Welcome from Chiang Mai! The city located in Northen Thailand, and the second largest city in the country after Bangkok.

So don’t let its small-town charm fool you, the city is really big!

The old town of Chiang Mai is an enchanting place that still has this authentic Thai vibe. That’s probably why it’s so beloved by expats from all over the world.

And just behind the walls of the old town, hides a completely different side of the city. One that many visitors definitely did not expect. Especially after seeing all the charming pictures of Chiang Mai.

Famous for having the most beautiful temples in all of Thailand, Chiang Mai has more than 300 temples and many of them are located in the old part of the city. Therefore it would be hard to visit them all.

Thats why, in this article you will learn about the most beautiful ones, as well as all the other things Chiang Mai has to offer like cute cafes, cool shops and amazing night market.

Chiang Mai has completely stolen our hearts. We felt at home here, which is why we mentioned many times during our stay in Chiang Mai how much we would love to live here.

In addition to the charming local vibe in the old city, the city also has amazing restaurants, hip bars, and a shopping center, practically right outside the old city walls.

Could we imagine ourselves staying longer in this place? Definitely yes!

#1 Wat Phra Singh

Located at the end of Rachadamnoen Road, in the heart of the old town, Wat Phra Singh is one of the most visited and beautiful temples in Chiang Mai.

The temple complex includes several larger and smaller buildings, as well as a huge golden chedi located just behind the main temple.

Wat Phra Singh means “Lion Buddha Temple” and the temple is one of the finest examples of the Lanna architecture.

The most beautiful hour to visit the temple is definitely golden hour. Then all the colors take on even more beautiful hues, the golden chedi shines beautifully, and the surrounding flowers look even more beautiful.

Entrance to the grounds as well as to the temples is completely free. On site cute grandmothers sell garlands of flowers, which can be offered in the temples.

#2 Wat Chedi Luang

The 80-meter ancient pagoda Wat Chedi Luang, built in 1391, was once the tallest building in old Lanna Kingdom and home to the Emerald Buddha (which is now located at Wat Phra Kaew).

Unfortunately, after the earthquake, the pagoda was destroyed, the top part of the chedi collapsed and was never rebuilt. The main pagoda is the most important building in this place and you have to admit that it is impressive.

The entire building is made of red brick, and a high stairs leads to the center where the Emerald Buddha used to be. The stairs unfortunately are no longer in use. The entrance to them is guarded by five-headed naga (large mythological snake).

Also noteworthy are the other buildings in the complex, especially the beautiful, charming ubosot (place where monks are ordained) surrounded by flowers right behind the main pagoda.

Drenched in the colors of the setting sun it looks amazing, and the greenery surrounding the building adds to its incredible charm.

Right at the entrance to the complex there is a small temple, to which only men have access. Next to it grows a tall tree decorated with colorful ribbons. Legend has it that as long as this tree stands, the residents of Chiang Mai could sleep peacefully, as they are not threatened by anything.

Entrance to the temple complex is paid for tourists and the cost is $1.45 (THB 50).

#3 Wat Chiang Mun

Wat Chiang Mun is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai and was built in 1296. Like most temple complex in Thailand, Wat Chiang Mun got several buildings: two viharn, a chedi and an ubosot where ceremonies such as the ordination of monks take place.

The chedi, located behind the main viharn, is the oldest building at the site. The building is square, with numerous statues of half elephants all around, and a golden top part.

The site is located a bit further away from the most popular temples in Chiang Mai, so it is not as often visited by tourists. Most of the time you can enjoy the peace and quiet in this place.

Entrance to the area is completely free, but donations are gladly accepted.

#4 Wat Lok Moli

Wat Lok Moli is located just outside the walls of the old city and the main and most important building in this complex is the huge 16th century chedi, which despite many years is still preserved in great condition.

The chedi is made of bricks and on each of the four sides of the upper part there is a niche, with a statue of the Buddha. In front of the chedi there is a small patio, surrounded by a fence, and beautifully decorated with colorful prayer ribbons.

By entering the complex, the first building you will see is a wooden viharan, which is beautifully decorated with wooden panels painted in white, and which is guarded by white naga.

This building was built, in 2003, so despite its appearance and the material from which it was built, it is quite new.

Entrance to this temple complex is completely free, but remember to dress appropriately.

#5 Wat Phan Tao

Built in the late 14th century, the wooden temple is one of the few structures in Chiang Mai that were built from teak wood. The structure also ranks among some of the oldest temples in the city.

Although the complex is not one of the largest, its close proximity to Wat Chedi Luang makes it popular with tourists.

Before you enter the viharan, pay attention to the beautiful gilded pelmet over the entrance. The interior of the temple is quite dark, also made of wood, and a golden Buddha statue sits in the center.

Behind the main building is a large gold chedi, which shimmers beautifully in the sun.

#6 Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)

This amazing temple is quite unlike anything you’ve seen in Chiang Mai so far, or perhaps in all of Asia. The building, both outside and inside, is completely covered with silver and aluminum sheets, making it shine magnificently in the sun.

Not only the material with which the temple is covered is intriguing, but also what the various scenes carved in the sheet represent. Some depict traditional scenes from life, but there are also some carvings that depict Marvel characters. Yes, you read that right, the back of the temple shows the Hulk, Captain America or the Warrior Ninja Turtles.

These beautiful carvings are work performed by the silver craftsman in the surrounding Wua Lai community.

Although the temple is small, it definitely deserves to reserve a considerable amount of time to observe the incredibly detialed work.

Entrance to the temple is free, but only men can enter the main building.

#7 Old City Walls and Gates

The old city of Chiang Mai was surrounded by walls, and although now only a few remnants of them remain in some places, they protected the city of Chiang Mai from invaders in the past.

The city walls have as many as four gates, and the walls around the Chang Phuak Gate have been rebuilt so you can see how high city walls were.

Chang Phuak Gate was the main gate to the city of Chiang Mai, and is now the main gate to the Old City. Chiang means elephant and Phuak means white, which is why the entrance is often also called the White Elephant Gate.

Also the weekly Sunday Night Market begins at this gate.

#8 Sunday Night Market

Once a week, Ratchadamnoen Road closes to traffic and opens to numerous vendors selling handicraft and amazing street food.

The Night Market is a hugely popular entertainment activity, so if you can, plan your stay in Chiang Mai around Sunday, so that you don’t miss this fantastic event.

Although the main street is full of vendors, the smaller streets around it, as well as the grounds of the surrounding temples, are open to handicraft sellers, as well as street food stalls full of amazing food.

#9 Old Town and cafes

The old town in Chiang Mai is an incredibly charming place and you can still feel the local vibe here. The city is full of charming cafes, relaxing massage studios or stores with crafts and souvenirs.

Be sure to take a stroll through the streets of the old city and drop in for breakfast at one of the restaurants. Breakfasts in Chiang Mai are amazing, and during your stay you can eat at a different place every day, and you’re sure to leave each one with full belly.

#10 Nimman Road

If you yearn for a more trendy and cool vibe, Nimman Road is for you.

Filled with hipster bars, amazing restaurants and craft stores, it will satisfy anyone looking for a trendy neighborhood.

The neighborhood got its name from the street it’s located on, Nimmanhaemin Road, which is located right outside the gates to the old city in Chiang Mai.

Nimman Road is also called “Coffee Street” because you will experience cafes serving amazing, local coffee here.

#11 One Nimman

If you are still not tired of shopping for crafts and beautiful souvenirs for your loved ones, One Nimman got you covered. Both in and around the building you will meet local vendors with crafts, and the building itself is full of interesting stores with beautiful items.

#12 Maya Shopping Mall

After a few days of exploring the charming old city in Chiang Mai, you will probably be surprised to learn that the city of Chiang Mai also has a shopping center selling not only local products, but also international ones.

On the top floors of the mall you will find a number of restaurants, as well as a cinema which shows movies in English. So if you will miss your movie night, you know where to go.

#13 Ran-Tong Elephant Sanctuary

The days when tourists rode elephants are slowly passing, as many of those traveling to Thailand are beginning to understand that treating wildlife this way is unethical and should never happen anywhere.

If you are interested in learning about nature and interacting with these huge, beautiful animals, choose one of the responsible elephant sanctuaries where the animals are treated with respect. The upkeep of elephants is not the cheapest, so trips to such places are not the most affordable, but it is definitely a better option than a ride on an elephant.

At Ran-Tong Elephant Sanctuary you will get to know these beautiful animals, feed them, prepare a vitamin bomb for them, and at the end, if they feel like it (not all elephants like to interact with humans or other elephants) you will have the opportunity to bathe with the elephants.

To get to the charming city of Chiang Mai you have several options to choose from, it all depends on where you are traveling from and the size of your wallet.

Air travel

Chiang Mai has an international airport, so the easiest and probably the fastest way to get to Chiang Mai is by plane. In most cases, if you’re traveling from outside Thailand or even in the country, you’ll need to expect to change planes in Bangkok. Find your airline connection to Chiang Mai.

Bus ride

You can travel to Chiang Mai from Bangkok or other citys around also by overnight bus. It takes more time, of course (about 12h), but it is definitely a more economical option. Find your bus connection to Chiang Mai. 

Train ride

The last option to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is the night train, which is also a cheaper option, but takes about 12h. Find your train connection to Chiang Mai. 

The old town of Chiang Mai is not large, however, you have several options to choose from as you move around the place.

On your feet

Since the old town is not one of the largest, you will get everywhere on your feet. This is the most budget-friendly option of the possible, and thanks to this you will also discover small, charming streets and shops.

Songthaew

However, if you prefer rides to walking, you’ll find red local Songthaew on practically every street corner, which will get you everywhere. The price for a ride in anyplace around in the old town is about $0.90 (THB 30) if you are taking the shared one.

Scooter

In Chiang Mai  you can also easily rent a scooter, but remember that in many places you have to leave your passport as a deposit. So carefully read the reviews on google before deciding on a company to rent one.

Bicycle

Not feeling confident on a scooter, but want to get somewhere faster than on your feet? Local bike rental companies can help you.

Bolt & Grab

If you want to get to places like Nimman Road the cheapest option (right after renting a scooter) is to book a ride with Bolt or Grab.

Chiang Mai is a very popular destination among travelers from all over the world. Therefore, the accommodation facilities in Chiang Mai are incredibly rich and there is something for everyone.

If you want easy access on foot to the temples, numerous restaurants, cafes, quaint souvenir stores, the city gates and the Sunday night market, choose one of the hotels or hostels in Old Town.

The easiest way to find an ideal place in Old Town is to look at the map on booking.com , for example. Everything in the square, in the middle of Chiang Mai are places in the old town.

If you are looking for an beautiful, clean, inexpensive local hotel with friendly staff book your stay at Anumat Premium Budget Hotel.

Your Space Hotel Prasingh  is also a good option, the price is very nice, you can choose a dorm room or a private room, and a tasty breakfast is included in the price.

If you prefer to be in a cool neighborhood, choose one of the options in the Nimman neighborhood. Thanks to this location you will be close to the shopping center, charming restaurants and pubs, as well as One Nimman.

• Gravity | Tasty avocado toast and egg wrap
• Zong Cafe | Great french toasts and shakes
• Sun Rays | Amazing french toasts
• Bloomin Moon | Delicious shakes and sandwiches
• Hours Story | Yummy waffles
• Hanna | Affordable breakfast
• Minihana | Delicious waffles
• Kebab, Falafel, Salad | Great Thai food and falafel
• Manifreshto | Yummy vegetarian burgers and salads
• Goodsouls | Amazing vegan food

The best time to visit Chiang Mai is between October and March, just after the rainy season. Temperatures are cooler then, and flowers are blooming all over the city.

Chiang Mai is a great destination and those who have visited the place find it hard to leave, so book at least a few days, optimally 3-4 days. But the truth is that the more time you are able to allocate to Chiang Mai the better.

For your Thailand visit you will need a visa on arrival, and it’s free. It allows you to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days. Check the current Thailand visa requirements well in advance.

During our stay in Thailand we used an AIS Sim card . Super fast and reliable internet, good coverage and great service. We can highly recommend it! Just don’t buy the SIM card at the airport, as it is a lot cheaper in the city.

The prices are per person, except for the accommodation, which we rent for 2 people.

Accommodation: $16 – $20 / night

Restaurant: $3 – $7 / meal

Snack: $0.50 – $2 / meal

Pleasure: $1.50 – $4 / event

Taxi: $2 / ride

Activity: $1.20 – $1.80 / event