Major city · Thailand
Chiang Maiเชียงใหม่
Choose Chiang Mai for temples, food and mountain day trips in northern Thailand: three to four nights, about 1 h 15 min by air from Bangkok, best outside the burning season.
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, with a strong cafe and market scene. The air is poor from about February to April because of crop burning, so time your trip for the cool, dry months or the green season.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- THB
- Best months
- Nov–Jan (cooler and dry)
- avoid Feb–Apr (crop-burning smoke and poor air quality)
- Airport
- CNX
- Nights
- 3–4
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- 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.
What is in this basic guide8 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Chiang Mai191 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Chiang Mai, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿).Thailand-wide
- SIM or eSIMAIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.Thailand-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Thailand-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 (≈ US$1–4) or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.Thailand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B/C/O. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Thailand-wide
- SafetyGenerally safe for visitors.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops.Thailand-wide
- Emergency numbers191 police · 1669 ambulance · 199 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany Bangkok street-food vendors stay off the main roads on Mondays (street-cleaning day in several districts)…Thailand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCNX Chiang Mai International (About 4 km (2.5 mi) from the old city; taxi or ride-hailing about 150–250 baht (≈ US$5–8) and 15–20 min (2026 estimate).).CNX Chiang Mai International (About 2.5 mi (4 km) from the old city; taxi or ride-hailing about 150–250 baht (≈ US$5–8) and 15–20 min (2026 estimate).).
- Getting aroundRed shared pickup trucks (songthaews), ride-hailing apps and tuk-tuks cover the city…
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CNX Chiang Mai International (About 4 km (2.5 mi) from the old city; taxi or ride-hailing about 150–250 baht and 15–20 min (2026 estimate).)CNX Chiang Mai International (About 2.5 mi (4 km) from the old city; taxi or ride-hailing about 150–250 baht and 15–20 min (2026 estimate).)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Mar
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Apr
Avoid
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
May
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Jun
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Nov
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Dec
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Best: Nov–Jan. Avoid: Feb–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)), coolest Jan (15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C) low), wettest Aug (22 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Chiang Mai: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
2 rd
Feb
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
2 rd
Mar
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
4 rd
Apr
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
8 rd
May
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
18 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
20 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
22 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
19 rd
Oct
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13 rd
Nov
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
6 rd
Dec
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Red shared pickup trucks (songthaews), ride-hailing apps and tuk-tuks cover the city; a shared songthaew ride is about 30–40 baht and a chartered ride 100–200 baht (2026 estimate). Rental scooters are cheap but risky. Hire a driver or join a tour for the mountains; a full-day driver is about 2,000–3,000 baht.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Doi Inthanon National Park
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Hired driver or tour van, about 1.5–2 h
Thailand's highest peak, waterfalls and hill-tribe villages; start early, cool at the top.
Doi Suthep
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Songthaew or ride-hailing, about 30–40 min
Mountain temple with city views; go early or late to avoid crowds.
Chiang Dao
goDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h
Hired car or bus, about 1.5 h
Caves and a mountain view; quieter than Doi Suthep.
Pai
overnightDoor to door: 3–4 h
Minivan, about 3 h on a winding road
About 760 bends; a long day trip and many people feel car sick, so stay a night.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Old City
Walkable to temples, cafes and the Sunday market; noisy on weekends.
Nimman
Cafes and restaurants north-west of the old city; easy for ride-hailing but not walkable to the temples.
Riverside (Ping River)
Quieter, with older shophouses, restaurants and Wat Ket; 10 min by taxi from the old city.
Near Chang Phueak Gate
Good for buses north and the Saturday and Sunday markets; less to see at night.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- THB 800–1,400 (≈ US$25–45) excl. bed
- Mid
- THB 1,400–3,000 (≈ US$45–95) excl. bed
- High
- THB 3,000 (≈ US$95)+ excl. bed
Watch out
Safety
- Smoke season (about Feb to Apr) can make air quality poor: check the air-quality index before booking.
- Choose animal-tourism operators carefully: ask about welfare policies and avoid riding and shows.
- Dress modestly and remove shoes at temples.
- Scooter accidents are common; check that your insurance covers riding and that you hold a valid license.
- Tuk-tuk and songthaew drivers may quote high prices; agree the fare or use ride-hailing.
- Drug and vaping rules are strict and change; check current rules and do not carry vapes.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Ambulance
- 1669
- Fire
- 199
- Tourist Police (English)
- 1155
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
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.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Jan (cooler and dry) · avoid Feb–Apr (crop-burning smoke and poor air quality) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for CNX with last songthaew and taxi fallback.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Old City, Nimman, Riverside and Chang Phueak.
- Place and eat pages with verified closing days (temples, markets, sanctuaries).
- Smoke-season warning tied to AQI checks.
Sources
- officialTourism Authority of Thailand
- secondaryWikivoyage — Chiang Mai