Top places to visit in Chiang Mai

• Tha Phae Gate Old City Walk

  gate · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · free entry

  The most photographed gate of Chiang Mai old city walls (1296 CE), Tha Phae Gate opens onto the Tha Phae Road leading to the Night Bazaar. Sunday Walking Street ends here. The open square is a hub for local life, festivals, and evening…

• Night Bazaar Chiang Mai

  market · 4.3 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A sprawling evening market along Chang Klan Road with hundreds of stalls selling handicrafts, clothing, souvenirs, and street food. The adjacent Anusarn Night Market has excellent Thai and international food. A reliable evening destination…

• Riverside Night Market Saturday

  market · 4.3 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Chiang Mai Saturday Walking Street along Wualai Road — a 1km pedestrian market with over 600 stalls of handicrafts, hill tribe silver jewellery, Lanna ceramics, organic foods, and street food. Runs from 4pm to midnight every Saturday.

• Mae Rim Valley Adventure Hub

  adventure · 4.3 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Mae Rim valley north of Chiang Mai is the centre for adventure activities — ATV off-roading, white-water rafting on the Mae Taeng River, zip-lining through jungle canopy, and bungee jumping. Half-day and full-day packages widely…

• Wat Phra Singh

  temple · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The most important and grandest temple in Chiang Mai, containing the revered Phra Singh Buddha image in the beautifully decorated Wihan Lai Kham chapel. The temple complex dates to 1345 and showcases the finest Lanna architecture in the…

• Maya Mall Nimman Entertainment Hub

  mall · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The modern anchor at the end of Nimmanhaemin Road, Maya Mall is the go-to for cinema, international food chains, and brand shopping in Chiang Mai. The rooftop terrace has good mountain views.

• Chiang Mai Night Safari

  park · 4.3 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A large nocturnal wildlife safari park with trams and walking trails through illuminated habitats. Home to tigers, lions, Asiatic black bears, giraffes, and over 100 species. The night feeding shows are entertaining for families.

• Wat Umong Forest Temple Tunnels

  temple · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry

  A unique 13th-century Lanna temple complex in a forested area west of the Old City, built around a network of underground brick tunnels containing Buddha images. The forested grounds have a serene lake, deer, and dozens of inspirational…

• Three Kings Monument Plaza

  monument · 4.3 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A striking bronze monument of the three kings who founded Chiang Mai in 1296 — Mangrai, Ngam Muang, and Khun Ram Kamhaeng. The plaza in front is the social heart of the Old City and the setting for major Loi Krathong and Songkran festivals.

• Wat Lok Moli Lanna Monastery

  temple · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A beautiful 14th-century Lanna-style temple just north of the Old City moat, notable for its massive white chedi and collection of ancient bronze Buddha images. Less visited than the main Old City temples but architecturally striking.

• Buak Hard Public Park Chiang Mai Old City

  urban-park · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The beloved Buak Hard Park at the southwest corner of the old city moat — a green oasis of manicured gardens, rose bushes, and the morning culture of Chiang Mai as locals do Tai Chi, walk their dogs, and the city slowly wakes up at dawn.

• Sticky Waterfalls Buatong

  waterfall · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · free entry

  A unique travertine waterfall where calcium carbonate deposits create a grippy surface, allowing visitors to walk directly up and down the falls barefoot without slipping — a genuinely magical experience unlike any waterfall in the world.

Things to do

• Chiang Mai Songkran Water Festival Experience Heritage · 8 h
• Chiang Mai Ancient Walled City Heritage Walk 1296 Heritage · 3 h · from THB 340 per person
• Chiang Mai Lanna Cuisine Khao Soi Heritage Tour Heritage · 4 h · from THB 690 per person
• Elephant Nature Park — Full Day Ethical Elephant Experience Nature · 7 h · from THB 2,600 per person
• Chiang Mai Mae Taeng White Water Rafting Grade IV Water Sports · 6 h · from THB 1,000 per person
• Chiang Mai Doi Pui Hmong Hill Tribe Village Heritage · 5 h · from THB 690 per person
• Chiang Mai Doi Inthanon Highest Peak Sunrise Nature · 10 h · from THB 1,400 per person
• Chiang Mai Bo Sang Traditional Umbrella Village Heritage · 3 h · from THB 170 per person

Day trips and tours

• Elephant Sanctuary Half-Day Experience 5 h · from THB 1,800
• Doi Inthanon & Karen Hill Tribe Day Tour 10 h · from THB 1,200
• Chiang Rai & Golden Triangle Day Trip 12 h · from THB 1,300

Where to stay in Chiang Mai

• Old City about THB 2,000 per night

  Historic walled city with temples and night bazaar

• Nimmanhaemin about THB 2,500 per night

  Trendy area with cafes, restaurants, and shopping

Hotels

• Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai 5-star · THB 28,000 to THB 120,000 per night
• AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai 5-star · THB 4,500 to THB 8,500 per night
• Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai 5-star · THB 25,000 to THB 90,000 per night
• Rosewood Chiang Mai 5-star · THB 22,000 to THB 100,000 per night
• The Regent Chiang Mai Resort & Spa 5-star · THB 15,000 to THB 50,000 per night
• Anantara Chiang Mai Resort 5-star · THB 15,000 to THB 60,000 per night

Where to eat

• Sunday Walking Street Food Chiang Mai Thai, Street Food, Northern Thai · about THB 150 per person
• Huen Phen Old City Northern Thai, Thai, Heritage · about THB 250 per person
• SP Chicken Chiang Mai Northern Thai, Street Food, Grill · about THB 120 per person
• Cowboy Hat Lady Braised Pork Leg Thai, Street Food, Northern Thai · about THB 60 per person
• Talad Warorot Morning Market Thai, Street Food, Northern Thai · about THB 100 per person
• Nimman Night Bites Soi 9 Thai, Street Food, Market · about THB 150 per person
• Zoe in Yellow Bar Nimman Bar, Western, Thai · about THB 400 per person
• North Gate Jazz Co-op Bar, Western, Jazz · about THB 400 per person

Getting to Chiang Mai

Airport: Chiang Mai (CNX)

How visitors arrive in Chiang Mai

• Fly from Bangkok By air from Bangkok · most visitors · unconfirmed

  Chiang Mai.net says most foreign visitors arrive by air, many connecting through Bangkok; some direct international flights also serve the city. Source: chiangmai.net

• Train from Bangkok By train from Bangkok · common

  An overnight train runs from Bangkok. Source: chiangmai.net

• Bus from Bangkok By road from Bangkok · possible

  Long-distance buses run from Bangkok, though the page advises caution on safety. Source: chiangmai.net

From the airport to the centre

• Registered airport taxi

  Registered taxis wait near the car park by the north end of the terminal; a Meter Taxi counter is also available. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Grab or Bolt from the airport

  Grab and Bolt operate at the airport. Set an exact pickup point. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Airport shuttle minibus unconfirmed

  A shared minibus takes arrivals to city hotels; the counter is near international arrivals. Service is sometimes suspended. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Have your destination written in Thai, as many taxi drivers do not read Latin script. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Agree a red songthaew fare per person before you set off. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Songthaew or tuk-tuk from the train station

  Songthaews and tuk-tuks meet arriving trains; the station is east of the centre. Grab also works. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Have your destination written in Thai, as many taxi drivers do not read Latin script. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
• Agree a red songthaew fare per person before you set off. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Motorbike Rental

  Motorbike rental shops operate in Chiang Mai; it is worth checking the brakes and lights and photographing the bike before riding off.

• Ride Hail

  Grab, Bolt and Maxim operate in Chiang Mai and give a cashless, private-car alternative to songthaews and tuk-tuks.

  Get Grab Thailand · Get Maxim Chiang Mai

• Shared Taxi main way to get around

  Red songthaews, shared pickup trucks with bench seats, circulate around Chiang Mai; flag one down and tell the driver where you are headed.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Generic tourist overcharge

  Major tourist zones

  Tourists are quoted significantly above local price.

  How to avoid it: Verify prices upfront. Use registered taxis/apps.

Best time to visit Chiang Mai

• Jan 26°C
• Feb 30°C
• Mar 33°C
• Apr 34°C
• May 35°C
• Jun 30°C
• Jul 29°C
• Aug 32°C
• Sep 32°C
• Oct 27°C
• Nov 26°C
• Dec 25°C

More in Thailand

• Bangkok
• Pattaya
• Phuket
• Krabi
• Surat Thani (Koh Samui)
• Sukhothai

Frequently asked questions about Chiang Mai

How many days do you need in Chiang Mai?

A typical trip to Chiang Mai is 3-4 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Chiang Mai?

The highest-rated places in our Chiang Mai guide are Wat Phra Singh, Wat Lok Moli Lanna Monastery, Sticky Waterfalls Buatong, Wat Umong Forest Temple Tunnels, Buak Hard Public Park Chiang Mai Old City.

Where should I stay in Chiang Mai?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Chiang Mai: Old City, Nimmanhaemin.

How do I get around Chiang Mai?

Ways to get around Chiang Mai covered in our guide: Motorbike rental, Ride-hailing app, Shared taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Chiang Mai?

Scams reported to us for Chiang Mai include Generic tourist overcharge. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Chiang Mai?

Average daytime highs in Chiang Mai run from 25°C in Dec to 35°C in May.

Which airport is nearest to Chiang Mai?

The nearest airport to Chiang Mai has the code CNX.