3 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 and Wat Phra Singh, then Sunday Walking Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

      Chiang Mai's most sacred temple stands on the mountain 15 km west of the city, about 1,000 metres up.

   2. Late morning

      Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail

      Start early, wear proper shoes and carry water; the trail is marked with orange monk's robes tied to trees.

   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 old city's grandest temple houses the revered Phra Buddha Sihing image in the Viharn Lai Kham, a small chapel with classic Lanna wooden gables and murals of 19th-century northern life.

   5. 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 Chedi Luang and Wat Chiang Man

   Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chiang Man and Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls, then Night Bazaar in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Wat Chedi Luang

      Visit late afternoon to see the chedi in warm light and look for the monk chat tables in the grounds.

   2. Late morning

      Wat Chiang Man

      Considered the oldest temple in the city, founded by King Mangrai around the time of Chiang Mai's founding in 1296.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sai ua

      Warorot Market and grill stalls at markets and walking streets.

   4. Afternoon

      Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls

      Walk or cycle the moat in the early morning; the gate's square hosts events at Songkran and Loy Krathong.

   5. Evening

      Night Bazaar

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

3. Day 3: Warorot Market and Wat Umong

   Warorot Market, Wat Umong and Wat Suan Dok, then Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple) in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Warorot Market

      Known locally as Kad Luang, this multi-storey market near the Ping River is where residents buy northern snacks, sai ua sausage, nam prik chilli pastes, dried goods and fabrics.

   2. Late morning

      Wat Umong

      Combine it with Baan Kang Wat artists' village, a few minutes away.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Nam prik noom

      Northern Thai restaurants and in jars at Warorot Market.

   4. Afternoon

      Wat Suan Dok

      West of the old city, this temple is known for its field of white chedis containing the ashes of Chiang Mai's royal family, set against the backdrop of Doi Suthep.

   5. Evening

      Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)

      Visit on a Saturday and continue onto the Wua Lai Walking Street market.

If it rains

• Swap in Thai cooking class (Old City): Choose a small class that lets you pick your own dishes, and say if you need vegetarian versions.
• Swap in Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre (Old City): Visit on your first day, ideally during the afternoon heat.
• 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

With 3 nights, Old City keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Tha Phae and Night Bazaar ($$) suits shopping, first-timers, nightlife and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–20 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11 hours in December to 13.3 hours in June.

More or fewer days

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

Questions travellers ask