Major city
Chiang Maiเชียงใหม่
Choose Chiang Mai for temples, food and mountain day trips in northern Thailand: three to four nights, best outside the burning season.
Rules in force · 4
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand, founded in 1296 as the capital of the Lanna kingdom. A moated old city holds dozens of temples, and the surrounding hills support trekking, waterfalls and mountain temples. It is cooler and slower than Bangkok.
At a glance
- Known for
- Old City temples · Doi Suthep · Night bazaars · Khao soi · Elephant sanctuaries and trekking
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (cooler and dry)
- Avoid
- Feb–Apr (crop-burning smoke and poor air quality)
- Nights
- 3–4
- Airports
- CNX Chiang Mai International (Close to the old city; taxi or ride-hailing)
Where to sleep
Old City
Walkable to temples, cafes and the Sunday market.
Nimman
Cafes and restaurants, north-west of the old city.
Getting around
Red shared pickup trucks (songthaews), ride-hailing apps and tuk-tuks cover the city. Hire a driver or join a tour for the mountains.
Watch out
- Smoke season can make air quality poor: check the air-quality index before booking.
- Choose animal-tourism operators carefully: ask about welfare policies.
- Dress modestly and remove shoes at temples.
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Chiang Mai. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
Sources
Sources
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (official)
- Wikivoyage — Chiang Mai (secondary)