Located in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is an ancient city founded in 1296. Surrounded by mountains, it is full of colors, flavors, and great adventures. It is extremely traveler friendly and hosts a plethora of inexpensive and unique activities. No matter if you’re a solo traveler, backpacker, budget traveler, honeymooner, or someone looking for a fantastic adventure, Chiang Mai’s got you covered. Here is your ultimate guide for Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Anthony Bourdain said it best when he traveled to Thailand “It was like discovering a color I never knew existed before.”
Table of Contents
- Common Q’s
- How to get to Chiang Mai
- Transportation
- Neighborhoods
- Where to Stay
- How Long is Enough
- What to Do
- What to Eat
1. Common questions about Thailand travel
Are there any travel requirements?
Nope, no visa or anything. You are free to book your tickets without worry. Just look at travel advisories.
Do I need cash?
YES, you will need cash almost anywhere you go. Luckily there are ATMs everywhere, so you can easily get cash out whenever you run out.
Do people speak English?
Not the majority, but it is still extremely easy to get around. Get Google or Apple translate, it’ll help.
Where can I get a sim card for my phone?
Once you land at the airport, there will be plenty of places where you can get an e-sim. You can choose a plan for the duration you’ll be there.
Can I barter with people in the markets?
Yes, but I will say everything is extremely cheap so don’t barter too much, they need to make money too.
What kind of outfits should I wear?
It depends on the time you are there, but usually it is a tropical climate. Dress for A LOT of walking in the heat. That means shorts, skirts, tank tops, athletic dresses. Keep in mind though to be a bit more modest than you might be at home. As well as in certain temples women NEED to have covered shoulders and legs – when this is the case there will be stalls out front to buy a cheap shaw and long skirt.
2. Getting to Chiang Mai
- Airport – Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) that has hundreds of flights arriving and departing daily.
- Train – I highly suggest you travel by overnight train, we went from Bangkok to Chiang Mai though 12go.Asia. It was such a unique experience where we could really see some of the countryside of Thailand. We got first class, but it is probably not the same first class you’re thinking of, it’s a very modest and still fairly cheap first class where you get a private room with two twin sleeper beds and there is a sink. There are shared bathrooms with a shower (the shower wasn’t working though). They also come around and give you menus if you want to order food. So you can either bring food on or order some there, it’s still pretty cheap.
3. Transportation in Chiang Mai
- Tuk Tuk – The best transportation and it is faster than you would think. (must have cash)
- Grab – This is Thailand’s ride share app. It is cheap and really convenient if you need to go across town.
- Moped – Rent a moped and explore the city. Chiang Mai has so much less traffic than Bangkok so it’s a lot safer to do this here. Of course only do it if you’re comfortable and make sure you have an international driver’s license or they pull over tourists and give them tickets.
- Walk – of course walking is a great way to really soak everything in and stop wherever you want.
4. Chiang Mai Neighborhood Guide
There are several neighborhoods that make Chiang Mai so unique, but here are some of the most popular and centrally located.
- Old City – it is a very central location that has a lot of temples, night markets, and historical sights. Great area for first time travelers to Chiang Mai and there are alot of budget accommodations.
- Nimmin – this is the cool, trendy, and hipster area of Chiang Mai. It has lots of cafes with digital nomads and a laid back vibe.
- Wat Ket – located on the waterfront and has old world charm. It is home to a lot of foreign missionaries and Chinese traders, so it has a lot of influences with eclectic shops, restaurants, and cafes.
- Chinatown – With a mix of Chinese and Thai influences, Chinatown is a cultural hub that is culturally rich. It is also home to Chinatown Night Bazaar, where you need to try all the food stalls.
5. Where to Stay in Chiang Mai
- Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort – Located not too far from Old Town, I will talk about this place for years to come. It was the nicest hotel I’ve stayed at, it feels super local and authentic to the area. The breakfast is phenomenal and fresh. The service was top tier. And the location is central to everything you need.
- Thai Akara – Lanna Boutique Hotel – located in Old Town
- The Nimman Hotel – located in Nimman
6. How long should I stay in Chiang Mai?
We stayed in Chiang Mai for 5 days and it was plenty of time, although we loved it so much we wish we stayed longer. 3-5 days would be enough time for you to do some of the must-do things and leisurely explore Chiang Mai.
7. What to do in Chiang Mai
- Chiang Mai Old Town – Walk around the historic area and it won’t be hard to find things to do.
- Elephant Sanctuary – Elephant Pride Sanctuary is who we went through and they are extremely ethical and caring to these creatures. They pick you up from your hotel, cook you a homemade meal, and spend the whole day with the elephants. I cannot rave enough about it.
- Night Markets / Bazaars – This is one of the best ways to eat through the city and see what is locally grown and produced. There are so many great night bazaars here, but here are some of the favorites: Chinatown Night Bazaar, Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Kalare Night Bazaar, Ploen Ruedee Night Market
- Royal Park Ratchapruek – this is a world class horticultural expo with plant species from all over the world. There is also temples, sculptures, and more.
- Visit temples – there are so many beautiful and ancient temples to visit in Chiang Mai. Some of the most popular are Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Suan Dok.
- Thai massages – Famous for thai massages, there are hundreds of places to drop in and get an hour massage. I did this every single day and I miss it so much.
- Indigo dyeing workshop – Chiang Mai is known for its production of Indigo plants to naturally dye jeans or other textiles. You can go to a workshop and see their production and processes.
- Thai cooking class – Taking a Thai cooking class is a great way to take your experiences home with you. Thai cuisine is the best, so why not learn from the best.
8. What to Eat in Chiang Mai
There’s so many great restaurants and food stalls, so get food anywhere and everywhere you think looks good. Although there are some of the regional must try foods in Chiang Mai.
- Khao Soi – local dish to this area. It is a curry noodle soup with your choice of meat, egg noodles both boiled and fried on top, all in a coconut curry base.
- Sai Oua – a grilled sausage with lots of fresh herbs inside
- Pad ka prao – ground meat with holy basil and lots of chilis and served with sticky rice
- Thai noodle soup – the perfect comforting dish
- Mango sticky rice – classic Thai dessert with sliced mango and sticky rice with condensed milk
- Catfish curry – exactly what it sounds like, locally caught catfish in a creamy coconut curry. Be careful because some of these can be extremely spicy
- Papaya Salad – shredded papaya, green beans, peanuts, thai chilis and more make this salad, tangy, crunchy, and mouth watering.
