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Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 as the capital of the Lanna kingdom and remains the cultural heart of northern Thailand. The old city sits inside a square moat with surviving stretches of brick wall, surrounded by a larger modern town at the foot of Doi Suthep mountain. Hundreds of temples and a strong handicraft tradition give it a slower, more reflective mood.
Inside the moat, Wat Phra Singh shows classic Lanna temple design, and the massive ruined chedi of Wat Chedi Luang still towers over its grounds. Tha Phae Gate marks the eastern wall. Above town, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is reached by a long naga staircase. Wat Umong hides meditation tunnels in a forest, and the white chedis of Wat Suan Dok glow in late afternoon. Weekend evenings belong to the walking streets: the Sunday market spreading out from Tha Phae Gate and the Saturday market along Wua Lai Road. Warorot Market sells local produce and snacks, the Night Bazaar caters to souvenir hunters, and Nimmanhaemin is a café-filled district near the university.
Chiang Mai suits culture seekers, food lovers, cooking class students and long-stay remote workers. The cool season is the most pleasant, while the burning season, typically around March and April, can bring heavy smoke. Popular excursions include Doi Inthanon and the mountain villages beyond.
WiserMap travel guideChiang Mai Thailand Temples Khao Soi and Doi SuthepA Chiang Mai guide: Old City temples, Doi Suthep, Wat Umong, the Sunday Walking Street, khao soi, Doi Inthanon and how to time your trip around smoky season.Read the guide
The most revered temple in the Old City, founded in 1345 and home to the Phra Singh Buddha image. The small Viharn Lai Kham holds Lanna-style murals of local life. During the Songkran festival the Buddha is paraded through the streets. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered.
A temple in the center of the Old City with a huge brick chedi from the 15th century, partly ruined by an earthquake in the 1500s, with stone elephants on its base. Monks hold monk chat sessions where visitors can ask questions. It is beautiful in the evening when the chedi is lit.
A golden temple high on Doi Suthep mountain above the city, reached by a stairway of 306 steps flanked by naga serpents, or by a small funicular. The gilded chedi and the view over Chiang Mai are the highlights. Shared red songthaew trucks go up from near Chiang Mai University.
A forest temple at the foot of Doi Suthep known for its brick tunnels from the 14th century, lined with Buddha images and used for meditation. The wooded grounds have a pond with fish and turtles, and trees hung with signs of Buddhist sayings. It is calm and seldom crowded.
A temple west of the Old City with a large white chedi surrounded by dozens of smaller white tombs holding the ashes of Chiang Mai's royal family. It is very photogenic at sunset against Doi Suthep. The temple also hosts a Buddhist university and offers meditation retreats for visitors.
The best-known gate in the old brick wall and moat that surround Chiang Mai's square Old City. Large festivals, markets and parades are held in the square in front, and pigeons gather here. Walking along the moat between the corner bastions is a good way to see the Old City.
Every Sunday evening, Ratchadamnoen Road from Tha Phae Gate through the Old City closes to traffic and fills with stalls selling crafts, clothes, art and street food, with temple courtyards turned into food courts. It gets very crowded after 7 pm, so come early and bring small cash.
A Saturday evening market along Wua Lai Road just south of the Old City, an area known for its silversmiths. Look for the Wat Sri Suphan silver temple, which glows at night. It is a little smaller and calmer than the Sunday market, and the food stalls are just as good.
Warorot Market, known locally as Kad Luang, is a large daytime market near the river selling Lanna snacks, dried goods, fabrics and household items. A short walk away along Chang Khlan Road, the Night Bazaar has souvenir stalls and food courts every evening. Bargain politely.
A trendy area near Chiang Mai University with coffee shops, restaurants, small boutiques, bars and coworking spaces, popular with students and digital nomads. The One Nimman complex and MAYA mall anchor its north end. It is lively in the evening, and the side lanes or sois have many hidden cafes.
Home to Thailand's highest mountain, about two hours from the city, with cloud forest, waterfalls such as Wachirathan and the twin royal pagodas with their flower gardens. The summit area is cool, so bring a jacket. The Kew Mae Pan nature trail needs a local guide and is closed in rainy season.
A rescue and rehabilitation center for elephants about an hour north of Chiang Mai, where visitors watch and feed the animals rather than ride them. Many of its elephants were saved from logging and tourism. Book day visits well in advance, and choose ethical camps that do not offer rides.
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