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Golden chedi of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai

Northern Thailand's cultural capital: a moated old city packed with over 300 temples, mountain views from Doi Suthep, lively night markets and the famous khao soi curry noodles. A relaxed base for trekking, cooking classes and elephant sanctuaries.

Favourite places

Historical places

Local food

  • Khao Soi

    Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Egg noodles in a rich coconut curry broth with chicken or beef, topped with crispy noodles and served with pickled mustard greens, shallots and lime.

  • Sai Ua

    Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Grilled northern Thai sausage flavoured with lemongrass, kaffir lime, chilli and herbs.

  • Khan Toke dinner

    Chiang Mai, Thailand

    A traditional Lanna set meal served on a low round tray, often with sticky rice, nam prik ong (tomato and pork chilli dip) and gaeng hang lay (pork curry).

Where to eat

Where to stay

Culture

Chiang Mai keeps the traditions of the Lanna Kingdom: its own dialect, carved wooden temples, handicraft villages such as Bo Sang (umbrellas) and San Kamphaeng (silk), and festivals like Yi Peng, when thousands of lanterns are released, and Songkran in April.

History

Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 by King Mangrai as the new capital of the Lanna Kingdom, the "kingdom of a million rice fields" that ruled much of northern Thailand for centuries. The square moat and parts of the brick walls built around the old city still stand today.

The city came under Burmese rule in 1558 and stayed so for more than two hundred years, until it was retaken in the 1770s and later joined the Kingdom of Siam. Lanna architecture, crafts, food and the northern dialect remain a strong part of local identity.

Travel information

  • Country: Thailand
  • Language: Thai; English is widely used in tourist areas.
  • Currency: Thai baht (THB).
  • Time zone: Indochina Time, UTC+7.
  • Suggested stay: Three to four days for the old city, Doi Suthep and a day trip into the mountains.

Tour plans

Chiang Mai in three days

3 days, 2 nights

  1. Step 1: Day 1 — Old city temples

    Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang and the lanes of the old city; evening at the Night Bazaar or Sunday Walking Street.

  2. Step 2: Day 2 — Doi Suthep and Nimman

    Morning at Doi Suthep temple, afternoon cafés in Nimman, sunset at the temple viewpoint or a khan toke dinner.

  3. Step 3: Day 3 — Mountains or a cooking class

    A day trip to Doi Inthanon, an ethical elephant sanctuary, or a Thai cooking class with a market visit.

Map

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Travel information

Best time to visit

November to February: cool, dry and clear. March–April is hot and often smoky from crop burning; May to October is the green rainy season.

How to get there

Flights: Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) is about 4 km from the old city, with frequent flights from Bangkok (about 1 hour 15 minutes) and direct flights from several Asian cities. Trains: Overnight sleeper trains run from Bangkok (Krung Thep Aphiwat) in about 11–13 hours. Buses: VIP buses connect Bangkok and Chiang Mai's Arcade bus station in about 9–10 hours, and run on to Chiang Rai and Pai.

Getting around

Red songthaews (shared pick-ups) cover the city — agree the fare before you get in. Grab and Bolt work well. Renting a scooter or bicycle is common; carry an international driving permit for scooters.

Travel tips

Cover shoulders and knees in temples and take off your shoes where asked. Bring a light jacket for the mountains in the cool season. During Yi Peng and Loy Krathong (November) hotels fill up early.

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