Chiang Mai is arguably the most famous city in the North of Thailand – and for good reason!
Chiang Mai is full of history. It was founded in 1296 and was the capital of the old Lanna Kingdom for a couple hundred years. The Old City can still be seen in the center of Chiang Mai surrounded by a moat and parts of the old city wall. The city is also home to over 300 temples!
Chiang Mai is also a super popular city for digital nomads and backpackers. It is cheaper than Bangkok yet full of cafes and trendy restaurants. Chiang Mai is known to have some of the best food in the world (such as the famous Khao Soi soup)!
The average temperature in Chiang Mai is much cooler than other places in Thailand, which is a positive for many expats. The north of Thailand is also known for its mountains. Chiang Mai is a gateway city to Doi Inthanon – the highest mountain in Thailand!
It’s a very popular city to visit elephants in ethical elephant sanctuaries. Chiang Mai is also home to some of the most popular festivals in Thailand!
Read on to see the best things to do in Chiang Mai – as well as how to get there, where to stay, and the best time to visit this bucket list city!
What to do in Chiang Mai
There are many things to do in Chiang Mai walking distance from the Old Town square. We have marked some on the map below, color coded to the headings.
The Best Temples in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is home to over 300 temples. Most of the popular ones are right in the center of the city and you can walk to all of them in one day!
One thing to keep in mind before going to the temples is to dress respectfully. While there usually isn’t anyone enforcing the dress code, it is proper etiquette to cover your shoulders and knees before entering temples. Keep a wrap around skirt in your bag to easily cover up before heading inside!
You must also remove your shoes before entering most of the temples. Just look for the signs (or piles of other shoes). If you don’t want to be constantly tying your shoes, wear some that are easy to slip on and off!
We’ve mapped out some of our favorites temples for you here! Keep in mind there are still over 300 other temples in the city! If you happen to walk by one that catches your eye, make sure you stop by and let us know about it!
A: The Silver Temple – Wat Sri Suphan
I’ll start with the best temple in Chiang Mai (in our opinion)! The Silver Temple, or Wat Sri Suphan, is a quick walk right outside the old town square.
This is one of the most unique and interesting temples we have seen in Thailand! It’s known as the Silver Temple because the entire temple – both the inside and the outside – is covered in silver!
The one downside to the Silver Temple is that only men can enter the temple! Luckily women can still explore the grounds around the temple. Even without being able to enter the temple, I still loved visiting this temple so much! Make sure you don’t miss the back of the temple! Along with the names of different cities, there is also a picture of the avengers hidden on the back of the Silver Temple!
While you are admiring the temple, you may hear many hammers in the distance. That’s because this temple is also the site of a silversmith workshop! You can actually walk around the area where the silversmithing takes place. We were lucky enough to get to watch many people, including a monk, practicing their silver work.
B: Wat Phra Singh
Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan is probably the most famous temple in old city Chiang Mai. Not only is it one of the most beautiful temples in Chiang Mai, but it is also an active temple. Hundreds of monks live there!
There are many beautiful buildings located throughout the temple grounds. It’s a very peaceful place to walk around with tons of places to take pictures.
One of the most impressive parts of Wat Phra Singh is the large golden stuppa. Toward the front of the complex there is also a temple library which is a great example of Lanna style architecture. Wat Phra Singh is well worth a visit!
C: Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Chedi Luang is famous for it’s huge Lanna style chedi which is now in ruins. While it’s not as beautiful as some of the other temples, it looks very ancient and the size of the chedi is amazing! Before it was destroyed, it is believed to have been the largest structure in ancient Chiang Mai.
Wat Chedi Luang was also the home of the famous Emerald Buddha (now located at the Grand Palace in Bangkok) until 1475.
D: Wat Inthakhin Sadue Muang
Wat Inthakhin Sadue Muang is quite a small temple, but it’s less than 5 minutes from Wat Chedi Luang. It looks very striking as it’s made of dark wood with lots of gold accents. The grounds of this temple are also very beautifully decorated with different Buddha statues.
There is a stupa built behind the main temple. It is said to contain the ashes of King Mangrai – the founder of Chiang Mai. He was struck by lightening and killed in the city’s market.
While this temple isn’t one of the most popular to visit in Chiang Mai, we really enjoyed it! It’s location also makes it very easy to stop by when visiting one of the other more popular temples.
E: Wat Chiang Man
Wat Chiang Man is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai! It was built in 1296. While this temple complex isn’t as big as Wat Phra Singh, it is still a very important temple. One of the features it’s best known for is the chedi that has 15 elephants around the base of it.
Wat Chiang Man is also home of the Crystal Buddha and Marble Buddhas (Phra Setangamani and Phra Sila) which are said to be 1,800 years and 2,500 years old respectively! While that sounds extremely old, it is written on a sign right at the temple!
F: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
The last temple that you should definitely go to is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep! Why do we have Doi Suthep listed last when it’s the most famous temple in Chiang Mai? Because this one is not walking distance.
Doi Suthep is actually the name of the entire mountain to the west of Chiang Mai. The famous temple is about a half hour drive outside of the old city of Chiang Mai. It’s easiest to get to by renting a motorbike/car. However, you can also take a taxi or songthaew to get there.
Even though it’s far, you should definitely visit this temple!!! Not only is the temple gorgeous, it also has an amazing viewpoint of Chiang Mai city!
G: Check out the Phae Gate
The Phae Gate is part of the old city wall. It is a huge gate that dates back to ancient times!
It’s really neat to see the old wall and imagine how Chiang Mai used to look hundreds of years ago. You can also walk along the path next to the moat which has been turned into a cute walkway. Just be careful not to get too close to the edge!
H: Try Khao Soi
Khao Soi was recently voted the best soup in the world! And even better? It’s from the north of Thailand – right here in Chiang Mai! You need to try this while you’re in Chiang Mai!
Khao Soi is a kind of curry soup. It’s made using a tender meat (usually chicken or beef) with both cooked noodles and fried noodles in a spicy coconut curry broth. It is also delicious!
We tried it at Kao Soy Nimman – a popular restaurant in Chiang Mai that has been listed in the Michelin Guide in both 2020 as well as 2021! While that might make you expect the food to be very expensive, that wasn’t the case! We got a chicken Khao Soi for only 90 baht (less than $2.50 usd)!
If you want to see more about Khao Soi, especially at Kao Soy Nimman, check out our YouTube video here!
I: Get a Massage….by an Ex-Prisoner
In Thailand, ‘get a massage’ is on my list for any place I visit! But in Chiang Mai you can get a massage while also making a difference.
Ex prisoners in Thailand, especially females, have a very difficult time finding employment after they are released. They are often let out with no financial resources or much hope to find a job. That’s why a former warden of the Women’s Correctional Institution in Chiang Mai opened the first Women’s Massage Center by Ex-Prisoners massage parlor in 2014. It has since grown and there are now 4 branches within the old city square!
This is a great program that is even recognized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. All the women are licensed and the prices are also the same as the normal cheap massages you find all around Thailand!
J: Markets
There are lots of markets to check out in Chiang Mai! From busy local markets to cute night markets and even weekend walking street markets. We bookmarked two to check out!
Warorot Market is the biggest indoor market in Chiang Mai. It’s a little east of the old city square. It’s a really busy market located in Chinatown. While it has some tribe made souvenirs, most of the products we saw were more local.
Rincome Night Market is northwest of the square. It’s a little farther, but you could still walk there. It’s a cute night markets with lots of food stalls, some shopping, and places to drink.
Day Trips/Overnight Trips from Chiang Mai
While there is so much to do within the city, there are also many cool day trips and places to explore only a couple hours from Chiang Mai!
If you have more than a few days in the city, consider adding some of these to your trip!
Ethical Elephants Tours
One thing on everyones Thailand bucket list is to spend a day playing with elephants! Chiang Mai is the perfect place to do that! Chiang Mai has many ethical elephant sanctuaries. These sanctuaries don’t let people ride the elephants and they really take care of them properly.
You can book a tour online here. There are many day trip tours you can sign up for around the city or even with your hotel.
Klook.comVisit a Long Neck Karen Village
Visiting a Long Neck Karen village is usually a very controversial topic.
Many of the villages seem staged. Lots of reviews say they’re tourist traps and feel like human zoos. We did feel those vibes slightly. However, when deciding if you should visit a Karen Village, you should also look at the history of these people.
The Long Neck Karens are not native to Thailand. They are refugees from Myanmar. When it wasn’t safe for them to live in Myanmar, many escaped over the border to Thailand. As refugees, they cannot work in Thailand legally. Therefore the money they get from tourists visiting them is essential for them to survive here.
So yes, the villages are set up for tourists. But you can also help the tribe by buying some of the crafts they are making. It’s also a very unique experience.
Visit Bua Tong Sticky Waterfalls
The Bua Tong Waterfalls, better known as the Sticky Waterfalls, are a little over an hour north of Chiang Mai old city square. While they’re not the biggest waterfalls, they’re known for being ‘sticky’. You can climb up the waterfalls barefoot!
It’s not the easiest place to get to as there is no public transportation that goes there. The best way to get to the sticky waterfalls is by renting a motorbike and driving there. It’s a cool day trip outside of Chiang Mai!
Go to Doi Inthanon
Another must see day trip from Chiang Mai is to go to Doi Inthanon! Doi Inthanon is a national park that is home to the highest mountain in Thailand! Not only is it the highest mountain in Thailand, but you will also be COLD! It’s definitely one of the coolest places to check out in Thailand!
Make sure you read our full guide to Doi Inthanon here! It’s a long drive on a motorbike (yet totally doable). Watch our video going to Doi Inthanon here! Or you can sign up for one of the many tours that go there from Chiang Mai.
Klook.comGo to Pai
Pai is a really popular backpacker destination about 3 hours from Chiang Mai.
It’s a great place to relax and take in the views. There are many hikes to do, as well as waterfalls and hot springs to check out. If you have a couple free days in Chiang Mai, it’s definitely worth it to go to Pai!
Visit Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai is the second most popular city in the north of Thailand! While there isn’t as much to do in Chiang Rai as there is in Chiang Mai, it’s popular sites are some of the best in Thailand!
Chiang Rai is about 3 hours from Chiang Mai. It’s an easy place to continue onto after exploring Chiang Mai, or it’s even possible to do a day trip or tour.
Some of Thailands most iconic temples are in Chiang Rai: the White Temple and the Blue Temple. Chiang Rai is also the gateway city to the Golden Triangle: the meeting place of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.
The Best Time to Visit Chiang Mai
If you’re just on a quick trip to Thailand with set dates, Chiang Mai will always be a great city to visit!
However, if you can choose when to visit Chiang Mai, there are many things to consider. The most obvious being the weather, but also the air quality and the many celebrations in Chiang Mai can affect when you want to visit.
November-February
The best time to visit Chiang Mai is from November-February when the weather is sunny and cool. There shouldn’t be much rain at all as this is the dry season.
The negative to visiting Chiang Mai from November-February is that this is when the most tourists will be visiting! Make sure to have reservations ahead of time. Also be prepared for lots more traffic and people.
March-May
Chiang Mai should be avoided from March-May. Not only is this ‘summer’ and the hottest season in Thailand, but it’s also burning season in Chiang Mai.
During burning season there can be many forest fires due to the lack of rain. It is also when many farmer burn their fields to prepare for the next season.
During burning season the air quality can be very bad. It can make things like viewpoints less clear with much worse views. It can even get bad enough to make it more difficult to breath.
June-October
June-October is the rainy season. This has both positives and negatives.
The obvious negative is lots of rain. Usually it won’t rain all day, but when it does rain, it POURS! The biggest issue this can cause is flooding. If you want to do long day trips outside the city, you’ll have to be very careful especially if you’re using a motorbike.
The positives of going to Chiang Mai during the rainy season are less tourists, cheaper prices, and lots of GREEN! Chiang Mai is full of nature and mountains. All the rain makes the nature much prettier in pictures!
Important Festivals in Chiang Mai
Another thing you may want to consider when choosing when to go to Chiang Mai is all the important holidays and festivals they have!
Songkran
Songkran, aka Thai New Year, is a huge holiday on April 13th with celebrations lasting a few days. And Chiang Mai happens to be the best place to celebrate Songkran!
During Songkran everyone runs around with water guns and buckets of water to throw on people in the streets! It’s basically a country wide water gun fight! The water symbolizes washing away the previous year so you can be fresh and clean for the new year!
While Songkran is celebrated all over Thailand, the biggest celebrations are in Chiang Mai!
Yi Peng Festival/Loi Krathong Festival
Yi Peng Festival is the Festival of Lights. It’s the famous festival where thousands of floating lanterns are released into the sky! Chiang Mai also happens to be where the biggest Yi Peng festival takes place!
There isn’t a set date for Yi Peng on a western calendar. It usually falls in November, however the exact date is the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. The exact dates are announced a month before the festival so you’ll have to keep searching closer to your trip date.
Cherry Blossoms
Another cool time to visit Chiang Mai is at the end of January/beginning of February. This is when the cherry blossoms bloom! It’s also when the weather is best.
How to Get to Chiang Mai
Fly to Chiang Mai
The quickest way to get to Chiang Mai is to fly there. Flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai take a little over 1 hour. They can also be as cheap as $20 one way!
The biggest negative is that flights can be much more expensive over holidays. Like three times the price.
Train to Chiang Mai
The train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is another popular option. There are 5 trains a day between the two cities. They take between 11-14 hours to get there depending on the train.
There are a couple trains which travel during the daytime and have great views for most of the trip. The more popular trains are the night trains which have the added benefit of saving you a night in a hotel.
Trains from Bangkok to Chiang Mai cost between 800 baht to almost 2,000 baht depending on the train class and seat type.
Overnight Bus to Chiang Mai
There are many overnight buses from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. While most people don’t like the thought of sleeping on a bus, we have used this option many times!
The VIP buses in Thailand are quite comfortable. Most have bathrooms on board and some even have massage chairs!
This is also the cheapest and most flexible option. It’s even faster than the train!
The bus takes about 10 hours from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. We usually use Sombat Tours as they have many options and their buses are comfortable. Sombat Tours has 9 buses a day from bangkok to Chiang Mai that cost between 700-1,000 baht depending on the bus.
We love this option as we can leave late at night after work, arrive in the morning ready to explore, and it’s much cheaper than the train.
Where to Stay in Chiang Mai
We stayed at Thai Villa Orchid hotel in Chiang Mai and would definitely recommend it! It was cheap, very comfortable, and in a great location in the old city square! The owners were so accommodating and we were able to walk everywhere we wanted to in the city! There was also a motorbike shop a minute away that we used to rent a bike to go to Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon. This is the purple location on the map at the top of this page.
If cost isn’t an issue, Chala Number 6 is a top rated hotel in Chiang Mai that also has a great location!
If you’re backpacking on a budget, there are many hostels available on hostelworld for as little as 150 baht a night!
