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Chiang Mai

Thailand travel guide

What to see in Chiang Mai

The peaceful north: temples among the mountains, night markets and elephant sanctuaries.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 10 must-see places
  • Best time: from November to January
  • Stay in Old Town Chiang Mai
  • Typical food: Khao soi
Photo: Supanut Arunoprayote · CC BY 4.0

Chiang Mai highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

    A golden chedi on the mountain with views over the Chiang Mai valley.

  2. Old City Walls

    The walls and moat of the old Lanna kingdom; a base for visiting temples on foot.

  3. Wat Chedi Luang

    A great 15th-century brick chedi in the heart of the old city.

  4. Sunday Night Market

    Ratchadamnoen Road closes to traffic: crafts, food and music.

  5. Nimman

    Cafés, galleries and contemporary cooking west of the walls.

  6. Elephant Nature Park (area)

    An ethical elephant sanctuary to the north; book ahead.

  7. Wat Phra Singh

    A Lanna temple with the Phra Singh Buddha and classic murals.

  8. Tha Phae Gate

    The eastern gate of the old city; a meeting point with markets.

  9. Doi Inthanon (access)

    Thailand’s highest peak; waterfalls and cool-climate gardens.

  10. Ping River

    A riverside walk and a crossing to the Wat Ket area.

Where to stay in Chiang Mai

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Old Town Chiang Mai · Nimmanhaemin · Ping Riverside

Day trips from Chiang Mai

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Chiang Mai

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Chiang Mai are from November to January. If you can, avoid April and October (intense heat, golden week).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr with strong warnings
  5. May with warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with strong warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • February

    Lunar New Year (approximate dates)

    Millions of people travel at this time: trains and flights are full and expensive, and many shops and restaurants close for several days.

    What to do: Book transport weeks in advance and expect closures for the first three days.

  • from March to May

    Intense heat

    From March to May temperatures reach 35–40 °C with high humidity; April is the toughest month.

    What to do: Visit temples at sunrise, rest at midday and drink plenty of water.

  • from June to October

    Rainy season

    It’s usually heavy afternoon downpours, not whole days of rain. Everything is greener and there are fewer tourists.

    What to do: Plan outdoor visits for the morning and save the afternoon for museums, covered markets or a massage.

  • October

    Golden Week

    From 1 to 7 October the whole of China travels: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the trains are packed.

    What to do: If you can, move your trip by a week; if not, book tickets in advance and visit first thing in the morning.

Typical food of Chiang Mai

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Chiang Mai from your kitchen).

Khao soi
Photo: Chainwit. · CC BY-SA 4.0

Khao soi

The noodle soup of northern Thailand: egg noodles in a coconut-milk curry with chicken, topped with crispy fried noodles. It’s Chiang Mai’s dish, a legacy of Burmese and Chinese traders.

  • Serves 4
  • 50 min

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 3 tablespoons of red or yellow curry paste
  • 1 teaspoon of curry powder and 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
  • 800 ml coconut milk
  • 500 ml chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons of fish sauce and 1 of sugar
  • 400 g egg noodles
  • Shallots, pickled mustard greens, lime and chilli oil to serve

How to make it at home

  1. Heat a little of the coconut milk until the fat separates and fry the curry paste and spices in it.
  2. Add the chicken and brown it, then the rest of the coconut milk and the stock. Simmer for 30 minutes.
  3. Season with the fish sauce and sugar.
  4. Cook most of the noodles and fry a handful in very hot oil until crispy.
  5. Serve the noodles with the curry and chicken, with the fried noodles on top and shallot, pickled mustard greens and lime on the side.

The trick: The garnishes are added to taste at the table: that’s how it’s eaten in Chiang Mai.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the street stall. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Thailand guide.

  • Khao Soi Khun Yai

    Old Town

    A benchmark northern khao soi.

  • SP Chicken

    Old Town

    Grilled chicken and som tam.

Frequently asked questions about Chiang Mai

What to see in Chiang Mai?

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Old City Walls, Wat Chedi Luang, Sunday Night Market, Nimman and Elephant Nature Park (area).

What to see in Chiang Mai in 3 days?

Don’t miss Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Old City Walls, Wat Chedi Luang, Sunday Night Market, Nimman and Elephant Nature Park (area). To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Chiang Mai?

The handiest areas to stay are Old Town Chiang Mai, Nimmanhaemin and Ping Riverside.

What’s the best time to travel to Chiang Mai?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Chiang Mai are from November to January. If you can, avoid April and October (intense heat, golden week).

What day trips can you take from Chiang Mai?

Ethical elephant sanctuary, Doi Inthanon, Thai cooking class and White Temple in Chiang Rai.

What is the typical food of Chiang Mai?

Khao soi. The noodle soup of northern Thailand: egg noodles in a coconut-milk curry with chicken, topped with crispy fried noodles. It’s Chiang Mai’s dish, a legacy of Burmese and Chinese traders.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.