Chiang Mai is the hub of Northern Thailand. It is a chill city that serves as an incredible jumping off point for pretty much anything you might want to do. Only hours away from elephant sanctuaries, the incredible temples of Chiang Rai, national parks, and more while the city itself has markets, good nightlife, muay thai, and cafes galore. It is quite literally impossible to miss visiting Chiang Mai if you are in the north of Thailand.
How to get to Chiang Mai
You can easily take a sleeper bus or sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Book this through 12Go.Asia to find the cheapest prices. I recommend going with the train if you are looking to actually lay down and it get some shut eye as the sleeper bus seats don’t recline much farther than your average movie theater seat.
Chiang Mai does have an airport, so flying into Chiang Mai is definitely an option if you are short on time.
Once in Chiang Mai, the best forms of transportation are Grabs (Thailand’s Uber app) or Minibuses. The minibuses are quite easy to utilize, especially for getting around the city limits Chiang Mai – simply wave down a red minibus, tell the driver your destination, and they will either say no and drive off or tell you a price and let you get on! Easy peasy!
Where to Stay in Chiang Mai
For a Social Atmosphere (and free dinner): Revolution Hostel
For a Convenient Location: Green Sleep Hostel
For a Cheap Stay: Cody Backpackers CNX
What to Do in Chiang Mai
Honestly, Chiang Mai was a bit dangerous for my wallet. Everywhere you look you will see adorable cafes, high end markets, beautiful temples, mysterious cocktail bars, and yummy street food. The city has so much to offer on every corner so simply meandering through the streets is one of the best ways to find some incredible gems. But, if you don’t feel like wandering aimlessly, here are some of my recommendations for Chiang Mai:
Where to Eat
Khun Kae’s Juice Bar – the BEST and the CHEAPEST smoothie bowls in Chiang Mai!
Sunday Night Market – as the name suggests, this market is only open Sunday evenings, but the food options here are so good
Neng Earthen Jar Roast Pork – This is a bit out of town but pretty iconic and delicious
Vegan Heaven – I’m not vegan but this place was amazing, especially their wraps and vegan chicken
Ratana’s Kitchen – get their Khao Soi! This is the must-try dish of Northern Thailand and this spot does an excellent one.
Aroy Dee – Very authentic and cheap Thai food with so many great options.
Where to Shop
Tha Phae Walking Street (Sunday evenings) – This market is massive and spans along a good portion of the streets around Tha Phae Gate. It has lots of cheap food and great souvenirs
Chanya’s Shops and Gallery (Everyday All Day) – This is my FAVORITE little marketplace in Chiang Mai. It has some of the most unique artisan goods and clothes I have seen in Southeast Asia
Jing Jai Market (Everyday All Day) – This is more of a hipster’s marketplace that’s open every day!
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar (Every evening) – This market has lots of food souvenirs AND some entertainment every night like Thai dance or singing!
Morning Market Baan Kang Wat (Tues-Sun mornings) – This is the artistic side of town so there are lots of fun artisan goods to check out in this area.
Waroro’s Market (Everyday until 6pm)- This is a massive market everyday where locals can buy groceries in bulk, you can catch yellow minibuses out of town, or find some fun clothes for yourself!
Where to Party
I didn’t actually go out much in Chiang Mai but the scene is not a bad one in this city. Some popular spots include Zoe in Yellow, Lost Hut, Rasta Cafe, and Spicy. There are plenty of pub crawls to join through various hostels if you’re looking to make friends and have a good night out!
Additionally, since weed has been legalized in Thailand, dispensaries have popped up everywhereee, so don’t you worry.
Neighborhood Breakdown
If you look at a map of Chiang Mai, there is a big square created by the canals. I think of the city as “inside the square,” and then “north, south, east, and west of the square.” This might not be how locals think about it, but it really helped me decide where I wanted to spend my time!
There is accommodation all over Chiang Mai so I recommend finding the activities, restaurants, or markets you want to be near and then find an accommodation in that area.
Inside the Square: This is the tourist center with most of the major temples, monuments, and tour companies.
West of the Square: This is the university and arts areas. Chiang Mai University is a bit out of the city and is a really nice area to hang out with lots of young, artistic crowds.
North of the Square: In my opinion, this is the more boujee section of Chiang Mai. It has very nice markets and cafes that were a bit above my budget.
East of the Square: This is a more local and social area as some majorly cheap and entertaining markets are here.
South of the Square: The south wasn’t my favorite area as there simply wasn’t much down there. There are some good, cheap accommodations and a night market, but that’s kind of it.
What to Do Around Chiang Mai
There are tons of day trips and tours available from Chiang Mai, many of which should be high on your Thailand Bucket List! Here are some of your options for trips out of Chiang Mai’s city center
Elephant Sanctuary: Visit an elephant sanctuary! This is a hotly debated subject as many “ethical” sanctuaries still let people feed, pet, and bathe the elephants. In my opinion, you simply want to make sure the company does not condone Elephant Riding while these other things are honestly quite hard to avoid. You definitely CAN find hands-off elephant sanctuaries if that is what you are more comfortable with, but most of them are still hands on. The most popular company to go with is Elephant Jungle Sanctuary or Elephant Nature Park
Another ethical option is to visit Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park, where you not only get to see some elephants, but you get to make your own paper/bookmarks out of elephant poop!
-price $40 USD-
Doi Suthep: Doi Suthep is a pretty easy minibus ride out of the city for some beautiful views of all of Chiang Mai. There is a temple at the top to enjoy as well.
-price $3 USD-
Karen Longneck Village: Take a tour of a Karen Hilltribe village that still partakes in the custom of wearing neck-lengthening rings throughout their lives. These villages tend to be much more geared towards tourists than other Karen Hilltribes as the main attraction is a photo op with the long-necked women of these specific regions.
-price $15-25 USD-
Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall: You can climb this waterfall because the rocks that form its structure are not slippery like normal waterfalls. They feel grippy, making it possible to literally climb about 15-20 minutes up this beautiful waterfall!
-price FREE-
Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden: Chiang Mai’s beautiful botanic garden named for their beloved queen.
-price $5 USD-
Chiang Rai: Chiang Rai is another one you can do on your own or with a tour. It is a 3 hour drive out of Chiang Mai and is famous for its unique temples. And these temples are definitely worth every minute of the long drive – they are BEAUTIFUL.
-price $30 for a tour-
Doi Inthanon National Park: Doi Inthanon is a beautiful national park about 2 hours outside of Doi Inthanon. I actually camped here for 2 nights, but in my opinion, it is much more worth it to simply take a day trip from Chiang Mai. When you go to the park on your own you have to pay for pretty much every little activity you are interested in doing, while when you’re on a tour, everything is already included in the initial price.
-price $30-50 USD for a tour-
Complete a Meditation Retreat: This is a longer experience and definitely not for everyone. However, if you are interested in immersing yourself in the life of a Buddhist monastery, then there are so many resources for you in and around Chiang Mai. These experiences range from one time classes, to 3 days of learning, to 10 day silent retreats. A popular option among backpackers that offers all three of these experiences is Wat Pa Tam Wua. Learn more about their program HERE.
-price often give what you can –
Chiang Mai is a major hub in Thailand for good reason! There is so much to do in and around the city, but it is also much calmer than Bangkok or some of the Southern Islands. If you want a nice, chill vibe while visiting Thailand then this should definitely be your landing pad.
more like this…
Sylvia's Gap Year 