Guides: Guides, official and unofficial are available for US$5 (add a US$1/1,000 kyats tip). The quality is variable but most guides are friendly and trying to make their way against the odds. The pagoda is vast and complex and, if you can afford the extra dollars, the company and practical information on what's going around you is well worth the expense.
Getting there: Taxi from the city centre costs 2,500 kyats to 3,000 kyats (expect higher starting prices, especially if it has rained or is after dark - 3,000 kyats or so, feel free to haggle). Taxis are available for the return trip at the bottom of the main entrance. Can also take bus 204 looks like , takes about 10 minutes with four stops 100 Kyats catch this on SHWE DAGON PAGODA RD across from Public Toliets just as you cross the overpass. From downtown Yangon, it's about a 30min walk that will take you past the Aung San Marketplace, Martyr's Mausoleum, and a beautiful park space. If traveling internally by plane, it's likely that you'll need to go directly to the Air Mandalay office to pay for your paper tickets, from which you can walk here in a pleasant 10 min stroll by some beautiful scenery.