mellow boat trip down the Irrawaddy River to see the colossal stupa base at Mingun.