Visitor’s guide to Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a major trekking centre and a popular jumping off point for explorations of northern Thailand, including the Golden Triangle. Best known as a cultural hub and the ancient centre of the Lanna Kingdom, historic Chiang Mai has a sedate but bubbly evening entertainment scene as well as fantastic shopping and outdoor activities.

This relaxed, moated city draws travellers year-round, not only with its outdoor opportunities but with its increasingly sophisticated dining and accommodation scenes, making it a great alternative to Thailand’s beach resorts. Shopping here centres on Thai handicrafts and cheap clothing. Aside from modern shopping malls, you can check out the bustling Night Bazaar, a hive of merchandise.

Head just out of town to the Mae Sa Valley for adventure activities such as bungee jumping and AVT riding or catch a snake show. There is also the chance to get up close with tiger cubs, purchase beautiful Thai orchids or visit hill tribe villages, among other interesting opportunities. 

Family attractions in Chiang Mai: the city has plenty to keep both kids and adults entertained, with a healthy dose of family-friendly attractions. Animal loving children will enjoy the city’s expansive zoo and the elephant camp at Mae Sa Valley. There is also a newly opened tiger zoo where you can get up close with cubs and a snake show for the brave. The Night Safari has everything from big cats to giraffe is and is an enjoyable place to spend an evening.

If you need to get out the heat, the city’s bowling alleys and cinemas make for a great break, as do the waterfalls and national parks dotted around the city. There are also a number of public and hotel swimming pools as well as internet and gaming shops. Chiang Mai for kids.

Eating in Chiang Mai: a speciality in Chiang Mai is the traditional khantoke dinners available at venues around the city. These dinners include authentic Lanna cuisine as well as entertainment such as Thai dancing and music and are not to be missed. Of course, regular fare can be found at the touristy restaurants near the Night Bazaar or you can head to one of the city’s markets for cheap and tasty fare.

An increasing number of upmarket international restaurants have sprung up in recent years so you may want to consider splurging on a romantic meal for two or sampling the fare in one of the city’s five-star hotels. Lively live music accompanies diners in the restaurants that line the riverbank while eateries are abundant in the university district around Nimmanhaemin Road. Restaurants in Chiang Mai.

Around Chiang Mai: the Mae Sa Valley is just a 20-minute drive from the city centre and offers abundant opportunities for visitors to get active. This is where people come to try their hand at shooting, go-karting, bungee jumping and AVT driving. There are also tamer attractions such as an elephant camp, orchid farm and an art gallery.

For a taste of northern Thailand’s hill tribes many visitors to Chiang Mai make daytrips to nearby Akha, Lishu and Karen villages. Chiang Rai is another popular stop and just a three-hour drive away, while the Golden Triangle can also be visited as a daytrip from Chiang Mai.

Nightlife in Chiang Mai: the night scene in Chiang Mai is tame but lively enough to keep visitors of all persuasions entertained. There is everything from girlie bars to live music venues and discos in the city, with the heart of the city’s tourist-orientated nightlife being Loi Kroh Road. There is also a laid back party scene along the river and moat, with restaurants offering local bands to go with your food, and a hip student focused scene on Nimmanhaemin Road. There are a handful of after-hours clubs for those wanting to hit a dance floor.

Shopping in Chiang Mai: if you are interested in Thai handicraft then you’ll feel like you’ve hit the jackpot in Chiang Mai. Don’t miss the Night Bazaar, where souvenirs galore and inexpensive clothing are in abundance as well as counterfeit CDs and DVDs. The city also features two modern air-conditioned shopping malls where you can pick up brand name goods and electronics at low prices, as well as a weekend walking street craft market. Shopping in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai budget: you won’t need as much money in Chiang Mai as in other places in Thailand, with affordable food and accommodation available across the city. There are plenty of places to splurge but those on a budget can easily get by on 2,000 baht a day including room and eating out.

Chiang Mai weather: the best time to visit the city is from November to February when temperatures are not too hot and the rain is yet to arrive. The mercury reaches its peak in April when temperatures soar to 40˚C. Just when the heat becomes unbearable, the rains kick in starting in June. It rarely rains all day during the wet season so it is still possible to sightsee at this time. 

Chiang Mai transportation: most visitors arrive in Chiang Mai at the city’s international airport, which has direct connections with Bangkok and capitals in neighbouring countries. The flight from Bangkok takes just over an hour. It is also possible to get here by train or bus, with sleepers available.

Getting around is easy in Chiang Mai thanks to abundant taxis, tuk-tuks (motorised rickshaws) and songthaew (shared taxis). You can also hire cars, motorbikes and bicycles to get around according to your own schedule while the Old City is best discovered on foot.

Chiang Mai safety: there are no major threats to visitor’s safety in Chiang Mai but it pays to be cautious with your personal belongings when out and about and to take precautions against bag snatchers on motorbikes. The roads can present dangers so always wear a helmet when travelling by motorbike and take care when crossing roads; don’t assume a car will stop for you at a pedestrian crossing.

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Chiang Mai evening guide

Thailand’s laid back northern capital offers a wealth of evening entertainment to complement its daytime adventure activities. The leafy, moated city centre houses a range of girlie bars as well as family-friendly restaurants, British style pubs, pumping discos and lively live music venues to keep you entertained, while the university and riverside districts have the city’s trendiest selection of night spots.

Live music and discos
People don’t normally come to Chiang Mai for the nightlife, but most visitors are pleasantly surprised by the after-hours offerings this northern hub has to offer. The city centre has a host of girlie bars just behind the famous Night Bazaar, while more sophisticated options can be found in the city’s top hotels. 

Loi Kroh Road in the city centre is the focus of the bar scene but the nearby riverside area offers classier options with its live music venues and refined restaurants. Here you will find everything from jazz to rock in a family-friendly environment. The city’s top hotels all have stylish bars, often with DJs, with the Porn Ping Tower home to one of Chiang Mai’s longest running discos, Bubbles.

A more youthful scene is found near the university, where the hip Nimmanhaemin Road is swarming with bars. For something a bit different, try a game of bowling at one of the city’s bowling alleys or catch an English language movie at the cinema. There is also Thai boxing on hand as well as glitzy cabaret shows at Simon’s. More on Chiang Mai.

Bars
The bar scene in Chiang Mai isn’t as expansive as in Bangkok or Pattaya but there is plenty of choice. Many people start their pub crawls in the city centre after a jaunt around the Night Bazaar. Just a short walk from this bustling strip is Loh Kroh Road, where dozens of mostly girlie bars can be found.

A bit farther afield, the Old City has a handful of more mainstream bars that attract mostly travellers while the moat road offers Mandalay, a large complex with bars and dance floors, as well as a handful of smaller clubs.

For a late night of revelry, try one of the city’s top hotels, with the Duangtawan, Porn Ping and Shangri-La all having hip bars, lounges or discos. If you prefer a more Thai scene, the area around the university is teeming with student-filled bars, many of which offer decent live music. Recommended bars in Chiang Mai.

Eating out
The dining scene in Chiang Mai is getting better each year, with everything from tasty Thai food to spicy Indian curries, Mexican fare, Japanese sushi and Middle Eastern mezze available. The tourist orientated Night Bazaar area is bustling with eateries but for better priced authentic Thai fare, head away from the main strip.

The city has a few restaurants where you can really splurge while it also has great, affordable riverside restaurants that are a night out in themselves, with dining often accompanied by live music. For quick eats there are several markets dotted around the city that serve hot noodle and rice dishes until late. Recommended Chiang Mai restaurants.