Chiang Mai
This page may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check our disclosure policy for more details.
Chiang Mai is located in mountainous Northern Thailand. It is home to hundreds of intricate Buddhist temples, misty mountains, and colorful tribes. Being the ancient capital of the Lanna Kingdom, Lanna culture and history is still very prevalent throughout the city. Chiang Mai is a great place for backpackers, solo travelers, and those who want to slow down.
Travel tip #1: Chiang Mai is accessible via plane, train, or bus from Bangkok. Once in Chiang Mai many travelers opt to visit other villages and cities in Northern Thailand, like Chiang Rai, Pai, Sukhothai, or Chiang Dao.
Places of Interest
Old City: This is the historical area of Chiang Mai, where everything used to take place. Now there are lots of museums, galleries, shops, and markets, making it an ideal place to stay or simply wander around during your time in Chiang Mai.
Sunday Night Market/ Bazaar: A huge market that stretches over 1 kilometer through Old City on , featuring handicrafts, local artists, food, and drinks. This is probably the best place to purchase souvenirs or other pieces to remember Chiang Mai, as the prices are fair and there is a lot to choose from. The market begins around 5:00 pm, but vendors start setting up around 4:30 pm or so.
Goodday: A small shop owned by a local artist who specializes in pottery and print work. His shop also serves as his studio and you can see the different pieces he is currently working on. The ceramics are gorgeous! He also sells printed pieces and wood cut-out designs inspired by Chiang Mai.
Green Bamboo Massage: Green Bamboo Massage is rated as one of the best spas in Chiang Mai. The staff are all very kind and professional while the massage studio itself is quite clean. The one-hour full body Thai massage was amazing, especially at the price of 250THB (~$8.25USD)! Making a reservation via phone or email is appreciated and is highly recommended during peak travel season.
Wat Pan Whaen: Not only a local temple, but also a massage studio. I learned of the massage part of this place from a fellow traveler who frequents Chiang Mai, as she recommended Wat Pan Whaen over the popular Chiang Mai Correctional Institution’s massages. She was spot-on—I enjoyed a wonderful one-hour Tok Sen massage for only 200THB (~$6.75USD). You can also take massage classes here; check their Facebook page for more information.
Wat Phan Tao: Wat Phan Tao is a wooden temple with a quaint garden area that’s located next to Wat Chedi Luang temple. Oftentimes it’s decorated for festivals or full-moons and during Yi Peng it is adorned with colorful lanterns. It’s small, but a special place in Chaing Mai.
Tha Phae Gate: A famous local landmark, Tha Phae Gate acts as a boundary for the Old City. It used to be part of a larger wall to keep others out. Nowadays, events and festivals are centered around this area. You can also find lots of bars, restaurants, and accommodation options nearby.
Happy Elephant Home: One of the many elephant organizations in Chaing Mai, Happy Elephant Home is a smaller organization that rescues abused elephants to give them a loving home. I found them after a few searches on ethical organizations. Their half-day tour was amazing–I spent hours with the elephants by feeding, walking with, and loving them. The organization also offers volunteer opportunities. Find out more on their website.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: This mountain temple is often referred to as “Doi Suthep.” However, that is actually the name of the mountain where it’s located. Doi Suthep is a sacred site to many Thai people and boasts fantastic views of the surrounding area. To get here from Old City, you can load into a red truck/ songthaews with nine other people near the Chiang Mai Zoo. (40THB per person). For 500THB, you can hire a driver to wait at the top while you wander around Doi Suthep and then have him/her bring you back down afterward.
Huay Kaew Waterfall: If you can’t make it out to the Bua Thong (Sticky Waterfall), spending some time at Huay Kaew Waterfall in Doi Suthep National Park. It’s near Chaing Mai Zoo and is easily accessible year-around. A nice place to spend a couple of hours, plus there are several hiking trails.
Ping River: A former lifeline within Thailand, the Ping River—along with several others—connects Northern Thailand to Bangkok. There are several tours you can join for a day on the river, but it’s also a popular spot during the Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festivals. Follow [this link] to learn about these amazing Thai festivals!
Travel tip #2: There are over 300 temples (“wats”) throughout the Chaing Mai city center and the countryside, so don’t worry about not seeing any temples while here. For a list of more popular temples, click here.
Food
Khao Kha Moo: Pork Leg Rice is a savory dish that reminds me of Hainanese Chicken Rice. It is definitely influenced by Chinese, but Thai people further elevated it with herbs, spices, and a special Thai chili sauce. The meat is super tender and it all melts in your mouth. Try the famous hawker stall “Khao Kha Moo Chang Phuak” by the North Gate, which is ran by a woman wearing a cowboy hat!
Khao soi: Khao soi is a Northern Thai speciality whose name means “cut rice”. The regional dish is based in a coconut-flavored curry with rice noodles, chopped pork, tomatoes, fermented soy beans, chillies, shallots, garlic, and then topped with pork rind, bean sprouts, chopped scallions, and chopped cilantro. It’s one of my personal favorite Thai dishes and is a must-try while in Chiang Mai.
Khao neow mamuang: Mango sticky rice is a traditional Thai dessert made from glutinous rice (sticky rice), mango, and coconut milk. This sweet dish is good anytime, but works well to balance savory and spicy main dishes, like curry and pan-fried noodles.
Som tum: Green papaya salad is a spicy and tangy mix of shredded unripe papaya that originates from Laos, but has become incredibly popular throughout Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia. The traditional technique used to crush the ingredients together using a wooden mallet to infuse all of the flavors together.
Pad Thai: Pad thai is a Thailand’s famous stir-fried rice noodle dish. It’s commonly served as a street food and can be found almost anywhere. The dish usually includes shrimp, chicken, or tofu, as well as peanuts, scrambled egg, and bean sprouts.
Mango: Mangos are one of my favorite fruits! They are used in a lot of different Thai dishes, but can definitely be enjoyed on their own. Ask if it’s the right season for mangos to be sure you’re getting fresh, ripe pieces of fruits.
Coconut ice cream: Similar to mangos, coconuts are another tropical fruit which is very common in Thailand. Coconut milk and cream are used in curries, drinks, and desserts. Coconut ice cream is served throughout Thailand, but I found it was quite tasty in Chiang Mai.
Doi Saket Coffee: Doi Saket is the oldest coffee growing area in Thailand and happens to be located in Chiang Mai Province. In the late 1970s, coffee and tea began replacing opium. To this day, the coffee trees in Doi Saket have never been replaced and continue to produce a special type of coffee.
Green Tea: Local green tea is produced in Northern Thailand, and Chiang Mai is no exception. There are tea fields fairly close to the city center. Tours and tea picking is possible and many tourists really love this experience. If that isn’t an option for you, definitely drink some green tea or hit up a tea shop while visiting.
Trailhead All Mountain Bike Tour: This spot in Old City is known for their epic cycling tours of Chiang Mai and the surrounding area. They have cultural tours, mountain biking tours, and can create custom tours for you. They also have a great cafe that serves yummy sweets and some tasty smoothies, which is why I discovered this place.
Good Morning Chiang Mai Cafe: Not only a cafe, but also an inn. This place has great aesthetics and chill vibes—a wonderful spot to spend an hour or two chatting with locals or fellow travelers. Their breakfasts are fantastic and I highly recommend trying their Green Tea Smoothie, which is made with local green tea.
Dash! Restaurant and Bar: A more upscale food spot in Chiang Mai, Dash! is known for its delicious cuisine and teak wood build. There’s indoor and outdoor seating, as well as an upstairs area. I recommend trying the Eggplant Dish with a side of brown rice, or any of their other specials listed in the front of the menu.
Coconut Shell: As their name says, majority of their dishes are served in coconut shell-bowls. They have a variety of Thai dishes that are perfect for sharing between 2-4 people. There isn’t much seating and its generally a no-frills type of place. Their Khao Soi and coconut ice cream were amazing.
Blue Noodle: I stumbled upon this place while walking around Old City, and I’m so glad I did because it was phenomenal. Its quite popular, especially during lunchtime, and even with ample seating, you may have to wait. They mainly serve different types of noodle soups and dry noodle dishes, but definitely try the pork or beef noodle soup. Even on a hot day, it’s yummy!
My Bar: An interesting place for sure, My Bar is located near the outskirts of Old City and reflects a grungy, American-1970s vibe. The bar itself is pretty cool, but the owners are what make this place even better.
Local markets: There are local markets sprinkled throughout the city which typically open in the early morning hours and close before 5:00 pm. These are fantastic spots to buy fresh fruits, veggies, and the like on a local-budget. I liked going here to pick up fruit or smoothies for breakfast.
Saturday Night Market: A great place to do some light shopping, but most of all eating. Various vendors set up their stalls and carts to sell authentic Thai cuisine at the local price. You can find just about anything you desire at the Saturday Night Market, but my tip is always go where the locals are at to sample some of the best.
Travel tip #3: Thai food is delicious and known for its use of chilies. If you prefer food on the milder side, ask them to prepare your food “mai phet” (not spicy) or “phet nit noy” (a little bit spicy).
Transportation & Accommodation
If you’re staying in the Old City area, it is feasible to walk to different places. However, red songthaews (red trucks) are the most popular form of transportation in Chiang Mai. For about 30THB-60THB (~$1-2USD) during you can hail a songthaew going nearly anywhere in the city. It’s common to share this ride with other passengers and pick up and drop off you go. Some songthaews can provide private rides (where you sit in the front rather than the back of the truck) if you ask the driver for a higher price.
Tuk-tuks are the second most common mode of transport in Chiang Mai, while trishaws are another way to get around. They can both be found throughout the city and are fairly inexpensive. Prices need to be negotiated with tuk-tuks and trishaws. Bicycling is a great way to tour the city, as is motorbike or scooter. Various places will rent regular or motorbikes throughout Chiang Mai.
Finally, Grab is an easy way to travel longer distances in many places in Southeast Asia. It’s a ride share app similar to Uber or Lyft. Download the app, select your pick-up and drop-off points, find your driver, and pay in cash. It’s all very easy and I would say safe. Grab tends to be similar in price to taxis in Southeast Asia. For example, a taxi from Chiang Mai Airport to Old City is a flat rate of 150THB (~$5USD) while Grab can be anywhere between 120-200THB depending on demand, traffic, and driver availability.
Accommodation in Chiang Mai is plentiful. There are various hostels, guesthouses, and hotels scattered throughout the city. While so are more luxurious than others, I tend to opt to stay in backpacker-budget places when traveling. 60 Bluehouse (click here to view) is a ladies-only guesthouse in Old City. I stayed here during my time in Chiang Mai and had an absolutely wonderful experience. It is incredibly clean, the owners are kind-hearted people, and the location is awesome. The building itself has original teak flooring and high ceilings, a little garden to sit and chat in, as well as a small indoor reception/ sitting area. One of the travelers I met while in Chiang Mai stayed at Thai Time Hostel (click here to view), which was across the road from the southside of Old City. This hostel seemed great for solo travelers and the staff was incredibly friendly. These accommodation options and more than 2,600 others in Chiang Mai can all be found on booking.com.
Travel tip #4: During large festivals—Songkran in April as well as Loy Krathong and Yi Peng in November—accommodation prices can soar in Chiang Mai. It is best to book well in advance during these times to ensure you secure somewhere to stay for an affordable price.
Climate
Northern Thailand is fairly mountainous. Even though it’s hot and humid throughout most of the year, the region is slightly cooler than cities such as Bangkok and Phuket. While daytime temperatures tend to be high, mornings and evenings can be a tad cool. Chiang Mai’s climate is controlled by tropical monsoons, creating three general seasons: hot, rainy, and cool. Hot season tends to be from March to June, where temperatures can easily reach over 32 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) and rain is infrequent. Rainy season runs from June through October, with September receiving the heaviest amount of rain. November marks the end of rainy season and cooler weather stays until February. This is peak travel time not only due to the warm, dry weather, but also due to several local festivals. Outside of rainy season I would probably avoid traveling to Chiang Mai during March, as there tends to be seasonal burning occurring that causes smoky air.
