Getting around · Chiang Mai · Thailand
Getting around Chiang Mai
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Vano111ru, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The old city is walkable, and the rest of central Chiang Mai is a short ride away by red songthaew, tuk-tuk or app car. There is no metro; many visitors rent scooters, but traffic around the moat is heavy and accidents are common. Not in the city.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Bus
- Airports
- CNX
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
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.
Agree the fare before getting in; private hire of a whole songthaew costs more.
Ride-hailing
Grab and Bolt operate across the city with cars and motorbikes at upfront prices, useful for the airport, Nimman and Doi Suthep.
Tuk-tuk
Tuk-tuks are faster for short hops but more expensive than songthaews; negotiate before setting off.
Scooter
Scooter rental is widely available, but you need the correct licence for insurance to apply and a helmet; the Doi Suthep road is steep and winding.
Cycling
Cycling around the moat and old-city lanes is pleasant in the cool season, and many guesthouses rent bicycles.
Walking
Within the moat, the main temples are 5–15 minutes apart on foot, and the Night Bazaar is about 15 minutes' walk from Tha Phae Gate.
From the airport
Chiang Mai International Airport is only about 4 km south-west of the old city; the ride takes about 10–20 minutes by taxi or app car, and taxis leave from a counter in arrivals. Overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok take about 11–13 hours.
Do you need a car?
Not in the city. A car or a hired driver is useful for Doi Inthanon, Chiang Rai and mountain villages; tours with transport are an easy alternative.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Doi Inthanon National Park | About 2 hours by road | Tour or car with driver |
| Chiang Rai | About 3 hours each way by road | Tour, bus or car with driver |
| Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls | About 1 hour by road | Car, scooter or app car |
| Mae Kampong | About 1.5 hours by road | Car with driver or tour |
| Lamphun | About 40 minutes by road | Bus, songthaew or car |
| Chiang Dao | About 1.5 hours by road | Bus or car |
| Lampang | About 1.5 hours by road or train | Train, bus or car |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Chiang Mai?
Not in the city. A car or a hired driver is useful for Doi Inthanon, Chiang Rai and mountain villages; tours with transport are an easy alternative.
+How do you get from the airport to Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai International Airport is only about 4 km south-west of the old city; the ride takes about 10–20 minutes by taxi or app car, and taxis leave from a counter in arrivals. Overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok take about 11–13 hours.
+What is the best way to get around Chiang Mai?
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.