2 days in Chiang Mai

Day by day

1. Day 1: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail

   Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail, Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang, then Sunday Walking Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

      A 306-step staircase flanked by naga serpents climbs to a terrace around a gilded chedi said to hold a relic of the Buddha, and the viewpoint looks over the whole city.

   2. Late morning

      Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail

      Fit walkers continue steeply up to Doi Suthep.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Khao soi

      Specialist khao soi shops across the city, which often sell out by mid-afternoon; Muslim-run eateries near the Night Bazaar serve beef versions.

   4. Afternoon

      Wat Phra Singh

      The main viharn and golden chedi are just as impressive.

   5. Late afternoon

      Wat Chedi Luang

      The temple grounds also hold the city pillar shrine, and monks host 'monk chat' sessions where visitors can ask about Buddhism.

   6. Evening

      Sunday Walking Street

      Arrive around 5pm before it becomes shoulder-to-shoulder, and eat in a temple courtyard food court.

2. Day 2: Wat Chiang Man and Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls

   Wat Chiang Man, Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls, Thai cooking class and Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre, then Night Bazaar in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Wat Chiang Man

      Its chedi is supported by rows of brick elephants, and a small chapel holds two highly venerated Buddha images.

   2. Late morning

      Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls

      Corner bastions and stretches of wall survive around the moat, which makes a pleasant walk of about 6 km.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sai ua

      Warorot Market and grill stalls at markets and walking streets.

   4. Afternoon

      Thai cooking class

      Some are held on organic farms outside the city.

   5. Late afternoon

      Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre

      It is a good first stop to understand the temples.

   6. Evening

      Night Bazaar

      Bargain with a smile and compare prices; the Sunday and Saturday walking streets often have more original crafts.

Before you go

• Thai cooking class: Book a day or two ahead in high season; most schools collect you from your hotel.

If it rains

• Swap in Warorot Market (Tha Phae and Night Bazaar): Buy edible souvenirs such as nam prik noom and dried fruit here at local prices.
• Swap in MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum (San Kamphaeng): Combine it with the Bo Sang umbrella village on the same road.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 16–21 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11 hours in December to 13.3 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Bus. Red songthaews (rot daeng) are shared pick-up trucks that work like taxis: flag one down, say your destination, and pay a set fare within the city if the driver agrees.

More or fewer days

• One day in Chiang Mai
• 3 days in Chiang Mai
• 5 days in Chiang Mai

Questions travellers ask