Chiang Mai is Thailand's northern capital: a walled Old City of 700-year-old temples, a mountain temple that watches over town, cool-season markets, the best khao soi in the country and, within two hours' drive, waterfalls, hill villages and the highest peak in Thailand. Three days covers the classics. A week lets you slow down.
Why visit Chiang Mai
Bangkok is for energy and Phuket is for beaches. Chiang Mai is for temples at dawn, mountain air, food that costs less than a coffee at home and a pace that lets you stay a while. It is also the easiest base in the north: an international airport 15 minutes from most hotels, Grab taxis everywhere and English spoken in anything tourist-facing.
How many days do you need
- 1 day: Old City temples in the morning, Doi Suthep in the afternoon, a night market after dark.
- 3 days: the above plus a day in the hills and an evening on the quiet Mae Hia side of town, with the Night Safari and Royal Park Rajapruek. See the 3-day itinerary.
- 5 to 7 days: add Doi Inthanon, a cooking class, an ethical elephant sanctuary and a cafe morning in the rice fields.
When to go
November to February is cool and dry, with Yi Peng and Loy Krathong in November and the Flower Festival in February. March and April bring smoke from field burning; if you must come then, plan mornings and leave the hiking for another trip. June to October is green, wet in the afternoons and the cheapest time to stay. The best time to visit page goes month by month.
Where to stay
The Old City puts you inside the temples and walking streets. Nimman is cafes, malls and nightlife. Riverside is calm and leafy. Mae Hia, in the south-west by the airport, is where families and slow travellers stay: hilltop temple, royal gardens, a night safari and rice-field cafes, 15 minutes from the terminal. Compare them on the areas page.
Getting around
Songthaews (red shared trucks) run fixed routes for 30 THB a ride. Grab works everywhere and is the easiest way to reach Mae Hia or the mountain. Scooters are cheap to rent but only sensible if you already ride at home. Read plan before you land.
