Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่) is the hub of northern Thailand. On a plain at an elevation of 316 m, surrounded by mountains and lush countryside, it is much greener and quieter than the capital and has a cosmopolitan air and a significant expatriate population, all factors which have led many from Bangkok to settle permanently in this "rose of the north".

Understand

Ancient city wall and moat

With a population of over 127,000 registered residents in the city municipality (as of 2016), and 1.2 million in the urban city area as of 2022, it is Thailand's second-largest city. Founded in 1296 CE, Chiang Mai is a culturally and historically interesting city, at one time the capital of the ancient Lanna kingdom. In the rolling foothills of the Himalayas 700 km north of Bangkok, until the 1920s it could only be reached by an arduous river journey or an elephant trek. This isolation helped preserve Chiang Mai's distinctive charm, which remains intact.

Chiang Mai's historical centre is the walled city ("city" is chiang in the northern Thai dialect while mai is "new", hence Chiang Mai translates as "new city"). Sections of the wall dating to their restoration a few decades ago remain at the gates and corners, but of the rest only the moat remains.

Inside Chiang Mai's remaining city walls are more than 30 temples dating back to the founding of the principality, in a combination of Burmese, Sri Lankan, and Lanna Thai styles, decorated with beautiful wood carvings, Naga staircases, leonine and angelic guardians, gilded umbrellas and pagodas laced with gold filigree. The most famous is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, which overlooks the city from a mountainside 13 km away.

Modern-day Chiang Mai has expanded in all directions, but particularly to the east to the banks of the Ping River (Mae Nam Ping), where Changklan Rd, the famous Night Bazaar, and the bulk of Chiang Mai's hotels and guest houses are located. Loi Kroh Rd (ถนนลอยเคราะห์) is the centre of the city's (tourist) night life.

Locals say you've not experienced Chiang Mai until you've seen the view from Doi Suthep, eaten a bowl of kao soi and purchased an umbrella from Bo Sang. Of course this is touristic blather, but kao soi, Bo Sang umbrellas and Doi Suthep are important cultural icons for the locals.

Orientation

Chiang Mai's most salient physical feature is the moat and the remains of the wall surrounding the old city. About 6.5 km in circumference, it is the reference point for navigating around the city.

The east and west halves of the old city each have their own character. The east side has the highest concentration of guesthouses, restaurants, motorbike rental shops, travel agencies, and other tourist-oriented services. In particular, the northeast corner is a warren of guesthouses, restaurants, massage parlours, and other businesses catering to visitors. The western half is more Thai, with a school for the blind, a coffin shop, the Chiang Mai branch of Thailand's National Library and five or six mostly table-top barbecue restaurants (หมูกระทะ mǔu grà~​tá) almost always packed with Thai customers.

Clockwise from 12 o'clock (north), the main features of the moat and its environs areː

• 1 Chang Phuak Gate (ประตูช้างเผือก) (Centre, N moat). Built by King Mangrai c.1296. Formerly known as Hua Wiang ("head of the city") Gate as it was considered the most important. King Saen Muang Ma (1365-1401) built an albino elephant (cháang-pʉ̀ʉak ช้างเผือก) monument outside the gate during his reign. The name of the gate then changed gradually to reflect its presence. Traditionally, kings-to-be entered the city through this gate on the way to their coronations. Taking the road north from here takes one to the intra-provincial bus station, also named Chang Phuak, then onward to Mae Rim, Pai, Chiang Rai and the Lao border. (updated Feb 2024)
• 2 Si Phum Corner (แจ่งศรีภูมิ) (NE moat corner). Taking the left turn at this point takes one to the superhighway. Straight on leads to a bridge over the Ping River and beyond it, the rail and bus stations. Turning right (south) parallels the eastern boundary of the moat. (updated Feb 2024)
• 3 Tha Phae Gate (ประตูท่าแพ) (Centre E moat). Built c.1296 as Chiang Ruak Gate after a nearby village. "Tha Phae" means "raft landing". There used to be an outer Tha Phae on the river and this gate, the inner Tha Phae. When the raft landing was supplanted by a bridge, this became the Tha Phae Gate. Rebuilt 1985-1986. The vicinity is by far the area most useful to visitors as it contains the greatest number of tourist services. The Night Bazaar lies due east, about a 15-min walk. There always seems be something going on in the plaza adjacent to the gate. Every Sunday a Walking Street Market originates here. (updated Feb 2024)
• 4 Katam Corner (แจ่งก็ะตำ) (SE moat corner). A "katam" was a "fishtrap". Water flowing into the city from the Hua Lin corner (NW) of the city collected near this corner in a large pond full of fish. The corner took on the name of the tool used to catch the fish. Turning left here leads to the River Ping. (updated Feb 2024)
• 5 Chiang Mai Gate (ประตูเชียงใหม่) (Centre, S moat). Built c.1296 at the founding of the city by King Mangrai. Traditionally the start of the road south to Lamphun. Reconstructed c.1800. Rebuilt 1966-1969. Nearby is the Chiang Mai (fresh) Market, selling foodstuffs. Adjacent are many food stalls, which are popular throughout the day and especially evening. Across the street on Wualai Road to the south is a Walking Street Market every Saturday. (updated Feb 2024)
• 6 Saen Pung Gate (ประตูแสนปุง) (SW moat). First mentioned in historical records about 1545. Traditionally used to transport the dead out of the city to crematoria outside the city proper. (updated Feb 2024)
• 7 Ku Huang Corner (แจ่งกู่เฮีอง) (SW corner). Refers to a stupa "kuu" containing the ashes of a person named "Huang". Rebuilt c. 1800. Turning left here leads to the Airport Plaza Shopping Centre and the airport. (updated Feb 2024)
• 8 Suan Dok Gate (ประตูสวนดอก) (W side of moat). On the sign, misspelled in English as "saun dok". Little in the vicinity of interest to visitors. Outside this gate is Suthep Road, which leads to Wat Suan Dok, Chiang Mai University, and more. (updated Feb 2024)
• 9 Hua Lin Corner (แจ่งหัวลิน) (Moat NW corner). "Hua" means "head" and "lin" means "aqueduct". At this corner the small brook, Hûuai Kaeo, was lifted over the city's rampart to provide fresh water to the settlement. Turning left here leads to the Nimmanhaemin District, Chiang Mai University, Maya Mall, and onward to Doi Suthep. (updated Feb 2024)

Climate

Chiang Mai
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       7     30 14       5     32 15       13     35 18       50     36 22       158     34 23       132     32 24       161     32 24       236     31 23       228     31 23       122     31 22       53     30 19       20     28 15 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Check Chiang Mai's 7-day forecast at TMD.go.th
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       0.3     86 57       0.2     90 59       0.5     95 64       2     97 72       6.2     93 73       5.2     90 75       6.3     90 75       9.3     88 73       9     88 73       4.8     88 72       2.1     86 66       0.8     82 59 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Chiang Mai's northern location and moderate elevation results in the city having a more temperate climate than that of the south.

As in the rest of Thailand there are three distinct seasons:

• A cool season from Nov-Feb.
• A hot season from Mar-Jun.
• A wet season from Jul-Oct.

Get in

Chiang Mai Airport

By plane

1 Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX  ^IATA). Handles both domestic and regional international flights.  

The route from Bangkok is one of the busiest in the country (Thai Airways flies daily almost every hour, with additional flights in the peak tourist season). Other airlines operating direct services to Chiang Mai include:

Domestic

• Thai Air Asia. A well-known Asian low-cost airline, has domestic flights from Bangkok (both airports), Pattaya, Phuket, Hat Yai, Krabi, Surat Thani, Khon Kaen. Used to be the cheapest option if you booked at least a week before, but now the strong competition of other carriers, as well as AirAsia's popularity among tourists, makes this true mostly only if you're lucky to catch a good promo. Promotional fares can be much less. Prices can be significantly higher if you book just a few days before, or want a specific day/flight. (updated Oct 2022)
• Bangkok Airways. A full-service carrier positioning itself as "Asia's boutique airline" (for example, they provide a lounge to Economy passengers both in Chiang Mai and Bangkok), flies from Ko Samui & Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi). Surprisingly, Bangkok Airways can be cheaper than the budget airlines (but not to Ko Samui where they have a domestic monopoly), particularly if you book just a few days ahead. From 1,350 baht to Bangkok. (updated Oct 2022)
• Nok Air. Thai low-cost carrier, flies from Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport eight or more times a day. Promo fares can be as low as 450 baht without checked bags. They also fly from Udon Thani three times a day, the price is in the same range, and while it's still somewhat more expensive than a (12-hour) bus trip, it's several times cheaper than the price of the Lao Airlines flight from Vientiane, which is easily accessible from Udon Thani. Other destinations: Mae Hong Son, Ubon Ratchathani. (updated Oct 2022)
• Thai Lion Air. A subsidiary of the leading Indonesian low-cost carrier, Lion Air offers attractive fares from Bangkok (Don Mueang) with several flights a day and numerous onward destinations in Asia (especially in Indonesia, Malaysia and China) available from Bangkok. There's a flight from Pattaya as well. (updated Oct 2022)
• Thai VietJet. Relatively new low-cost competitor from Vietnam, often has cheap fares in advance, and, unlike other low-cost carriers, flies from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, not Don Mueang. (updated Oct 2022)

International

• Air Asia flies from Kuala Lumpur
• Asiana - from Seoul
• HK Express - from Hong Kong
• China Airlines - from Taipei, Taiwan
• EVA Air - from Taipei
• Hainan Airlines - from Shenzhen
• JC International Airlines - from Phnom Penh
• Jeju Air - from Seoul
• Jin Air - from Seoul
• Juneyao Airlines - from Chengdu & Shanghai
• Korean Airlines - Four flights weekly from Seoul/Inchon
• Lao Airlines - from Luang Prabang in Laos — the flight originates in Vientiane
• Lucky Air - from Kunming
• Myanmar National Airlines - from Yangon
• Ruili Airlines - from Kunming & Xishuangbanna
• Scoot - from Singapore
• Spring Airlines - from Guangzhou & Shanghai
• Thai Airways - doesn't have direct international flights, but has many connections via Bangkok; if you arrive to/depart from Thailand on their flight, it's wise to check the through fare from Chiang Mai, as it often will cost just several hundred baht more (yet slightly more if stopping over in Bangkok for a few days or departing from another airport).
• VietJet Air - from Ho Chi Minh City

The airport is 3 km southwest of the city centre, 10–15 minutes away by car. Registered airport taxis charge a flat 150 baht for up to 5 passengers anywhere in the city. Uber charges the same flat fare if going from/to the airport. If you take a metered taxi, there is a starting fee plus a service fee from the Meter Taxi counter. The taxis operate from the exit at the north end of the terminal, after baggage claim and/or customs, walk into the reception hall and turn left. The airport has a shuttle minibus service available, offering drop-off to any hotel in the city for a flat fee of 40 baht (July 2015) - perfect if you're arriving alone and don't mind waiting 10-15 minutes for a few fellow passengers. The minibus counter is at the southern end of the terminal, near the International arrivals. Alternatively, take Bus 4 to the city centre, or charter a tuk-tuk or songthaew (if alone, negotiate with a songthaew driver who already has a few passengers). Most hotels and some upmarket guest houses offer cheap or free pick-up/drop-off services.

There are numerous ATMs and exchange offices of several banks in the main airport hall, which is very long and combines both international and domestic arrival and check-in booths on one floor - but you'll need to take an elevator to the second floor once you've checked in, and that's where you won't find neither exchanges nor ATMs. Their rate will not be as good as ones in town, e.g. Mr. Pierre Money Exchange on Tha Phae rd, while not walkable offers significantly better rates.

By bus

Bus stations

Chiang Mai has two official bus stations, consisting of four bus terminals:

Arcade bus station

• 2 Arcade Bus Station (Terminals 2 and 3 plus the Nakhonchai Air Terminal) (สถานีขนส่งอาเขตเชียงใหม่) (at the far end of Kaeo Nawarat Rd just before it meets the superhighway), ☏ +66 53-242664. Buses from destinations outside Chiang Mai Province use this station. It has two official terminals, separated by a tuk-tuk stand and a road and tank trap-like obstacles. The private bus company Nakhonchai Air has a separate terminal behind Terminal 2. 

The Arcade Bus "Station" is a mess, with no obvious order to the layout. There are ticket offices in both terminals. Further complicating the confusion, behind Terminal 2, Nakhonchai Air has a separate terminal. If you walk from the front to the rear of the Terminal 2 building, you will see a big "Nakhonchai Air" sign. Keep walking, and cross the parking lot to the rear, you will come upon it. The terminal is normally hidden from view by out-of-service buses.

Terminal 2 has a tourist police office, ATMs, food vendors, and many ticket sellers, including the booking office for BKS government buses. Buses depart from here for Bangkok, Phitsanulok, Udon. There seems to be no logic as to what buses go to which destination from which terminal and there is a good deal of overlap.

Terminal 3 is the larger and newer of the two. It has an air-conditioned waiting room with Internet cafe upstairs, small food vendors, ATMs, the booking window for Green Bus (Window 20), and numerous other ticket sellers. Buses for Bangkok, Phitsanulok, Ubon, Korat, Nan, Hua Hin, Luang Prabang, Mae Sot depart from here.

Chang Phuak bus station

• 3 Chang Phuak Bus Station (Terminal 1) (off Chang Phuak Rd, on the north side of the moat, about 1 km north of Chang Phuak Gate), ☏ +66 53-211586. This station handles buses within Chiang Mai Province including Mae Rim, Chiang Dao, Fang, Tha Ton, Phrao, Hot, Chom Thong, Doi Tao, and Samoeng. 

In effect, there is a fifth bus terminal if you count songthaews as buses. From the Warorot Market, songthaews depart for a variety of locations within a radius of about 50 km, such as Samoeng. The colour of the songthaew indicates its general route or usage. Most common are red songthaews (hence the alternative name of rot daeng, or "red car", which roam the main streets in the city. Warorot Market (west bank of the Ping River) is the most common terminus for songthaews that travel along fixed routes. From Warorot Market, white songthaews travel to the eastern suburban town of San Kampaeng, yellow songthaews travel to Mae Rim and Samoeng in the north, blue songthaews travel to Sarapee and Lamphun in the south, and green songthaews travel to Mae Jo to the northeast. The songthaews line up along the road that is parallel the Ping River, between it and the market. Destinations are posted on round, yellow signs but are only in Thai.

From Bangkok

Feet up on the night bus from Bangkok

A variety of daily buses leave frequently from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit), offering varying choices of price, comfort and speed.

• Rattling government buses make frequent stops at every minor township. The journey takes around 12 hr. Staff at Mo Chit station and elsewhere in Bangkok may deny these buses exist, or claim the price is the same as the 1st class buses.
• Non-stop 24/32-seaters and 1st class buses such as Nakhonchai Air provide larger seats and snacks; making the long trip more comfortable. They manage the trip in around 9 hours and it costs around 488-550 baht. Be cautious about the so-called "VIP" buses touted on Khao San Rd. They may be cheaper, but you may end up crammed into a 2nd class bus or worse.

At Arcade Bus Station, where you'll arrive there is a public mini bus that runs from Arcadia bus station to the center of town (old town), it leaves from the road between the two arcadia terminal buildings and costs 15 baht. This will likely work out cheaper for tourists than the red songhaews and is less hassle; however staff staff will only direct you to the songthaews.

There are also songthaews that wait nearer Terminal 3, adjacent to the road that bisects the two terminals. Look for local people getting into them, and ask the driver if he goes to your destination (if the songthaew is empty, don't forget to confirm the price). You can take a shared trip to Tha Phae Gate (south edge of the old town), though you may have to wait for a driver who agrees. Virtually all songthaews will pass Warorot Market (city centre, just after crossing the river), from where it's just 1 km walk to Tha Phae Gate, or numerous (see "Get around" section) songthaews to other areas.

Drivers will approach you once you've arrived and will ask as much as 100-200 baht to the city centre/Tha Phae Gate, showing you a bogus price list with "fixed" prices. Bargain: it's just 5–6 km, so the fair price for tuk-tuk there is 50-60 baht, and is not more than 100-120 baht even to the opposite side of the city. It may be difficult to bargain with these drivers, however. A good idea is to ignore them from the start, walk out to the nearby street, and catch a passing tuk-tuk/songthaew there. If your luggage is light, you can walk to the centre, but it's quite a long (1 hour or more) walk, as the Arcade bus station is located in the city's northeast outskirts. Nowadays, you can also use Uber app for a cheap yet comfortable ride - a trip to the old city area will likely cost 45-70 baht, but be sure to pinpoint your location really well, so the driver could find you, as the bus station area is quite large.

From Hua Hin

Buses depart the Hua Hin BKS Station at 08:00, 17:00, and 18:00 for Chiang Mai, 12.5 hr.

From Pattaya

Buses depart the Nakhonchai Air Terminal in Pattaya (Sukhumvit Rd) for Chiang Mai several times during the day. Last bus about 21:00. Travel time is about 11 hr, with no stops longer than 5 min. Buses to Pattaya from Chiang Mai leave the Nakhonchai Air Terminal at Arcade Station daily on roughly the same schedule.

From Phuket

There is one daily direct Green Bus service from Chiang Mai's Arcade Terminal 3 to Phuket Terminal 2 and back. Cost is 1,646 baht (Dec 2017), tickets can be purchased online on their website. This trip is a killer: close to 24 hours on the bus! Although the bus is a state-of-the-art Sunlong vehicle and the seats are great (VIP24 bus: three business class-like seats in a row, with a video entertainment system - the movies are mostly in Thai however, with some limited English selection), this is simply too long time to be on a bus. If flying is not an option, definitely it's better to break your trip into two parts by stopping for at least one night in Bangkok (going from/to Chiang Mai by sleeper train preferably) or another city roughly in the middle, like Hua Hin.

From Udon Thani

From Udon to Chiang Mai: Phetprasert Bus Company has three buses a day depart from in front of the Central Festival Shopping Mall. Depart Udon/arrive Chiang Mai times are: 17:45-05:25; 18:45-06:25; and 20:45-06:40. Fare is about 636 baht (Apr 2015). Buy your ticket at the Phetprasert ticket counter in the downtown bus station, a 5 min walk from Central Festival. There is an inconvenient out-of-town bus terminal that may have more buses to Chiang Mai.

From Chiang Mai to Udon: Phetprasert Buses leave Chiang Mai/arrive Udon at: 14:30-02:15; 17:30-05:15; and 19:30-05:30. Buses arrive at the Central Festival Shopping Mall, a convenient location 5 minutes from the downtown bus station. Fare is about 636 baht (Apr 2015). Buy your ticket at the Phetprasert ticket counter in Arcade Terminal 2. Buses depart from Arcade Terminal 3.

By train

Chiang Mai railway station

Services from Bangkok leave on a regular daily schedule and take 12–15 hours to reach Chiang Mai. If you go by night train (recommended), take one that arrives late in the morning so you can observe some northern Thailand scenery: bridges and forests; villages and fields.

Daytime services leave at 08:30, and 14:30 with second-class and third-class carriages. The seats in each class differ in softness and width, and can become uncomfortable after 10+ hours. 3rd class costs 231 baht, 2nd class is 391 baht, and 2nd class with air conditioning costs 641 baht (April 2022).

Overnight sleepers provide comfortable bunks with clean sheets and pillows in first- and second-class. First-class beds are in private two-bed compartments. They cost 1253 or 1453 baht for a top bunk, and 1453 or 1653 baht for a bottom bunk (April 2022). In second-class, the carriages are open but each bunk has a curtain for privacy. The top bunks are slightly claustrophobic as they lack a window, but they are cheaper for this reason. Air conditioned 2nd class top bunks cost 771 or 941 baht, bottom bunks cost 841 or 1041 baht (April 2022), depending on the train. First-class always has air-con, second class sometimes has air-con, depending on the train. There are usually four trains per day with sleeper accommodation, though only two of these will have first-class compartments. Station staff will be able to help you.

Carriages are kept clean; the toilet and floors are regularly mopped during the journey. Vendors make regular rounds selling snacks, drinks, and lackluster meals at inflated prices. You are also free to hop off quickly at stations to make a purchase (or order through your window) or bring your own food and drink.

In second-class, the bunks are folded away leaving pairs of facing seats. At some point in the evening, or on request, they are flipped down into bunks and made up into beds. In first-class, the bottom bunk is used as a bench seat before having a futon mattress placed on top in the evening.

If you're not in the mood for bed when your carriage mates are bedding down, you can head off to the dining car, which provides fairly good food and drink at reasonable prices. Later in the night, the dining car can be converted into a disco, complete with loud music and flashing lights.

Tickets can be bought up to 60 days in advance at any station in Thailand. Booking in advance is advised, especially for the popular 2nd-class overnight sleepers. Larger stations accept payment with Visa and MasterCard. This is fairly safe, as SRT is a state-owned company. If you are not yet in Thailand, the SRT D-Ticketing website will let you buy and print an e-ticket. Some find it tricky to register. You have to avoid any special characters while filling the registration form. You must book at least three days in advance, and you can only purchase 1st and 2nd class air-con sleeper tickets which are more expensive than fan-only car tickets. The price on-line is the same as at the ticket office. There is also an official SRT D-Ticket app on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Various travel agencies, some available to contact from outside Thailand, can also procure tickets for delivery or pick up. 12go is a poopular choice for this.

You can transport a bicycle between Bangkok and Chiang Mai on the train for an extra fee. It will go in the cargo area.

4 Chiang Mai train station (about 3 km east of the city centre).   Many songthaews and tuk-tuks await each train's arrival. If you want to walk, exit the station, cross the open square in front and turn left on the first major road you come to (Charoen Muang Rd); this road goes directly to city centre.

Get around

By bus

Chiang Mai finally has a limited bus service, not without the opposition of the songhthaew (see below) and tuk tuk drivers. The buses are air-conditioned and follow one of a few routes; see CM Transit application for real time tracking, or this guide, to plan your trip. There are just a few routes so far, but they quite fit the average traveler's needs, including from/to the airport. The ticket is 20 baht, pay in cash to the driver or else Rabbit card from Bangkok is also accepted. For those wishing to travel really hard, there's a Tourist card - 180 baht per day or 400 baht per 3 days unlimited trips.

By songthaew

A songthaew serves as a bus or a taxi.

The traditional way of getting around the city is by songthaew (สองแถว) which serve as buses and taxis. These covered pick-up trucks have two long bench seats in the back (songthaew means "two rows" in Thai), the seats are shared by multiple passengers and the songthaews stop en route to pick up other passengers who are going the same way.

The colour of the songthaew indicates its general route or usage. Most common by far are red songthaews (called rot daeng, red truck), which don't follow a specific route and roam the main streets around markets, temples, or the bus/train stations. These are the most convenient to take if you are going somewhere specific. Prices are fixed to 30 baht inside the city walls but the price must be negotiated outside the city walls, but expect to pay upwards of 40 baht outside. During peak season these prices can increase to 40 baht within the city walls and up to 200 baht outside - again, that's how much a tourist would pay. Because of the city's somewhat irrational road design, especially inside the old walls, the driver may be forced to take a circuitous route to get to a nearby destination, but it will make no difference to the fare.

Since mid 2017 songthaews have a sign stating "30 baht pp" above the windows of the car. However this is not a translation of the entire Thai text. It turns out to be the maximum, when reading the entire line. A second line, that is below the windows, gives the area for this tariffs: within the 2nd ringroad. Keep this in mind when you have to negotiate.

Text above the windows

อัตรา	ค่า	โดยสาร	ไม่	เกิน	30	บาท	/	คน
atra	kha doisan		mai koen		30	bat	/	khon
classifier	the fee paid for transportation		not more than		30	baht	/	person

Text below the windows

รถ

โดยสาร

ไม่

ประจำ

ทาง

ภาย

ใน

เขา

วง

แหวน

รอบ

2

เชียงใหม่

rot doisan

mai

pracham thang

phai nai

khao

wong waen

rop

2

chiangmai

passenger bus

not

driven on a fixed route

within

them

ring road

around

2

Chiang Mai

To catch a songthaew approach a waiting driver or flag one down on the street, state your destination and if the driver is going that direction he will nod in agreement and give you a price. Negotiate a lower fare if you wish. The price agreed to should be per person. It's a good idea to confirm this with the driver before you leave. On reaching your destination, ring the buzzer on the roof to tell the driver to stop. The driver will pull over, wait for you to get out and pay.

Songthaews not orbiting on a fixed-route can be hired outright, just as if they were a taxi. Negotiate a price before departure.

Fixed-route songthaews

• 5 White Songthaew to Sankampaeng. (updated Apr 2023)
• 6 White Songthaew to Mae Taeng. (updated Apr 2023)
• 7 Yellow Songthaew to Doi Saket. (updated Apr 2023)
• 8 Yellow Songthaew to Hang Dong & San Patong. (updated Apr 2023)
• 9 Blue Songthaew to Sarapee & Lamphun. (updated Apr 2023)
• 10 Green Songthaew to Mae Jo. (updated Apr 2023)
• 11 Orange Songthaew to Fang. (updated Apr 2023)

Fare is dependent on distance.

By tuk-tuk or samlor

Tuk-tuks are a quick, though noisy way to get around. Good luck if you can bargain for anything less than 100 baht even for a few kilometers, as they would rather wait for another clueless tourist more likely. Many expatriates and long-term tourists tend to ignore tuk-tuks completely unless absolutely necessary, and use alternate modes of transportation like a motorbike or Grab ride-hailing app. Even Thai people are complaining about tuk-tuks asking them more than double than they used to pay several years ago. Tuk-tuks at the bus/train station will ask even more like 200 baht if not more, and may refuse to bargain - just walk away to the nearest road and stop a songthaew (note that some of them will also quote a "taxi" price when they see a foreigner) there, or, better, install a Grab app and go by an air-conditioned car for a fraction of the tuk-tuk price. A good rule of thumb is that unfair drivers will seek you out, but you have to seek out the drivers who will give you a fair price.

A few samlors (three-wheeled bicycles) still cruise the streets and will happily take you to a temple for the same price as a tuk-tuk, though at a considerably quieter and slower pace.

By e-hailing

Grab is usually (except the periods of exceptionally high demand like during Songkran, New Year, etc.) cheaper than a tuk-tuk even after haggling, with the added benefit of cashless payment and the comfort of a private car. For the airport rides they charge a significant premium (such as 180 baht compared to 70 baht to the nearby Central Airport Plaza), but most rides within the city (including the train and bus stations) will cost around 60-80 baht for a few kilometers.

You can also call a motorbike (look for Grab Win service) or a regular metered taxi using the Grab app (look for a GrabTaxi service). GrabTaxi will give you a fare estimate to compare with their main GrabCar service (where you will pay exactly what you see on the screen). At the end of a GrabTaxi trip, you'll pay what the meter shows plus a booking fee (30 baht), either in cash or debited from your credit card by the Grab service.

There are also alternatives to Grab, for example, Bolt which is usually about 10%-20% cheaper.

By taxi

Chiang Mai has metered taxis, although not as many as tuk-tuks and songthaews. The "flag fall" is for the first 2 km, then per kilometre after that. Journeys longer than 12 km can be negotiated. This fare structure applies to all metered taxis in Chiang Mai Province.

You cannot generally hail taxis in the street. To book a taxi, call +66 53–279291, state your destination and the call centre will give you a quote. Or contact individual drivers via the mobile phone numbers displayed on their vehicles.

By motorbike or motorcycle

A motorbike is a convenient and cheap way to get around the city or reach the outlying sights. There is an abundance of near indistinguishable rental companies in the city, though most guesthouses can arrange rentals as well. 100 cc and 125 cc machines with automatic transmissions capable of carrying two people are the easiest to jump on and ride away if you don't have driving experience. A scooter or moped, such as the Honda Click, is the most convenient as it can carry bags on the floorboard and smaller items underneath the seat. Off-road bikes and larger street bikes are also an option. An international driver's licence is legally required, but the rental shops don't ask to see it, not even your national driver's permit.

You get the required helmets and an anti-theft chain (not for scooters). Larger machines cost more for a V-twin or larger sport-bike. Expect discounts when renting for a week, month or longer.

Renting will require a deposit, and while many companies ask for a passport, you should under no circumstances leave your passport with anyone as collateral. However, most shops will accept a photocopy with a cash deposit. While the petrol/gas tank may be full on pickup, it is not uncommon for shops to deliver a bike with just enough fuel to go make it to a service station. They may siphon the remainder off when you return it so the next person is forced to do the same. In any case, return the bike with as much or more fuel than received to avoid any penalties. Also check the mechanical condition of the bike offered. Focus especially on the brakes: the degree of "pull" needed for the brake levers and the travel required by the foot brake. Check that turn indicators and headlights work properly, and that the tyres are reasonably OK. Make photos of the bike as documentation of pre-existing damages.

Some rental agreements claim to insure you, but generally only cover the bike for theft or damage. Don't expect much compensation in the event of an accident. And irrespective of who is at fault, assume that you will be the one blamed.

Chiang Mai traffic police are fond of setting up checkpoints to stop motorcyclists. These invariably happen during business hours. If you or your passenger are without a helmet, you will be stopped. If you do have a helmet, you may be stopped anyway, to check your licence and registration. If you are fined, this is a smooth process which typically takes less than 5 minutes: e.g., if you present a foreign driver's license, you fined only 500 baht. You can pay on the spot and continue driving afterwards. If you are stopped again, showing the receipt may exempt you from being fined again.

The regular checkpoints change from time to time. The second half of 2019 they are:

• 10 Checkpoint Arak Rd. (250 m south from the NW corner of the old city). (updated Nov 2019)
• 11 Checkpoint Kotchasarn Rd. (50 m south from Loi Kroh Rd.). (updated Nov 2019)
• 12 Checkpoint Huay Kaew Rd. (450 m west from the super highway junction). Usually direction Doi Suthep, but sometimes both directions. (updated Nov 2019)

Rental companies

• CityGlide. Fully bookable online and they deliver to you. (updated Oct 2024)

By bicycle

Traffic inside the old city walls is subdued enough to make biking a safe and quick way to get around. Bike rentals are plentiful; rental costs depending on the bike quality.

By car

Car hire services are available at the airport and throughout the city. Cars typically offered include the Toyota Vios, Altis, and Yaris, and the Honda City and Jazz. Expect a slight discount when renting weekly. Many places offer minivans such as 10-seat Toyota Commuters with a driver. Older Suzuki Caribbean 4WDs are a cheaper option, but they are relatively difficult to drive and less mechanically reliable than a standard passenger car.

All the multi-national rental companies are present in Chiang Mai. One local car rental company is:

• 13 Thai Rent-a-Car, 60 Airport Rd. 1st Floor Domestic Arrival Hall (Exit 1) (Chiang Mai Airport), ☏ +66 53-904188. 

Hiring a car or minivan with driver is a great option for travelling to places outside the city, and the price is often similar to hiring a car and driving yourself. You'll also be able to relax and enjoy the scenery in air-conditioned comfort. When booked a car with a driver, he or she will typically pick you up with a full tank of fuel and you pay at the end. Most hotels and some guesthouses can arrange it for you, in addition to vehicle rental outlets, and the many travel agencies in the city.

On foot

The old city moat is only about 1.6 km on a side, and as such is easy to walk around. The airport is also quite close to the old part of the city, about 2.5 km, so if you have the energy and an hour to spare, you can even walk to and from the airport. This is not necessarily a pleasant experience as the sidewalks are uneven (or non-existent) and Chiang Mai gets hot during the day, especially during the hot season, and rainy during the rainy season. The cost of a taxi or songthaew from the moat area to the airport is around 150 baht.

See

Gardens and nature

• 1 Chiang Mai Foreign Cemetery, Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd (about 800 m north of the Holiday Inn, east side of the Ping River). A place of history and remembrance. A statue of Queen Victoria is overlooking the place.  
• 2 Chiang Mai Zoo & Aquarium, 100 Huay Kaew Rd (at the foot of Doi Suthep), ☏ +66 53-893111. Daily, 09:00-17:00. A large park with over 400 species of animals, extremely popular with Thai tourists, and long queues may be encountered during Thai holidays. While better than some zoos, many animals are nevertheless kept in small enclosures. The zoo operates a dual pricing system wherein non-Thais are charged approximately double the price of Thai nationals. Additional charges are applied for both the panda exhibition and the aquarium. Many of the animals can be fed for a charge of 10 or 20 baht. The park is pretty large, and expect plenty of hills if you want to walk the complete route, so taking the "tram," which is an open-air cart, is a faster and more convenient way to get around, though the last tram starts at 16:30. It's possible to drive through with your car, and there are parking spots next to the animal exhibits. If you have a rental scooter or bike, definitely bring it though. The zoo closes at 17:00, but many visitors wander to the exit gate well past closing time. 150 baht for adults; 70 baht for children.  

Picknick huts on the water at the Huai Tueng Thao Reservoir

• 3 Huai Tueng Thao Reservoir (in Mae Rim, 12.5 km from the center of Chiang Mai). Big figures made of rice stalks and picknick huts on the water. Very popular with locals. 50 baht entrance fee. (updated Jan 2024)
• 4 Mae Sa Waterfall (go 17 km north to Mae Rim on Rte 107. Turn onto Rte 1096 to Samoeng. Travel ~7 km to waterfall on left), ☏ +66 53-210244. 08:30-16:30. Set in the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park on the Samoeng Loop. The path winds up for almost 2 km to the 8 tiers of cascades. There are many secluded areas off the trail for picnics. Crowded on weekends and holidays. Foreigners, 100 baht; Thais, 20 baht. 
• 5 Phu Ping Palace (Royal Winter Palace), Suthep (on Rte 1004, beyond Doi Suthep). Daily, 08:30-11:30 & 13:00-15:00 when the Thai royal family is not in residence. This royal winter palace has lavishly landscaped gardens and is open to the public. Dress code strictly applied: dress modestly or pay 15 baht for fisherman's pants to cover your lack of it. This includes ANY leg above the ankle for either gender. The palace itself (built in 1961) is not particularly exciting, but the extensive gardens are picturesque with some amazing plant life, including carefully tended tropical flowers, centuries-old trees and giant bamboo. A sign at the bottom of the hill near the zoo indicates when it's closed. It is close to Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, so travel directions are similar. 50 baht, children 10 baht.  
• 6 Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, 100 Moo 9, Mae Ram (go 17 km N to Mae Rim on Rte 107. Turn onto Rte 1096 to Samoeng; travel 12 km to garden on left), ☏ +66 53-841234. Daily 08:30-16:30. Thailand's oldest and foremost botanical garden. Dedicated to the conservation of Thai flora, it holds collections of, and carries out research on rare and endangered species. Lovely gardens in a mountain foothills setting. Run by the Botanical Garden Association of Thailand. Adult 150 baht; child 100 baht; car 100 baht. (updated Oct 2024)
• 7 Nature Trail to Doi Pui peak (beyond Phu Ping Palace). A loop trail (2.4 km) leads from the Doi Pui Campsite to Doi Pui peak (uphill!) and back. From the peak you can continue to a View Point (680 m). The whole trail is in the forest and you're above 1500 m, so it's much cooler than in the city during the hot season. Bring insect repellent. To get there, rent a motorbike (or find a songthaew that takes you there) and drive all the way to Phu Ping Palace, continue on the main road, turn right after about 1 km (turning left will bring you to a mountain village) and continue on a narrow windy road for almost 4 km until you reach the Pui Campsite. Alternatively, walk all the way from Phu Ping Palace, there's not much traffic. A sign marks the start of the trail. (updated Mar 2016)

Museums

• 8 Chiang Mai Historical Centre (หอประวัติศาสตร์เมืองเชียงใหม่), Prapokklao Rd (between Ratchadamnoen Rd and Ratchawithi Rd), ☏ +66 53-217793. Tu-Su 08:30–17:00. This modern multimedia history and cultural education centre has guides dressed in elegant traditional Thai clothing who will usher you into an air-conditioned room to watch an English-subtitled orientation video about Chiang Mai and the north. Next, you will be pointed to a series of rooms documenting the region's history and culture in chronological order from the pre-Muang period (7,000-12,000 years ago) to the early river civilizations, to the early kings through the wars with the Burmese and the last dynasty, to the city today and its plans for the future. Other rooms are devoted to Buddhism and other regional beliefs, agricultural history, hill tribe peoples and other regional cultures, and a run-down of the royal dynasties. The exhibits consist of a smart visual mix of video, scale models, enlarged photos, wall murals and text in Thai and English. This complex also shared with the Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre 90 baht. (updated Dec 2024)
• 9 Chiang Mai National Museum, on the superhighway (near Wat Chet Yot), ☏ +66 53-221308. W-Su 09:00–16:00. The history of Chiang Mai. 100 baht.  
• 10 Chiang Mai University Art Museum, corner Suthep and Nimmanhaemin Rd, ☏ +66 53-944833. Tu-Su 09:00–17:00. There are exhibitions by undergraduates from the Fine Arts Department at Chiang Mai University. These change often and the work on display is of high quality. Each month there is usually at least one art exhibition featuring the works of artists from Southeast Asia. The museum also hosts musical concerts, often free, in the adjoining theatre. Free. 
• 11 Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders, Soi 13, Nimmanhaemin Rd, ☏ +66 53-211891. Daily 09:00–17:00. One of Asia's most unusual museums housing butterflies, beetles, etc. Also has a large selection of minerals. Some explanations in English, some in Thai. 200 baht. 
• 12 Postal Museum, Mae Ping Post Office. Tu-Sa 08:30–16:30. Free. 
• 13 The Highland People Discovery Museum (Former name: Tribal Museum) (behind the Rama IX Lanna Park at the road to Mae Rim). M-F 08:30-12:00 and 13:00-16:00. The museum is located on a little peninsula in a big pond. There is also an open air part to the museum at 300 m from the main building, where you find houses in the styles of the tribes. (updated Oct 2022)
• 14 Lanna Traditional House Museum (CMULHM), 239 ถ. ห้วยแก้ว Suthep, ☏ +66 53943625. Tu-Su 08:30-16:30. traditional wooden houses of the northern Thai region and Lanna culture. 100 baht. (updated Aug 2024)
• 15 The Treasury Museum Chiang Mai (พิพิธภัณฑ์ธนารักษ์ จังหวัดเชียงใหม่), 52 Rachadamnoen Rd, Tambon Si Phum, ☏ +66 53224237. Tu-f 09:00-12:00, 13:00-16:00; Sa Su 10:00-12:00, 13:00-18:00. One of two money museums in Thailand, focused on northern Thailand, run by government treasury department, in a heritage builging, small, plan 1 hr to see, need to take off shoes. Free. (updated Aug 2024)
• 16 Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark (NARIT (National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand) headquarters), 260 Moo 4, Tambon Donkaew, Amphoe Mae Rim. Tu-F 09:00-100, Sa Su holidays 10:00-17:00, closed M. The planetarium includes a digital FullDome DX4 system with a 17-meter-diameter screen for 160 seats. Showtime: Tu-F Su holidays 11:00 and 14:00; Sa 11:00, 14:00, 17:00. The astronomy movie is in Thai without English subtitles except that the movie shown F at 11:00 is in English. Besides the movie, it has astronomy exhibitions and a scientific learning environment (simple games and toys to demonstrate scientific and technological concepts, mostly oriented to kids). There is also a public observatory for stargazing on Saturday nights (18:00-22:00 from November to May. Also, the mountain view at the outdoor area of the third floor of the planetarium is beautiful. There is a restaurant called The Planets on the second floor of the planetarium, but if you want to eat something fast and cheap, there is a food cart providing simple street foods (noodles, grilled skewers, etc) near the foot of the planetarium, opposite to NARIT headquarters. free (50 baht for movie). (updated Sep 2024)
• 17 Kalm Village, ☏ +66 933209809. Community culture space that often hosts workshops like mini loom weaving or meditation. Free. (updated Oct 2024)

Temples

Inside the old city walls

• 18 Wat Chedi Luang (วัดเจดีย์หลวงวรวิหาร), Prapokklao Rd (foreigners have to use a separate entrance, left of the main entrance). Almost in the centre of Chiang Mai are the remains of a massive chedi that toppled in the great earthquake of 1545. The temple was originally constructed in 1401 on the orders of King Saeng Muang Ma. In 1454, reigning King Tilo-Garaj enlarged the chedi (pronounced jedee) to a height of 86 m. After the earthquake, the chedi lay in ruins until 1991-92, when it was reconstructed at a cost of several million baht. A magnificent testament to Lanna (northern Thai) architecture and art, restored sections hint at its former glory. Wat Chedi Luang is also home to the "Pillar of the City", a totem used in ancient Thai fertility rites. Thais free; foreigners 50 baht.  
• 19 Wat Chiang Man (วัดเชียงมัน), Ratchaphakhinai Rd. The oldest temple in the city. Presumed to date from the year Chiang Mai was founded (1296), it is famed for two Buddha statues, which are about 1,800 and 1,000 years old, respectively. King Mengrai allegedly lived here while the city of Chiang Mai was being constructed. Enshrined in Wat Chiang Man is a tiny crystal Buddha called Pra Seh-Taang Kamaneeee, which is thought to have the power to bring rain. Another image, called Phra Sila Khoa, reflects the fine workmanship of Indian craftsmen from thousands of years ago.  
• 20 Wat Phra Chao Mengrai (วัดพระเจ้าเม็งราย. Sometimes called Wat Phra Jao Mengrai), Ratchamanka Soi 6, Phra Sing (near Huen Phen Restaurant), ☏ +66 53-278788. An atmospheric temple with two wihan buildings, off the beaten track, quiet and gently crumbling. One of the wihan buildings houses an important Buddha image: Phra Buddha Rupa Phra Chao Mengrai.  
• 21 Wat Phra Singh (วัดพระสิงห์วรมาวิหาร) (corner of Singharaj Rd and Ratchadamnoen Rd). Probably Chiang Mai's best-known temple, housing the Phra Singh image, completed between 1385 and 1400. Of most historical interest is the Wihan Lai Kham in the back, featuring Lanna-style temple murals and intricate gold patterns on red lacquer behind the altar. The large chedi was built in 1345 by King Pha Yu to house the remains of his father King Kam Fu. A typical scripture repository is located at this temple as well. These repositories were designed to keep and protect the delicate sa or mulberry paper sheets used by monks and scribes to keep records and write down folklore. The high stucco-covered stone base of the repository protected the delicate scriptures from rain, floods, and pests. The walls of the chapel are covered with murals illustrating Lanna customs, dress and scenes from daily life. The lovely Lai Kam chapel houses the revered Phra Singh Buddha image. The head was stolen in 1922, and a reproduction is now seen. Your admission ticket is in a leaflet form containing useful information and map of Wat Phra Singh complex. The temple is most attractive during Songkran, the Thai New Year, in mid-April.  

Outside the old city walls

• 22 Wat Chet Yot (วัดเจ็ดยอด. Also called Wat Jet Yot or Wat Jed Yod) (about 1 km N of the Huay Kaew Rd/superhighway intersection). The history and unusual architecture scattered under the yawning canopy of ancient trees is a pleasant antidote to the flash and bustle encountered at popular temples. Established in 1455 to host the eighth World Buddhist Council, many features of the grounds imitate significant places of the Buddha's enlightenment. Originally called Botharam Maha Vihata in honour of the venerated Bodhi tree, it came to be known as Wat Jet Yod by locals, after the seven spires (Jet Yod) protruding from the roof of the Vihara. The square-sided design of the Virhra is a replica of Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, India, though the translation has distorted proportions somewhat. Remnants of the graceful stucco relief murals that adorned the walls depict angels with a distinctly Indian flavour. The grounds also hold some more recently built, but abandoned looking, eroded chedis and buckling bases of vanished halls, overshadowed by a fully intact, though more diminutive, replica of Chedi Luang that was built around 1487 to house the ashes of King Tilokarat.  

Courtyard, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

Bells at Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

The big pond in garden of the Bhubing Palace

• 23 Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep (วัดพระธาตุดอยสุเทพ) (18 km from the city, at a 1,073 m elevation on the slopes of Doi (Mount) Suthep). 07:00-17:00. The quintessential image of Chiang Mai with its large gilded chedi, visible from the city on a clear day. Built in 1383 during the Lanna Thai period, legend has it that the temples site was selected by an elephant sent to roam the mountain side, where upon reaching a suitable spot, it trumpeted, circled three times, knelt down and promptly died, which was interpreted as a sign indicating an auspicious site. The temple offers grand views over the city, but no reward is without effort as you must accent the 200-plus steep steps of the Naga-lined stairs. The climb may be a strain in the high altitude's thin air for the less fit, so you may opt to take the cable car for 20 baht. For the Visaka Bucha holiday around May each year, it is traditional for people to walk from the zoo to the temple and vast numbers make the pilgrimage to the top, which takes around 4–5 hours.  
  • In the vicinity there are several other attractions you may want to consider visiting. The24 Bhubing Royal Palace Gardens. (updated Feb 2024) are 4 km further along the road from Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, with a reasonably easy walk along the meter-wide road shoulder. Or you can get a shared songthaew from Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep for 30 baht, but you may have to wait until it fills up. Further along the road is a hill tribe village, and although tourist-oriented, is really worth the trip. There are many shops for local handicrafts, etc. These are the people from the far north of the country, many originally from Myanmar. There are two areas in the village that require entrance fee: 10 baht to enter a flower garden (where women can take pictures using traditional clothes) and a hill tribe opium museum (the museum is in a very poor condition); and 10 baht to enter the hill tribe waterfall (man-made).

    

    Market in the hill tribe village

  • Getting there is a source of much consternation to many travelers. Clearly marked songthaews leave from Pratu Chang Phuak, next to the 7-Eleven. Prices are listed as 60 baht up and 60 baht down. The drivers wait until they have sufficient (Minimum of 10) passengers before they depart, potentially making for a lengthy wait. The driver may offer to leave without the minimum number of people if the current passengers are willing to pay a bit extra. Most guidebooks advise taking a songthaew from Mani Nopharat Rd, resulting in the drivers milking the tourist cash-cow and raising their price from a reasonable 60 baht to a ludicrous 500 baht.
  • Another option is to take a songthaew from your hotel to the northern gate of Chiang Mai University for 20 baht (if you are close to the city walls), where there will be several songthaews waiting on Huai Kaew Rd to get a full load of passengers for a trip up the mountain. They seem to congregate around the Chiang Mai Zoo, so if you just say "zoo" to the driver he will know what you're talking about. Prices range from 40 baht for a one-way trip to Wat Prathat to 180 baht for a full round-trip tour, including the temple, Bhubing Palace Gardens, and the hill tribe village, with an hour at each location, but you may have to wait until there are sufficient people who want the same tour or be prepared to pay more. You can also get between many of these by buying point-to-point tickets at the time you want them, or walking some segment. Any songthaew up the mountain road may be a trial for those prone to motion-sickness, so take appropriate precautions. Also, there may be several little annoying additional costs foreigners. To enter the Doi Suthep is free for Thais, and 30 baht for foreigners. Tour operators will ask 700 baht for a tour.
  • The journey from the city can be made by motorcycle or a bicycle (with appropriate gearing). The final 12 km from the zoo onwards is entirely uphill and will take 60-90 minutes if bicycling.
• 25 Wat Si Suphan (Silver temple). The Ubosot building of the temple is completely covered with a layer of silver, particularly impressive when illuminated in the evening. Decorated with detailed ornaments. Sometimes silversmiths on site are adding or renewing the decoration. Conversations with monks and an introduction to meditation are also offered in the temple. Women are not allowed to enter the interior of the Ubosot building.  
• 26 Wat Suan Dok, Suthep Rd. A large open-sided hall with a jumble of roughly hewn Buddhas with a huge dazzlingly whitewashed chedi behind.  
• 27 Wat Ton Kwen (close to the corner of Canal Road (road 121) and road 1269 to Samoeng.). Very nice temple with unusual architectural elements. Road 1269 is also part of the Samoeng Loop route.  
• 28 Wat Umong (วัดอุโมงค์), Off Suthep Rd (at the end of a long narrow road, off Suthep Rd; turn at the Italian restaurant), ☏ +66 53-277248 (call only from 08:30-16:00), umongmedcenter@yahoo.com. 08:30-16:00. The name means "tunnel temple". An ancient temple in the forest just outside Chiang Mai. King Mengrai built this temple for a highly respected forest monk who liked to wander in the countryside, hence the isolated location where the monk could stay quietly and meditate. It is unusual in that it has tunnel-like chambers in the ground, some of the walls of which still have the original paintings of birds and animals visible. The large stupa is magnificent, and there is an eerie statue of a fasting, emaciated Buddha next to it. You can also take a break by the ponds, where you can feed the fish and turtles. Has a meditation centre open to foreigners. Some monks and the abbot speak a little English.  
• 29 Wiang Kum Kam (เวียงกุมกาม), Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd, Saraphi district (the marker on the map shows the best entrypoint to the area on the Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd). This ancient city was built in the 13th century CE by King Meng Rai to be the first capital city of Lanna. But it flooded every year so he decided to move his capital to Nopburi-Srinakornping Chiang Mai. Wiang Kum Kam was flooded and did not show up again because of the path of Ping River changed. In 1984, one of the temples was found by the Department of Fine Arts, and exploration of the other temples began. Now there are multiple brick ruins of ancient temples. Tour around Wiang Kum Kam with a guide are available from tourist agencies for 300 baht. You can get there by carriage for 200 baht, or rent a bicycle to ride along the road and follow the signs. Notice that entering the area via the Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd is very nice because of the very tall trees that line this road. (updated Sep 2024)
• 30 Wat Chedi Liam (วัดเจดีย์เหลี่ยม). Formerly known as Wat Ku Kham (Thai: วัดกู่คำ), this temple was renovated in 1908 by a Burmese trader. Therefore, many decorations are in Burmese style. The chedi was also renovated in 1992. (updated Sep 2024)

Do

Cinema

• 1 Alliance Francaise, 138 Charoen Prathet Rd, ☏ +66 53-275277. W nights, 19:30. Screens French films, but frequently sub-titled in English. See the website for calendar of showings. The alliance also has an extensive library and exhibitions. 
• 2 Major Cineplex, Airport Plaza. Ticket prices depend on the duration of the film and seat type. Honeymoon seats generally cost 40 baht more than standard seats. If you would like to avoid the crowd, avoid going on Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights. Make sure to check the language of the film prior to booking. Some children's movies are dubbed into Thai. 400 baht. (updated Oct 2024)
• 3 SFX Cinema (corner Huay Kaew Rd and Superhighway). 

Festivals & exhibitions

• 4 Bo Sang Umbrella & Sankampang Handicrafts Festival (8 km SE of Chiang Mai). Takes place around the third weekend of Jan at Ban Bo Sang, Sankampang. The festival is in the form of a "street fair" in which the central road of the village is used, with shops on both sides. Shops are decorated in Lanna-style, most with the well-known umbrellas, as well as with traditional lanterns. In addition there are contests, exhibitions, cultural performances, local entertainment, and assorted shows day and night. There is a grand procession decorated with umbrellas and local products, a variety of handicrafts for sale, northern-style khantoke meals and the Miss Bo Sang pageant. 

Flower Festival Parade

• Chiang Mai Flower Festival. Staged every year during the first weekend in February. The city is awash with vibrant colours ranging from the electric orange and lilac colours of the bougainvillea to the velvety blossoms of petunias in all shades of pink, white, and purple. The strident red of the poinsettias, bought by many at Christmas and New Year, is echoed by beds of scarlet salvias. Homes and shop owners alike line the city streets with colourful flower boxes. The sheer profusion of colour that the flower festival and carnival brings to Chiang Mai aptly gives the city its name "Rose of the North". On all three days of the festival, prize blooms are on display at Nong Buak Had Park near the city centre. Many types of flower, miniature trees and orchida are put on display for the judges to choose the best of the species. Landscape specialists put on an elaborate display, which includes patios and waterfalls with exotic decorative plants and flowers. The best part of the flower festival is on Saturday. The parade lines up from the train station to Nawarat Bridge so the police close most of Charoen Muang Rd around 08:00. The VIP viewing stand is right next to the bridge in front of the Chiang Mai Governor's home. The parade route goes up Tha Phae Rd to the gate and turns left and follows the moat to Nong Buak Had Park. The parade moves at a slow pace and stops several times so there is plenty of time to take pictures of the colourful floats, pretty girls and hill tribe people in native costume. The paraders hand out roses to spectators lining the road. When the parade finishes everyone heads to Nong Buak Had where all the floats, award-winning flower growers and landscape projects are all on display. There are plenty of food stalls in the park, and in the late afternoon the Miss Chiang Mai Flower Festival starts. The party goes well into the evening until the new Flower Festival Queen has been chosen. This is a great time to visit Chiang Mai, as the air is cool and the evenings fresh and clear. If you want to see the festival make sure you book your hotels and flights well in advance. 
• Inthakin or Tham Boon Khan Dok. City Pillar Festival in Chiang Mai. This is a six-day festival where the city pillar spirits are propitiated to ensure the continuity of the city. Occurs in May or Jun as part of the Northern Thailand lunar calendar. Very large event focused around Wat Chedi Luang. 

Loi Krathong parade

• Loi Krathong and Yi Peng Festivals (ลอยกระทง). If you like candles placed in colourful paper lanterns, fireworks, beautiful girls in traditional dress, parade floats, lots of food and parties. Don't miss the Loi Krathong festival, which in Chiang Mai lasts for 3 full days, the last night being that of the 12th full moon of the year (which is usually in Nov). In the small town of Mae Jo, north of Chiang Mai, they start the festival on Saturday night by simultaneously launching thousands upon thousands of hot air balloons called khom loi. Loi Krathong coincides with the northern Thai (Lanna) festival known as "Yi Peng" (ยี่เป็ง). Due to a difference between the old Lanna calendar and the Thai calendar, Yi Peng is held on a full moon of the 2nd month of the Lanna calendar ("Yi" meaning "2nd" and "Peng" meaning "month" in the Lanna language). A multitude of Lanna-style sky lanterns (khom loi (โคมลอย), literally: "floating lanterns") are launched into the air where they drift with the winds. The festival is meant as a time for "tam-bun" (ทำบุญ), to make merit. People decorate their houses, gardens, and temples with khom fai (โคมไฟ): intricately shaped paper lanterns which take on different forms. Khom thue (โคมถือ) are lanterns which are carried around hanging from a stick, khom khwaen (โคมแขวน) are the hanging lanterns, and khom pariwat (โคมปริวรรต) which are placed at temples and which revolve due to the heat of the candle inside. Chiang Mai has the most elaborate Yi Peng celebrations, where both Loi Krathong and Yi Peng are celebrated at the same time resulting in lights floating on the waters, lights hanging from trees/buildings or standing on walls, and lights floating by in the sky. 

Khom Loy hot air balloon launch

• 5 Mae Jo Lantern Release. A huge lantern release (It is often referred to as the 10,000 lantern release, but there are not as many as that) happens near Mae Jo University on the Saturday before Loi Krathong, in 2013: 16 Nov. The DMC Buddhist Sect puts this on and though it is billed as "for local people" this event has no connection with Chiang Mai or Lanna events, and is not promoted by local government officials nor included in their program. The lantern release takes place at the end of a ceremony that begins at 18:30, with the release at 20:00. The event is free of charge, but respectful attire is required and alcohol is forbidden. A tourist-targeted event (which costs about 3,000 baht) occurs in the same location on the following weekend. 
• 6 Princess Dara Rasmi Remembrance Day (around the Daraphirom Palace). Yearly on 9 December. Princess Dara Rasmi was a consort of king Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and a member of the original royal family of Chiang Mai. 9 December 1933 she died. Now there is a yearly event around her villa. The event has a fair and performances of traditional dances. (updated Sep 2024)
• Songkran Festival (สงกรานต์). The Thai Water Festival is celebrated as the Thai new year from 13-15 Apr (though it may begin a day or two early). The most obvious sign that you're in the middle of the festival is when you get soaked by someone pouring a bucket of water over you, or squirting you with a water gun. This tradition evolved from people tossing water that had been poured over holy statues, since this water was expected to be good luck. Now, it takes the form of a free-for-all water fight, and you will undoubtedly be drenched. It's also a way of staying cool during the very hot and humid month of April. Put your mobile phone in a plastic bag. 

Hiking and other activities

While it is probably possible to do alone, there are several companies along the main road who organize 2-3 day long hiking trips. The prices are mostly similar (except when you book at the hotel of course), just stroll along the main square road. Multiple offices often share bookings with the same companies and thus the program is usually similar too - but different packages exist, depending on price and duration. The program consists of something like minivan pick-up and drop-off, light hiking with a guide, sleeping-over in a hill village, visiting some hill tribe and elephant zoo, rafting. Some basic food should be included too (ask to be sure), and it should be possible to leave the bags at the "booking office".

Massage

• 7 Fah Lanna Massage, 186/3 Loi Kroh Rd (near the Night Bazaar, down the street from McDonald's, past Royal Lanna Hotel), ☏ +66 82-0303029, email@fahlanna.com. A small and very cosy massage shop close to the Iron Bridge. Clean, friendly and professional, Fah Lanna gets consistently high ratings in customer reviews. First, customers get a gentle foot-bath with scrub and comfortable clothes to change into and after the massage they are offered ginger tea and a cold towel. The decor and the background music are beautiful and add to the experience. After collecting 10 stamps (1 stamp per 1-hour treatment) they give a free massage. Massages are excellent, the prices seem to have increased due to its success. 600+ baht. (updated Feb 2024)
• 8 Green Bamboo Massage, 1 Moon Muang Rd, Soi 1, ☏ +66 89-8275563. A small, charming studio in a typical wooden Thai house located inside the moat. The staff are trained in Thai massage therapy. Also offers individual daily or weekly courses in traditional Thai massage, Thai yoga massage, Tok Sen massage and Thai oil massage. Seminars are run by Ms Mesa, a certified and experienced masseuse. From 200 baht/hour. (updated Feb 2024)
• 9 Kiyora Spa, Chang Moi Road Soi 2 (from Tha Pae Road, turn into Chang Moi Rd Soi 2), ☏ +66-52-003-268, contact@kiyoraspa.com. 10:00-22:00. Kiyora is a provider of Thai-Lanna massage modalities incorporated with Western massage techniques. Price of a massage includes transport service within the city. From 800 baht. (updated Apr 2015)
• 10 Let's Relax (2F Chiang Mai Pavilion and B1F Chiang Inn Plaza, Changkhlan Rd). Does professional massage in a very clean surroundings complete with air-con, the sound of running water and gentle scents. A 45-minute foot reflexology session costs 350 baht, nearly twice the price of the competition, but is worth every satang after a long trek. (updated Feb 2024)
• 11 Thai Massage Conservation Club (Blind masseurs), 99 Ratchamanka Rd, ☏ +66 53-904452, +66 89-7552155. Daily 08:00 - 21:00. Massage is performed by blind masseurs, who speak (some) English. They offer traditional Thai as well as oil massage. Oil massage 300 baht/hour. (updated Mar 2015)
• 12 Viang Ping Massage and Spa, 2/4 Tha Phae Rd, Soi 2 (opposite Wat Bupparam), ☏ +66 53-874071. Very clean and well-run business, professionally run by Fern, manager-proprietor. All massages based on the Lanna, northern Thai-style, using pressure points and energy lines. Homemade coconut oil and natural facial, body scrub, and wrap products. Fern also teaches massage and spa services to individuals or occasionally to small groups. Loyalty cards for regular customers, free massage after 10 visits. Thai and oil massage courses, also spa courses. Prices average 200 baht for Thai, foot, or head and shoulder massages. 250 baht for oil massages. 
• 13 Wat Sam Pao (วัดสำเภา) (just W of AUA school, corner of Ratchadamnoen & Ratchawithi Rd. Entrance on Ratchadamnoen). Just inside the south gate to the compound on your left. 1 hr: Thai massage, 130 baht; foot massage, 130 baht; oil massage, 300 baht. 
• 14 Blue Garden Chiang Mai, Ratchamanaka road Soi 4, ☏ +66 851062895. Blue Garden offers Chi Nei Tsang treatments and training and advanced Thai Yoga Massage treatments and training. Like dynamic Thai Massage, advanced stretching and neck therapy (updated Nov 2016)

Cycling

Chiang Mai Bicycle, ☏ +66 828828722. They off tours from half days to multiple days. The Lanna countryside tour is particularly nice to get out of the city and ride around some more rural area and see a calm way of life. Guide spoke very good English and talked a lot about personal experience not just rattling off random facts. 1100+ baht. (updated Oct 2024)

Co van Kessel. Half day cycling tours available. 1150 baht. (updated Oct 2024)

Chiang Mai Cycling Buddy. Offers one day and multi-day bicycle trips. 1900 baht. (updated Oct 2024)

Motorcycling

• Motorcycle touring is a great way to explore northern Thailand. One good day trip out of Chiang Mai is up and over Doi Suthep, which will take you up to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, and beyond the mountain to the reservoir. A perennial favourite among bicyclists and motorcyclists is the Samoeng Loop, a 100 km circuit into the mountains and back to Chiang Mai.
• Motor-scooter touring as far as Mae Hong Son and suitable for the less experienced motorcyclist.

Muay Thai (boxing)

After football, Thai boxing is the national sport of Thailand. It can be seen in three different "stadia", in reality more like boxing rings in warehouses.

• 15 Kalare Boxing Stadium (not far from Nawarat Bridge, a short block S of Tha Phae Rd in the Night Bazaar). Real muay Thai fights (almost) every Monday and Friday at 20:30 with 10 bouts ranging from young novices to local champions to locals v. foreigners. Spoiler alert: The locals usually win. The smallest of the three stadia it is nearly open-air, but with a new tent covering and good lighting. This is much more authentic than the frenzied beer bar atmosphere of the other two locations. 600 baht standard or 1000 baht Ringside. (updated Oct 2024)
• 16 Loi Kroh Boxing Stadium (Loi Kroh Rd in the Chiang Mai Entertainment Complex). Fights are usually held 3-4 nights per week. Look for flyers posted up all over the old city. They usually have about 8 fights and feature Thai fighters as well as a few matches with foreign fighters. This is not the best location to see muay Thai with a family, as it is surrounded by girlie bars and during a break between the fights a group of ladyboys sometimes will dance and occasionally strip. After about 23:00 the complex is opened up for free, letting all the vendors (flower sellers and others) in. If you are on a tight budget you may be able to see a few of the remaining fights for free this way. 600 baht standard or 1000 baht Ringside. (updated Oct 2024)
• 17 Tha Phae Boxing Stadium (Moon Muang Rd near Tha Phae Gate). It hosts around 8 fights per show, including a few matches with foreign fighters. This is the largest of the three stadiums and has food as well as beverages served. Gambling is prominently featured. 600 baht standard, 1000 baht Ringside, 1500 baht VIP with unlimited beer. (updated Oct 2024)

Rafting

Raft trips down the Mae Tang River are offered by several companies and can often be combined with elephant riding or mountain biking. During the dry season (Jan-Feb) water levels are relatively low with only grade 2-3 rapids, but during the rainy season (Jun-Oct) higher water levels make for a more exciting grade 4-5 trip.

• 18 8Adventures, 21/22 Moo 2 Soi 2 Thorakamanakom, Chang Puak, Muang Chiang Mai, ☏ +66 8 9000 7728, info@8adventures.com. Created by a group of adventurers that includes two-time world champion kayaker Eric Southwic, they offer world class rafting and kayaking tours, ATV, SuP and trekking. Pick-ups daily from Chiang Mai. 2500 baht for 8km. (updated Oct 2024)

River cruise

• 19 Mae Ping River Cruise, 133 Charoen Pratet Rd (Wat Chaimongkol boat landing, between Hotel Chedi and Ping Nakara), ☏ +66 53-274822, fax: +66 53-818627, maepingrivercruise@hotmail.com. 08:30-17:00. Two-hour cruise with a refreshment stop at a Thai farmer's house. Hotel pick-up. Be aware that the Mae Ping is a grotty, slow-flowing stream the colour of greenish khaki with nondescript banks. 550 baht. (updated Oct 2024)

Sports

• Aerobics. Aerobics sessions are held in the car park of Tesco Lotus on the superhighway every weekday from 17:30. The sessions are very popular and tourists or visitors to Chiang Mai are welcomed. Regular water aerobics classes, incorporating Tai Chi and yoga exercises, are held at the Centre of the Universe Swimming Pool. 
• Cricket. Northern Thailand may seem an odd place to find an international cricket tournament. Every year since 1988 more than 200 cricketers from around the world gather at Chiang Mai for the tournament. The week-long tournament for amateur players, with a sprinkling of test stars, it is held at the historic Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club, generally at the start of April. 
• 20 Extreme Sports Centre (X-Centre), 816 Moo 1, Rim Thai, Mae Rim (17 km N to Mae Rim on Rte 107; onto Rte 1096, direction Samoeng), ☏ +66 53-297700. Daily 09:00-18:00. Kiwi-run business, totally buttoned-down and professional. Bungy jumping; off-road buggies; dirt bikes; paintball; indoor drift carts; Xorb ball; sports bar and restaurant. Transport available from Chiang Mai at 09:30, 13:00, 15:00. 
• Football (soccer). Go watch the local football team, Chiang Mai FC, play at 700 Year Stadium. Fixtures and info in English or visit the Red Lion English Pub in the Night Bazaar two hours before the game to get a free ride (nearly always available). (updated Oct 2022)
• Golfing. Chiang Mai is one of the great golfing destinations in Thailand. The beautiful mountain backdrop, the unrivaled services and affordable green fees made golfing here quite an impressive experience. There is The Annual Chiang Mai Golf Festival during May to June, when almost every golf courses offer very cheap green fees. 
• Mountain Biking. Just west of Chiang Mai lies the beautiful Doi Suthep National Park, its summit at 1,650 m, 1,300 m above the valley floor. Chiang Mai Mountain Biking runs daily downhill trips and nature cross country rides. 
• Rock Climbing. Approximately 55 km east of Chiang Mai is Crazy Horse Buttress, a 60 m, orange- and black-streaked monolith jutting out of the green Mae On Valley. Crazy Horse boasts more than 130 bolted routes between (French system) grades 5 and 8a, which makes it an ideal destination for beginners and experienced climbers alike. Spend several days exploring every part of the crag, or just spend a day or an afternoon above ground as a break from exploring the magnificent caves of the region. Climbing guides and information are available from Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures. 
• Tennis. There are many places to play tennis in Chiang Mai: Gymkhana Club (Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd); Chiang Mai Land Village (Chiang Mai Land Rd); Lanna Sports Club (Chotana Rd); Palm Springs (120 Moo 5, Mahidol Rd); and Chiang Mai Sports Complex (700 Year Stadium, Irrigation Canal Rd, Rte 121 to Mae Rim), which has 12 courts. All courts are bookable in advance and at most flood lighting makes it possible to play in the evening when it is cooler. There is an additional charge to cover the cost of electricity. (updated Oct 2022)
• Yoga. The diversity of yoga studios in Chiang Mai rounds out the image of Chiang Mai as a centre for massage training, healing, and spas. (updated Jul 2016)
• Chiang Mai Kayaking, 1 Samlan Road (inside the old City square, 50 m south of Wat Prasing Temple). Offers guided kayaking tours in the surrounding area for both beginners and experienced. (updated Mar 2016)

Swim

Chiang Mai swimming pools open to the public vary in quality, cleanliness, and accessibility. On balance, those pools which are operated to internationally recognised standards of water quality are those which are privately owned by foreign investors.

• Centre of the Universe Swimming Pool and Resort. Open to tourists and other visitors. See the Sleep/Mid-range section for details. 
• Chiang Mai Land Swimming Pool. Open to the public. It has a pool deck and also has a restaurant and pool-side service. The pool is sanitised using chlorine. Adults, 50 baht; children, 30 baht. 
• Hotel Pools. Some up-market hotels such as The Orchid on Huay Kaew Rd allow non-guests to use their pools for a fee. Travelling time from the city centre is around 10 min. These are sanitised using chlorine. 
• The Lake at Huay Tung Tao (further along the Irrigation Canal Rd than the Centre of the Universe and after the 700-Year Sports Stadium, as you head towards Mae Rim (Rte 121), about 12 km from the city centre. Takes 15-20 minutes by tuk-tuk/taxi.). A reservoir in surrounding woodlands. Admission, 20 baht.. 
• Seven Hundred Year Stadium (Rujirawong Swimming Pool) (On the outer ring road, Irrigation Canal Rd—Route 121, towards Mae Rim. It is about 8 km from city centre; about fifteen min by tuk-tuk/taxi). W-Su 10:00-12:00 and 13:30-17:45. A huge sports complex built for the SE Asia Games, held in Chiang Mai in the early 1990s, and now a public sports and recreation centre. The pool is sanitised using chlorine. Membership is required but it's open to anyone. It costs 300 baht/year and you have to provide two passport-size pictures. Single entry is 30 baht after that. (updated Jul 2015)
• Waterfalls and Natural Pools (At the foot of Doi Suthep on Huay Kaew Rd. Look for a large Buddhist shrine on your left after travelling past the entrance to Chiang Mai Zoo. Turn left into the market at the back of the shrine, and keep walking up the hill. You will come to the waterfalls after about 5 minutes. About 7 km from the city centre; takes 10-15 min by tuk-tuk/taxi). The pools at the bottom of the waterfalls are not really big enough for swimming, but are a great place to cool off at the height of summer. During the dry season some of the waterfalls dry up. Head for the high ground and you will still find pools full of fresh water. There are usually quite a few students hanging out there from the nearby university, who will happily practice their English conversational skills with you. Free. 

Tattoo

• 21 Panumart Tattoo, 77/3 Samlaan Rd, Mueang, Chiang Mai 50200, ☏ +66 97 098 4517. 11:00-19:00. Panumart Tattoo offers bamboo tattoos, traditional Thai sak yant tattoos, ands a range of modern tattoo styles. Tattoo artists are of high quality. Western-hygienic standards are practiced. English is spoken by managers and artists. (updated Oct 2019)

Theatre

Miracle Cabaret Chiang Mai

• The Playhouse Complex (On Changpueak Rd). Start your evening with a unique dining experience in Kinnaree Park. Set in an eco-friendly environment, surrounded by mountains and waterfalls offering a real Lanna experience with traditional dance and a delicious northern Thai buffet before entering the theatre adjacent to the restaurant. The 350-seat capacity theatre hosts two shows per day at 20:00 and 22:00. Presenting Sequins & Dance, a fun and happy performance of wholesome entertainment that's full of sparkle, movement, and emotion. Performed by 30 Thai performers, it is exciting. Family, individual or group bookings welcome. Adult 1,000 baht; child 500 baht. Thai buffet (Saturdays): adult 1,300 baht; child 650 baht. 

Wildlife

About elephant camps Numerous reports have been released on the ethics of using elephants for entertainment, citing the dangers and hidden abuse behind the industry, and the use of phajaan on baby elephants. According to a National Geographic report, this technique involves isolating the baby from her mother and: "[I]n addition to beatings, handlers use sleep-deprivation, hunger, and thirst to 'break' the elephants' spirit and make them submissive to their owners.... Elephants are typically covered in bloody wounds and rope burns when released from the crush after three to six days." Elephant riding has long-term negative physical effects as well, as elephants' bodies are designed to carry weight on their strong legs, not their comparatively weak backs. If you care about these issues, research the parks thoroughly to decide where you want your tourist money to go.

• 22 Baanchang Elephant Park, 147/1 Rachadamnoen Rd, ☏ +66 53 814 174, +66 89 635 5206. Although they offer an "Elephant's Day Care" program with no riding, be warned that they also offer elephant rides through their "Elephant Training Courses.". 4500 baht a day (can be split between two people who share a ride one elephant). 
• 23 Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (EJS), 119/10 Tha Phae Rd Chang Klan (Approximately 60 km S of Chiang Mai), ☏ +66 53 273 415, elephant.ejs@gmail.com. 08:00-22:00. EJS is an ethical and sustainable eco-tourism project located approximately 60 km from the city of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. Founded in July 2014, it is a joint initiative between members of the Karen hilltribes and Chiang Mai locals who were concerned about the welfare of elephants in Thailand. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary project also provides many Karen people with employment, education, and financial support. Half-day, full-day, and overnight visits to the sanctuary are available. Weekly volunteering opportunities can also be arranged. Half-day 1,500 baht; 1 day 2,400 baht; overnight 4,900 baht; week 11,500 baht. 
• 24 Elephant Nature Park, 1 Ratmakka Rd (Approximately 60 km N of Chiang Mai), ☏ +66 53 272 855. 07:30-21:30. A renowned sanctuary for rescued and abused elephants, established in 1996 by Lek Chailert, a native Thai woman who has become an internationally-recognized elephant advocate. During a day visit you will get to know the elephants, walk with them around the scenic 50 acres (20 hectares) park, and be treated to a vegetarian buffet lunch. Cats and dogs rescued after the tsunami also live at the park, dozing on benches and getting lots of love from visitors. Day and overnight visits as well as one week volunteering opportunities can be booked via the website. Pick up and drop off at your hotel in Chiang Mai. Day 2,500 baht; week 12,000 baht. (updated Feb 2016)
• 25 Elephant Retirement Park, 5 Kotchasarn Rd, ☏ +66 81 961 9663, info@elephantretirementpark.com. Established to create a haven for retired elephants formerly working in building yards, a sustainable habitat for the elephants to live in a safe and natural environment free from profiteering and neglect. Family units are never separated and herbal medicines are used to keep the animals healthy and enjoy a better quality of life. There is no riding or beating of any kind. The main focus of the park is to promote the well-being of retired elephants. Visitors and volunteers can expect to work with the local mahouts to care, feed, and bathe the elephants. 2,600 baht/person. (updated Feb 2016)
• 26 Friends for Asia Elephant Camp Volunteer Project, 63/3 Old Chang Moi Rd, Chang Moi, ☏ +66 53 232 053, info@volunteerthailand.org. After a two-day orientation in Chiang Mai, coordinating staff sends volunteers to the elephant camp, roughly a one hour drive from the city. Volunteers stay from Monday to Friday bathing, feeding, caring for and learning about elephants. Lodging is in a tree house on the premises. Two week minimum. 36,671 baht for two weeks; 7,466 baht for each additional week. 
• 27 Mae Sa Elephant Camp, 119/9 Tha Phae Rd, ☏ +66 53 206 247, +66 53 206 248. An elephant camp in the hills about an hour's drive north of the city centre. Now their website says No Elephant Riding and No Elephant Show. They encourage sponsoring the elephants with a monthly amount of minimal 50 baht. 300 baht entrance fee (admission includes basket of fruit to feed the elephants). 
• 28 Patara Elephant Farm, 299/22 Siwalee Rachapreuk MaeHea (29 km SW of the city centre.), ☏ +66 81 671 0958 (English), +66 85 076 8461 (Deutsch), fax: +66 53 286 321, pataraelephantfarm@hotmail.com. As their website states, "you learn how to ride on its neck.". 3,200 up to 5,800 baht including transport and lunch.  
• 29 Tiger Kingdom, Rim Tai, Amphoe Mae Rim. (updated Nov 2018)

Learn

Buddhism

• 30 Wat Chom Tong, Ban Luang, Chom Tong (About 60 km southwest of the city), ☏ +66 53-826869, +66 53-826180. The home temple of the meditation master, Achan Tong. Offers residential courses in Vipassana meditation. 
• 31 Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. The International Buddhist Centre offers short and long residential courses in Vipassana meditation in English. A brand new centre, including accommodation and a vitara (chanting hall), is now open. 
• 32 Wat Ram Poeng, Suthep Rd (4 km SW of the city), ☏ +66 53-278620. Facilities for retreats and meditation instruction. Ten-day minimum stay required for introduction to Vipassana meditation techniques. English-speaking monks are available to assist foreigners. For non-native English speakers, long-term students from your home country may be available to offer translation services. 
• 33 Wat Suan Dok, Suthep Rd (1 km W of the Old City Moat), ☏ +66 53-278967. Has a meet-and-greet for tourists and monks, every M W F afternoon between 17:00 and 19:00. Offers a 24-hr introductory meditation retreat on Tuesdays. 
• 34 Wat Umong, Suthep Rd (~3.5 km W of Chiang Mai. Easiest way is by tuk-tuk or bicycle. Or take a songthaew W 2.5 km on Suthep Rd (not the same road to Doi Suthep Temple) to Wang Nam Kan, then follow signs S 1 km to the wat), ☏ +66 53-277248. 08:30-16:00. Offers meditation courses and dharma instruction in English by Phra Charles every Sunday at 15:00. Please call only from 08:30-16:00. 

Hypnotherapy

• Hypnotherapy Chiang Mai, ☏ +66 91-0674352, info@practical-healing.com. Personal therapy using hypnosis. Hypnotherapy sessions by appointment with Nick, a member of the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis. 
• Releasing Hypnosis, info@releasinghypnosis.com. Provides individual healing sessions using a combined releasing hypnosis approach. (updated Jul 2018)

Permaculture and farming

Unfortunately, as of Oct 2024, Fair Earth Farm and The Panya Project have closed.

Permaculture Children's House. Educational center teaching to work with nature. (updated Oct 2024)

35 Supha Bee Farm, ☏ +66 86-911-0407. 08:00-17:00. Walk-in tourists are welcome to visit every day from 08:00 to 17:00. A lecturer will be available to assist you. There is no charge.
For those interested in a beekeeping training course to develop a beekeeping career, they offer an intensive one-day course taught by experts in both theory and practical application. Participants do not need prior experience. Individualized instruction is provided. Please book at least 7 days in advance. The fee is 4,900 baht per person. (updated Oct 2024)

36 Huai Tueng Thao Sheep Farm. Feed some sheep and see a farm. A nice quiet area with lots of big statues around. 50 baht. (updated Oct 2024)

Thai boxing (Muay Thai)

• 37 Team Quest Thailand, 114/3 Moo.1, Phadeed (ป่าแดด) Rd (A 5 min walk from Central Airport Plaza or a short drive from the airport), ☏ +66 86-0911536, teamquestthailand@gmail.com. A gym for muay Thai and mixed martial arts. Train with top trainers and Thailand champion, Hong Thong Lek. 

Thai cooking

• 38 Air's Thai Culinary Kitchen, 9/2 Nongprateep Rd, ☏ +66 53-249326, +66 81-9936564. On 1.6 acres (0.65 hectares) of the tranquil, landscaped grounds of a private house. The kitchen's unique design draws from professional experience and is purpose-built and surrounded by herb and spice gardens. Offers Course A and Course B. Each is 3 days in length, 08:30-15:00. Free transport to/from hotel. 2500 baht pp. (updated Oct 2024)
• 39 Baan Thai Cookery School, 9 Phra pok klao Rd., Soi 9, ☏ +66 65-927-7757, booking@baanthaicookery.com. Courses include a cookbook and market tour. Day or evening classes. 1100 baht pp. (updated Oct 2024)
• 40 Thai Cottage Home Cookery School, ☏ +66 53-219056. Choose any dish from more than 50 dishes on their menu. 6 dishes per day for morning class and 4 dishes for evening class. The cooking class runs every day. 800 baht pp. (updated Oct 2024)
• 41 Gap's School Of Thai Culinary Art, 3 Ratchadamnoen Rd, Soi 4, ☏ +66 53-270143. High standards, well organised, your own stove, 1 teacher per 5 students. 1000 baht pp. (updated Oct 2024)
• 42 Grandma's Thai Recipes, 48 Chaiyapoom Rd (15 min out of the city, transportation provided), ☏ +66 53-121656. Traditional Thai cooking instruction. Vegetarian-friendly. Restaurant and booking office located near Tha Phae Gate. 
• 43 A Lot Of Thai Cooking School, Soi 9, 165 Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd, ☏ +66 899544930. A family-run home cooking class, taught by the owner. Vegetarians and people with any kind of food restrictions welcome. Courses includes a market tour and a recipe book is provided for later use. Gordon Ramsey visited this place. 1400 baht pp. (updated Oct 2024)
• 44 Siam Rice Thai Cookery School, ☏ +66 53-329091. Friendly and knowledgeable staff provide a course on local and traditional recipes. The course includes a market tour and provides you with the recipes for the dishes that you create. 

Thai language

• 45 AUA (American University Alumni), 24 Rajadamnern Road, ☏ +66 81 138-2831, +66 81 138-2837, fax: +66 53-211973, cm-thai@auathailand.org. M-F 08:30-18:00; Sa 09:00-11:30, 12:30-16:00; Su 08:30-12:00. AUA offers seven different 6- and 8-week courses M-F. Group courses start monthly with a minimum of 5 students. Individual instruction any time. Great library for student use, 100 baht per term. Caveats: they use the Haas transliteration system, not everyone's cup of tea. And they also have some petty rules, such as no shorts in class although no one observes the rule. No Wi-Fi. 
• 46 Centre for Thai Studies, Chiang Mai University Language Institute, 239 Huay Kaew Rd, ☏ +66 53-943755. 1-year courses and short conversational programs. Website has on-line application form and FAQ. 
• 47 Payap University (Superhighway Chiang Mai-Lampang Rd), ☏ +66 53-241255 x7238. Run by the Southeast Asian Institute of Global Studies, the Thai and Southeast Asian Studies Program at Payap University is a one- or two-semester academic program for students primarily interested in becoming proficient in the Thai language and knowledgeable about Thai culture. 
• 48 YMCA Language School, 11 Mengrairasmi Rd, ☏ +66 53 221 820. 08:30-17:00 daily. 3500 baht / 30 hours. (updated Oct 2024)

Thai massage

• 49 Thai Massage School of Chiang Mai (TMC). A government-registered school of Thai massage. 

Buy

Chiang Mai is a great place to shop. Sprawling markets during the day and night carry items from cheap trinkets to skillfully made local crafts.

Books

• 1 DK Book Centre (Duangkamol), 79/1 Kotchasan Rd (Just past the turn to Loi Kroh Rd in a shopping centre on the left), ☏ +66 53-208995. M-F 10:30-20:00; Sa-Su 09:00-20:00. Not the best selection of Western language titles, but particularly strong in educational books and learning resources of every description. 
• 2 Gekko Books (Formerly Gecko Books), 2/6 Chang Moi Kao Rd (Main branch outside the moat in the vicinity of the Tha Phae Gate. On the road right behind the Starbucks.), ☏ +66 91-745-6971, GekkoBooks@outlook.com. Daily 09:00-20:00. Three locations. Large collection of used books. On-line ordering. (updated Mar 2024)
• 3 The Lost Book Shop, Ratchamanka Rd, ☏ +66 53 206 656. 08:00-18:00 daily. Large collection of used books. Fiction and non-fiction. (updated Mar 2024)
• 4 Suriwong Book Centre (สุริวงค์บุคเชนเตอว์) (Two blocks west of Chang Khlan Rd (Night Bazaar)). Essentially two shops: a magazine shop open from 08:00-20:00 and the main, large book/stationery shop open from 10:00-19:00. Good selection of Western language titles, and wide variety of Thai titles, as well as office supplies. Pleasant ambience. (updated Oct 2022)

Groceries

• 5 Rimping Supermarkets (ริมปิงซุปเปอร์มาร์เก็ต), 129 Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd (Chang Moi Rd E to Kad Luang, take a right, S to the Nawarat Bridge (Thapae Rd). Cross the bridge and take a right. Drive 1 block S past the Iron bridge, Rimping on the left.), ☏ +66 53-246333-4. Daily 08:00-21:00. If you want Western foodstuffs like good bread, pickles, charcuterie, etc., pickings are slim in the vicinity of the Old City. 9 locations in the Chiang Mai area, map on the website. It's comparatively expensive, but they're one of the few supermarkets that sell western groceries. 
• 6 Tops Supermarkets, ☏ +66 53 224953. Daily, 09:00-21:00. National chain of supermarkets. Good selection of Western foods, including good bread, cheese, wine and beer. There are five Tops locations in the Chiang Mai area, the closest to the old city is behind the Mercure hotel on Chang Phueak Rd. 
• 7 Kasem Store, 19 Ratchawong Road, Muang, Chiang Mai, ☏ +66 53 234 986. A small store a few doors up from Chang Moi Road, situated near but not in Warowot market (to the east of the walled city and just before the Ping River). Has those difficult to get items such as real powdered milk, black loose leafed tea, assorted good cereals, assorted pastries, etc. Has a good assortment of foreign goods including vegetarian and vegan food. Good English spoken. (updated Mar 2018)

Housewares and workshops

Local products

• Furniture and woodcarvings: Major woods and materials include teak, rosewood, and rattan. Items may be unadorned or, especially with teak and rosewood, carved in traditional or modern designs. Woodcarving is a traditional northern Thai art featured in numerous temples. In the 2010s, woodcarving increasingly embellished furniture, gracing screens, chairs, tables, beds, figurines, carved elephants.
• Gold plated orchids and butterflies: Orchids and butterflies are preserved and plated with 24-carat gold to create unusual gift items such as necklace pendants, hairpins, and earrings.
• Hill tribe products: These include silver ornaments, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and pipes of intricate design, and embroidered items including tunics, jackets, bags, purses, caps, and dresses.
• Lacquer ware: Made of wood, bamboo, metal, paper, and baked clay, in the form of receptacles, ornaments, and various souvenirs.
• Pottery: Products include high-fired Celadon which is produced in many forms, including dinner sets, lamp bases, and decorative items.
• Sa (mulberry) paper products: Sa products that come in different, distinctive designs include cards, notebooks, stationery, boxes, bags, photo frames, lanterns, gift wrapping paper.
• Silverware: Traditional skills and a guaranteed content of at least 92.5% pure silver invest bowls, receptacles, and decorative items.
• Umbrellas and parasols: These are inextricably associated with Bo Sang where villagers have been engaged in their manufacture for at least 200 years. All materials, silks, cottons, Sa paper (manufactured from the bark of the mulberry tree), and bamboo are produced or found locally.

Shops and factories

• Various factories offering factory tours, Along Rte 1006 (Charoen Muang Rd) (just past the superhighway (Rte 11)). Silverware, silk, furniture and brass items generally priced with the cashed-up tourist in mind, but the tours might be worth a look to see how things are made. They are generally open during typical daytime hours. (updated Nov 2019)
• 8 Mengrai Kilns, 79/2 Arak Rd, Samlan 6, ☏ +66 53-272063, info@mengraikilns.com. Celadon green-glazed ceramics. Sift through their pile of rejects in the covered area to the right of store and find something interesting. 

Jewelry

• 9 Nova Collection Jewelry, 179 Thapae Road, ☏ +66 53 273 058, info@nova-collection.com. Full service jewelry design shop. Contemporary bespoke jeweler, handcrafted with Thai and Western artisanship. (updated Jul 2020)

Malls

• 10 CentralFestival, 99/3 Moo 4, Tambon Fah Ham (NE of the city centre, Juvenile Court intersection, Super Hwy 11 and Chiang Mai-Doi Saket Rd (Rte 118). Take Kaewnawarat east, past the bus station, cross the ring road and turn into the entrance on the left. Coming from the N, take the first ring road and turn into the entrance before crossing Rte 118 (Doi Saket Rd/Kaewnawarat).), ☏ +66 53 998999. M-Th 11:00-21:30; F 11:00-22:00; Sa-Su 10:00-22:00. Measuring 250,000 m², with 250 shops, it rivals the Central Plaza Chiang Mai in size. Central Festival opened in late 2013 and includes an ice rink, IMAX and 4DX cinemas, dozens of restaurants and shops on five floors. A food court on the fifth floor as well as at the ground floor level (with better prices). All banks and mobile phone companies are represented. 
• 11 Central Plaza Chiang Mai Airport (เซ็นทรัล แอร์พอร์ต พลาซ่า), 2 Mahidol Rd, Haiya, (Corner Thipanet Rd and Mahidon Rd, about a kilometre from the airport), ☏ +66 53-999199. On five floors, with a food court, banks/ATMs, and multi-screen cinema. It also has a Cultural Centre attached selling many crafts, a large food market, and an extensive selection of Thai ready-to-eat stalls in the basement. 
• 12 MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center (เมญ่า), 55 Moo 5, Huay Kaew Rd. Chang Phuak (corner Huay Kaew Rd and Superhighway), ☏ +66 52 081555. The Rimping Supermarket on the lowest floor is open from 06:00-24:00. The cinemas on the top floor are open late. Restaurants and bars on the open roof afford good views of Chiang Mai. 
• 13 One Nimman (วันนิมมาน), 1 Nimman Haemin Rd (at the corner of Nimmanhaemin Soi 1), ☏ +66 52 080 900. 11:00-23:00. A shopping centre in pseudo-Italian style. Many smaller shops at the ground floor, a kind of department store on the second floor. People who cannot walk very well should not use the escalator to the second floor. Once you are up, it is not possible to go back with the downwards escalator, but you must go through the entire department store, a 250-m walk passing 10 short flights of stairs. There is no warning sign for this when you approach the escalator! (updated Dec 2023)

Markets

• 14 Anusarn Market (near the bottom end of the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar on Changklan Rd). 18:00-24:00. During the day time the Anusarn Market area is devoid of any vendor stalls. All the permanent shops, bars, and eateries around the inside walls of the market area are open for business. Every afternoon the Anusarn Market vendors move in, erect their large tent type stalls and open. Good shopping, good restaurants, and in a back corner there is a ladyboy cabaret that puts on a one-hour show at 21:30 at a reasonable price. 
• 15 Chiang Mai Gate Market (S side of the moat inside, roughly at the mid-point). A major shopping venue for fruit, vegetables, meat, and fish for locals. Between the ring roads and in the vicinity are numerous food stalls. 
• 16 Kalare Market (down from the top end of the Night Bazaar on Changklan Rd, E side). 18:00-24:00. A large covered arcade full of shops with an open food court and entertainment area. The food court operates on a coupon system: you buy coupons from the cashiers, then redeem them at the many small adjacent food stalls. Cheap dining. The market has bars, many shops, massage shops. 
• 17 Malin Plaza Night Market (across from the main entrance to Chiang Mai University), ☏ +66 53-892111. About 18:00-. If the Night Bazaar is the place tourists go at night, Malin Plaza is where young Thais go. Its proximity to มช ("maw chaw", the local nickname for CMU) means that in the evening this place is crawling with teens and twenty-somethings. Clothing is young, trendy and cheap. Cheap restaurants abound, including a number of all-you-can-eat table-top barbecues. 
• 18 Night Bazaar (ไนท์บาร์ซ่า) (Changklan Rd, between Tha Phae Rd and Sri Donchai Rd; walk from Tha Phae Gate down Tha Phae Rd for 3/4 km to Changklan Rd, then turn right). 18:00-24:00. A huge indoor/outdoor commercial maelstrom centred on the Night Bazaar Building on the west side of Changklan Rd. The Night Bazaar can be considered an entire region of the city as it incorporates the Anusarn and Kalare Markets as well, with the borders being ambiguous (and unimportant). It can take a concerted effort to find something different among the near identical stalls selling tourist-oriented sunglasses, T-shirts, textiles, watches, luggage, caps, and anything else small enough to sell from a market stall. You rarely see Thai people shopping here. On the east side of the street you will find the Anusarn and Kalare Markets with wider offerings.  

Saturday Walking Street Market

• 19 Sompet Market (Moon Muang Rd, Soi 6, just inside the moat). Just south of the moat's northeast corner. Mostly a fruit and veg market for locals, but close at hand to the many guesthouses in the area so a good place for visitors to stock up on grub. Lots of prepared meat and meals as well. 

Sunday Walking Market at Night

• 20 Tha Phae Walking Street (Sunday Walking Street Market), Ratchadamnoen Rd (from the Tha Phae Gate W along Ratchadamnoen to Singharat Rd at Wat Prah Sing). Su 17:00-23:00. This market is enormous and takes up several blocks on either side of Ratchadamnoen including from Ratchawithi to Ratchamanka on Prapoklao (from the 3 Kings Monument to past Wat Chedi Luang). The street is blocked off to traffic for local craft vendors to layout their handmade wares. There are food vendors strewn throughout. It starts at 16:00, but not everyone is set up until around 18:00. Runs late, but most vendors start to pack up around 22:00 or so. 

Warorot Market

• 21 Warorot Market (กาดหลวง / Kad Luang), Tha Phae Rd and Chang Moi Rd. 07:00-17:00. This sprawling indoor/outdoor market is where the locals shop and is worth a visit to look over the plethora of fabrics, spices, tea, and dried fruit piled up along the aisles. Across the road is a flower and fruit market and an out-of-this-world fireworks stand. At night the street is packed with snack stalls. 
• 22 Wualai Walking Street (Saturday Walking Street Market), Wualai Rd (outside the moat on the city's S side, starting roughly across from Chiang Mai Gate). Sa 17:00-23:00. In the old silver-working district, it's a smaller version of the Sunday market with many of the same vendors. (updated Mar 2015)

Motorbike rental

• 23 Jaguar, 2 Ratvithi Rd Soi 1, ☏ +66 81 8821580. Has several types of motorbikes, light ones of 100-125 CC and also some of 150-200 CC. Special feature are the license plates that all have 3 equal digits, like 111, 555 making it easy to remember it and find it back after parking it somewhere. You can leave your passport as deposit, but a deposit of 5000 baht is also accepted. 300 baht per day for a 125 CC bike. (updated Jan 2024)

Cameras

• 24 Film Camera Chiang Mai (กล้องฟิลม์เลนส์มือหมุนเชียงใหม่), 39 Moo.2 Nongtong Hangdong, ☏ +66 903236480. Located outside the city, this shop has a lot of analogue cameras. (updated Sep 2024)

Eat

A bowl of Chiang Mai's signature dish, Khao Soi Kai, with pickled cabbage and lime to add to taste

Chiang Mai's restaurants offer a wide range of food, second only to Bangkok. Naturally it's a good place to sample northern Thai food: in particular, hunt down some khao soi, yellow wheat noodles in curry broth, traditionally served with chicken (kai) or beef (nuea), but available some places as vegetarian or with seafood. Another local specialty is hang ley, Lanna-style pork curry. The area is also a home to a type of pork sausage called sai ua, which is favoured using chilli and various Thai herbs such as lemongrass, galangal and Kaffir lime. For those tired of eating rice or noodles there's also a wide range of excellent international food restaurants, from cheap hamburger stands to elaborate Italian restaurants.

When you come to Chiang Mai you should try a khantoke dinner and show. Although these are just for tourists it is still a nice way to spend an evening. The first khantoke dinner was held in 1953 by Professor Kraisi Nimanhemin who wanted to host a special event for 2 friends leaving Chiang Mai. Two more such dinners were held, both in 1953, thus "khantoke" dinners are not "historic", but rather a relatively recent invention. Khantoke literally means small bowl, low table (khan = small bowl. tok = low table) There are also many garden restaurants where you can enjoy an excellent Thai meal in a beautiful setting.

The range and value of Western food in Chiang Mai is unsurpassed in Northern Thailand and there is a full range of restaurants from Australian/British/Irish, through French and German to Italian, Spanish, American and Mexican. Considering how remote Chiang Mai is from the major centres of population in Asia, there are a remarkable number of Western restaurants.

It can be hard to find strictly vegetarian food in Chiang Mai, as fish and oyster sauce are used frequently, and the local Buddhist monks themselves often eat fish. Thus, asking for your dish to be prepared "like the monks", which works in other places, does not get the same results in Chiang Mai. There are a few completely vegetarian options.

Food markets & roadside stalls

• 1 Anusarn Market (ตลาดอนุสาร), Changklan Rd (side of road opposite Night Bazaar Building, further down the street). A busy outdoor night market with lots of little Thai, Indian and Western restaurants and food vendors. Great atmosphere. (updated Feb 2023)
• 2 Kalare Food Centre, Changklan Rd (Opposite the Night Bazaar Building). 17:00-22:00. Has a large open-air food court, featuring free Thai classical dance performances nightly. All food is paid for with pre-purchased coupons. (updated Feb 2023)
• 3 Suthep Road Moveable Feast (Past Canal Rd, by the university). Daily 17:00-22:00. Dozens of food carts set up every evening around from around 17:00 until about 22:00, with a huge variety of very inexpensive food, and tables set up along the pavement. 

Budget

Thai

• 4 Koleang Boat Noodle, Moon Muang Rd (near Ratchamanka Rd (inside moat); English sign on sidewalk). Serves authentic kuaytiow reua (literally "boat noodles", rice noodles in dark broth with beef). It's good stuff. (updated Feb 2023)
• 5 Lemontree, 26/1-2 Huaykaew Rd, ☏ +66 53 222 009. (updated Feb 2023)
• 6 Lucky, Kotchasarn Rd Lane 3 (steps from Kotchasarn Soi 3, just north of the turn onto Loi Kroh from the moat), ☏ +66 86-99227115. Daily 18:00-08:00. Lucky Pub is on the ground floor. The restaurant is above and to the rear. The bar opens and 16:00 and closes at 02:00. The restaurant opens at 18:00 and closes at 08:00 the next morning. This is its appeal. When everything else is closed at 03:00 and you're hungry, this is one of the only places to go. Thai food only. Free Wi-Fi in the bar. (updated Feb 2023)
• 7 Ratana’s Kitchen, Tha Phae Rd. Popular for its wide range of Thai dishes and a huge vegetarian selection. Smoking (inside, air-conditioned) and non-smoking areas. Visa and MasterCard accepted. (updated Feb 2023)
• 8 Sailomjoy Restaurant, 7 Rachadamnoen Rd (Near Tha Phae Gate (inside moat)). Daily, 07:30-16:00. Delicious food (Thai, Western and vegetarian), friendly service and simple and relaxed atmosphere. (updated Feb 2023)

Burmese

• 9 The Swan, 48 Chaiyapoom Rd (just outside the moat on the east side, two doors down from Mike's Hamburgers), ☏ +66 81-0992777, ndavey01@aol.com. 12:00-23:00. Free Wi-Fi. Smoking and non-smoking areas. Charming restaurant with a tiny front but a cavernous interior. Good food at good prices. Those unfamiliar with Burmese food are in for a treat. 

Vegetarian

• 10 Anchan, Nimmanhaemin Rd, Soi Hillside 3 (opposite Soi 13, about 50 m off of Nimmanhaemin), ☏ +66 83-5811689. Excellent vegetarian food, perhaps the best in Chiang Mai. (updated Feb 2023)
• 11 Ming Kwan Vegetarian Buffet, 98 Ratchadamnoen Rd (100 m from the police station, direction Wat Phra Singh), ☏ +66 53 221 069. daily 07:00–18:00. A different range of Thai vegan dishes from the norm. A focus on faux-meats, the veggie sausage is great, and the faux-fish in curry sauce is good. Of course, bamboo shoot stir fry, noodle soups, etc., means there's lots to try. They cook during the day, so other dishes often appear from the kitchen. (updated Feb 2023)
• 12 Tien Sieng Vegetarian Foods, Phrapokkloa Rd (yellow fronted shop, 80 m N of Chiang Mai Gate (south side) on the right next to the Kodak shop). Daily 06:00-16:00. Delicious vegan buffet. There are a few great dishes: the tofu, mushroom, and lemon grass wrapped in banana leaves is addictive; the het-hom (shitake) and other protein/gluten goodies are lovely; the steaming noodle soup is a great addition to a meal if you've arrived late and want to warm up the buffet dishes. The earlier the better as when dishes run out, they aren't remade. Also, you can buy some vegan supplies. (updated Feb 2023)
• 13 Vegan Heaven, 44/6 Loi Kroh Rd, ☏ +66 52 001-447, veganheavencm@gmail.com. Daily 09:00-22:00. A 100% vegan restaurant in the tourist area of Chiang Mai. It has a wide variety of meals: the usual Thai dishes in vegan, such as khao soi, tom yam, tom kha and pad see ew, but also breakfast meals, sandwiches and even vegan hot dogs and burgers. 150 baht (Dec 2017). (updated Feb 2023)

Mid-range

Thai

• 14 Ghekko Garden Bar and Restaurant, Sridonchai Rd (opposite the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel (outside moat)). Highlights are lemon grass beef, sun-dried beef and chili crab. See the bar blackboard for daily specials. (updated Feb 2023)
• 15 Hong Tauw Inn, Nimmanhaemin Road. 11:00-22:00. Thai food. Inside you might think you are in a clock museum. The front part of the restaurant has a high ceiling with fans, giving it a colonial atmosphere. 80-120 baht for most main dishes. 
• 16 Huen Muan Jai, Ratchaphruek Rd, ☏ +66 53-404998. 10:00-22:00, closed on Wednesday. Wooden Lanna-style buildings in a very nice garden. Can have a big waiting-for-tables crowd outside in the winter period. (updated Feb 2023)
• 17 Lemongrass, Loi Kroh Rd, ☏ +66 88 260 2544. (updated Feb 2023)

Western

• 18 Archers Bar and Restaurant, 133/134 Ratchapakanai Rd (inside moat, opposite Wat Pan Ping), ☏ +66 83-6377621. Closed M. Tu-Su 10:00-late; kitchen closes at 22:00. Some say the baguettes are better than in France, which is nonsense, but they may well be the best in Thailand. Very well-run establishment, with outstanding food, great staff and ambience. Owners, Mark and Sa. Large Leo 85 baht; They offer e.g. fried rice, Massaman curry, pad Thai, cappuccino and brie/bacon baguette. 
• 19 Cafe de Siam (Outside moat, corner of Loi Kroh and Kamphaeng Rd), ☏ +66 53-207258. 06:30-22:00. It's hard to find an early-morning breakfast in Chiang Mai due to the number of tourists on hotel package deals, but this place does. Free Wi-Fi. Three coin-operated Internet computers, 10 baht for 15 minutes. Continental breakfast and American breakfast offered.. (updated Feb 2023)
• 20 Chiangmai Saloon, 30 Ratchawithi Rd (1 location inside the moat), ☏ +66 81-9302212. American-style burger and steakhouse. Friendly staff, nice atmosphere, music videos and sports on three 3-m screens, pool tables and free Internet, free popcorn and peanuts, over 50 kinds of margaritas, Chang beer on tap. Is open everyday from breakfast until late. (updated Feb 2023)
• 21 Dash! Restaurant & Bar, 38 Moon Muang Soi 2 (Moon Muang is the inside road on the W side of the old city; take Soi 1 or 2 off Moon Muang and follow it around — you won't miss the place), ☏ +66 85 3477554, +66 53 279230, noitevis@comcast.net. 10:00-24:00. Possibly the best value in Chiang Mai. Wonderful ambiance, with indoor or outdoor seating. Great food, cocktails and desserts at more than reasonable prices. Cooking classes offered on-site. Also has a 3-bedroom, 2-bath house for rent at 3,000 baht per day. Served are e.g. Chicken fried rice, Chicken pat Thai, hamburger and American breakfast. (updated Feb 2023)
• 22 The Duke's Ping River, 49, 4-5 Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd, Tambon Chang Moi, ☏ +66 53-249 231. 10:00-22:00. Excellent American-style dishes and desserts: ribs, burgers, pizza, cheesecake, etc. Full bar with local and imported beers and wines. Great family atmosphere, children's menu, no loud music or entertainment, just good food. Eat in, take away & call for delivery. (updated Feb 2024)
• 23 La Fourchette, 162/2 Phrapoklao Rd (inside moat, across from Wat Chedi Luang), ☏ +66 89-7585604. M-Sa 17:00-23:00. Authentic French restaurant in the centre of the old city. Large selection of imported meats and wines at affordable prices. Romantic open-air seating area with upstairs art gallery. (updated Feb 2023)
• 24 My Place Lounge, 80 Loi Kroh Rd, ☏ +66 85 709 6851, info@myplaceloungechiangmai.com. 08:00-16:00. Sports bar with a full food menu, breakfast (including hash browns), burgers, Buffalo wings, nachos, panini, salads, sandwiches, Thai food, and cheesesteaks. All the major sports are shown here, including UFC, Premier League, NFL, Superbowl, NBA, Formula 1 (F1), AFL (Aussie Rules), NRL, and Rugby. Free pool table, along with free Wifi. (updated Feb 2023)
• 25 Norden Restaurant Chiang Mai, 139 Moo 1 Superhighway Chiangmai-Lampang Rd (on the superhighway before the Promenada Mall), ☏ +66 960909769. 11:30-21:00. A modern European restaurant with our roots & inspiration from Scandinavia all cooked from a Swedish chef & owner. Then menu has many steaks, BBQ ribs, Pizza, and Nordic Food. The quality of the food is outstanding without the price tag to go with it. Very reasonably priced. (updated Feb 2023)
• 26 O'Malley's Irish Pub, 149-14/15 Changklan Rd (SW corner of Anusarn Market), ☏ +66 53-271921. 09:00-02:00. Delicious cocktails and excellent Western and Thai food. Has inside (air conditioned) and outside (smoking) seating. The interior closely resembles an authentic pub. This place does all the small things well: Tabasco, Lea & Perrins on the tables, soap and towels in the toilets, spotlessly clean. Not cheap, but the food is superb and the portions generous. Free Wi-Fi. (updated Feb 2023)
• 27 Peppermint Cafe, Rachadamnoen Rd, Soi 5 (inside moat, very near AUA and Wat Pan On), ☏ +66 53-279735. 07:00-late. Spotlessly clean and excellent Western/Thai food at great prices. Of the terrific pizza you buy a huge slice. Friendly, accommodating staff. Free Wi-Fi. Served are e.g. English breakfast and burgers. (updated Sep 2022)
• 28 Salsa Kitchen, 26/4 Huaykaew Rd, ☏ +66 62 026 5500. Mexican restaurant. (updated Feb 2023)
• 29 The Red Lion English Pub, 123 Loi Kroh Rd (Night Bazaar, just past McDonald's and Burger King), ☏ +66 53 818847. 10:00-01:00. Draught Guinness and Heineken, imported Blackthorn Cider and Fuller's London Pride, and Belgian and German beers. Pub favourites including bangers 'n mash, fish 'n chips, steak & kidney pie as well as steaks, pasta and Thai food. Live sports on a HD big screen including Premier League Football, Aussie Rules, Rugby and Formula 1. (updated Feb 2023)
• 30 The Salad Concept, Nimmanhaemin Rd Soi 13 (flagship restaurant at the corner of Nimmanhaemin Rd), ☏ +66 53-894455, thesaladconcept@gmail.com. 11:00-22:00. Order by completing a form which is then handed to the staff. Fast and efficient, and the food is very good. Second location on 5F of Central Festival Mall. Third location on Chaiyapoom Rd, just E of the moat. (updated Feb 2023)

Japanese

• 31 Fuji, Central Airport Plaza. While perhaps not a special restaurant in that it is not unique to Chiang Mai (it's actually a large chain), for those seeking reasonably-priced Japanese food, Fuji is a must. There are several spectacular set meals that offer superb value, e.g., the Fuji Sashimi Set which can easily fill up a sushi lover (updated Feb 2023)

Vegetarian

• 32 Blue Diamond, Moon Muang Rd, Soi 9. M-Sa 08:00-21:00. Thai and Western, huge selection of items for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Great salads, fruits, fruit juices, noodle dishes, bakery, good breads. Very nice garden seating available. 100-300 baht. 
• 33 Gulf Restaurant, Anusarn Market (in a corner inside Anusarn Mkt, next to the pharmacy). open late. Lebanese owner/chef caters to middle eastern food lovers. Large portions of delicious tabbouleh, tahini salads and humus alongside fresh falafel and flat bread. Shisha/nargila/water pipes are available as well as mint tea. (updated Feb 2023)
• 34 Pun Pun Vegetarian Slow Food, Wat Suan Dok Temple, Suthep Rd (inside the temple compound behind the monk chat building in an outdoor courtyard with a large bodhi tree and tables with umbrellas), ☏ +66 86-101850. 09:00-15:00, closed W. Thai vegetarian with organic ingredients from local farmers and many vegan-friendly options. Run by a local self-reliance and seed-saving centre outside the city. (updated Feb 2023)
• 35 ImmAim (the other Pun Pun), Santhitam Rd (near the YMCA, at the south end of Santhitam Rd, follow signs). A mix of Thai and other styles, run by laconic locals linked to a local farm. The falafel is lovely, but different, and the salsa it comes with is delicious. Pasta can be quite sweet, and the biscuits are good. (updated Feb 2023)
• 36 Mr. Green, 189/3 Moon Muang Rd Lane 7, Si Phum Sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai District. M-Sa 10:00-22:00. All vegan, high quality Thai dishes offered such as stir-fried noodles and curries. Pumpkin curry is a favourite. Drinks and dessert available as well. Art gallery upstairs. Main dishes are all 68 baht (Jan 2020). (updated Feb 2023)

Vietnamese

• 37 V T Namneung (วีที แหนมเนือง), 49/9 Lamphun Rd (on the east bank of the Ping River, just north of the Iron Bridge, just south of the Nawarat Bridge), ☏ +66 53-266111, vtnamnueng@hotmail.com. Handsome 2-storey restaurant with air-con upstairs. Serves what amounts to Vietnamese tapas: spring rolls, salted pork ribs, nem; all with lots of leafy greens. Serve beer, but the fresh fruit juices are better. Do very little to cater to visitors as most everything is in Thai including signs and menus. At the entry have a shop that offers many of their products packaged for take-away. The website lists their catering offerings. (updated Feb 2023)

Splurge

Thai

• 38 Galae Garden Restaurant, 65 หมู่ 1 Suthep Rd (at the end of Suthep Rd), ☏ +66 53-278655. Thai food and grilled specialties, some of them regional, in a delightful outdoor setting. (updated Feb 2023)
• 39 Khum Khantoke, 139 Moo 4, Nong Pakrung (In Chiang Mai Business Park behind Big C Extra Hypermarket, Chiang Mai-Lampang super highway), ☏ +66 53-304121. Daily 19:00-21:00. Traditional northern Thai cuisine. To get a good seat reservations are recommended. It offers all you can eat (updated Feb 2023)
• 40 Old Chiang Mai Cultural Centre, 185/3 Wualai Rd, ☏ +66 53-275097. Daily 19:00-21:30. The first commercial khantoke dinner in Chiang Mai more than 30 years ago. They have the best northern Thai food of any of the khantoke establishments. However the seating, show and music are not as good as others. (updated Feb 2023)

Western

• 41 Arcobaleno Italian Restaurant, 60 Keaw Nawarat Rd, Soi 1 (across from Wat Ket Karam; first soi off of Keaw Nawarat Rd), ☏ +66 53-306254. Daily 11:00-14:00, 17:30-22:00. Open for lunch and dinner with a range of traditional Italian soup, pasta, antipasti, meat and vegetarian dishes. Homemade ice cream (updated Feb 2023)
• 42 The House by Ginger, 199 Mun Mueang Rd, ☏ +66 53-419011. 11:00-22:00 daily. Old 1930s colonial style house in the city centre. Western and Thai food, Pacific Rim and fusion. Free Wi-Fi. Shop with unusual houseware items on the premises. (updated Feb 2023)
• 43 Piccola Roma Palace Italian Restaurant, 144 Charoen Prathet Rd (opposite Chedi Hotel, corner of Charoen Prathet Rd & Sri Donchai Rd), ☏ +66 53-820297-8. Open lunch & dinner amid beautiful surroundings. Serving residents for over 15 years. Menu and recipes on website. Reservations recommended. Call for free transportation. (updated Feb 2023)

Drink

Chiang Mai's nightlife is the most happening in the north, although still a far cry from Bangkok's hot spots. The busiest night life zones are near Tha Phae Gate, Loi Kroh Rd and along Charoen Rat Rd on the east bank of the Ping River.

Coffee

• 1 Akha Ama, 9/1 Mata Apartment, Hussadhisewee Rd, Soi 3 (Santitham area). 08:00-20:00, closed W. 
• 2 Akha Ama Phrasingh, 175/2 Ratchadamnoen Rd (Inside moat, near Wat Phra Sing). 08:00-17:30. Now next door at a bigger location, having two floors. 
• 3 Chapter 2W0, 90 Thapae Road, ☏ +66 90 323 4991, Pratchayatoo@gmail.com. Daily 06:00-17:00. A gem of a cafe set in a sprawling garden. Excellent coffee and juice concoctions. Mouthwatering breads and desserts. 
• 4 Cool Muang, Moon Muang Road 81, ☏ +66 8 9756 4321. Using 100% Thai Arabica coffee beans. 
• 5 J. Ju Coffee, 52 Ratchamanka Rd. Run by "Oil", this little place has excellent espresso-based drinks, free Wi-Fi, or ten minutes on the computer with your coffee. Very modern design; seating in the front is open-air while the back is air conditioned. Oil speaks excellent English and is happy to give you the low-down. 
• 6 Ristr8to, 15/3 Nimmanhaemin Rd (between Soi 3 and Soi 5). 08:00-23:00. A trendy art cafe featuring an award-winning barista (world champion latte art 2017), choices of single-origin beans and a varied drink menu. Very friendly atmosphere at much higher standard than is normally seen in Thailand. 89 baht for a doppio ristretto. 
• 7 Sky Café, ☏ +66 86 587 4575. Nice situation on a busy road with across that road a pond where often horses are bathed around 11:00. Espresso is brewed very well, using good coffee beans. 30 baht for an espresso. (updated Dec 2018)
• 8 Starbucks (The well-known chain with 6 more branches in Chiang Mai) (east of Tha Phae Gate, outside moat). Drink prices are much higher than the other coffee places. A new type of Starbuck called 9 Starbucks Reserve, with even higher prices than the normal Starbucks, opened early 2024 at Nimmanhaemin Road. Wi-Fi is free after registration.. 
• 10 The Baristro Coffee Roaster, 78 Pa Tan Alley (along the river, 850 m north of highway 11), ☏ +66 98 259 7926. 08:00-18:00. Small local chain of coffee places, this one is at the river with garden seats direct at the river. (updated Dec 2024)

Alcohol

Bars close at midnight in Chiang Mai. The police are strict about this.

Many, but by no means all, of Chiang Mai's tourist-oriented bars and pubs are located along Loi Kroh Rd (ถนนลอยเคระห์), outside the southeast quadrant of the old city. In addition to the street bars, the Chiang Mai Entertainment Complex (CMEC) (the CMEC sign is not prominent. Much more so is a lighted sign in front, Loikroh Boxing Stadium) can be found at the Night Bazaar-end of Loi Kroh. Here you will find around 30 bars ranging from sports bars that feature big screens to watch sports and play pool, to Pattaya-style girlie "beer bars", to even bars staffed exclusively by kathoeys (ladyboys). The complex also features a muay Thai boxing ring that has exhibition bouts for free or a voluntary donation, and on some nights (varies) real competitive boxing that requires an entrance fee unless your bar has provided you with complimentary viewing. And for extra fun, the occasional Westerner climbs into the ring, usually with hilarious results.

Also take a stroll along Moon Muang Road and its side Sois 1 and 2. Here you can find small expat hangouts and sports bars. Most have pool tables and hostesses, along with music videos or various TV sport programmes. Be aware that despite their charm and friendliness, the pressure to purchase lady drinks can result in a very surprising tab at the end of the night.

Gay bars

• Since 2015 Chareon Prathet Soi 6 at Chiang Mai Night Bazaar has become home to many gay bars and is now known locally as gay soi 6.

• 11 Connections Chiang Mai Bar, ☏ +66 92 628 7657. (updated Feb 2023)
• 12 Jacky Bar. (updated Aug 2019)
• 13 Orion Bar. (updated Aug 2019)
• 14 Ram bar. Daily shows. (updated Aug 2019)

• 15 Blow, Nimmanhaemin Soi 5. A small bar with young crowd. Small scale drag show on Thursday and Saturday from 22:15 to 23:30 approximately (sometimes it started later if queens arrived later). No entrance fee for drag shows. The show stage is simply space between tables on two side, and one staff will stand near the entrance door holding a flashlight for lightning. (updated Sep 2024)
• 16 6ixcret, Tha Phae Road, Soi 1. Located in the Night Bazar building, this famous gay bar is transitioning to a night club to attract more people including tourists. Drag show and cabaret show starts at 21:30 to midnight. No entrance fee, but there is a two drink minimum. (updated Sep 2024)

Live music

The area along the east bank of the Mae Ping River on Charoen Rat Rd is famous for jazz, rock, pop, Thai, and country and Western live music, along with restaurants serving Thai, Western and Chinese food. Coming from the centre of the city, just walk from the Night Bazaar across the Nawarat Bridge, from where all the restaurants can be seen along the river on the left.

Most bands in Chiang Mai play for about an hour, and then move on to do the same at another restaurant or pub, so don't be surprised to see the same band if you move venues.

• 17 Boy Blues Bar (in the Kalare Centre (near the food hall) in the Night Bazaar on the mezzanine floor opposite the dancing stage). 19:00-24:00 daily except Sun. The owner, "Boy", is a nephew of Chiang Mai legend "Took", of the now defunct Brasserie. Monday night is jamming night with great visiting musicians. Bangkok blues legend, Chai (of Chai's Blues Bar fame), often joins in. Well worth a visit. (updated Oct 2022)
• 18 Camellia & Co, 165 โครงการ Think Park. Music groups of 4-6 persons. (updated Dec 2022)
• 19 Chit Hole CNX, ☏ +66 98 822 8997. Besides the funny name, it is a place with 16 different kinds of draft beer, some local ones from Chiang Mai. Small music groups of 2-3 persons. 195 baht for a 350 mL glass and 250 baht for a 550 mL glass. (updated Dec 2024)
• 20 The Good View, 13 Charoen Rat Rd (next to the Riverside Restaurant), ☏ +66 53-241886, gvchmai@goodview.co.th. 10:00-01:00. Thai and Western varieties of rock, jazz, pop and country music in the evening. Their extensive menu offers more than 150 Thai, Chinese, and Western dishes, including curries, noodles, rice and pizza. Full-service bar serving wine, beer and spirits. If you want to get in, get there early and there's a queue every night. 
• 21 The North Gate Jazz Collective (inside the moat, east of Chang Phuak Gate). Nightly jazz performances starting around 21:30 with different performers and occasional guests from the audience. Mixed bag in terms of quality: sometimes great, sometimes mediocre. Serves a variety of drinks not normally found in Chiang Mai, notably red and white wine, mojitos and other mixed drinks. The staff are quick and efficient, and the prices are reasonable. 
• 22 Riverside Restaurant, 9-11 Charoen Rat Rd, ☏ +66 53-243239. The live music starts around 19:00 with dinner music from the Eagles, Beatles or soft jazz. Starting at 21:00, the music changes to more rock and pop. The restaurant gets very crowded, so arrive early to get a table. The Riverside also offers a nightly dinner cruise departing at 20:00 for 110 baht/person extra. 
• 23 Tha Chang Jazz Club, 25 Charoen Rat Rd (next to Gallery Restaurant), ☏ +66 53-248601. Live jazz on Saturdays. 
• 24 The Moat House (John's Place), 33/3 Moonmuang Road, themoathousecm@gmail.com. W-Su 14:00-00:00. Rock and blues bands in the downstairs bar and a chilled out rooftop bar above. Long list of cocktails, beers and wines. Free entry. (updated Nov 2022)
• 25 The Sax Music House, Nimmanhaemin Rd (part of the One Nimman shopping mall). Music groups of 6-8 persons, each group playing for about one hour. Large collection of liquor with high end ones like a 21 years old Glenfiddich. (updated Dec 2022)

Loi Kroh Rd (Night Bazaar area)

• 26 Ben Cocktail Bar, 71/1-2 Loi Kroh Rd (across from My Place Lounge; cater-corner across the street northwest from the Chiang Mai Entertainment Complex. Small sign. Look for it and you will be rewarded), ☏ +66 89-9502762. 17:00-last man standing. A tiny, hole-in-the-wall (~15 seat) cocktail bar that just may serve the best cocktails in Chiang Mai. Certainly the best price/performance. Run by Ben, an irrepressible, animal-loving, lovely female and her partner, Keng. She is especially proud of her mojitos, but all the 270 cocktails on offer are delicious. The conversation is good too as she speaks excellent English. Free Wi-Fi. Great place to people watch. Chang beer 60 baht; cocktails 120 baht. 
• 27 Chiang Mai Cabaret Show (SE corner of Anusarn Market). Daily show, 21:30-22:30. A nightly revue, dancing to Western tunes by ladyboys in lavish costumes. The one hour show is tame and family-friendly, with children frequently in the audience. Lots of dancing to ABBA tunes and extravagant costumes, with no nudity. The show's length is perfect and the price is surprising affordable. Good fun. Happy Hour precedes the show, 19:30-20:30, and also follows the show. 200 baht cover, includes one drink. 
• 28 Dragonfly Bar, 8/1 Loi Kroh Rd. One of the smaller bars at the top of Loi Kroh but also one of the most cosy. What really make this place stand out is the friendly staff and that this bar has two floors so you can get away from the bustle of street level and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere from the balcony. 
• 29 Number 1 Bistro/Cafe, 2 Loi Kroh, Soi 1 (as you go down Loi Kroh, take Soi 1 to the right), ☏ +66 810342417. 15:00-24:00. Great expat bar. Free Wi-Fi with electrical outlets spaced at one metre intervals under the bar. They specialise in Belgian beer as well as having eight draught beers on tap, including domestic and Guinness. Excellent kitchen serving Thai and farang food, although the latter can be pricy: pad Thai is 80 baht, while the cheeseburger is expensive at 250 baht (July 2015). Number 1 is a refuge in Chiang Mai's red light district as it has no bar girls hassling you for a drink. And it's one of the few places on Loi Kroh where you can comfortably take a date. Two excellent pool tables, 20 baht per game (July 2015). Small Leo beer 80 baht. (updated Jul 2015)

Nimmanhaemin Rd

Northwest of the city centre, the area around Nimmanhaemin Rd is a popular hangout for younger Thais, perhaps due to its proximity to Chiang Mai University ("maw chaw"). The pubs tend to straddle a fine line between bar, restaurant and nightclub, and feature loud music interspersed with live bands fronted by musicians who are most likely hitting the books in the daytime. Tourists looking for something racier are better off staying in the east side of the city. Little English is spoken in this part of the city. Little doesn't mean none, however, and the staff of many bars, being students, still can understand what do you want, or even sometimes can speak English reasonably well.

• 30 Mali Cat Cafe & Bar, ☏ +66 82 886 6199. 10:00-midnight. The biggest cat cafe in Chiang Mai. (updated Nov 2024)
• 31 The Pub, 189 Huay Kaew Rd (Near Amari Rincome Hotel), ☏ +66 53-211550. 07:00-23:00. Long-established English-style pub, has had a makeover and extended the bar and the restaurant, but kept its charm. Great selection of food and drinks, including roast dinners on Sundays. Has an outside area where you can sit and enjoy the tranquillity of a tropical garden, and has bungalows for those wishing to linger longer. Bungalows from 800 baht. 
• 32 Warm Up Bar. This chain bar/restaurant/club has several venues in Thailand. The venue in Chiang Mai is a lot less touristy and the dance hall packed to the brim with Thai students. 

Inside the moat

• 33 The Writers Club, 141/3 Ratchadamnoen Rd (about 600 m into the old city from Tha Phae Gate), ☏ +66 53-814187, +66 53-814187. An old fashioned bar and restaurant purportedly for SE Asia's community of authors, journalists and screenwriters, though everyone's welcome. A good, informal source of information about SE Asia. This is where the some of those writing guidebooks gather. 
• 34 Zoe in Yellow, 40/12 Ratchawithi Rd (Inside the moat). Very large indoor/outdoor bar and club with a dance floor, live music or DJ, including lots of outdoor seating and multiple bars. If you're looking to party with foreigners in Chiang Mai, this is the place to be. Closes exactly at midnight except on special occasions, such as New Year or Songkran. (updated May 2016)

Nightclubs

• 35 Discovery (opposite Kad Suan Kaew shopping centre and Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel). A small club with live band, DJ, and huge screens showing music videos. Good for drinking nights and letting loose. Bring ID/passport as they can be strict about entry, especially on weekends. 
• 36 Hot Shots (At Pornping Tower Hotel). A Thai place with live music most nights, reasonable drink prices and no cover charge for foreigners or locals. 
• 37 Spicy (Spice Club), 82 Chaiyaphum Rd (outside moat, across the moat from the Sompet Market), ☏ +66 53-234869. 02:00-. A hectic after-hours place with good drinks, dancing and lots of girls looking to party. Many are bar girls (the place doesn't get rocking until they get off at 02:00) so do not be surprised if they ask for money to go home with you. 

Sleep

Accommodation in Chiang Mai is generally cheap, even by Thai standards. All types of lodging are available from inexpensive guest-houses with little or no service to the typical high rise hotels and elaborate garden resorts. The latest boom is Thai-style boutique resorts located near the old city centre — several have been built since mid-2005, and offer excellent service in quiet garden settings; most are fairly small with as few as 8 rooms and a pool, and are decorated with Thai crafts and antiques.

Evenings in Chiang Mai are cooler than Bangkok and the south during the dry season, so air conditioning may be less of a priority.

Some of the cheapest accommodation may refuse guests who are not also booking a trekking package. If so, please remove them from Wikivoyage.

Budget

The sois (lanes) in the moat's NE corner are home to numerous budget accommodations

• 1 2230 Hostel, Nimmanhaemin Rd Soi 1, ☏ +66 52 003 831. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. This hostel doubles as a local bar. Free coffee at any time of the day or night. Complimentary use of the washing machine and kitchen. Nineteen rooms that can house 38. Two showers and three toilets are located on each of the five floors. Rooms contain two pod-style bunkbeds. (updated May 2015)

• 2 7 Century Guest House, 270 Ratchaphakhinai Rd, ☏ +66 53-287541, +66 81-4388175, le7century.guesthouse@hotmail.com. Check-out: 12:00. Guest house that is a bit worn. Singles can be a bit mouldy due to poor drainage and ventilation. Good hot shower (private for single rooms, shared for double and triple). Terrace. Free Wi-Fi. If they have a laptop free you can borrow it to take to your room. Fan in rooms. Kitchen free to use. Soft beds. Service also available in German. Help with booking trips, treks, motorbikes and other things. Friendly staff. 

• 3 Baan Na Na, 11/2 Rachapakeenai Rd, ☏ +66 53 274 267. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 12:00. Small and simple guest house attached to the back of a pleasant but moderately priced cafe and restaurant. Friendly staff, shared basic Western bathrooms with warm shower, shared with cafe so can get heavy use at peak times. Good Wi-Fi in rooms. Fan dorm 100 baht, air-con dorm 150 baht, double fan room 200 baht, double air-con room 350 baht. 100-350 baht. (updated Nov 2015)

• 4 B.R. Hotel, Morakot Rd (Northwest corner of the moat, from where Huay Kaew Rd turns to the left, drive straight (north) 700 m, turn left on Morakot Rd and you'll see the sign on the right side), ☏ +66 53-220061. Check-out: 12:00. Simple, but cosy Thai hotel. Fan rooms are often sold out, however an air-con room with TV and small balcony is an excellent value during hot or wet season. No Wi-Fi (but Truemove 850 MHz 3G works perfectly). While the hotel is not far from the centre, the closest place where you can catch a public songthaew (near Kad Suan Kaew Mall) is almost 1 km away, so the place is better suited for those who rent a motorbike. Free parking. On the nearby intersection with Hasadhisawee Rd, there are numerous and cheap food stalls in the evening. Hotel staff generally do not speak English. If no vacancy, there's Inthanon Hotel next on the same road. 

• 5 Bed and Terrace Guest House, 10 Kotchasarn Rd, Soi 5, ☏ +66 53-449708, service@bedandterrace.com. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 11:30. Thai modern-style guest house with terrace, comfortable rooms with double windows overlook a mountain panorama. 

• 6 Bunchun Art Hostel, 31/5 soi sriwichai, ☏ +66 83 0723121 (mobile), bunchunhostels@gmail.com. Check-in: 09:00, check-out: 11:00. A great chill-out art hostel, a place to meet new friends other travelers and local Thais. Lots of little dogs and chickens. Wifi. 2 private rooms, 3 mixed dorms. 100 baht for dorms, 400 baht for privates. 100 baht. (updated Oct 2017)

• 7 FWD House Hostel (Box dorm with 10 single beds), 78 Ratchamanka Rd (4.3 km from the airport, 4.5 km from the train station, 5 km from the bus station), ☏ +66 82-6233349, forwardhouse.th@gmail.com. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 11:00. A 10-minute walk to the temples and Loi Kroh Rd, and a minute walk to the Sunday night market. Owner and staff are welcoming, friendly, can cater to your personal needs, and also make you feel at home. 

• 8 Giant Guest House 1 & 2, 24/1 Moon Muang Rd (Giant 1); 4 Rachamanka Rd (Giant 2) (map position is of Giant 1), ☏ +66 87-1821611, giantguesthouse@gmail.com. Check-out: 12:00. Two guest houses. Cheap basic rooms, hot showers, free Wi-Fi, free shared computer, free bicycles, free water, reggae bar attached (Freedom Bar 16:00-24:00). Can book everything here and sightsee by bicycle. Kitchen with cooking lessons available and massage school 200 m away. Watch out for the 300 baht room "switch" after they pick you up in the airport. They will give you this price in front of the guesthouse. (updated Oct 2022)

• 9 Hollanda Montri Guest House, 365 Charoen Rat Rd, ☏ +66 53-242450. Family-style guesthouse, fan or air-con rooms, and with a tropical garden on the banks of the Mae Ping River. 

• 10 Linda Guesthouse, 456/67 Soi Banditpatana (close to the railway station, follow the sign at Charoen Muang Rd), ☏ +66 53-246915, fax: +66 53-246915, lindaguesthouse@hotmail.com. East of Tha Phae Gate, easily accessible on songthaew routes. Very clean rooms. The guest house also offers many trekking tours. The staff speak German, English and Thai. Family-like atmosphere. Cheap and very good food around the clock, freshly made. 

• 11 A Little Bird Guesthouse, 17 Soi 1 Ratvithi Rd, ☏ +66 53-289577, alittlebird_cm@hotmail.com. Check-out: 12:00. Cheap basic dorms with hot shower and free Wi-Fi. An easy place to meet people in a good location. 

• 12 Mint House, 80-82 Prapokklao (Soi 5) (near Chiang Mai Gate), ☏ +66 86-2531743. Really friendly and helpful staff. Centrally located, clean and good prices for dorms and rooms. Rooms have dedicated bathrooms that, strangely, are not en suite, but all across the hallway. Keep an eye out for room rates changing after you've already checked-in. Don't be a wimp when this happens. 

• 13 Ping River Inn, ☏ +66 81-9935187, ping.river.inn@hotmail.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. A basic but clean inn along the Ping River near Nakorn Ping Bridge and the yellow songthaew route. Hot showers, two bottles of free drinking water, towels, roof access, cable, and free Wi-Fi. If the foot bridge over the river ever gets fixed, the Ping River Inn will be within five minutes walking distance of Warorot Market. 

• 14 Riders Corner (Rider's Corner Bar & Restaurant), 357, Moon Muang Rd (NE corner of moat), ☏ +66 87-0481787, riders.corner.cnx@gmail.com. De facto motorcyclist headquarters in Chiang Mai. Clean and comfortable. Full restaurant and bar. Five rooms and frequently fully booked. Free Wi-Fi. Secure parking for motorcycles. English owner is helpful and free with information. Sells good maps of north Thailand. 

• 15 Spicy House, 42/1 Ratchamanka Rd., ☏ +66 84-6134776 (Mim), spicyhouse@hotmail.com. Perhaps the friendliest little guest house in Chiang Mai. Beloved by backpackers for its low cost and friendly atmosphere. Mim, the owner, gives a free meal for guests every night. She is also an expert chef, and Spicy House sometimes acts as a cooking school. It is in the centre of the Chiang Mai action, but down a quiet soi where you can withdraw from it when needed. 

• 16 Tha Phae Inn, 164-166 Tha Phae Rd (about 600 m east of Tha Phae Gate on the north side), ☏ +66 53-234640, fax: +66 53 252790. Family-run guesthouse. Friendly. Excellent value/location combination. Basic double rooms with baths, hot water & small TV. Free Wi-Fi. Common area with tables so you can bring food and eat. Refreshments for sale on-premises. Basic double air-con room with en suite shower, no fridge, old furniture, but generally clean. 

• 17 YMCA International Hotel, 11 Mengrairasmi Sermsuk Rd, ☏ +66 53-221819, chiangmai:hotel@ymcachiangmai.org. 88 rooms and dormitory. Restaurant, swimming pool, coffee shop, massage. 
• 18 Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel. Used to be a shining crown of the area but the nearby shopping mall shutdown and now it's a dusty old relic. However, for the cheap price it does have a very large pool and spacious rooms. 1000 baht. (updated Oct 2024)

Mid-range

• 19 Boonthavon Apartment Hotel, 39 Soi 1, Ratchadamnoen Rd (walk from Tha Phae Gate into the old city down Ratchadamnoen Rd; turn right after 10 m at Soi 1; follow it round (100 m), Boonthavon is on your left), ☏ +66 53-226700. Dead central, and probably the cleanest hotel in Chiang Mai. Extremely friendly staff (only a few of whom speak English). Security entrance. A short walk to the Tha Phae Gate in the old city (nice central location). Monthly rentals are available deposit (there are additional charges: electricity, for unlimited Internet, for cable TV and for water). Location is great. Just around the corner is a great little cafe called "Angel's" which serves a mix of Thai food and really great Western breakfasts. The location of the hotel is also a short walk to several excellent restaurants and cafes such as the UN Irish Pub, New Delhi Indian Restaurant, and Loco Elvis Tex-Mex. 
• 20 BP Chiang Mai City Hotel, 154 Ratchamanka Rd, ☏ +66 53-270711, info@bpchiangmaicityhotel.com. A mid-sized hotel with a small fitness centre and pool. 
• 21 Centre of the Universe (Chiang Mai Swimming Pool and Resort), ☏ +66 81-4730746, +66 53-327808, info@therealcentreoftheuniverse.com. With only 3 detached Thai-style bungalows in a private garden, this has to be the smallest boutique hotel with the biggest swimming pool in Chiang Mai. Very friendly and helpful staff. Each room has air-con, TV, Wi-Fi, fridge, tea and coffee making facilities and access to 3 swimming pools. baht. 
• 22 Chiang Mai Apartments, 9/2 Moon Muang Rd, Soi 7 (across from the Sri Pat Guesthouse (no sign)), ☏ +66 53-225140. Very central, clean and bright rooms. Excellent quality. Free Wi-Fi in room. 
• 23 Cool Guesthouse, 87 Sripoom Rd, Sripoom (close to Chang Phuak Gate), ☏ +66 53-212618. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Small boutique guesthouse with patio and garden. Free bicycle use for guests. English, French, and Spanish speaking staff. Each room has air-con and fan, cable TV, free Wi-Fi, safe. (updated Oct 2022)
• 24 Elliebum Boutique Hotel, 114/3-4 Ratchamanka Rd, ☏ +66 53-814723, elliebum@gmail.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Friendly boutique guesthouse, beautifully furnished, spacious, spotlessly clean, air conditioned, en suite twin or double rooms. Breakfast included. 1500+ baht. (updated Oct 2022)
• 25 Lai-Thai Guest House, 111/4-5 Kotchasarn Rd, ☏ +66 53-271725, +66 53-206438, mail@laithai.com. A large northern Thai-style guesthouse with hotel-like facilities and services. All 110 air-conditioned rooms en suite with hot shower are decorated with traditional wooden floors and bamboo walls, equipped with minibar, cable & satellite TV, and free Wi-Fi. 
• 26 Liam's Suan Dok Mai, 87/45 Moo 7, Samakon, Faham, ☏ +66 53-855033, info@liamsuandokmai.com. Check-out: 10:30. Beautifully decorated guest house on the northern outskirts of the city that was built from scratch by a Belgian couple. Offers comfortable and spacious rooms with air conditioning, a pool, and a nice dining area for meals. One can find plenty of places nearby to eat and drink as residents in the village setup tables outside of their homes and operate small-time restaurants and bars. Provides a good mix of comfortable lodging with hosts that fluently speak several languages. Also pet-friendly. Free shuttle service from Chiang Mai. 
• 27 Nice Mum Lodge, Loi Kroh Rd, Soi 2 (25 m off Loi Kroh Rd), ☏ +66 83-2044111, nicemumlodge@gmail.com. Oddly named, but a superior accommodation. Close to shops, bars, restaurants, the Night Bazaar. Spotlessly clean, if somewhat austere. Run by the affable Mr Pong, who speaks good English. Great plumbing, showers, large flat screen TVs with Western programmes, fridge. Secure, covered parking for those turning up with expensive rides. Highly recommended. Free, excellent free Wi-Fi. 
• 28 Royal Peninsula Hotel, Assadatorn Rd, Northeast (outside N side of moat), ☏ +66 53 252 222. Good rooms, air-con, hot water, bar fridge and TV. Huge and a bit old building, but OK if you're not looking for luxury. At times (especially during the low season) may be available for 500-600 baht on various hotel booking websites - that's a steal! 700-900 baht. (updated Apr 2018)
• 29 Sakulchai Place, Huay Kaew Rd, Soi 10, ☏ +66 53-211982. Spacious and clean. Standard, deluxe and superior rooms available for daily, weekly, or monthly rates. Internet (Wi-Fi/LAN), air-con, hot showers. New building, modern rooms. In the trendy Nimmanhaemin district across from shopping mall and 5-10 minute walking distance to night life, cafes, restaurants. 
• 30 Siri Guesthouse, 31/3 Moon Mueang, Soi 5, ☏ +66 53-326550. A family-run guest house on a popular, but quiet lane. Fan and air-con rooms, all with bathrooms and hot water. Free Wi-Fi. 700 baht. 
• 31 Sleep guesthouse, 26/1 moonmuang soi7 (inside the moat, northeast quadrant), ☏ +66 53-2975487, info@sleepguesthouse.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Nicely decorated loft/industrial design guesthouse. Double and twin rooms. All rooms with air conditioning, mini-fridge, 32 inch led TV, private bath room with rain shower, free wiffi and free breakfast included in price. 999 baht. (updated Feb 2015)
• 32 Smile House Boutique, 3/5 Suriyawong Rd, Soi 1 (behind Ruam Pat Hospital), ☏ +66 53-800567-8. A wooden house which is simply decorated to create a peaceful atmosphere. The rooms are beautifully decorated. 
• 33 Sri-Pat Guesthouse, 16 Moon Muang Rd, Soi 7 (inside the moat, northeast quadrant), ☏ +66 53-218716. Nice guest house with air conditioning, TV, private shower, fridge and a little balcony. Try getting a room on the street side, since the other side has a water pump working during the night which can be annoying in some rooms. 
• 34 Swiss-Lanna Lodge, Rat U-thit Soi 2, Wat Ket, ☏ +66 53-411202, info@swisslannalodge.com. Renovated (as of 2015) wooden northern Thai-style guesthouse. It touts its "extremely friendly and helpful" staff, which it says speak English and French provide great tourist information. 890-3,390 baht. 
• 35 Viangbua Mansion, 3/1 Viangbua Rd, ☏ +66 53-411202. Deluxe serviced-apartments for monthly rental. Offer a wide range of services and some degree of security. In a somewhat remote NW area of the city. No more daily rates. Monthly rates from 13,000 (34 m² room) up to 60,000 (300 m² Presidential Suite). 
• 36 Royal Train Garden Resort (บ้านสวนรถไฟรีสอร์ท), 1269 Road, Hang Dong District, ☏ +66 61 274 0999. Located in an area far from the city with beautiful natural view, this resort features an old steam locomotive and trains. It has normal rooms in a concrete building and wooden houses in traditional Lanna style. (Wooden houses may be unavailable in off-season for renovation though.) The resort has a restaurant and a public swimming pool (some house has its dedicated swimming pool). For visitors without a car or a motorbike, Grab is available for transportation in the area around the resort. around 1500 baht. (updated Sep 2024)

Splurge

• 37 Anantara Chiang Mai Resort (Formerly, Chedi Hotel), 123-123/1 Charoen Prathet Road,Changklan, Muang (10-minute walk from Night Bazaar), ☏ +66 53 253 333, chiangmai@anantara.com. Located along the banks of Mae Ping River, 52 rooms and 32 suites with private balconies. Has a fitness center and guests can attend cooking classes. From 6,400 baht in low season, but can go up to 30,800 baht for the same room in high season. 

• 38 Baan Orapin, 150 Charoen Rat Rd, ☏ +66 53-16164016. content 6 rooms in a beautifully restored old Thai house set in a small garden. Air-con, hot water. 

• 39 Ban Shewe Wana Suite Resort, 290-292 Charoen Muang Rd, ☏ +66 53-240020, reservations@shewewanasuite.com. 

• 40 Dhara Dhevi (Formerly, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi), 51/4 Chiang Mai-Sankampaeng Rd, Moo 1, ☏ +66 53-888888. In the traditional Lanna-style, this 24 hectare (60 acre) resort includes a spa, cooking classes, children's club, and fitness centre. The resort caused some local controversy when it built a reproduction temple based on one of Thailand's most holy sites on its grounds. 

• 41 Duangtawan Hotel, 132 Loi Kroh Rd, ☏ +66 53-905000, cdc@chr.co.th. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Excellent luxury hotel with cheap(er) Internet rates. Popular with tour groups and conventions. Probably a little cheaper than similar hotels as it's near the beer bar district, but the area is quite safe and the hotel is high quality. For those not staying at the hotel, for 300 baht per day, you can use the excellent gym on the fourth floor (includes a gender-segregated Jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna, as well as a large L-shaped swimming pool that looks out on the city centre). Free Wi-Fi and maintains a quiet "computer corner" with about 10 computers for guest use. A word of warning for those who care: if all guest rooms are similar to Room 1433, guestroom toilets have no bum guns, just toilet paper. A show-stopper for some! 1,450-2,950 baht. 

• 42 Empress Chiang Mai, 199/42 Changklan Rd, ☏ +66 53-253199, fax: +66 53 272467, rsvn@empresshotels.com. Luxury hotel in traditional Lanna-style with 375 rooms and suites, a convention centre, sauna rooms, outdoor swimming pool, business centre and massage parlour. Good breakfast and friendly staff. 

• 43 Horizon Village & Resort, 200 Moo 7 Chiang Mai-Doi Saket Rd (halfway down Rte 118 Chiang Mai-Doi Saket), ☏ +66 53-868891-3, fax: +66 53 868894, info@horizonvillage.net. The hotel is connected to the Tweechol Botanical Garden, a private garden of 50 hectares. The garden has many animal-shaped shrubs. Former US president Jimmy Carter stayed here when in Thailand for the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. 

• 44 Lanna Tree Boutique Hotel, 204 Ratchapakhinai Rd, ☏ +66 91 859 8225, lannatree@gmail.com. Boutique hotel with great location, onsite restaurant, outdoor pool, massage. From 2,550 baht. (updated Nov 2017)

• 45 Mövenpick Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai, 110 Changklan Road, Muang Chiang Mai, ☏ +66 53 270 051-7, fax: +66 53 270 063, hotel.chiangmai@movenpick.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Situated in the heart of Chiang Mai, the hotel's contemporary interior incorporated into the decor of 266 rooms and suites its traditional Thai Lan Na architecture. The atmospheric dining scene serves both local Thai dishes and classic international specialities. Fueng Fah restaurant offers a vast selection of local and global food at its breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets (18:00-21:00 - 299 baht, kôw soy noodle soup 160 baht, watermelon shake 100 baht). At Le Bistrot & Le Terrace, sample that Thai culinary twist in Mediterranean specialities, alongside traditional Italian pizzas and pastas. The Pool Bar is a laid-back zone for light meals and cocktails by the poolside, while Sweet House takes centre-stage when it comes to indulgent pastries, Mövenpick ice cream, aromatic coffees and infused teas (Thai iced tea 50 baht, Thai tea cake 65 baht). Empty minibar on private purpose to fill it. The hotel is perfect for culture buffs and adventure seekers, with easy access to hundreds of temples and spectacular zip lines in the surrounding forest. On Friday the friendly 170-person staff works in local traditional Lan Na style uniform. Free one-way shuttle service to Saturday and Sunday walking street market at 18:00. Free WiFi, complimentary tea and coffee making facility, LED TV, safety box, air conditioner, gym, spa, outdoor swimming pool, minivan to Chiang Mai International Airport (100 baht), bike rent (100 baht per day/1,000 baht deposit). Sean Connery and the Eagles stayed here. 6,000 - 20,000 baht. 

• 46 Ping Nakara Boutique Hotel & Spa, 135/9, Charoen Prathet Rd, ☏ +66 53-252999, info@pingnakara.com. Nicely designed with hand-carved fretwork. 
• 47 RatiLanna Riverside Spa Resort, 33 Changklan Rd, ☏ +66 53-999333, fax: +66 53 999332, info@ratilannachiangmai.com. A luxury boutique resort on the bank of the Mae Ping River and the centre of Chiang Mai. Only minutes away from Chiang Mai Airport and the Night Bazaar. 

• 48 The Rim Chiang Mai, 51/2 Arrak Rd (Close to Wat Phra Sing), ☏ +66 53-903999, butler@therimchiangmai.com. Luxury hotel in traditional Lanna-style, 36 rooms, outdoor swimming pool, tropical garden, fitness club, and spa, restaurant (Thai & Western cuisine) and very friendly staff. 

Stay safe

Emergency contacts

• Fire: 053-241777
• Police - emergencies: 191
• Rescue Team: 053-218888
• Tourist police: 1155, 053-278559

Crime

Chiang Mai, like most of Thailand, is quite safe, even at night. The dark streets can look forbidding but violent crime is rare and visitors shouldn't worry unduly. As always, travellers should take extra care in all poorly lit or more remote areas. Don't carry valuables in a bag after dark as the most common tourist related crime here is bag-snatching by youths on motorbikes. Mind your bag especially if you are walking on a dark street at night.

The safest approach is to act like your Thai hosts and wear reasonable clothing (shoulders and chest covered) medium-length skirts, long shorts or long pants, speak in a moderate tone of voice, and avoid flashing money or jewellery. Not only will respectable Thais appreciate your behaviour, you are much less likely to become a target of any criminal activity.

Scams

Some scams from Bangkok have started to rear their ugly heads in Chiang Mai. Two in particular are worth watching out for: the gem scam, where you are talked into buying near-worthless gems at far above their real value; and the tuk-tuk scam, where a smooth-talking tuk tuk driver tells you that the attraction you want to see is closed, and instead offers you a sightseeing tour for 20 baht (or some similarly unrealistic amount) - the tour will either consist of nothing but overpriced gift shops, or will smoothly segue into the gem scam. See the "Stay Safe" section of the Bangkok article for more details.

Smoke

Pollution in February/March in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai's smoke levels can be discomforting, and sometimes dangerous, during burning season which starts around Makha Bucha Day (end-Feb to early Mar) and lasts about a month. Although there is a ban on burning, the whole of northern Thailand often falls under a thick haze during this period, with tens of thousands treated for smoke inhalation. Rice farmers burning off fields are commonly blamed for the smoke, but according to the Department of Air Quality there is an extensive range of burning activities during this season. In addition to slash and burn farmers clearing fields, a smaller proportion of farmers may burn land in order to clear forests and expand fields, to flush out game, or to trigger the growth of specific mushroom varieties. As a result, there are typically dozens of deaths, and for example in 2007 58 people died of smoke-related heart attacks. You are well advised to avoid Chiang Mai during this period. If you intend to visit at this time, you are advised to check on smoke levels in advance. Thousands of residents, both foreign and Thai, leave Chiang Mai at this time to escape the smoke. The government is apparently uninterested in fixing the problem: in 2015 they blamed it on outdoor cooking. The present solution is to spray the streets with water to "moisten the air". There is no political will to tackle the burning of rice fields and forests, which is the cause of the smoke. On 10 March 2015, dangerous PM10 particles measured over 255 mcg per cubic metre of air in Chiang Mai, well above the unsafe level of 120 mcg (this is the Thai government standard which is more than twice the maximum level set by the World Health Organization [WHO] at 50 mcg). Neighbouring areas can be as bad or worse, Chiang Rai for example, was at 306 mcgs, so moving on to a neighbouring province will generally not help: the pall of smoke stretches from northern Laos, across Thailand to eastern Burma. Here you can find the actual situation.

Water

Examples of street-side water vending machines

Do not drink tap water. Drink only bottled water. Nearly all restaurants use ice that is made by professional ice-making companies and is generally safe. There are street side water vending machines (1 baht per litre) throughout the city. Using these saves money and reduces plastic waste.

Work

Chiang Mai is a hotspot for digital nomads. As such, there are lots of services catering to help them with visas and finding medium-term rentals.

Co-working spaces

There are many coworking spaces in Nimman most offer daily, weekly, and monthly rates.

Yellow Coworking Space. Popular coworking space that hosts many events and is open 24/7. 6000 baht/mo. (updated Oct 2024)

The Brick Startup Space. 2500 baht/mo, 250 baht/day. (updated Oct 2024)

Hub53 Coworking and Coliving Space. 1900 baht/mo, 190 baht/day. (updated Oct 2024)

Connect

Express shipping

• 14 DHL, Log 2-6, 1st floor, Montri Hotel, Ratchadamnoen Rd (just north of the Tha Phae Gate inside moat), ☏ +66 53-326553. World-wide express shipping. Packaging services. 

Internet

The Government of Thailand censors Internet access. 2010 estimates place the number of blocked websites at 110,000 and growing. Roughly 77% are blocked for reasons of lèse majesté, content (content that defames, insults, threatens, or is unflattering to the king, including national security and some political issues), 22% for pornography, which is illegal in Thailand. Some web pages from BBC One, BBC Two, CNN, Yahoo News, the Post-Intelligencer newspaper (Seattle, USA), The Age newspaper (Melbourne, Australia) dealing with Thai political content are blocked. The Daily Mail (UK) is blocked entirely.

Many guesthouses, hotels, cafes, bars, restaurants, and even swimming pools, offer Wi-Fi connections. These are usually free or available for a small charge. If you are travelling with your laptop you should be able to connect to the Internet within a 500 m radius of your Chiang Mai city-based accommodation at little or no cost.

In November 2012, the Ministry of Information announced the launch of 3,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots in Chiang Mai. The scheme, called ICT Free Wi-Fi for the Public by AIS, offers a download speed of 10 Mbit/s for up to five hours a month. Hotspots can be found near schools, shopping centres, hospitals and government offices. Those interested must sign up for the free service at ICT Free Wi-Fi, after which you will receive a user ID and password.

Internet cafes can be found everywhere within the city. Most places charge per 15 or 30 minute block, others by the minute. The cheapest and most comfortable places with fast connections, webcam, microphone, and Skype, are along Huay Kaew Road near the main entrance to Chiang Mai University.

• 15 Buddy Internet, 12 Huay Kaew Rd (northwest corner of the moat, opposite the Central Department Store), ☏ +66 53-404550. 08:00-24:00. 

As elsewhere in Thailand, GPRS/EDGE is a cheap and convenient option to access Internet if you have a laptop and local SIM card. TrueMove 850 MHz 3G covers most parts of the city. For more details, refer to the Thailand article.

Telephone

• Directory inquiry service: 183/1133
• International and domestic operator-assisted service: 100
• Overseas dial-out code: 001
• AT&T International operator for collect calls: 001 999 11111
• Mobile phones in Thailand have 10 digits, including the leading zero. Land-line telephones have 11 digits, including the leading zero.

Thailand Post

• 16 Airport 24-hr Post Office, 60 Moo 3, Airport Rd, ☏ +66 53-277382. 
• 17 Changklan Post Office, 186-186/1 Changklan Rd, ☏ +66 53-273657. 
• 18 Chang Phuak Post Office, 195/8-9 Chang Phuak Rd, ☏ +66 53-222483. 
• 19 Mae Ping Post Office, 24 Praisanee Rd, ☏ +66 53-252036-7. 
• 20 Main Post Office, Charoen Muang Rd, ☏ +66 53-241 070, +66 53-245376. 
• 21 Phra Sing Post Office (Singharat Rd (3 min walk south of Wat Phra Singh)). 
• 22 Talat Kam Tieng Post Office (Assadathon Rd, near Tesco Lotus, just off the super highway). This is the post office where you ship or receive bulky objects like bicycles and motorbikes. 
• 23 Tha Phae Post Office (west side of Tha Phae Gate on Ratchadamnoen Rd, 25 paces down the street from Black Canyon Coffee). Daily 08:00-20:00. This little PO is the most convenient one for most visitors due to its hours and central location. The offer packaging services, faxing, international telephoning, sell postcards, stamps, etc. 

Cope

Consulates

• 24 Australia, 195/262 Moo Baan Sansaran 2 (Mod Chic) Soi 2/7 T. Banwaen, A. Hangdong (1 km west from the intersection of Canal Road (121) on Samoeng Road (1269)), ☏ +66 91 857 6996, fax: +66 53-336958. 
• 25 Bangladesh, 95 Huay Kaew Rd, ☏ +66 53-212373-4, fax: +66 53-223524. 
• 26 Canada, 151 Super Highway, ☏ +66 53-850147, +66 53-242292, cancon@loxinfo.co.th. 
• 27 China, 111 Changlo Rd, Haiya District, ☏ +66 53-276125, +66 53-272197, +66 53-200424, fax: +66 53-274614, cgprccm@loxinfo.co.th. 
• 28 Finland, 3 Rattanakosin Rd (at Charoen Motor Benz Co), ☏ +66 53-234777. 
• 29 France, 138 Charoen Prathet Rd, ☏ +66 53-412911, tombaude@loxinfo.co.th. M-F 10:00-12:00. 
• 30 Germany (Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany), 199/163 Moo 3, Baan Nai Fun2, Kan Klong Chonpretan Rd (20 minutes out of the city by motorbike. Exceedingly difficult to find. Once you find Baan Nai Fun, ignore the numbers and go all the way inside until you see the tennis court. The consulate is in the ground floor of the building next to that.), ☏ +66 53-838735, fax: +66 53-838735. 
• 31 India, 33/1, Thung Hotel Rd, ☏ +66 53-243066, fax: +66 53-247879. People on a tourist visa in Thailand can apparently not apply for an Indian visa here—they have to acquire an e-visa. 
• 32 Italy, 19/1 Soi 9 Sirimangkalajarn, 50200, ☏ +66 53-212925, fax: +66 53-224832. 
• 33 Japan, Airport Business Park, 90 Mahidol Rd, ☏ +66 53-203367, fax: +66 53-203373. (updated Oct 2022)
• 34 Myanmar (outside the north-west corner of the old city). M-F 09:00-12:00, 15:30-16:30, except Thai and Myanmar holidays. The office issues visas from 09:00-12:00, you are required to bring a passport, two standard colour passport photographs, a photocopy of the photo page of your passport, and providing the usual details. Pickup for same-day visa at 15:30. The costs for cheapest tourist visa are 1,600 baht. 
• 35 South Africa, 2F, Chiang Inn Hotel (Hotel closed permanently), 100 Changklan Rd, ☏ +66 53-270070-6, fax: +66 53-274299. 
• 36 South Korea (Republic of Korea, ROK), V Group Bldg, 3rd Fl, 50 Huay Kaew Rd, ☏ +66 53-223120 ext 204, fax: +66 53-225661, vgroup@cmnet.co.th. 
• 37 Sweden (Svenska Konsulatet i Chiang Mai), 186/48 Green Valley, Moo 5, Mae Sa, Mae Rim (map marker is at a position where a direction pointer to the consulate can be found), ☏ +66 99-3787773, fax: +66 53-298632. 
• 38 United States (US Consulate General), 387 Witchayanon Rd, ☏ +66 53-252629, fax: +66 53-252633. 

Dental

• 39 Grace Dental Care Clinic, 45 Soi 11 Nimmanhemin Rd, ☏ +66 53-894568-69, dent@gracedentalclinic.com. M-F 09:00-20:30; Sa Su 09:00-17:00. Modern, state-of-the-art dental clinic. Many of the practitioners there, about 15 total, have studied abroad. Most, if not all, speak excellent English, as does the staff. 
• 40 Mukmai Dental Clinic, 11/3-4 Jaban Rd (behind the 3 Kings Monument inside moat), ☏ +66 53-416328, fax: +66 53-416329, mukmaidentalclinic@gmail.com. M-Sa 09:00-20:00. Dr Suttipong is a terrific dentist, almost painless treatment. Friendly and accommodating staff and English spoken. Reasonable rates. 

Laundry

A privately owned laundromat as can be seen in residential areas

There are and laundry services, charging around 30 baht per kg, all over the city, but they all wash cold. There are also many laundromats, also washing cold. You will find them in many streets, inside a house, outside under a little roof, on the ground floor of apartment buildings and more. There are also several more professional laundromats since about 2018.

• 41 Cleanpro Express, 29/6 Samlan Soi 1, Old Town, ☏ +66 805 362362. Daily 24 hours. This laundromat is self-service and open 24 hours a day. The laundromat has 14 kg and 24 kg load laundry machines and driers. You can finish your cleaning and drying within an hour. Locals frequent Cleanpro, but all of the signage is in Thai and English. There is a machine to change your paper bills into 10-baht coins, which you can use to buy detergent and pay for usage of the washers and driers. There are no employees onsite; if you are concerned someone might steal your laundry, you should hang out until it is finished. 
• 42 Laundrybar, 326/1 Manee Nopparat Rd, ☏ +66 926 754455. They have an employee onsite. (updated Dec 2019)
• 43 Mermasis, Chaiyapoom Rd (close to Chang Moi Rd), ☏ +66 94 507 6776. 08:00-22:00. They offer cold, warm and hot water washing. You can select from machine capacities of 10, 14, 19 and 28 kg. They also offer laundry service. From 40 baht for 10kg/cold to 140 baht for 28kg/hot. (updated Dec 2019)

Medical

• 44 Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, 110 Suthep Rd, ☏ +66 53 947700.  
• 45 Bangkok Hospital, 88/8 Moo. 6, T. Nong Pa Khrang (at Highway to Lampang), ☏ +66 52 089888, fax: +66 52 089800. 
• 46 Chiang Mai Central Memorial Hospital, 186/2 Chang Khan Rd, T. Chang Khan, ☏ +66 53 819340, fax: +66 53 271624. 
• 47 Chiangmai Ram Hospital, 8 Boonruangrit Road, Sripoom District, ☏ +66 53 224851, +66 53 224861, fax: +66 53 224880. 
• 48 McCormick Hospital, 133 Kaeo Nawarat Road, T. Wat Ket, A. Mueang, Chiang Mai 50000, ☏ +66 53 921777, fax: +66 53 921734. (updated Oct 2022)
• 49 Savitri-Sharin Clinic, 95/2-3 Kochasarn Rd, ☏ +66 53 275330. 
• 50 CM Mediclinic, 155/28 Moo 2, Yu Yen Soi 10, Tambon Changphueak (opposite A-Plus Gallery Place, near TK Mansion, Ban Jed Yod & Sahataya Mansion at the back of Wat Jed Yod, Wat Chet Yot, (Google map spelling)), ☏ +66 805 362362, info@cmmediclinic.com. M-F 16:30-20:00; Sa 08:00-17:00. Thai- and English-speaking healthcare centre/medical clinic providing comprehensive medical services for travelers, such as vaccinations and full health check-ups. 
• 51 Loi Kroh Clinic, 62/2 Loi Kroh Rd (corner of Loi Kroh Rd and Loi Kroh Soi 3), ☏ +66 53-271571. M-F 08:00-13:00, 16:30-20:30; Sa 08:00-13:00; Su 16:30-20:30. Small clinic for the treatment of minor ailments. Experienced, English-speaking doctor. Small pharmacy on the premises. In and out in 15 min, drugs in hand. 

Go next

• Chiang Dao — an hour north of the city, and a good starting point for treks into the mountains
• Chiang Rai — a relaxed city 3 hours north, and a transit point on the way to the Golden Triangle and Laos
• Doi Inthanon National Park — the highest peak in Thailand (2,599 m), 60 km SW of Chiang Mai
• Lampang — urban Northern Thailand without the commercialism, 100 km SE of Chiang Mai
• Lamphun — a scenic town with a long history and a longan festival, 26 km SE of Chiang Mai
• Mae Hong Son — a picturesque little town with lush valleys, rocky streams and a small lake, 235 km from Chiang Mai on Rte 1095. By public bus about 6 hr
• Nan — the former capital of a small kingdom filled with history and temples and surrounded by mountains
• Pai — a tourist-oriented town, offering a relaxed atmosphere with a broad traveller & backpacker scene. Popular with hippies

Border crossings

• Chiang Khong - Huay Xai, Laos (six hours by bus (from Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal, east of the old town, daily 08:30) to the border where you can catch a boat across the Mekong River to the Lao side, The bus will stop about 1 km shy of the border, tuk-tuks will be waiting to take you the remainder of the way). From Huay Xai also there are slow (2-day) and fast (6-8 hr) boats ply the Mekong to Luang Prabang. Buses are also available to Luang Prabang and north to Luang Namtha. 
• Mae Sai - Tachilek, Myanmar (Mae Sai and Tachilek lie 5 hr north of Chiang Mai on the Thai-Myanmar border). Best known for their border markets. A popular place to pop over the border for a few hours before renewing your Thai visa. There are no consular services so you cannot get a new visa here. It is possible to get a 14-day Thai visa on re-entry to Thailand which can come in very handy if you do not have any time left on your current Thai visa. Many people buy Western alcohol, especially wine, while in Myanmar due to the very large duties imposed in Thailand. 

Routes through Chiang Mai

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→ Lamphun → Bangkok