Monotonic (tensile and compressive) and high cycle fatigue properties of the forged magnesium alloy AZ80 were investigated by using specimens with load axis parallel to longitude (L) or transverse (T) direction. A pronounced directional anisotropy in monotonic tests was observed in AZ80, i.e. the yield stress in T-direction is significantly lower than that in L direction. However, the directional anisotropy is absent in fatigue, fatigue strengths in both L- and T-directions are essentially equal. The absence of directional anisotropy in fatigue is possibly associated with the microstructure of AZ80. A homogeneous single phase structure probably alleviates the directional anisotropy of fatigue properties of the wrought magnesium alloy.