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since 2025-12-10 · checked 2026-10-01 · Details ↗ This is the Korean government’s advisory — also check your own government’s travel advice.

Chiang Mai Travel Guide

The old capital of the Lanna kingdom in the hills of northern Thailand, with a moated Old City full of temples. It is slower and cooler than Bangkok, and many travelers stay longer for cafes, night markets, cooking classes and mountain scenery.

The red-brick Tha Phae Gate on the east side of Chiang Mai's Old City — Tha Phae Gate (Chiang Mai Old City) · Photo: Christophe95 / CC BY-SA 4.0

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At a glance

Currency: THB (฿)
Power & plugs: 220V · Type A/B/C/O
Driving side: Left
Tipping: Optional (small, for good service)
Local language: ภาษาไทย
How long to stay: 4 to 5 days

Emergency numbers

Police191
Ambulance1669
Fire199
Tourist hotline1155

When to go

November to February is cool and dry, the best time to go. March and April are very hot, and smoke from surrounding forest fires can make the air quality very poor. May to October is the rainy season with afternoon showers but green hills. Around the full moon in November, the lantern festival fills hotels fast and pushes prices up.

Airport to the city

Grab or Bolt car

Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) is just south-west of the Old City. The fare is fixed in the app, so no haggling.

Time about 15-20 min to the Old City or NimmanCost about 150-250 THB

Airport taxi

Tell the official taxi counter in arrivals where you are going and confirm the set fare before you get in.

Time about 15-20 min to townCost flat fare (confirm at the counter)

Songthaew (red truck)

Shared red pickup trucks. You can find them outside the airport, but always agree on the fare first.

Time about 20 min to town (depends on stops)Cost about 100-200 THB, negotiable

Airport shuttle bus

Shuttle buses run from the airport to key points in town. Check routes and hours on the official airport site.

Time varies by routeCost about 40 THB (check official)

Getting around

Songthaew (red truck)

Shared trucks that roam the city. Tell the driver where you are going, agree on the fare, then hop in the back. Short rides in town are about 30-50 THB per person.

Grab and Bolt

Fixed fares make them easy, especially with family or luggage, or late at night.

Walking

The temples inside the Old City are easy to explore on foot. Midday is very hot, so bring a hat and water.

Car with driver

For Doi Suthep or Doi Inthanon, hiring a car with driver for a half or full day is easiest. Agree on hours and price first.

Where to stay

Old City (inside the walls)

Good for: First visit, temple walks, Sunday market

The area inside the moat and walls, packed with temples, guesthouses and restaurants. Very walkable.

Nimmanhaemin (Nimman)

Good for: Cafes, restaurants, a younger vibe

A stylish neighborhood north-west of the Old City with cafes, restaurants and a mall. Handy for the airport and Doi Suthep.

Night Bazaar and the Ping River

Good for: Night markets, riverside hotels

East of the Old City, with a market every night and many riverside hotels. Lively in the evening.

Santitham

Good for: Local feel, value

A quiet residential area between Nimman and the Old City with cheap eats and budget stays.

Out-of-town resorts (Mae Rim, Hang Dong)

Good for: Relaxing, families, nature

Quiet resorts with views of rice fields and hills. 30+ minutes by car to town.

Map of stays in Chiang Mai

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Map & prices: Stay22 — you book on each site

Top sights

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
A golden-spired temple on the mountain overlooking the city. Climb 300-odd steps or take the funicular. Cover shoulders and knees.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep · Photo: Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand / CC BY 2.0
Wat Chedi Luang
A temple in the heart of the Old City with a huge ruined brick chedi. Lovely when it is lit up in the evening.
Wat Chedi Luang · Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / CC BY-SA 4.0
Wat Phra Singh
The Old City's signature temple, with a beautiful Lanna-style wooden hall.
Wat Phra Singh · Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / CC BY-SA 4.0
Sunday Walking Street
A big Sunday-evening market running from Tha Phae Gate through the Old City. Crafts and street food, and very crowded.
Saturday Walking Street
A Saturday-evening market along the silversmith street south of the Old City. A little calmer than Sunday's.
Doi Inthanon National Park
Thailand's highest mountain, with waterfalls, pagodas and nature trails. About 1.5-2 hours by car; it is chilly at the top, so bring a layer. There is an entry fee.
Elephant sanctuaries
Seeing elephants up close is popular. Choose a place with no riding or shows that puts the animals' welfare first.
Cooking classes
Half-day classes where you shop at a market and cook Thai dishes yourself. Great with family or friends.

Tours & tickets →

What to eat

Khao Soi

The north's signature noodles: coconut curry broth with boiled and crispy noodles. About 60-100 THB at local spots.

Sai Ua

Northern sausage with lemongrass and herbs, easy to find at markets and night markets.

Nam Prik Noom

A spicy northern dip of roasted green chilies, eaten with vegetables and crispy pork skin.

Gaeng Hang Lay

A slow-cooked, slightly sweet northern pork curry with ginger and spices. Not very spicy, so fine for kids.

Night-market street food

Skewers, mango sticky rice, fruit shakes and other cheap bites. Carry small cash.

Daily budget (per person)

Budgetabout 1,000 THB per day: guesthouse, local food, songthaew

Mid-rangeabout 2,500-3,500 THB per day: hotel, restaurants, one tour, massage

Comfortabout 6,000 THB+ per day: resort, car with driver, private tours

Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.

Sample itinerary

Day 1
Check in, an afternoon temple walk in the Old City (Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang), then the Night Bazaar.
Day 2
Doi Suthep in the morning, Nimman cafes in the afternoon, khao soi for dinner. (On a Sunday, the Walking Street.)
Day 3
A full day at Doi Inthanon or an elephant sanctuary, then a massage in the evening.
Day 4
A morning cooking class or market visit, souvenirs, then the airport (leave town with plenty of time).

Local tips

Around February to April, smoke from forest fires can make the air very poor. Check the air quality index before and during your trip, and bring a mask or change dates if you have breathing problems.
Cover shoulders and knees at temples and take off your shoes before entering halls.
Tell songthaew drivers your destination and agree on the fare before you get in.
For elephant experiences, choose a sanctuary with no riding or shows.
Releasing sky lanterns during the festival is regulated and may need permission depending on the place. Check official events and notices.
The roads to Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon are winding mountain roads, so prepare if you get car-sick.
Riding a scooter yourself requires a licence recognized in Thailand and a helmet, and accidents without a licence may not be covered by travel insurance.
Entry rules and procedures such as online arrival forms can change, so check Thailand's embassy or immigration website before you travel.