If you visit only one location in Thailand, let it be Chiang Mai. It is a must-do on any Thailand trip! Delicious food & coffee, gorgeous temples, stunning landscapes and amazing shopping: Chiang Mai has it all.
Chiang Mai is located in Northern Thailand and was the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom. Surrounded by mountainous terrain, this city is much smaller and more relaxed than Bangkok, but equally as vibrant.
There is so much to do in this beautiful city, so I would recommend at least 4 days if not more. I stayed for 4 days and was never bored! However, time is not always a luxury when it comes to travel, so I have curated this ultimate 4-day itinerary so you can get the very best out of your time in this beautiful city!
If you visit only one location in Thailand, let it be Chiang Mai. It is a must-do on any Thailand trip! Delicious food & coffee, gorgeous temples, stunning landscapes and amazing shopping: Chiang Mai has it all.
Chiang Mai is located in Northern Thailand and was the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom. Surrounded by mountainous terrain, this city is much smaller and more relaxed than Bangkok, but equally as vibrant.
There is so much to do in this beautiful city, so I would recommend at least 4 days if not more. I stayed for 4 days and was never bored! However, time is not always a luxury when it comes to travel, so I have curated this ultimate 4-day itinerary so you can get the very best out of your time in this beautiful city!
How to Get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok
The easiest and fastest way to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is via plane. The flights are affordable, frequent and take approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Once you arrive at Chiang Mai Airport, you can get an airport taxi for a fixed rate of 150 Baht directly to your hotel anywhere in the city.
Alternatively, you can get a train, which will take between 10-13 hours. This option is slightly cheaper and you can travel overnight and save a day on travel.
Click here to book your train tickets through 12go Asia
Chiang Mai Ultimate Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and The Old Town
AFTERNOON
After arriving in Chiang Mai and checking into your hotel, spend your afternoon exploring the Old Town and doing some shopping! This is truly the time to just soak up the city and enjoy your surrounds.
The Old Town is a square kilometre section of Chiang Mai enclosed by 700-year old walls that make the place feel incredibly unique. The area is full of history, boutique stores and great restaurants. It has a really pleasant feel about it that you really should just soak up by aimlessly wondering around.
There are a variety of cute boutique stores in the lower third of the Old Town (Phra Singh), selling homemade jewellery, homewares, clothing and more!
EVENING
One of the best things about Chiang Mai was the food! So, I recommend you dedicate your evening to enjoying a dining experience. There are a variety of great places to eat in Chiang Mai. I would recommend ‘Dash’ for a sweet-looking venue, friendly service, amazing food and unique cocktails
It is a nice midrange option, with meals ranging from approximately 120 to 250 Baht. There is an amazing and creative cocktail menu and the best massaman curry you will ever try. We spent a couple of hours here just relaxing, chatting about our holiday and enjoying the food, drinks and scenery.
If you have a bit more energy than we did, enjoy Chiang Mai’s great nightlife by heading to a bar or club, or watching a Muay Thai boxing game!
Day 2: Temples, Massages and Markets
MORNING
Get ready for a jam-packed itinerary for your first full day in Chiang Mai. There really is so much to do in this beautiful city and a great way to do it is by temple-hopping.
There are over 300 temples to choose from in Chiang Mai. The route I took started from Gateway Coffee Roasters, where I had a delicious morning cup of coffee, and ends at Wat Sri Suphan (the Silver Temple).
Below is the Google map overview of where I visited. For me, this was the perfect amount of temples for one day.
AFTERNOON
To reward yourself for all that walking this morning, spend your afternoon getting a traditional Thai massage. There are many massage places to try, ranging from luxury to budget- however, I would recommend Lila Thai Massage.
Lila Thai Massage was established by Naowarat Thanasrisutharat; the former director of Chiang Mai Women’s Prison, to help former women inmates to rejoin the workforce. These former inmates are fully-trained, but sadly not often employed elsewhere due to their history.
I think this is very a worthwhile cause and the prices are comparatively cheaper than other massages in the area (just 350 baht for a 1 hour, full-body massage!)
We made the mistake of getting a massage in the morning and feeling so zen that all we wanted to do was relax for the rest of the day, rather than explore. We powered through, but please (!) book your massage for the afternoon.
EVENING
In the evening, head to Chiang Mai Night Bazaar to explore the local markets.
Grab a chicken Pad See Ew for dinner at the nearby restaurant ‘Lemongrass’, or fill up at the night market- serving foods such as mango sticky rice, dumplings, smoothies, Pad Thai and more.
This market is on every night and spans quite a large space- though a lot of the stores are selling the same stuff. It is a great place to buy souvenirs and other goods!
If you are in Chiang Mai on a Sunday, I would recommend going to the Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market instead (or as well!).
Day 3: Day Trip to Doi Inthanon
Now that you have spent 2 days exploring the city, it is time to venture outward and explore Doi Inthanon National Park. Doi Inthanon is one of the most popular national parks in Thailand, known for it’s waterfalls, viewpoints, hiking trails and culture.
How to get to Doi Inthanon National Park
- Car or Motorbike: This park is around 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai. You can get there yourself, by hiring a motorbike or car. However, the road is long and windy.
- Organised Tour: If you would like to avoid driving or riding a motorbike, there are many guided tours to this National Park; including hiking tours & private tours. To see an all-day tour option click here.
- Public Transport: It is possible to get to Doi Inthanon via public transport (Songthaew), but it is difficult and with limited options. As such, I would not recommend travelling this way.
Day 4: Cooking Class & More
MORNING
On your final day in Chiang Mai, complete a half-day cooking course and learn to make some traditional Thai dishes, such as Pad Thai, Thai Green Curry and mango sticky rice!
Chiang Mai is the best place in Thailand to do a cooking class because it is comparatively cheaper and many of the cooking-class venues are outdoors, spacious and surrounded by nature.
AFTERNOON
If you are lucky enough to be in town during the Annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival (which takes place the first week in February), be sure to give it a visit!
Gorgeous flowers and flower displays line an entire wall of the Old Town, alongside markets selling goods and artists playing music. It truly is a wonderful experience!
Other Things To Do
If you cannot travel during the festival, there are a variety of other ways to spend an afternoon in Chiang Mai. For example, you could visit:
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: A 19th Century Buddhist Temple with stunning views of Chiang Mai
- Wat Amung: A 700-year-old Buddhist Temple.
- Lake Huay Tung Tao: A man-made lake perfect for walking and popular with the locals.
- One of Chiang Mai’s many museums: For example, Chiang Mai National Museum or Lanna Folklife Museum
Other Information
How to Get Around Chiang Mai
Getting around Chiang Mai is relatively easy. A lot of what you will do on this itinerary is within walking distance from each other, but you can also travel by:
- Grab: This is like the Thai version of Uber. Download the app and request taxis when needed. You will be informed of the price before you even book.
- Red Songthaew or Tuk Tuk
- Organised Tours
Where to Stay in Chiang Mai
The best area to stay in Chiang Mai is in the Old City. Alternatively, the Nimman area is quite nice as well, with slightly cheaper (on average) accommodation options.
I stayed at THEE Vijit Lanna Hotel and absolutely loved it. To book this hotel, click here.
For more things to do in Thailand
See my other posts, linked below 🙂
How to Get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok
The easiest and fastest way to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is via plane. The flights are affordable, frequent and take approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Once you arrive at Chiang Mai Airport, you can get an airport taxi for a fixed rate of 150 Baht directly to your hotel anywhere in the city.
Alternatively, you can get a train, which will take between 10-13 hours. This option is slightly cheaper and you can travel overnight and save a day on travel.
Click here to book your train tickets through 12go Asia
Chiang Mai Ultimate Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and The Old Town
AFTERNOON
After arriving in Chiang Mai and checking into your hotel, spend your afternoon exploring the Old Town and doing some shopping! This is truly the time to just soak up the city and enjoy your surrounds.
The Old Town is a square kilometre section of Chiang Mai enclosed by 700-year old walls that make the place feel incredibly unique. The area is full of history, boutique stores and great restaurants. It has a really pleasant feel about it that you really should just soak up by aimlessly wondering around.
There are a variety of cute boutique stores in the lower third of the Old Town (Phra Singh), selling homemade jewellery, homewares, clothing and more!
EVENING
One of the best things about Chiang Mai was the food! So, I recommend you dedicate your evening to enjoying a dining experience. There are a variety of great places to eat in Chiang Mai. I would recommend ‘Dash’ for a sweet-looking venue, friendly service, amazing food and unique cocktails
It is a nice midrange option, with meals ranging from approximately 120 to 250 Baht. There is an amazing and creative cocktail menu and the best massaman curry you will ever try. We spent a couple of hours here just relaxing, chatting about our holiday and enjoying the food, drinks and scenery.
If you have a bit more energy than we did, enjoy Chiang Mai’s great nightlife by heading to a bar or club, or watching a Muay Thai boxing game!
Day 2: Temples, Massages and Markets
MORNING
Get ready for a jam-packed itinerary for your first full day in Chiang Mai. There really is so much to do in this beautiful city and a great way to do it is by temple-hopping.
There are over 300 temples to choose from in Chiang Mai. The route I took started from Gateway Coffee Roasters, where I had a delicious morning cup of coffee, and ends at Wat Sri Suphan (the Silver Temple).
Below is the Google map overview of where I visited. For me, this was the perfect amount of temples for one day.
AFTERNOON
To reward yourself for all that walking this morning, spend your afternoon getting a traditional Thai massage. There are many massage places to try, ranging from luxury to budget- however, I would recommend Lila Thai Massage.
Lila Thai Massage was established by Naowarat Thanasrisutharat; the former director of Chiang Mai Women’s Prison, to help former women inmates to rejoin the workforce. These former inmates are fully-trained, but sadly not often employed elsewhere due to their history.
I think this is very a worthwhile cause and the prices are comparatively cheaper than other massages in the area (just 350 baht for a 1 hour, full-body massage!)
We made the mistake of getting a massage in the morning and feeling so zen that all we wanted to do was relax for the rest of the day, rather than explore. We powered through, but please (!) book your massage for the afternoon.
EVENING
In the evening, head to Chiang Mai Night Bazaar to explore the local markets.
Grab a chicken Pad See Ew for dinner at the nearby restaurant ‘Lemongrass’, or fill up at the night market- serving foods such as mango sticky rice, dumplings, smoothies, Pad Thai and more.
This market is on every night and spans quite a large space- though a lot of the stores are selling the same stuff. It is a great place to buy souvenirs and other goods!
If you are in Chiang Mai on a Sunday, I would recommend going to the Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market instead (or as well!).
Day 3: Day Trip to Doi Inthanon
Now that you have spent 2 days exploring the city, it is time to venture outward and explore Doi Inthanon National Park. Doi Inthanon is one of the most popular national parks in Thailand, known for it’s waterfalls, viewpoints, hiking trails and culture.
How to get to Doi Inthanon National Park
- Car or Motorbike: This park is around 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai. You can get there yourself, by hiring a motorbike or car. However, the road is long and windy.
- Organised Tour: If you would like to avoid driving or riding a motorbike, there are many guided tours to this National Park; including hiking tours & private tours. To see an all-day tour option click here.
- Public Transport: It is possible to get to Doi Inthanon via public transport (Songthaew), but it is difficult and with limited options. As such, I would not recommend travelling this way.
Day 4: Cooking Class & More
MORNING
On your final day in Chiang Mai, complete a half-day cooking course and learn to make some traditional Thai dishes, such as Pad Thai, Thai Green Curry and mango sticky rice!
Chiang Mai is the best place in Thailand to do a cooking class because it is comparatively cheaper and many of the cooking-class venues are outdoors, spacious and surrounded by nature.
AFTERNOON
If you are lucky enough to be in town during the Annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival (which takes place the first week in February), be sure to give it a visit!
Gorgeous flowers and flower displays line an entire wall of the Old Town, alongside markets selling goods and artists playing music. It truly is a wonderful experience!
Other Things To Do
If you cannot travel during the festival, there are a variety of other ways to spend an afternoon in Chiang Mai. For example, you could visit:
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: A 19th Century Buddhist Temple with stunning views of Chiang Mai
- Wat Amung: A 700-year-old Buddhist Temple.
- Lake Huay Tung Tao: A man-made lake perfect for walking and popular with the locals.
- One of Chiang Mai’s many museums: For example, Chiang Mai National Museum or Lanna Folklife Museum
Other Information
How to Get Around Chiang Mai
Getting around Chiang Mai is relatively easy. A lot of what you will do on this itinerary is within walking distance from each other, but you can also travel by:
- Grab: This is like the Thai version of Uber. Download the app and request taxis when needed. You will be informed of the price before you even book.
- Red Songthaew or Tuk Tuk
- Organised Tours
Where to Stay in Chiang Mai
The best area to stay in Chiang Mai is in the Old City. Alternatively, the Nimman area is quite nice as well, with slightly cheaper (on average) accommodation options.
I stayed at THEE Vijit Lanna Hotel and absolutely loved it. To book this hotel, click here.
For more things to do in Thailand
See my other posts, linked below 🙂