Chiang Mai was one of our favorite places in Thailand. The pace is calmer and more relaxed than Bangkok. That said, it’s still a moderately sized city with lots of great things to do. We provide a variety of itinerary options, so there should be something fun for everyone in your travel party. See our list below of the best things to do in Chiang Mai.
1. Hike from Pha Lat Temple to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Enjoy the calm atmosphere of Pha Lat Temple. It’s made up of several structures scattered through a small area in the forest. The views are beautiful and wonderfully peaceful. There are many great spots to sit and relax and just be present in the moment.
Afterwards, you can hike through the woods up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The trail is decently cleared out since it’s fairly well traveled. Keep in mind it’s mostly uphill and can be physically demanding. If you aren’t sure about making the hike, you can take a red truck instead.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep provides a great view from above the city and is a moderate sized temple.
How to get to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: Take red truck up to Pha Lat Temple and then hike the rest of the way. The hike is steep and slightly difficult, if you’re not in great shape. Also, make sure you bring drinking water!
2. Eat at one of the Chiang Mai best restaurants
It’s hard to make a complete list of Chiang Mai best restaurants. There are so many great options, it’s hard to pick a bad one. Below are just a few suggestions of highly rated restaurants.
- Khao Soi Khun Yai – Khao Soi is one of the iconic foods of northern Thailand, including Chiang Mai. Khao Soi is usually made with chicken or beef, crispy and soft egg noodles, in a creamy, curry-like sauce made with coconut milk. This restaurant serves some of the highest rated Khao Soi in Chiang Mai.
- O.N. Suki & Steak – O.N. Suki & Steak provide delicious authentic Thai food at very reasonable prices.
- SP Chicken – Easily one of the best places in Chiang Mai, especially for chicken. They roast their chicken vertically and it tastes amazing.
Again, this isn’t a complete list and everyone has different food preferences. You’ll definitely have lots of great options and will probably find your own favorite places.
3. Attend a Chiang Mai Muay Thai boxing match
The Chiang Mai Muay Thai boxing scene is alive and well. While Bangkok is bigger, Chiang Mai still has several stadiums and many quality fighters.
We visited the Chiang Mai Boxing Stadium which is relatively new and had fights most nights of the week. I believe it was every night except Sunday. It is easy to get to since you just have to say the stadium name to any tuk-tuk or red truck driver and they’ll know where to go.
They had several different ticket price options that can be purchased at the door. The standard seat option worked well for us. It was the cheapest, but since the stadium was small it was easy to see the action from anywhere. However, the more expensive options included things like a free beer and options to take pictures with the fighters afterwards.
4. Visit a Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary
Don’t miss an opportunity to visit a Chiang Mai elephant sanctuary. It was absolutely worth a full day trip to observe and help assist with these beautiful animals. Many of the parks will let you help prepare food, and observe the elephants on walks or while they bathe in the water. Also, make sure you visit an ethical elephant park to make sure they are taking great care of their herd.
See our list of recommendations and how to tell if a park is ethical in the article linked below.
5. Explore Chiang Mai Old City
Chiang Mai Old City is a great place to explore and walk around. The picturesque views of the old city walls and moat provide a calm atmosphere.
You’ll stumble upon several great temples and delicious restaurants. Plus, don’t forget to get an ultra relaxing Thai massage at one of the many spas.
6. Chiang Mai Night Market (a.k.a. Chiang Mai Night Bazaar)
What is the Chiang Mai Night Market?
The Chiang Mai Night Market, also called the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, is a large market that contains a wide assortment of vendors. Many of them are selling crafts, electronics, artwork, etc. Additionally, there are plenty of bars and food vendors. While it’s similar to many night markets its large size means more vendors and a slightly better variety than other markets.
Where is the Night Market and when does it open?
The night market is located directly east of the Old City moat, on Chang Khlan Road. It’s easy to find due to the shear size of the market. The night bazaar usually starts around 5-6pm and runs until midnight.
7. Sign-up for a Chiang Mai cooking class
What better way to immerse yourself in the Thai culture than taking a Chiang Mai cooking class. You’ll get the chance to learn how to make authentic Thai cuisine from an expert.
Students are treated to an interactive experience and are rewarded with a delicious meal, made from fresh local ingredients. You can impress everyone back home with your new skills and learned recipes.
8. Chiang Mai Lantern Festival
The Yee Peng (sometimes written Yi Peng) festival is celebrated on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month every year. Typically, this falls sometime in mid-November.
Capture the stunning image of hundreds, or thousands, of lanterns being lit and floating in the night sky. The lantern symbolizes letting go of misfortunes from the previous year, and some people also believe if you make a wish when you set off the lantern it will come true.
The festival also includes dancing, live music, and food vendors.
9. Chat with a Monk
Chiang Mai monk chats have become a popular offering in many of the temples. The conversation is open to essentially any topic. It’s a great way to learn more about their beliefs, daily lives, or anything else you’re curious about.
Plus, it’s good practice for the young monks to work on their English speaking skills. Since some of them are still learning they might have cheat sheets to help them with some of the more common questions.
10. Enjoy the scenery from a zipline
If you want to get your adrenaline pumping and experience scenic views, checkout one of the Chiang Mai ziplines. It’s also a nice way to escape the heat as it is often cooler in the mountains and forest nearby.
You can coordinate a zipline visit with your hotel or a local tour company. Usually they will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel.
Bonus Activity: Pae Sunday Walking Street Market
If you’re in town on Sunday, you can attend the Pae Sunday Walking Street Market in the Old City. Starting at around 5pm they block the street and transform it into a market with crafts, music, and food vendors.
It’s similar to other markets, but it’s kind of cool to be able to walk the street freely and see the city come to life.
Wrap-Up
While these ideas are in our opinion the best things to do in Chiang Mai, they only begin to scratch the surface of everything the city has to offer. It features a great restaurant selection, muay thai fighting, elephant sanctuaries, night bazaars, coffee shops, and so much more.
It truly is one of our favorite places in all of Southeast Asia and we hope you enjoy it as well!