The cool season — October to February — is the best time to visit. Temperatures are mild by day and can drop near zero at night, which is a genuine shock if you have come from Mandalay where it is 30°C. The rose garden in the botanical gardens is in bloom, the strawberries are coming in, and the air is clear.
The monsoon (June–September) brings heavy rain and the waterfalls are at their most dramatic, but roads can be difficult and the town is foggy for days at a time. March to May is hotter and drier. Pyin Oo Lwin is busy with domestic tourists during the Thingyan water festival in April and during school holidays.