Our Chiang Mai Thailand travel guide will prepare you with everything you need to know to plan your next vacation.
What’s covered in the Chiang Mai Thailand travel guide:
- Why travel to Chiang Mai?
- When is the best time to go to Chiang Mai?
- How to get to Chiang Mai?
- Where to stay in Chiang Mai?
- Where to eat in Chiang Mai?
- Top things to do in Chiang Mai
Why travel to Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai, Thailand is without a doubt one of my favorite travel destinations in Thailand. It’s much less chaotic than Bangkok, but still has plenty of things to do. If it’s your first trip to Thailand and you’re looking to slowly ease yourself into it, Chiang Mai has the perfect atmosphere.
Chiang Mai still offers many of the things the bigger city has but it’s scaled down in a way that won’t overwhelm you too quickly. During our first trip to Thailand we arrived in Bangkok and the noise and chaos were a lot to take in. After visiting Chiang Mai, we were able to go back to Bangkok and felt much more comfortable because we had a chance to acclimate with the way of life at our own pace.
It’s also a great place to visit to enjoy the temples, restaurants, mountains, old city, and elephant sanctuaries!
When is the best time to go to Chiang Mai?
The best time to visit Chiang Mai is in the dry season between November and early April. While the weather will still be hot and humid, it’s much more pleasant to avoid the heavy rain season.
How to get to Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai boast several convenient and cheap travel options to fit any itinerary or budget. It has an international airport if you don’t want to spend precious vacation time on land travel. Domestic flights to Chiang Mai are really cheap and short, but you can also find affordable international flights.
Search for cheap flights on Skyscanner here.
If you’re already in Thailand and looking to save even more you can take the train or bus. This is a common way backpackers travel from Bangkok and other parts of Thailand.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is a popular backpacker travel destination so it’s full of great hostels and hotels for any budget.
Hostels
Hostel Lullaby – The staff at Hostel Lullaby is really helpful and friendly. It’s perfectly situated in Old Town and has great mattresses.
Stay Thapae – Comfortable beds, friendly staff, and clean rooms. Plus, they have an all female floor option for improved safety and comfort for female travelers.
Hotels
Holiday Inn Chiang Mai – Normally, I don’t really enjoy chain hotels. While Holiday Inns in the US aren’t top tier, I’ve had much better experiences with them in Southeast Asia. The Holiday Inn Chiang Mai had big rooms, a great breakfast, and was incredibly affordable.
If you’re looking for a break from hostels this is a good compromise for the price. The only catch is that it’s a bit of a walk to Old Town, but there are plenty of tuk-tuks and red trucks around to get a ride.
Where to eat in Chiang Mai?
There are too many amazing restaurants in Chiang Mai. I highly recommend just walking around the Old City where you’ll stumble upon many great options. Everyone has different tastes and things they look for in a good eating experience, so you shouldn’t be afraid to explore and find what suits you.
Below are a few recommendations if you’re looking for somewhere to get started, but I really do recommend branching out.
- 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 – This is a great place if you enjoy eating chicken. They roast their chicken vertically and it tastes amazing.
What to do in Chiang Mai?
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!
Visit a Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary
Observe the natural beauty of these gentle giants. We absolutely love animals and encourage you to visit an ethical elephant sanctuary. Unfortunately, unethical wildlife tourism still exists and it’s important that we only support organizations that are helping animal conservation.
See our article on choosing an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai here.
Eat at one of the Chiang Mai best restaurants
Enjoy some of the amazing Thai cuisine Chiang Mai has to offer. From great street food to fine dining, Chiang Mai has it all. See our section on Chiang Mai restaurants here.
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.
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.
Chiang Mai Night Market (a.k.a. Chiang Mai Night Bazaar)
The Chiang Mai Night Market is a large market that contains a wide assortment of vendors 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.
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.
Sign-up for a Chiang Mai cooking class
Impress your friends and family back home with a new skill! Spend the day shopping for fresh ingredients in a market and then learning how to prepare a delicious Thai meal.
Not only is it a fun activity, but it’s a useful skill to have that allows you to make an authentic meal at home and reminisce about your world travels.
Chiang Mai Lantern Festival
The Chiang Mai Lantern Festival usually takes place in mid-November. It’s a beautiful festival and you can enjoy great food, live music, and socializing with locals.
Take the opportunity to observe the traditions and culture of this Thai festival.
Attend a Chiang Mai Muay Thai boxing match
Chiang Mai has multiple Muay Thai boxing arenas that operate most days of the week. The Muay Thai fighters spend countless hours honing their craft, so you can enjoy a highly skilled show.
Tip: Don’t waste money on the ‘VIP’ tickets. The general admission tickets usually still have a good view.
Enjoy the scenery from a zipline
If you’re looking for something exciting, trying one of the ziplines might be for you. They are a great way to take in some views and get a little outside of the city to see nature.
Chiang Mai Thailand Travel Guide Wrap Up
Whether you start your Thailand adventure in Chiang Mai, or end up there somewhere along the way, we hope your trip is memorable.
If you enjoyed our Chiang Mai Thailand travel guide, see more Thailand travel guides and tips with the link below.