A Snapshot of How to Spend Time in Chiang Mai
Last Updated: April 28, 2024
Must-Do Experiences in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a lovely, thriving city in the mountains of Thailand and a cultural hub. The atmosphere in Chiang Mai feels completely different from the electric hum of Bangkok and the party beach scene of Phuket. In Chiang Mai, you can experience lots of historical architecture, eat delicious food, explore the local coffee scene, and enjoy the surrounding natural beauty of the Thai highlands. But when visiting a new city, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here, we break down the best things to do in Chiang Mai, with a few recommendations off the beaten path.
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A Snapshot of How to Spend Time in Chiang Mai: Table of Contents
Where to stay in Chiang Mai?
We recommend finding lodging in the historical center of Chiang Mai, called Old City, because it’s a walkers paradise. In Chiang Mai’s Old City, you’ll be able to walk to many different temples within 10-15 minutes. Specifically, we stayed at the Aksara Heritage Hotel, which was perfect for finding nearby restaurants and transportation. Aksara was a charming boutique hotel with good service and delicious daily breakfast, so we recommend it, but you’ll find plenty of great hotel options in Old City.
How to Spend Your Time in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Temple Run - Visit Chiang Mai’s Amazing Temples
Chiang Mai is home to hundreds of temples, and most of them will certainly wow you. What temples should you see in Chiang Mai? If you could choose only 1 temple to visit in Chiang Mai, I’d recommend Wat Lok Molee, sometimes spelled Wat Lok Moli. Admittedly, we came across Wat Lok Molee by surprise and are so glad we did—this temple has a striking, unique style of intricate designs from the Lanna era. If you love elephants and are intrigued by dragons and very old architecture, Wat Lok Molee will likely impress you as well.
The most popular temples to visit in Chiang Mai’s Old City are Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chiang Man, and Wat Rajamontean. One thing to remember about visiting temples in Chiang Mai is that many temples are built in the same vicinity, meaning you’ll see 5-10 temples all within a few minutes walk. You might even get “templed out” after visiting the top temples on your list.
When visiting temples in Chiang Mai, remember to wear easy shoes, as you’ll have to remove them before entering all the temples.
Eat Local Cuisine at Chiang Mai’s Markets
You’ll quickly realize that Chiang Mai has a thriving market scene, with lots of bustling markets with food stalls and artisans.
Which markets in Chiang Mai should you go to? When you’re hungry for delicious local cuisine, the Chang Phueak Gate Night Market will have you covered for all the top regional dishes. One big plus of the Chang Phueak Gate market is that it feels slightly less touristy than some of the other markets
What food should you try at the night market in Chiang Mai? Our biggest recommendation is to find the dish called Khao Kha Moo, served by the woman in the cowboy hat! Khao Kha Moo is a pork dish served with rice and an egg, which sounds simple. But it’s actually one of the best meals we ate in Thailand.
So once you get to the Chang Phueak Gate Night Market, find a woman in a cowboy hat, and yes, she’s always in a cowboy hat. She’ll be there at her stall, ready to serve you one of Chiang Mai’s best dishes. Plus the service is super quick. Apparently the “Cowboy Hat Lady” became famous after Anthony Bourdain visited her. All to say, worth a try!
Other foods to try at the Chang Phueak Gate Night Market are mango sticky rice, durian, crepes, and coconut ice cream!
Try Khao Soi in Chiang Mai
While in Chiang Mai, you have to try the traditional northern dish Khao Soi. This dish is less well known to many foreigners who are mostly familiar with Thailand’s noodle (pad thai) and curry dishes. But Khao Soi is a unique curry noodle soup, with usually a coconut milk base, chicken, fried rice noodles, and lots of flavor. This dish is said to be influenced by the cuisine of Myanmar, Thailand’s northern neighbor
You can find Khao Soi at lots of local markets and restaurants, and it’s definitely worth trying at least once while you’re in Chiang Mai.
Unique Massage Experience at Lila Thai
Of course, you can get a massage just about anywhere in Chiang Mai. The history of massages in Thailand dates back thousands of years, and there are massage parlors everywhere in Thailand (as often as you’d see a Starbucks in the U.S.). So should you get a massage in Thailand? Absolutely. It’s one sure way to experience Thai culture and some relaxation while traveling.
If you’re having a hard time deciding on a place to get a massage, I’d recommend Lila Thai. For one, they employ and support the lives of newly released inmates. The inmates go through extensive training and etiquette. The atmosphere at Lila Thai is very professional and relaxing. They were so good that we ended up visiting 3 times while in Chiang Mai. I’d 100% recommend them due to their professionalism and excellent customer service (including complimentary tea and rice cookies!).
Explore Chiang Mai on a Bike
Biking around Chiang Mai is the perfect way to take in the sites. You can opt to rent your own bike on your own, or book a bike tour. And if you do a bike tour, you get the perspective from a local who’s knowledgeable about both the roads and architecture alike. Learn a little bit of history while enjoying the sunshine.
A bike tour is another opportunity to see monuments such as the Three Kings Monument and the Tha Pha Gate, and to avoid the car traffic at temples such as the Wat Chedi Luang. Plus, the guides are always happy to take a photo of you and your group.
Lastly, on your bike tour, you stop at the Ming Muang Market (another non-touristy market), where you can get a pick-me-up smoothie (included in the bike tour) or buy local Thai snacks.
Cook Traditional Thai Food from Scratch
If you’re thinking of doing a cooking class in Chiang Mai, you might think “I don’t even like cooking at home, why would I cook abroad?” Let me tell you! Cooking in Chiang Mai is a beautiful experience.
First, you’ll start at a market such as the San Pa Khoi Market, and learn about produce that is unique to the region. This is where some of the ingredients for the cooking class are purchased. (As always, you’ll get to sample some of the local Thai desserts.)
After perusing the market, they take you to the cooking school to explore their home produce garden to gather ingredients that you’ll use. You then get to select which three courses you want to make, choosing from popular dishes such as Pad Thai, Massaman Curry, and Khao Soy.
Once your ingredients are ready, you receive step-by-step instruction to make your chosen dishes! Plus, unlike cooking at home, the clean-up process is not part of the cooking experience. The cooking school takes care all of that for you.
You’ll end your experience with 3 Thai dishes cooked from scratch by you, complete with Thai Tea and Sticky Mango Rice! Many cooking schools even give you a little cookbook to take home with you to try to replicate these dishes at home.
Explore the Mountainside Near Chiang Mai
Just 1.5 hours away from Chiang Mai is the mountainous Doi Inthanon National Park. Doi Inthanon has picture perfect waterfalls, nature trails, and the highest peak in all of Thailand. In terms of architecture, visiting Doi Inthanon is also a great way to also see the classic royal Pagodas and gardens situated on the hills.
To get the best bang for your buck, we recommend buying an experience that covers your round trip transportation as well as your entry ticket. Plus, you won’t have to worry about parking, will always know where the nearest restroom is, and can have someone to take your photos!
Next-Level Latte Art
In Chiang Mai, you can access some of the coolest latte art anywhere. Chiang Mai is known for its coffee culture scene, but what many people don’t know is you can even get your own face printed into your coffee!
Where can you get this photo latte art in Chiang Mai? Visit Charin Pies, a homemade pie store and cafe, where you can not only taste some delicious pies but also get any photo of your choice printed into your latte!
How do you get your own photo in your latte art? Come ready with a photo on your phone, which you’ll Airdrop to the barista. In under 10 minutes, your Thai Tea or Latte will be ready.