Chiang Mai
Lanna temples, misty mountains, ethical elephants and Northern Thai soul food.
A sample 3-day Chiang Mai route
Old City temples, the Doi Suthep mountain day, then west-side forest temples and the café-and-design world of Nimman.
- Day 1Old City Lanna templesOld City
- Day 2Doi Suthep, palace gardens & the Night BazaarDay trip · Night Bazaar
- Day 3Forest temples, artist village & NimmanSuthep · Nimman
This is one of several routes in the guide — change the length, budget and dates yourself in the workspace.
Where to eat in Chiang Mai
MICHELIN & Bib picks show the year awarded — selections are revised yearly, so confirm current status before you go. Every name links to a Google Maps search.
- Khao soi Bib Gourmand
Khao soi — golden coconut-curry noodle soup with crispy noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots and lime (chicken or beef)
- Tong Tem Toh (Northern Thai) Bib Gourmand
Northern set — nam prik ong/num, sai ua, gaeng hang lay, crispy pork
- Cherng Doi Roast Chicken Bib Gourmand
Charcoal-grilled free-range chicken with northern dips
Sai ua (herby grilled sausage)
Fermented rice noodles in a tomato-and-pork-rib broth with kapok flowers and blood cubes
Tender braised pork leg over rice with pickles and egg (the famous 'Cowboy Hat Lady' at Chang Phueak)
When to go to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai's seasons matter a lot — especially the March–April burning-season haze. Treat this as general guidance and check the weather and air-quality (AQI) close to your dates.
Cool & dry (best) Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Warm days (24–30°C) and cool, comfortable nights (can dip to ~13°C) — the prime window.
Ideal for everything — temples, mountains, walking streets. Pack a light jacket for the mountains and early mornings.
Look out for: Yi Peng / Loy Krathong lantern festival (Nov), Clear Doi Suthep & Doi Inthanon views
Hot & smoky (burning season) Mar, Apr
Very hot (35–40°C) and often hazy from agricultural burning; air quality can be unhealthy.
Check the AQI daily; favour indoor sights (museums, cafés, malls) and skip strenuous hikes on bad-air days. Higher mountains are sometimes clearer.
Look out for: Songkran (Thai New Year water festival, mid-April)
Green (wet) season May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Warm and humid (24–33°C) with lush landscapes; rain mostly in short afternoon bursts.
Front-load outdoor sights in the morning; keep an indoor backup (museums, cafés, a cooking class) for the afternoon rain.
Look out for: Waterfalls at full flow, Cleared, washed-out air after the burning season
What Chiang Mai costs
Per person, per day, excluding flights. A rough guide only — your costs depend on season, area and pace.
Budget
- Accommodation: Hostel or Old City guesthouse (฿250–700).
- Meals: Market and street food — khao soi, sai ua, khanom jeen, the walking streets (฿40–100/meal).
- Transport: Walk the Old City; red songthaews and shared sanctuary tours.
- Attractions: Temples (small donations), free city walls, the sticky waterfall, walking streets.
- Evening: The walking streets, the Night Bazaar food courts, a Tha Phae stroll.
Mid-range
- Accommodation: Boutique or Lanna-style pool hotel (฿1,000–2,800).
- Meals: Bib Gourmand northern food and Nimman cafés — Tong Tem Toh, Cherng Doi, khao soi (฿100–350/meal).
- Transport: Grab around town; a private car or small-group tour for the mountains and elephants.
- Attractions: Add an ethical elephant sanctuary, Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, a cooking class.
- Evening: A khantoke dinner or a Nimman bar; the walking streets.
Comfortable
- Accommodation: Luxury resort or design hotel with a spa (฿3,500–12,000).
- Meals: A modern-Lanna tasting menu or a premium khantoke as a special night, plus great cafés (฿500–2,000+/head).
- Transport: Private car and driver for every day trip; resort spa time.
- Attractions: Add a private Doi Inthanon tour, a full-day sanctuary, a Lanna spa.
- Evening: A fine-dining dinner, then a rooftop or riverside bar.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
Stay inside the Old City moat to walk to the temples and walking streets, or in Nimman for cafés, design and nightlife. Tha Phae/Night Bazaar suits markets and transport, while the Ping Riverside is the quieter boutique choice.
Old City (within the moat)
Temples and walking streets on foot; first-timers
Nimmanhaemin (Nimman)
Cafés, design shops and nightlife
Tha Phae / Night Bazaar
Markets, riverside dining and transport
Ping Riverside
Quieter boutique stays and breezy restaurants
By budget
- Budget — S$9–26 · Hostels, Guesthouses, Budget hotels
- Mid-range — S$37–104 · Boutique hotels, Lanna-style pool hotels
- Comfortable — S$130–445 · Luxury resorts and design hotels with pools and spas
- Chiang Mai is excellent value — a stylish pool hotel costs a fraction of a beach resort elsewhere.
- Old City puts the temples and Sunday Walking Street on your doorstep; Nimman is better for cafés and bars.
- If you visit in burning season (Mar–Apr), pick a hotel with good air filtration.
Rates and availability change constantly — confirm with the hotel or a booking site before paying.
Common Chiang Mai mistakes to avoid
- Visiting in March–April burning season without checking the air quality (haze can be severe).
- Riding elephants or picking unethical 'shows' — choose welfare-focused sanctuaries.
- Wearing shorts/singlets into temples — bring a cover-up.
- Trying to drive up to Doi Inthanon and back plus sights in half a day — it's a full day.
- Missing the Sunday Walking Street (the city's best night market) if your dates include a Sunday.
Good to know
Where to stay
Old City (within the moat), Nimmanhaemin (Nimman), Tha Phae / Night Bazaar (Chang Klan), Riverside (Ping River).
How long to go
3–5 days suits most visitors. Shorter and longer routes are built in, so you are never padding a trip to fill days.
Chiang Mai travel guides
In-depth, free reads with real routes, Maps links, budgets and the mistakes to skip:
- Chiang Mai in 3 Days: Temples, Markets & Mountains
The old-city temples and the moat, Doi Suthep above the city, the night markets and Nimman cafés, and an ethical elephant or mountain day — a practical three-day Chiang Mai plan with Maps links, budgets and where to stay.
Plan a nearby trip
Easy to pair with Chiang Mai on the same trip — tap through to a full guide.
Plan Chiang Mai your way
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