Tickets
Hotels
Tours
Insurance
Trains
ThailandWe tell in this article everything we know and what interesting things we visited in Chiang Mai. From the article you will find out what sights there are in the city and its immediate surroundings, what is worth visiting first of all, which temples are the most interesting. We told you about each attraction in detail, indicating the opening hours, the cost of visiting, and how to get there on your own. Well, if something remains unclear or you just want to talk about the topic of holidays in Thailand, we invite you to our 💬 Thailand travel chat.
Sightseeing overview of Chiang Mai and what to visit
Attractions are exactly what tourists and travelers go to Chiang Mai for. After all, there are no beaches here, and there is not so much riot of nightlife and entertainment, but there are plenty of interesting sights. The main ones among them, of course, are the temples, of which there are more than 300. There are also interesting museums, a zoo, an aquarium. And in the immediate vicinity of the city there are many man-made attractions, including parks, waterfalls, mountains.
There is not much entertainment in Chiang Mai, but be sure to visit one of the night markets where you can buy unique souvenirs and taste national cuisine. In addition, you can watch various entertainment performances here: traditional dances, boxing matches, transvestite shows. Cooking schools for tourists are also very popular in Chiang Mai, where they will teach you culinary art in the cuisine of Thailand. And it is worth saying - these courses are worthy of the highest praise. And, of course, Thai massage and spa treatments are offered.
In addition to the city attractions, interesting places in the province are of great interest. First of all, these are exotic tribes living on the slopes of the mountains and preserving their traditional way of life for many centuries. The most numerous of them are: Karen, Meo, Akhi, Lahu, Lava, Lisu and Yao. These peoples live in their villages quite closed, but they are always very hospitable and welcome guests.
In addition to the tribes, outside the city, you can visit numerous waterfalls, caves, mountains, gorges and parks. From the city of Changmai, for this purpose, many options for excursions around the city and the lands of Chiang Mai province are organized. Among the options for such excursions you can choose rafting on local rivers, trekking trips, elephant rides and mixed excursions. One of the most interesting, but also difficult excursions is climbing the highest point of Thailand – the mountain Doi Inthanon (2565 m).
Of particular note are multi-day excursions to the Golden Triangle and the province Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son province and the ancient city of Sukhothai. All these places are also located in the north of Thailand, but in other provinces far enough from Chiang Mai and are usually visited as independent destinations for several days. But, if you do not have the time and opportunity to visit them yourself, excursions of various durations are organized from Chiang Mai, so you can get to know them saving time.
There are excursions from Chiang Mai to even more remote places. From here you can go to Myanmar (Burma), Laos or southern China.
How to visit the sights in Chiang Mai
If we talk about interesting places in the city of Chiang Mai itself, then there are no difficulties in getting to know them on your own. Most of the temples, museums and historical sites are located in the old town within the fortress walls or near them, everything here can be bypassed on foot. In extreme cases, if you don't really like walking under the scorching sun, you can take short taxi rides (ordering via Grab and Maxim apps works) or tuk-tuks, or rent a bike. In our opinion, there is no way to rent a motorcycle or a car to move around the center, you will only waste time looking for parking.
If you want to explore Chiang Mai province in detail, see tribal villages and visit natural attractions and low-tourist places, then an individual guided tour for several days will be the best choice. A little more complicated, but cheaper, it will cost to rent a transport and travel around the province on your own. Renting a car or motorcycle for a few days in Chiang Mai will not be difficult.
As for the offers of Chiang Mai travel agencies to visit tribal villages and sights of the province in one day as part of organized group excursions, we can honestly say that this is not for serious travelers. Of course, if you don't have much time and you are ready to settle for a "surrogate", then you may well purchase such excursions, but with a high degree of probability you will be taken to nearby villages that look more like a tourist attraction and a market than a real village. For more information about the sights of Chiang Mai province, read here....
Chiang Mai Sightseeing Map
The best sights of Chiang Mai
And now we present to your attention a list and description of the best attractions of Chiang Mai, which are worth visiting in the first place. For each attraction, we have indicated how to get to it on your own, how much it costs to visit and opening hours.
The list is long, but honestly, let's say that it's not necessary to visit everything, because after the tenth temple visited, they will start you from them... Well, in general, you probably won't want to look at them anymore. So you can select the most interesting ones for yourself, download points from our map to maps on your smartphone, and go get acquainted with this magnificent city.
We remind you once again that we have a separate page with attractions of Chiang Mai province. In the list below, we only tell you about the city's attractions and the surrounding area.
Temple of Chedi Luang (Wat Chedi Luang)
The name of the temple translates as the temple of the great stupa and this is completely true, because in 1454, when the construction of the temple was fully completed, the height of the stupa reached a height of 86 meters, becoming the tallest structure in the kingdom. A statue of the emerald Buddha was installed in a niche at the top of the stupa. During a strong earthquake in 1545, the temple was significantly damaged, and the top 30 meters of the stupa collapsed, and the statue of the emerald Buddha was taken to Laos. The stupa was completely restored only in 1992, and a copy made of black emerald was installed instead of the original statue. Currently, the stupa is still the tallest structure within the "old city". Read more about Chedi Luang Temple here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: from 05:00 to 22:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance for tourists 50 baht (1.53 USD).
🚶 How to get there: located in the city center on Prapokklao Road (temple on the map of Chiang Mai). You can get there on foot, by tuk-tuk or minibus.
Temple of Phra Sing (Wat Phra Singh)
Phra Singh Temple (full name Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan) is one of the most famous and significant temples of Chiang Mai, has the status of the royal first level. The most revered Buddha statue in Chiang Mai, dating back to 1400, is kept here. The stupas of the temple are decorated with frescoes depicting the everyday life of the inhabitants of the kingdom of Lanna, whose capital at the time of the construction of the temple was the city of Chiang Mai. The entrance to the temple is "protected" by sculptures of lions, clearly hinting at the name Sing, which means "lion". A special highlight are the wax figures of monks in the main viharna, executed so skillfully that they are even confused with the living. Read more about Phra Sing Temple here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: from 06:00 to 18:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: admission is free, donations are welcome.
🚶 How to get there: located in the center of the "Old Town" at the intersection of streets at the end of the main street Rachadamnoen road (temple on the map of Chiang Mai). It is easy to reach on foot from any place within the center.
Silver Temple (Wat Sri Suphan)
This temple got its name "Silver" from the fact that its main ubosot is made of silver. Of course, the supporting structures and other large elements of the temple are made of familiar materials, but the most important images of the ubosot are made of thin sheets of pure silver. The walls of the temple depict whole paintings telling about the kingdom of Lanna, and the temple itself is built in the style of an ancient kingdom. The temple looks and its ubosot is very beautiful. You can move freely around the temple, but women are not allowed to enter the silver building. Read more about the silver temple of Sri Suphan here...
Practical Information
🕐Working hours: from 07:00 to 18:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: admission is free.
🚶 How to get there: The temple is located on the southwest side of the old town about 200 meters from the city wall. (Silver Temple on the map of Chiang Mai). It is easy to get here on foot, leaving the old town through one of the southern gates, or you can take a tuk-tuk, minibus or taxi through applications, the cost of the trip starts from 100 baht.
Teak Temple Phantao (Wat Phantao)
One of the famous and oldest temples of Chiang Mai, which is known not so much for its history and significance as for its architecture. The fact is that his hall of initiation (viharn) is completely made of teak wood, and it is already more than 200 years old. Inside the viharna there are 108 vessels for a simple religious ritual, in which visitors to the temple, including tourists, can participate. This is a kind of "religious attraction", similar to which can be found in many temples in Thailand to collect donations. To do this, you need to take a cup with small coins here, and throw one coin into each vessel. Read more about the teak temple of Pantao here...
Practical Information
🕐Working hours: from 08:00 to 17:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, donations are welcome.
🚶 How to get there: located in the city center on Intrawarorort Street (temple on the map).
Temple of the Golden Chedi Wat Phan On (Wat Phan On)
This is one of the many small temples in the old city of Chiang Mai, built in 1501 during the reign of King Lanna Mueang Kaeo. It is distinguished by a large two-story viharn (one of the temple buildings where believers come to pray) and one of the most beautiful in the city of golden chedi. Also on the territory there are "kuti", these are the living quarters of the monks. A beautiful golden chedi or stupa is a modern building, it appeared only in 2007. Inside the viharna there is an exhibition of photographs and documents about the life of one of the most beloved by the people of Thailand, King Rama IX, who died in 216. Read more about the temple of Pan He is here ...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: from 06:00 to 18:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, donations are welcome.
🚶 How to get there: Located on Rachadamnoen main street within walking distance of the main city gate (temple on the map).
Doi Suthep Temple (Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep)
This temple is not only one of the most revered in the north of Thailand, but also one of the most famous in the whole country. It is also one of the oldest temples, built in 1383 on the territory of the kingdom of Lanna. Despite the remoteness of this attraction from the city, the temple is definitely worth a visit, since it is one of the main attractions and the visiting rink of the city and the entire province. You can visit it by buying an excursion at one of the city's travel agencies (about 1000 baht) or arrange a trip yourself, which will be much cheaper and more interesting. Read more about the Doi Suthep Temple here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: daily from 06:00 to 20:00.
Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance to the temple is 30 baht (3.06 USD, money of Thailand, exchange rate), cable car lift additional 30 baht optional.
🚶 How to get there: located about 15 kilometers from the city on the mountain of the same name (Doi Suthep Temple on the map). To get here from Chiang Mai, you can use a taxi, tuk-tuk, rented transport or take a Songthaew minibus. Minibuses costing 100 baht per person depart from the stop at the north gate of Pratu Chang Phuak (see the position of the north gate on the map).
Umong Underground Temple (Wat Umong)
This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Chiang Mai and definitely one of the most unusual temples in the entire province. Perhaps only temple of hell Wat Mae Ead in Chiang Dao. In addition, it is also one of the oldest temples in Chiang Mai, it is already more than 700 years old. It was built by the great and especially revered King Mengrai, the founder of the kingdom of Lanna. This is a whole complex of several temple buildings. There are several stupas here, including a large ancient pagoda, the underground temple itself, several more traditional temple buildings, a lake, a monument to the public figure and famous ascetic monk Buddhadasa, a pavilion-museum, a cemetery and much more. Read more about the Umong underground temple here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: daily from 06:00 to 17:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: located 5 kilometers from the center of the Old Town outside the city gate on the outskirts of the city (temple on the map). Local transport does not go here, you can only get there by rented transport or taxi. A one-way trip will cost from 120 baht (3.68 USD), for a motorcycle taxi it is almost twice cheaper.
Chiang Mai National Museum
This is the main regional museum of northern Thailand. It was established in 1973 as a center of education and a place of preservation of culture and art of northern Thailand and the kingdom of Lanna. In 1996, it underwent a global reconstruction, and now the museum's exposition is presented using modern technologies. Here you will see household items, art and culture of northern Thailand, as well as the kingdom of Lanna from ancient times to the present. If you have enough free time and you are interested in the history of these places, you can visit this museum, but to be honest, there are not very many exhibits here, there is little explanatory information, and the QR codes of the exhibits lead to descriptions in Thai.
Practical Information
🌐 Website: http://www.virtualmuseum.finearts.go.th/chiangmai
🕐 Working hours: from Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00. Monday, Tuesday are days off.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: 100 baht (3.06 USD).
🚶 How to get there: the museum is located outside the historical center of Chinagmai on the northern outskirts of the city, almost 5 kilometers from the center (museum on the map of Chiang Mai). You can only get there by taxi or rented transport.
Chiang Mai Zoo & Aquarium
Chiang Mai Zoo is one of the most popular zoos in Thailand, and residents of the country even come to Chiang Mai on vacation to visit it. The visiting card of the zoo are huge pandas from China named Lin Hui and Chuan-Chuan, as well as their cub. Interestingly, the zoo was founded by an American policeman who worked in Thailand back in 1955. The zoo has a large number of mammals, birds and reptiles. Inside the zoo there is a giant aquarium of tunnels with a total length of 133 meters. Access to the aquarium is paid extra. It contains about 8000 inhabitants of freshwater and sea depths. A special highlight of the zoo is a real snow house, which can be entered for an additional fee.
Practical Information
Website: http://www.chiangmaizoo.com
🕐Working hours: daily from 08:00 to 17:00 seven days a week. An animal and seal show is scheduled daily throughout the day:
Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance to the zoo 350 baht adult / 120 baht children (10.72 /3.68 USD). Aquarium 450 baht adult / 300 baht for children; snow house 500 baht adult / 450 baht for children. Snorkeling in the aquarium is possible for 1000 baht adult / 500 baht children. Watch animal and seal shows for free.
The seal show takes place in:
- Monday-Friday at 10.30 and 14.00
- Saturday-Sunday at 10.30, 13.30 and 15.00
The animal show takes place in:
- Monday-Friday at 11.30 and 15.00
- Saturday-Sunday at 11.30, 14.30 and 15.30.
The aquarium is open from 8:00 to 21:00.
🚶 How to get there: located on the outskirts of the city and will have to get there by taxi, tuk-tuk or rented transport (zoo on the map). At the entrance to the zoo there is a paid parking of 10 baht for a motorcycle or bicycle, 50 baht for a car.
Chiang Man Temple (Wat Chiang Man)
The oldest temple in Wat Chiang Man dates back to 1296 and was built at the founding of Chiang Mai by order of King Mengrai, the then ruler of the kingdom of Lanna. It is famous for two statues of Buddha, whose age is 1800 and 2500 years. You can also see special shrines here: a statue of Buddha carved from quartz crystal called Pra Seh-Taang Kamaneeee, which according to legend can cause rain, and a marble statue of Buddha Phra Sila Khoa brought from India. Read more about Chiang Man Temple here...
Practical Information
🕐Working hours: from 06:00 to 17:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: admission is free, donations are welcome.
🚶 How to get there: Chiang Man Temple is located within the city on Rajpakinai Road (the position of the temple on the map of Chiang Mai). You can get there on foot, by tuk-tuk or minibus.
Burmese Temple (Wat Sai Moon Burma)
This Burmese temple looks rustic and quite modest compared to its more luxurious and god-like neighbors, such as Wat Phra Singh. However, there is something interesting about it, something subtly distinctive in style even for an unaccustomed European look, because it was built in the XVI century at the moment when the city was captured and was dominated by the Burmese. Wat Sai Moon is the last refuge of the Burmese in Chiang Mai, and most recently, in July 2012, disputes and protests flared up over this temple. The fact is that Thai officials tried to appoint a Thai monk as the abbot of the monastery, and not a Burmese one, who had been abbots for at least 10 generations. Fortunately, the confrontation ended with mutual understanding and concessions.
Practical Information
🕐Working hours: from 07:00 to 18:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: admission is free.
🚶 How to get there: The temple is located in the old town at the southeast corner (Katam Korner). (Burmese temple on the map of Chiang Mai). The entrance to the temple is on the south side.
Temple of Lok Molee (Wat Lok Molee)
This is one of the oldest and most significant temples in Chiang Mai, located outside the city walls near the northern gate of Chang Phueak Gate. It is not one of the most popular and famous among tourists, but we can confidently say that it is one of the hidden gems of Chiang Mai. It stands out for its not flashy, but at the same time beautiful exterior: it is decorated with fine teak wood carvings and silver patterns. Another feature of it is a massive mortar made of unadorned brick, which distinguishes it from most other snow–white stupas. And finally, there is one more feature that is not obvious at first glance to most tourists: the temple is located along the north–south axis, while most Buddhist temples are oriented to the east. Read more about the temple of Lok Moli here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: from 06:00 to 18:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: admission is free.
🚶 How to get there: located on the north side of the old town behind the city wall (temple on the map of Chiang Mai).
Temple Inthakhin Sadue Muang (Wat Inthakhin Sadue Muang)
Not particularly well-known and little-visited by tourists temple in the heart of the old city of Chiang Mai near the square of the three Kings. Its name translates roughly as "Temple of the City Center" or "Temple of the navel of the City", because if you look at the map, it really is located almost in the geographical center of the old city of Chiang Mai, formed by the city walls. And for this reason, up to the XIX century, a city shrine or a temple pillar City Pillar Shrine was installed here, in which, according to legend, the patron spirit of the city lives. Read more about the temple of Lok Moli here...
Practical Information
🕐Working hours: during daytime.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: located in the city center on Intrawarorort Street (temple on the map).
Bupharam Sunset Temple (Wat Buppharam, also Wat Bupbharam)
The name of this temple can be translated as sunset temple or sunset temple. This is a very important temple in Chiang Mai. It was built in 1497 by King King Phra Muang Kaew on the site where the palace of his grandfather, King Thokarat, used to be located. The temple is built in a mixed style of the Lanna kingdom and the Burmese style. The local culture center of Chiang Mai is organized on the territory of the temple. Here you can even visit the library of the temple (although there are few books there, they are rather left especially for tourists). The sign at the entrance says that the largest teak Buddha statue in Thailand is also kept here. There is also a holy spring here. Read more about Bupharam Temple here...
Practical Information
🕐Working hours: from 08:00 to 17:00.
Entrance fee / ticket price: for foreign tourists 30 baht (0.92 USD).
🚶 How to get there: located outside the old town about 200 meters from the east gate of Tha Pae Gate (temple on the map). The entrance is located on the south side of Tha Phae road.
Temple of Chang Taem (Wat Chang Taem)
The temple of Chang Taem (Wat Chang Taem or Wat Changtam) is lost among dozens of large and famous temples of the old city of Chiang Mai, and at first glance it is no different. But in fact, the temple houses one of the most important Buddha statues – Phra Fon Saen Ha. It dates back to the tenth century and was originally kept in a temple in Lamphun. In the 15th century, King Tilokorat of the Mangri dynasty (1441-1487) sacked Lamphun, which was ruled by Queen Chamatevi, and destroyed all buildings except the temple in which the Buddha was located. Read more about Chang Tai Temple here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: from 06:00 to 18:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: Wat Chang Taem Temple is located in the center of the old town on Prapokkloa Street (temple on the map).
Temple with Burmese stupa Mahawan (Wat Mahawan)
This is a small and not particularly well-known temple among tourists in Chiang Mai, which stands out among hundreds of other city temples for its architectural style, which traces the influence of two cultures at once: the medieval kingdom of Lanna, which once existed on the territory of modern Chiang Mai, and the Burmese state, now Myanmar. The main structure of the Viharn temple is made in the traditional Lanna style, and the pagoda was built by the Burmese. There is also a massage school here, and for a fee in support of the temple you can get a massage session. Read more about Chang Tai Temple here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: from 06:00 to 18:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free, massage 150 baht (4.6 USD).
🚶 How to get there: Located outside the old town on Tha Phae Road, a couple of minutes walk from the old east gate and Tha Phae Square (temple on the map).
Ancient Burmese temple of Saen Fang (Wat Saen Fang)
The ancient Burmese temple of Saen Fang (Wat Saen Fang) is one of the little–known temples in Chiang Mai, which will be interesting if you have already looked at everything in the city and want to visit a low-tourist place. Unlike other, more popular local temples, there are almost never tourists here and even believers are rare in the heat of the day. Apart from the typical Burmese architecture and its non-tourist atmosphere, it will not surprise you with anything special. It is known that it was founded in the XVI century, but all today's buildings date back to the XIX century. Read more about the Saen Fang Temple here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: from 06:00 to 18:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: Located outside the old town on Chang Moi Tud Mai Road, a 10-minute walk from the old east gate and Tha Phae Square (temple on the map).
Temple with jade Buddha Ou Sai Kham (Wat Ou Sai Kham)
This small temple outside the old city in Chiang Mai is almost unknown to tourists, but it is important for believers. Built 300 years ago by a woman who arrived from the city of Chiang Saen in the province of Chiang Rai on the border with Laos. It houses an important Buddha statue with a height of 29 inches and a weight of 900 kilograms, made of natural emerald (jadeite) of very high quality. It is believed that it was made in the town of Pha Kane in the northern region of Burma and was auctioned in Mandalay. It is the largest Burmese jadeite in Thailand. Read more about the temple of Ou Sai Kham here...
Practical Information
🕐Working hours: from 07:00 to 18:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: Located outside the old town, within walking distance of the old east gate and Tha Phae Square (temple on the map).
Saeng Mueang Ma Luang Temple (Wat Saen Mueang Ma Luang)
Saeng Mueang Ma Luang (Wat Saen Mueang Ma Luang, also called Wat Hua Khueang) is located in the old town a little away from the main streets and popular tourist routes, and is practically not mentioned by guidebooks. However, this is one of the oldest temples, it is already more than 600 years old. The temple was founded in the XIV century by the seventh king Saeng Myang Ma of the Mengrai dynasty, who ruled the kingdom of Lanna, and the name of the temple was derived from his name. If you like little-known tourist places, then you should like it here. Read more about the temple of Saeng Myang Ma Luang here...
Practical Information
🕐Working hours: during daytime.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: located in the old town of Prapokklao Road (temple on the map).
Monument to the Three Kings (Three Kings Monument)
The most important monument in Chiang Mai, paying homage to the three kings who founded the city. These are King Mengrai ruler of the kingdom of Lanna, King Ramkhamkheng ruler of Sukhothai and Ngam Muang ruler of Phayao. As the story goes, the kings of the three kingdoms, after many centuries of disparate existence, decided to unite into a single kingdom of Lanna Tai centered in Chiang Mai. It was established in 1984 as a tribute to the founders. The statue is made of bronze and is located in front of the cultural center of Chiang Mai. For local residents who deeply honor traditions, this monument is important, and therefore a conditional altar is equipped next to it, where locals bring offerings and pray. Read more about the monument to the Three Kings here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: located in the center of the old town (monument on the map).
Old city Gate Tha Pae (Tha Phae Gate)
It is one of Chiang Mai's iconic historical landmarks and an important landmark point. The gate was part of the fortress walls that surrounded and protected the city in the past, and there were five such gates. Ta Pae have been preserved best of all, and today they have become one of the iconic points for meetings and photographing. Next to the gate from the outside of the fortress wall there is a square where merchants dressed in national costumes sell souvenirs and food for pigeons, and in the evenings local artists exhibit their works and street performers perform. Read more about Tha Pae City Gate here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: Tha Phae Gate is located on the east side of the old town (gates on the map).
Museum of the people of Lanna (Lanna Folklore Museum)
A museum about the life, traditions and art of the Lanna people. Most of the two-storey building is occupied by an exposition dedicated to weaving and traditional outfits, there are also musical instruments, household items, ritual accessories, architectural elements, wall paintings, etc. Admission is inexpensive, so if you like museums and have free time, you can go.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: from 08:30 - 16:30, Monday and Tuesday are days off.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance fee 90 baht (2.76 USD), children's tickets - 40 baht (1.23 USD).
🚶 How to get there: located in the old town in the center (museum on the map).
Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center
Despite the intricate name, Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center (Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center) this is actually a museum, and it can well be called the main one in the city and province. If you have to choose one of the museums in order to get acquainted with the history and life of the province, we recommend choosing it. The permanent exhibition is divided into periods and themes in 15 halls. They show the development of the region and the city from prehistoric times to its heyday and decline as an independent capital, and up to the present day. The exhibition is well equipped, including modern multimedia facilities.
Practical Information
🌐 Website: https://cmocity.com/chiang-mai-art-cultural-centre/
🕐 Working hours: from 08:30 - 16:30, Monday and Tuesday are days off.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance fee 90 baht (2.76 USD), children's tickets - 40 baht (1.23 USD).
🚶 How to get there: located in the old town in the center (museum on the map).
Museum of Money The Treasury Museum Chiang Mai
This is a new modern museum with an informative exhibition, and at the same time it is free. The exhibition is modern, with interactive multimedia exhibits and information duplicated in English. Here you will learn about the history of money of the kingdom of Lanna and Thailand, as well as the history of trade. We will not say that it is necessary to visit it, because it has an indirect relation to the history and culture of the city, but if you pass by, we advise you to look here. Learn more about the Museum of Money in Chiang Mai here...
Practical Information
🕐Working hours: from 08:30 to 16:30, break from 10:00 to 13:00. Saturday and Sunday are days off.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: located in the city center on the main street Rachadamnoen Rd (The museum).
Khum Museum of Architecture
Khum Museum or fully Khum Bum Tam Than Museum is a small conditionally free museum dedicated to the traditional and modern architecture of northern Thailand, it is also sometimes called Lanna Architecture Center. Admission is free, you can explore the first floor of an old house built in 1889-1893 and its courtyard. The first floor is made of cypresses, and the second floor is made of precious wood. But to see the exhibition with the furnishings on the second floor, you need to pay 120 baht for the guide's escort.
Practical Information
🕐Working hours: from 08:30 to 16:30, break from 10:00 to 13:00. Sunday and Monday are days off.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, tour of the second floor - 120 baht.
🚶 How to get there: located in the city center on the main street Rachadamnoen Rd (The museum).
Museum of Insects and Natural Wonders (Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders)
This is a private museum founded by a doctor of entomology, which exhibits a large collection of insects, minerals and other natural objects of unusual shape. It is located outside the old town, but besides the main museum in the center of the old town on Ratchadamnoen Street there is also a branch of the museum, which is located in the house where the creator of the museum, nicknamed mosquito man, lives. If you are interested in the theme of this museum in principle, then we highly recommend that you first visit the museum in the house (entrance is 100 baht). There you will be able to personally communicate with its owner (he is very friendly and will conduct a short tour for you), receive an autographed postcard from him, as well as a discount of 100 baht for visiting the main museum.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 15:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance 200 baht (6.13 USD), permission to take photos 100 baht (3.06 USD).
🚶 How to get there: Located at Soi 13 Srimankalajarn Rd outside the old town (museum on the map). It's a long way on foot, you'll have to take a taxi or tuk-tuk.
Chiang Mai Night Market (Night Bazaar)
There are several night markets in Chiang Mai. The most massive of them and constantly operating is the night market by the river. It should definitely be visited, and even more than once. You can buy anything here, but the most important thing is that they sell handicrafts and even works of art made by masters of Chiang Mai. But you can go here not only for shopping. An evening walk through the market will be a very interesting pastime even without shopping. There are also many small cafes and a large food court where you can eat tasty and inexpensive. Learn more about Chiang Mai Night Market here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: every day after dark and until about midnight.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: the market is located near the river on the east side of the old town (night market on the map). It is easily accessible on foot during a leisurely walk, for a landmark from the very center of the Old Town, 2 kilometers and 30 minutes walk here. Taxi or tuk-tuk will cost from 100 baht.
Sunday Market (Sunday Night Market)
Chiang Mai Sunday Market, known as Sunday Night Market or Tha Phae Walking Street, is a large street market that operates only on Sunday evenings in the heart of Chiang Mai's old walled city on Ratchadamnoen Road, the main street. During its operation, the street is blocked for traffic and turns into a pedestrian zone. The market is visited with pleasure by foreign tourists and locals, because it is one of the main weekly events in the whole province. Traders from the most remote villages of the province and even from neighboring provinces flock here to sell their goods. They sell everything here, from consumer goods from China to works of art and antiques. But the most important "feature" of this market is original souvenirs and products made by artisans from tribal villages of northern Thailand. Learn more about Chiang Mai Sunday Market here...
Practical Information
🕐Working hours: open only on Sunday evenings from 16:00 to 24:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: works right on the main street Ratchadamnoen Road inside the fortress walls (market on the map).
Saturday Night Market
The Saturday market on Wua Lai Rd is not as big and famous as Sunday, but it's also fun and interesting here, and they also sell everything in a row, ranging from consumer goods from China to works of art and antiques. And there are especially a lot of exotic foods on this market, such as insects. There are also several temporary food courts, a stage is being set up for performances by local artists, simple attractions such as shooting galleries and lotteries work. The prices here are low, according to our feelings lower than in other night markets of Chiang Mai. For example, a portion of insects with seasonings costs 20 baht, and simple Thai dishes such as rice with chicken cost from 50 baht. Skewers on bamboo skewers for 10 baht. Read more about Chiang Mai Saturday Market here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: open only on Saturday evenings from 16:00 to 24:00.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: located outside the fortress gate south of the center along the entire Wua Lai Street (market on the map).
Chinatown Chinatown
This is a small picturesque neighborhood near the river in Chiang Mai, which is mainly inhabited by immigrants from China. But to be honest, we did not notice here a clear special flavor inherent in Chinatowns in other Asian cities, such as Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. Walking through this area, it is even difficult to notice the differences from other areas of the city, and except for the individual signs on the shops, you can understand that you are in a Chinese commune. But if you come here to take a walk during any traditional Chinese holiday, then you will see the life of the Chinese community in all its glory. Read more about Chinatown here...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: around the clock.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: free.
🚶 How to get there: located south of the old town by the river about two kilometers from the center (Chinatown on the map).
Thai Boxing in Chiang Mai
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Chiang Mai is Muay Thai boxing fights. They are held daily in several places of the city at stadiums and sports clubs. Fights are usually amateur, both local athletes and foreigners participate in them. But sometimes serious fights with professional fighters are held here.
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: fights are held in the evening.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price: tickets cost from 600 baht, the price depends on the venue and the level of participants.
🚶 How to get there: you will not have to look for a place where Thai boxing is held in Chiang Mai. Ticket distributors and touts on the streets of the city will constantly invite you to fights, handing out leaflets or offering to buy tickets right away. They will also inform you about the venue, and sometimes even hold or call a taxi. Just be careful: we do not advise you to buy tickets on the street, but rather take an advertising leaflet with information and pay for entrance tickets directly on the spot at the entrance.
The ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam (Wiang Kum Kam)
It is the remains of an ancient city built by King Mengrai the Great, the founder of the kingdom of Lanna as its capital. The city was the first capital of the kingdom, but due to frequent floods during the flooding of the Ping River, it was abandoned and a new city of Chiang Mai was built, where the capital was moved. It has only recently been restored and opened to the public. It is an open-air archaeological museum, and free of charge. You will definitely like it here if you are a lover of antiquities, history and archeology, and especially after you get pretty tired of the endless string of Chiang Mai temples. The territory of the complex is quite large, and there is no as such bounded by a fence and designated territory. So the best option would be to come here by rented car or motorbike. If this is not possible, then you can buy here on the spot a 45-minute tour of the ancient city in a horse-drawn carriage or in a walking electric car for 300. You can also rent a bike here for 50 baht and explore the ruins as much as you want without time limit. Learn more about the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam...
Practical Information
🕐 Working hours: from 8:30 to 16:30.
Entrance fee / ticket price: for foreigners, access to the waterfall is 100 baht (3.06 USD).
🚶 How to get there: Wiang Kum Kam occupies part of the outskirts of modern Chiang Mai, 7 kilometers from the center (Wiang Kum Kam on the map). Regular songteo minibuses from the old town do not go here, at least we could not find such. Therefore, you need to get there by rented transport, tuk-tuk or taxi, a one-way trip will cost from 150 baht.