Chiang Mai, also known as the “Rose of the North”, is situated in northern Thailand. Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second-largest city and is renowned, amongst other things, for its many temples, night markets and delicious street food. I spent almost two weeks in Chiang Mai because I enjoyed the city so much, even though I hadn’t originally planned to visit.
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The Best Time To Visit Chiang Mai
Of course, you can visit Chiang Mai all year round, but there are still certain months when it’s particularly worth visiting the city.
I’d recommend visiting Chiang Mai from November to the end of February. I imagine that temperatures will be relatively pleasant in November, December and January, before rising in February. After that, from March onwards, the temperatures will rise even further and it can certainly get quite hot. I visited Chiang Mai in February and found it to be the perfect. It was hot, mind you, but not so hot that I had to be constantly on the lookout for air conditioning. In fact, I spent most of my time outdoors without any problems.
One topic that keeps cropping up in relation to the best time to visit is the so-called Burning Season. One reason for the Burning Season is that, amongst other things, surplus maize, rice and sugarcane fields are burnt. This, combined with forest fires caused by drought, vehicle emissions and industrial pollution, can severely pollute the air. The Burning Season peaks in March, and things should start to improve again from April onwards. When I travelled to Chiang Mai in February, I didn’t really notice much of the Burning Season. Of course, you can feel the pollution from exhaust fumes and the sky was often a pale colour, but it wasn’t yet at a level where you’d need to wear a mask. So you should be aware not only of the temperatures but also of the pollution. That’s why, as I mentioned earlier, I recommend travelling to Chiang Mai between November and the end of February.
How To Get To Chiang Mai
The easiest and most convenient way to get to Chiang Mai is by plane. Many flights from major European cities to Chiang Mai include a stopover in Bangkok, as there are regular flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. When I was in Thailand, I spent a few days in Bangkok first and booked a last-minute flight to Chiang Mai with Air Asia. What I found quite relaxing was that Chiang Mai Airport is quite close to the Old Town. It only took me about 15 minutes by Grab to get from the airport to Chiang Mai’s Old Town. You can also book a Grab easily once you arrive at Chiang Mai Airport. So you really don’t need to worry about how to get to Chiang Mai, as it’s actually quite easy.
Of course, you can also take an overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. I’d recommend the train if you fancy a bit of an adventure on the journey or if you’d like to take the train for the sake of the environment. I didn’t take the train myself, so I won’t go into any more detail about it.
How Many Days To Spend In Chiang Mai
How many days you should spend in Chiang Mai depends very much on what you want to see and how you want to get to know the city as a whole. I’m assuming you’re travelling around Thailand and would like to explore other parts of the country as well. If that’s the case, I’d recommend spending 4–5 days in Chiang Mai. That will give you plenty of time to explore Chiang Mai’s Old Town in particular, whilst also allowing you to take a trip into the countryside outside the city.
Where To Stay In Chiang Mai
During my two weeks in Chiang Mai, I stayed in four different hotels, all of which were located in different areas in and around the Old Town. As I was on a longer solo trip and wanted to stick to my budget, I’ll only be recommending budget double rooms. Each place had everything I needed at a low price, but you certainly won’t be able to show them off on Instagram. However, I don’t just want to list the hotels I stayed in; I’d also like to introduce you to the different areas where my hotels were located and briefly explain for whom or what these locations would be best suited for. Finally, you’ll also find out which area of Chiang Mai I think is best for a stay.
First, I’d like to introduce what I consider to be the best location in the Old Town for booking accommodation. The best place to stay in the Old Town is marked by the orange rectangle in the image above. This area is home to many backpacker hostels as well as budget private accommodation. As a result, it has a cosy backpacker vibe. There are plenty of good bars and restaurants, and what’s more, the Sunday Market is very close by. I stayed in two places in this area. The first was the Chiangmun Boutique, by far the cheapest accommodation on my trip, where I paid less than $20 for a night. The room had everything I needed and was perfectly adequate for four nights. The next place I stayed in this area was the Tri Gong Hotel. This hotel was also very affordable and had everything I needed for a few nights. Both places are ideally situated for visiting lots of bars, cute cafés and shops. I’d definitely recommend looking for a hotel in this area.
Another location for your accommodation that I can recommend is marked with the green rectangle. I spent four nights there at the Prix Hotel Chiang Mai Gate. This was the most expensive of the four places I stayed in Chiang Mai. The main advantage of this accommodation is its location, which is close to the Saturday Market. There are also cafés and restaurants nearby, though not as many as in the area marked with the orange rectangle. If you find accommodation in this area, you certainly won’t go wrong. But in my opinion, you’re better off in the area marked with the orange rectangle.
The last place I stayed was in the area marked in yellow. It’s called The Ghee House. It’s very close to Chinatown, which I loved, and very close to one of my favourite cafés in Chiang Mai – the Millilit Café. It’s also near Phae Road, where you’ll find plenty of other cafés, restaurants and shops. From this location, you can also get to the Old Town and the Sunday Market relatively quickly. What’s more, the Night Bazaar and Anusarn Market are also nearby, where you can have a stroll and grab a bite to eat. I found this area to be my second-best choice after the orange-coloured area.
Another area where many tourists book their hotels is called Nimmanhaemin. This area is home to several shopping centres, modern shops and cafés, amongst other things. Many of the more modern and expensive hotels are also located there. In my opinion, however, this isn’t the best area to stay in Chiang Mai, as – depending on where your hotel is – it’s too far from old town. So do make sure you find a hotel in the area marked in orange.
Where To Eat In Chiang Mai
I’d like to mention straight away that I won’t be recommending any posh Michelin-starred restaurants here. Personally, when I’m travelling, I don’t look for gourmet restaurants where I have to pay double or even more for a meal. That’s just not my thing, so I won’t be providing a long list of restaurants here. In countries like Thailand in particular, it’s not really necessary anyway, as you can easily find street food that tastes better than the dishes at your local Asian restaurant in your country. I’ve mostly popped into restaurants on the spur of the moment, and I’ll of course be listing them for you.
My first recommendation for you is to eat street food on Saturday and Sunday evenings at the Saturday Market and Sunday Market respectively. You’ll find delicious dishes there at affordable prices, with a wide selection of different local specialities. Other than that, a good street food stall I visited is on “The Phae Road” and is called Pad Thai Hubs. This stall has very good Google reviews and, as the name suggests, you can get fresh pad thai there. Although the Thais themselves don’t eat Pad Thai that often, it was probably one of the dishes I ate most – don’t judge me.
Another restaurant I visited was Always Thaifood. This is more of a tourist-oriented restaurant, but if you don’t want to spend too long looking for somewhere to eat and you’re hungry, it’s not a bad idea to have a meal there. I also often had lunch at the Isaan Ros Sab restaurant, as two of my places to stay were located near it. It’s a very simple restaurant with wooden benches, but the food tastes good and is cheap.
If you want to spend a bit more on food, you’ll find a few restaurants on Samlarn Road, for example. Otherwise, as far as I can remember, there are also plenty of restaurants on Chang Moi Road near Chinatown. But basically, you’ll always find good restaurants everywhere – don’t worry too much about it.
Something else I’d particularly recommend is taking a course in Thai cuisine at one of the many cookery schools. I attended a cookery course in Chiang Mai where, amongst other things, I got to cook a soup, pad thai and sticky mango rice. There are plenty of cookery courses on GetYourGuide – just have a look at the reviews and choose one.
Finally, I’d really recommend you try the “Khao Soi” soup. Khao Soi is a noodle soup from northern Thailand and tastes absolutely delicious. Alongside my beloved Pad Thai, it was definitely the dish I ate second most often.
Good Coffee Shops In Chiang Mai
I’ve visited lots of different coffee shops in Chiang Mai, as my day always has to start with a coffee. It’s not just the taste of the coffee that matters to me, but also the atmosphere of the coffee shop – and, of course, I really appreciate good latte art too. Personally, I’m not really a fan of those “ultra-modern”, minimalist coffee shops. I prefer it when a coffee shop exudes a certain warmth and a touch of nostalgia. Most of the coffee shops mentioned below have met these criteria.
Zmoy Cafe
The Zmoy Cafe was one of my favourite coffee shops in Chiang Mai. It’s small and looks unassuming from the outside, but inside it’s beautifully and cosily furnished. It also has an air-conditioned area where you can work. The coffee isn’t made using an espresso machine, but with an eco-friendly ROK Espresso, and as well as the coffee, you can also enjoy delicious cakes. What I appreciated about this café was, that it was very cosy and I could enjoy some peace and quiet there in the morning, as it’s located on a quiet side street.
Millilit Cafe
The Millilit Cafe was also one of my favourite cafés in Chiang Mai and, incidentally, the one I visited most often. What I particularly liked about this café was the décor. I’m always impressed when a place doesn’t just focus on the coffee itself, but also gets creative with the décor. And the Millilit Cafe has really pulled that off. I really recommend you visit this café at least once. To find the entrance, you need to head down the side street, go through the door and take the stairs on the right.
Akha Ama Coffee
Akha Ama Coffee is located right in the heart of Chiang Mai’s popular backpacker district. The café only has a limited number of seats, but it’s very cosily furnished. There’s also a small balcony from which you can watch the pedestrians go by. The staff are very friendly and the coffee tastes great. So it’s well worth visiting this café in Chiang Mai.
Early Owls
Early Owls isn’t in the Old Town, so you’ll need to visit by bike. But the ride to Early Owls is well worth it! Early Owls has a fairly large garden – more like a park, actually – with a lake and a small jetty. You can place your order first, then take a small wooden table and chairs and set them up anywhere in the park to enjoy your coffee and cake. Please make sure to return the wooden tables and chairs afterwards.
North Gate Spirit
I’ve only visited North Gate Spirit once. On that occasion, I came across the odd “Influencer In The Wild” posing there for photos. Either the men were trying their hand at photography or the women were setting up their tripods. Personally, I found it very amusing to watch. Here too, seating is limited and the seating area is very open-plan, and on the whole I liked the wooden décor.
Gaad Coffee/Bar
Gaad is located in the south of the Old Town, and I can also recommend it for a coffee. The café has two floors and a small balcony; the lower level is rather modern but furnished with wood to create a cosy atmosphere, whilst the upper level features plenty of wood and is much brighter.
TANN
TANN isn’t in the Old Town either, but in Nimmanhaemin. I’d recommend hiring a Grab Bike if you’re not in the area. There are other interesting things to see in this neighbourhood, so you don’t have to go there just for the coffee shop. TANN has a rather modern feel and, in my opinion, a less cosy interior.
Ristr8to Original
Ristr8to is situated near TANN in Nimmanhaemin. It’s a rather small café, but the latte art is really impressive. It’s best to combine your visit with a trip to the One Nimman shopping centre.
GRAPH Coffee
GRAPH Coffee has several coffee shops in Chiang Mai. There’s one in the Old Town, for example, and another at Baankangwat Market. It’s well worth popping in for a coffee if you’re in the area or at the market anyway.
Things To Do In Chiang Mai
Wander Through Old Town
Take a stroll through the Old Town, particularly along “Samlarn Road” and “Rachadamnoen Road”, as these are the streets with the most restaurants and shops. If you’re on “Rachadamnoen Road”, you can walk to the end to Phae Gate and then continue along “Phae Road”. Alternatively, I’d recommend exploring the north-eastern part of the Old Town, where there are lots of charming alleyways such as “Ratvithi Rd Lane 1”.
Visit The Temples Of Chiang Mai
In Chiang Mai, as in whole Thailand, there are many temples. Personally, I didn’t have the stamina to visit too many, so I limited myself to just a few. I recommend visiting the following temples:
Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Phra Singh
Doi Suthep
These are just three of the many temples in Chiang Mai, but for me personally, that was enough. Doi Suthep isn’t actually in the city itself, so you’ll need to organise transport.
Take A Muay Thai Lesson
There are plenty of Muay Thai gyms in Chiang Mai where you can take beginner’s lessons. Just have a look on Google Maps and choose one with good reviews.
Coffee Shop Hopping
Use my coffee guide to help you and explore Chiang Mai’s coffee shops.
Visit Doi Inthanon National Park
Book a tour with GetYourGuide and visit Doi Inthanon. I went on a short trekking tour there and visited the Wachirathan Waterfall as well.
Visit Chiang Mai’s Markets
There are plenty of markets in Chiang Mai that take place during the day as well as in the evening. Find out more in the next chapter.
Visit Chiang Mai’s Parks
In Chiang Mai, there are several parks where you can enjoy the greenery near the old town. There’s also a small park in the old town itself where you can go for a run in the mornings. The park is called “Nong Buak Hard Public Park”.
There are so many more activities to enjoy in Chiang Mai. Why not pop over to GetYourGuide and search for Chiang Mai? You’ll see that you can visit other waterfalls, such as the “Sticky Waterfall”. You can also book a tour to Chiang Rai if you’re really interested in temples. But if you’re only in Chiang Mai for 4–5 days, I’d recommend sticking to the activities in and around the Old Town.
Markets Of Chiang Mai
In this section, I’ll focus on the markets I’ve visited myself. There are probably plenty of others that are well worth a visit.
Sunday Market
The Sunday Market is probably the largest market, stretching mainly along “Rachadamnoen Road” in the Old Town. The market takes place every Sunday from 5 pm, and I recommend you pop along as early as possible, as the streets fill up very quickly. I usually used the market as an opportunity to have dinner at one of the many street food stalls. You’ll find a huge variety of things to buy at this market.
Saturday Market
The Saturday Market takes place every Saturday evening from 5 pm and stretches along “Wua Lay Road”, south of the Old Town. The market is slightly smaller than the Sunday Market, and you’ll find plenty of handmade goods. You can also have dinner there at one of the many street food stalls.
Waroros Market (Chinatown)
The Waroros Market is located in Chinatown and takes place every day. You’ll find just about everything there, and I found it so interesting just to wander around and watch the hustle and bustle. Chinatown in Chiang Mai is an absolute must-see!
Jing Jai Market Chiang Mai
The Jing Jai Market is also located north of the Old Town. The market is always bustling with people, and you’ll mainly find clothes and jewellery there.
Baankangwat Market
Baankangwat Market is a small arts and crafts market and takes place every day, except Mondays, from 10am to 6pm. Try to go towards the start or end of the market, as it’s small and fills up very quickly.
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is located near Chinatown, and you’ll find just about everything there. It’s best to combine your visit with a trip to Anusarn Market, which is also nearby.
Anusarn Market
The Anusarn Market is near the Night Bazaar, and you’ll find all sorts of things there too. I just went there, as I didn’t know what to do.
Coconut Market
The Coconut Market is north of the Old Town, and you’ll need a bike to get there. The market is quite small but decorated with palm trees. I’d only visit this market if you really have plenty of time, as the other markets are more worth a visit.
If you’re only in Chiang Mai for a short time, I’d recommend choosing a few from the first five markets. As already mentioned, do check the markets opening hours, as they are not always open.
What I Liked About Chiang Mai
In Chiang Mai, I was overcome by a feeling that I find very difficult to describe. When I handed in my notice in December 2025 and stayed in Chiang Mai in February 2026, everything felt so light and liberating to me. Somehow my mind felt so free, and I didn’t have to worry about a thing. I could just be fully present in the moment. I think that, as a solo traveller, everything just clicked for me in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai had everything I needed, and that was certainly a key factor in how I felt there.
One thing I liked about Chiang Mai was that you can explore the Old Town, in particular, quite easily on foot. I rarely needed any form of transport in Chiang Mai to get from A to B. Occasionally I booked a Grab Bike, but only when I really had to cover longer distances. Especially when I left the Old Town. There’s so much to discover in the Old Town. You can wander through the many narrow alleys and keep coming across something lovely and interesting. My favourite thing was wandering aimlessly through the alleys of the Old Town and Chinatown with my camera.
You’ll also find plenty of places where you can enjoy a nice meal and a drink quite easily. Most of the time, I didn’t look up restaurants in advance, as I knew I was bound to walk past somewhere where I could enjoy a good meal and a drink. I had much more trouble finding food in Bangkok, for example. Most of the time, I ate at one of the many street food stalls, which always tasted fantastic and was also quite affordable. When it comes to food, you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice in Chiang Mai.
As I’m also a coffee lover, it was always important to me to find good coffee spots. If you’re a coffee lover too, you’ll have no trouble finding a good cup of coffee in Chiang Mai. Coffee shops are very popular in Chiang Mai, which is why you’ll find lovely, cosy cafés on what feels like almost every corner. You’ll usually come across "Influencers in the wild” posing for photos outside the cafés – I always found that quite amusing.
Aside from food and drink, Chiang Mai also offers a wide range of leisure activities. The choice is so vast that there’s certainly something for every traveller. For example, there are plenty of Muay Thai gyms where you can train, as well as tours where you can explore the region around Chiang Mai. Take it from me: Chiang Mai is far more than just the Old Town.
As well as the sporting activities and all the adventures in the region around Chiang Mai, there are also several lovely markets to discover. Particularly worth mentioning are the Saturday Market and the Sunday Market. As the names suggest, these markets take place on Saturdays and Sundays. As well as these two large markets, there are also many other smaller ones.
Finally, I wouldn’t want to leave out the local people of Chiang Mai. I found the locals to be mostly friendly and always wearing a smile. What I particularly appreciated was that I was always greeted warmly as soon as I entered a venue. On the whole, I’d say that tourists are appreciated in Chiang Mai, provided they don’t start behaving badly, as certain tourists do in other regions of Thailand. Fortunately, however, Chiang Mai doesn’t primarily attract that sort of tourist.
My Take On Chiang Mai
As you can see from the guide, there’s so much to discover in Chiang Mai that you could easily spend several weeks here. It’s not just the old town that’s worth seeing, but the whole area around Chiang Mai as well. However, as most visitors only stay in Chiang Mai for 4 to 5 days, you’ll never be able to see everything. For me, Chiang Mai was not a city you could simply get to know and love after just a few days. At first, I wasn’t all that keen on the city. I had to grow into Chiang Mai, as it took me about a week to really start loving it. So take your time and make the most of the information in this guide for your trip to Chiang Mai.
Do you like the information I provide for free? A coffee is always appreciated. Thanks for being here.