Things to do · Chiang Mai · Thailand
20 best things to do in Chiang Mai
20 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote . Feel free to use any of my images, but plea, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
The essential sights in Chiang Mai are Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang. Of the 20 picks below, 10 are free, 4 work on a rainy day and 6 suit children. Allow about 5 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- Free sights
- 10
- Good on a rainy day
- Warorot Market
- Time to see the highlights
- 5 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wat Phra That Doi Suthep | Doi Suthep | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
| Wat Phra Singh | Old City | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Wat Chedi Luang | Old City | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Wat Chiang Man | Old City | 45 minutes | Free |
| Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls | Old City | 1 hour | Free |
| Sunday Walking Street | Old City | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Night Bazaar | Tha Phae and Night Bazaar | 2 hours | Free |
| Warorot Market | Tha Phae and Night Bazaar | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Wat Umong | Doi Suthep foothills | 1 hour | Free |
| Wat Suan Dok | Nimmanhaemin | 45 minutes | Free |
| Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple) | Wua Lai | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail | Doi Suthep | 2–4 hours | Free |
| Nimmanhaemin Road | Nimmanhaemin | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Elephant Nature Park | Mae Taeng | Full day | Expensive |
| Thai cooking class | Old City | Half to full day | Mid-priced |
| Chiang Mai Zoo | Doi Suthep foothills | Half a day | Mid-priced |
| Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre | Old City | 1–1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Baan Kang Wat | Doi Suthep foothills | 1–1.5 hours | Free |
| MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum | San Kamphaeng | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Huay Tung Tao Lake | Mae Rim | Half a day | Low cost |
The 20 best things to do
Religious site · Doi Suthep
1.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. 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.
Go at opening time to avoid the crowds; shared red songthaews leave from near Chiang Mai Zoo and Chiang Mai University, and a funicular lift spares you the stairs.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Old City
2.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. The main viharn and golden chedi are just as impressive.
Look closely at the Viharn Lai Kham murals, which show local dress and daily life; dress modestly as monks study here.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Art
Religious site · Old City
3.Wat Chedi Luang
The great brick chedi at the centre of the old city was partly destroyed by an earthquake in the 16th century and now stands as a massive ruin with elephant sculptures on its base. The temple grounds also hold the city pillar shrine, and monks host 'monk chat' sessions where visitors can ask about Buddhism.
Visit late afternoon to see the chedi in warm light and look for the monk chat tables in the grounds.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
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Religious site · Old City
4.Wat Chiang Man
Considered the oldest temple in the city, founded by King Mangrai around the time of Chiang Mai's founding in 1296. Its chedi is supported by rows of brick elephants, and a small chapel holds two highly venerated Buddha images.
It is in the quieter north-east corner of the old city and is rarely crowded in the morning.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Old City
5.Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls
The rebuilt brick gate on the eastern side of the moat is the old city's best-known landmark and a meeting point for festivals and markets. Corner bastions and stretches of wall survive around the moat, which makes a pleasant walk of about 6 km.
Walk or cycle the moat in the early morning; the gate's square hosts events at Songkran and Loy Krathong.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Market · Old City
6.Sunday Walking Street
Every Sunday evening, Ratchadamnoen Road from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Phra Singh closes to traffic and fills with stalls selling handicrafts, textiles and snacks, with food courts in temple grounds along the way. A similar Saturday market runs along Wua Lai Road, the silversmiths' street south of the moat.
Arrive around 5pm before it becomes shoulder-to-shoulder, and eat in a temple courtyard food court.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
- Kids
Market · Tha Phae and Night Bazaar
7.Night Bazaar
Chang Khlan Road becomes a long strip of stalls every night, with covered market halls, food courts and live music. It sells everything from hill-tribe textiles and carvings to clothing and souvenirs.
Bargain with a smile and compare prices; the Sunday and Saturday walking streets often have more original crafts.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- After dark
- Food
Market · Tha Phae and Night Bazaar
8.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. The surrounding streets form the city's Chinatown, and the flower market by the river is open around the clock.
Buy edible souvenirs such as nam prik noom and dried fruit here at local prices.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Religious site · Doi Suthep foothills
1.Wat Umong
A forest temple at the foot of Doi Suthep with brick tunnels dating from the 14th century, lined with Buddha images in candlelit niches. Shaded paths, a lake and talking-tree signs with Buddhist sayings make it a peaceful contrast to the old city.
Combine it with Baan Kang Wat artists' village, a few minutes away.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
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Religious site · Nimmanhaemin
2.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. It also hosts a monk chat programme for visitors.
Visit near sunset, when the white chedis glow against the mountain.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- History
Religious site · Wua Lai
3.Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)
In the silversmiths' quarter south of the moat, this temple's ordination hall is clad inside and out in embossed silver and aluminium panels made by local craftsmen. By tradition, women may not enter the ordination hall itself but can see it from outside.
Visit on a Saturday and continue onto the Wua Lai Walking Street market.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Art
- Photo spot
- After dark
Religious site · Doi Suthep
4.Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail
A forest trail from the western end of Suthep Road climbs through jungle to Wat Pha Lat, a small temple with mossy stone statues beside a waterfall stream. Fit walkers continue steeply up to Doi Suthep.
Start early, wear proper shoes and carry water; the trail is marked with orange monk's robes tied to trees.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Street · Nimmanhaemin
5.Nimmanhaemin Road
Chiang Mai's café street and its sois are lined with coffee shops roasting northern Thai beans, design boutiques, galleries and restaurants, with the One Nimman complex at the main junction. It is the best place to try the region's coffee culture.
Come in the afternoon for coffee and return after dark for the bars and food stalls.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- After dark
Experience · Mae Taeng
6.Elephant Nature Park
About 60 km north of the city, this long-established sanctuary cares for rescued elephants in a river valley, along with dogs, cats and buffaloes. Visitors observe and feed the elephants and watch them bathe; there is no riding.
Choose a sanctuary with no riding or bathing shows, and book a day visit that includes transport from your hotel.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Visits must be booked in advance and sell out in high season.
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Experience · Old City
7.Thai cooking class
Chiang Mai is the most popular place in Thailand to learn to cook, with dozens of schools offering half- or full-day classes that start with a market tour and include five or six dishes, often khao soi among them. Some are held on organic farms outside the city.
Choose a small class that lets you pick your own dishes, and say if you need vegetarian versions.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Book a day or two ahead in high season; most schools collect you from your hotel.
- Food
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Couples
Zoo · Doi Suthep foothills
8.Chiang Mai Zoo
Set on the forested lower slopes of Doi Suthep, the zoo covers a large hilly area with Asian and African animals, an aquarium and a tram that links the sections. It is one of the easiest family outings in the city.
Use the tram or a golf cart for the steep sections, and go in the morning before the heat.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Museum · Old City
9.Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre
Behind the Three Kings Monument, this museum in the former provincial hall tells the story of Chiang Mai from prehistory through the Lanna kingdom to modern times, with dioramas and models. It is a good first stop to understand the temples.
Visit on your first day, ideally during the afternoon heat.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Neighbourhood · Doi Suthep foothills
10.Baan Kang Wat
A small artists' village of wooden studios and shops near Wat Umong, where ceramicists, painters and craftspeople work and sell, with cafés around a central amphitheatre.
Come on a Sunday morning when a small market is usually held.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Gallery · San Kamphaeng
11.MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum
This private museum in San Kamphaeng, behind a mirrored façade, shows contemporary Thai and Southeast Asian art from the Bunnag family collection and rotating exhibitions.
Combine it with the Bo Sang umbrella village on the same road.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Mae Rim
12.Huay Tung Tao Lake
A reservoir at the foot of the mountains about 12 km north-west of the city, ringed by bamboo huts where you can order grilled fish and som tam and spend the afternoon by the water. Locals swim and rent inflatables at weekends.
Go on a weekday afternoon and order food to your hut; bring sun protection.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
- Food
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Wat Phra Singh, Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple), Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre and Baan Kang Wat |
| History | Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Chiang Man |
| Views | Wat Phra That Doi Suthep |
| Outdoors and nature | Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls, Wat Umong, Wat Pha Lat and the Monk's Trail and Elephant Nature Park |
| Food and markets | Sunday Walking Street, Night Bazaar, Warorot Market and Nimmanhaemin Road |
| After dark | Sunday Walking Street, Night Bazaar, Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple) and Nimmanhaemin Road |
| With children | Sunday Walking Street, Elephant Nature Park, Thai cooking class and Chiang Mai Zoo |
| On a rainy day | Warorot Market, Thai cooking class, Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre and MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum |
What to book ahead
- Elephant Nature Park: Visits must be booked in advance and sell out in high season.
- Thai cooking class: Book a day or two ahead in high season; most schools collect you from your hotel.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Chiang Mai?
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.
+What can you do for free in Chiang Mai?
Wat Chiang Man, Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls, Sunday Walking Street, Night Bazaar and Warorot Market. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Chiang Mai when it rains?
Head indoors to Warorot Market, Thai cooking class, Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre and MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum.
+What is there to do in Chiang Mai at night?
Sunday Walking Street, Night Bazaar, Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple) and Nimmanhaemin Road are best after dark.