How to get to Chiang Mai
You can get to Chiang Mai by plane, bus or train. Chiang Mai is in the north of Thailand and far away from any other major cities. Bangkok is the closest and that is still 750kms away. So the best option is to fly. Chiang Mai has a good international airport not far from the old town. We were able to get a cheap 20 minute tuk tuk in for only 80 Baht.
If you’re on a budget, you’re in luck because there are a range of busses that head to Chiang Mai. The most popular from the south is the night bus from Bangkok. This takes 11 to 12 hours but only cost around $18 USD. The train from Bangkok can cost as low as $7 USD, but they run less frequently and take even longer.
Alternatively, if you’re coming from the east, like from Laos, you’ll come through Chiang Rai. Again, there are a heap of busses that travel this route (Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai) daily and this one only takes around 3.5 hours. This cost only 390 Baht for the both of us.
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Is Chiang Mai worth visiting?
Chiang Mai is definitely worth a visit. Not only is it a unique, cute city with a rich history, its surroundings are full of things to do. We spent just over a week in the area but would have loved staying much longer. Below we have put together a list of our top 9 things to do in Chiang Mai.
1. Wander through old town
The old town centrally located in Chiang Mai and is encapsulated by a historic square canal. In comparison to the wider city, the old town seems more laid back and sleepy which is a nice escape. It’s filled with narrow streets, beautiful old architecture and lots of temples. The majority of travellers will stay here so we recommend doing so too!
2. Visit an elephant sanctuary
Chiang Mai is one of the best places in the world to see elephants and learn more about them. There are a number of sanctuaries around Chiang Mai and you’ll find lots of tour providers offering different trips throughout old town. We booked a half-day afternoon tour with Maerim Elephant Sanctuary and loved it. Before booking yourself, read our honest review on visiting an elephant sanctuary in Chaing Mai.
3. Be amazed by the Sunday night market
Make sure to be in Chiang Mai on a Sunday because its night market should not be missed! In the old town some streets will be blocked off and completely filled with food stalls, clothes shops, souvenirs and handmade items from 5 pm – 10pm. This is the best spot to try some local street food and buy cute items.
There was even some funky live music being played in a little courtyard down one of the side streets. It was right near the Wat Si Koet temple, so you should be able to find it from there.
4. Enjoy the laid back vibe in Nimman
Nimman is a more modern neighbourhood about 10 minutes drive outside the old town. You’ll find a heap of cute cafes and bars here. But a place we especially recommend visiting is Nimman @ One. This industrial looking building is filled with shops and street food. We loved the design and vibe of the place. Right next to this there is also a little courtyard called Lorene Square which has some food stalls and live music at night!
5. Check out the bars
Though not as big as Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh, Chiang Mai can still get pretty busy after dark! Most places close early, around 12am-1am, but there are a few bars/clubs that stay open to later.
Ratchawithi road is the main area with a heap of pubs and karaoke bars. The main bar along here is Zoe in Yellow, which turns into a bit of a mini club, but that closes around 1am. If you’re looking for a place to go out, there’s a club called Spice just outside the old town which a lot of people head to after.
6. See the Best Viewpoints
Doi Suthep mountain has some really good viewpoints over Chiang Mai and the surrounding area. There are a number of spots up the mountain to pull over and take in the view. It’s a great way to spend half a day cruising through the hills on a scooter.
The best spot is near the top of Doi Suthep. It has a view over the other side of the mountain. From here you can see the small village of Ban Hmong Doi Pui below and the wider mountain range.
7. See the Beautiful Temples
Chiang Mai is full of beautifully decorated Buddhist temples. Many of these are quite unique and are free to enter or only cost a few Baht. Keep in mind that you should dress appropriately when visiting a temple, so girls bring a sarong to cover up shoulders and knees. Our favourites were:
- Silver temple – As the name implies, this temple is fully silver unlike most other temples which are decorated with gold. The fee is 30 Baht fee which included a little bottle of water and a key ring as souvenir. Only a 10min scooter from old town.
- Wat Phra Singh – You’ll find this temple within old town. It is beautifully decorated and free to visit
- Wat Pha Lat – This temple is halfway up the Doi Suthep mountain. The entrance is free and it is very peaceful in the middle of the forest. There is also a little water stream running through it.
- Wat Lok Moli – Just outside the city centre, opposite of Wat Pha Singh. The temple is free to visit but for 30 Baht you can write a wish on a card and hang it on a wishing tree. Then afterwards, to help make your wish come true you can offer some water to the temple.
- Wat Rajamontea – This temple is located in old town. It is again decorated beautifully and also free to visit.
8. Visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Temple
Yes we know what you’re thinking. Another temple?? But this one is a bit more unique as it is located near the top of Doi Suthep mountain. From the old town it is a 30 minute scooter ride and costs 30 Baht to get in.
There is a small village along the road near the temple so you can’t miss it. You’ll be greeted with a beautiful set of stairs to go up, decorated with dragons on both sides. Since it is higher up, it offers a nice view over the city too.
9. Cool Down in the Waterfalls
There are a few different waterfalls around Chiang Mai. On our way up Doi Suthep, we unexpectedly came across the Huai Kaeo waterfall and really liked it! It is free to visit and only a very small walk from the road. You follow the little stream up to a small waterfall that, in itself, isn’t really that impressive, but we loved the atmosphere of this place. And it is free, most of the others you have to pay an entrance fee to visit. But if you would like to visit more, then here are some other popular ones:
- Wang Bua Ban Phan Ngoep
- Pha Lat Tawan Ron Waterfall
- Rap Sadet Fall
- Montha Than Waterfall
Where to Eat in Chiang Mai?
Throughout the city, you will find cute places to grab a coffee or have good food. Some of our favourites are:
- Gravity – Great breakfast and juices, slightly more pricey compared to local dishes.
- Lanna Square – There’s lots of cute little food stalls that sell all sorts, from nachos to deep fried scorpions. It also had live music with a great atmosphere. Plus it is right next to a heap of bars, so a good spot to fuel up.
- Tan Aan – Good and relatively cheap western breakfasts and local dishes.
- Nimman @ one – Range of cute little stalls, restaurants and cafes.
- Sunday market – Lots of local street food and snacks for very cheap.
Where to Stay in Chiang Mai
A lot of accommodations are based in the old town. This is also where we’d recommend staying as it’s a great place to venture out from being so central. We stayed at a hotel called Chana Place. It was extremely cheap and we were pleasantly surprised with what we got!
Alternatively, our friends stayed at a hostel called August Hostel which we spent a bit of time at and had a great atmosphere. It was from here where we organised the elephant sanctuary tour for a good price.
Wanting to book?
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Where to Next?
Two cities in the area that are worth paying a visit too are Pai and Chiang Rai. Though similar in name, these are very different and also amazing to visit. Pai is surrounded by incredible nature and has a chill and laidback vibe. Chiang Rai is a bit more sleepy but has some famous temples and is a great place to go to if you want to cross from Thailand to Laos.
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