Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Whether Chiang Mai is your only destination in Thailand or you’re just stopping by for a few days, and you don't know where to start with your plan. I've got some tips for the best things and activities to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Chiang Mai is the second biggest city in Thailand and the largest city in northern Thailand, and there are so many things to do. So if you come in here for as long as I've been here, or if you're just coming for a few days, here are my recommendations of the best things to do in Chiang Mai for you to pursue,
 

Lantern Festival Chiang Mai (Yee Peng Festival) 

First off, if you're planning your trip around November around Thanksgiving, you might want to consider the Yee Pen festival. This is truly a beautiful event that I planned my entire trip around, and it was well worth it to see all these floating lanterns go up into the sky them all at once. Not only is it just visually stunning but Chiang Mai is really truly alive during that time. There are so many people coming in from all over the world to see this festival.
​
And if you're involved in an experience that might be difficult to you, or if you want to send up thoughts and prayers for someone or something or some hope or some dream. This is really the event. I highly recommend planning your trip around that time.  

Sunday Night Markets
​
While we're talking about timing, make sure that when you're here you include a Sunday in your itinerary because when on Sunday nights, there's a huge market, they basically shut down the central streets of the Old City. You can find so much stuff here. I really enjoy some of the stuff you can find at the other night markets here 

Night Bazaar
​
The night bazaar has countless stalls packed along the sidewalks. Here you can find vendors selling almost anything you can think of. The selection is simply staggering and items on offer include CDs, DVDs, clothes, shoes, Thai silk, handicrafts, purses, wallets, watches, video games, luggage, housewares, furniture, statues of aliens made from auto parts, spices, souvenirs. Quality varies from vendor to vendor but low prices mean you get good value for your money. The best goods on offer here are usually clothes, from hand-tailored Thai silk to the latest 'designer' fashions to the ubiquitous Red Bull t-shirts. I enjoyed walking around, window shopping, buying a few things here and there, and of course, tasting the local street food! 

Pai
​
I think what makes Chiang Mai exceptional, is that there are a ton of things to do outside of Chiang Mai. There's tons of nature and small little towns, just hours away for you to go and visit.  So I highly recommend that if you're visiting Chiang Mai, maybe you give up to go over to Pai, which is a small mountain town, about three hours away. Now the tricky part is that it is super windy, you're in a minivan and it’s going to be rocky. So it's not for the faint of heart. But when you get there, it's beautiful.  This is one of the best things to do while you're in Chiang Mai, and not to be missed.
​
I'm not saying that you're going to be totally safe from there because there's tons of tourists who come there and injure themselves because they think they can go do it. There's a lot to see, and it would make for a good overnight trip if not a few days. 

The Chiang Mai Grand Canyon
​
Also, it makes for a good trip is the Grand Canyon of Thailand. It's really just a reservoir, it's just really beautiful. This was where I experienced a little bit of fear of heights and it left me with this desire to conquer any challenge, moving forward so I loved it. It was super fun.
 

Nimman Road

I find this excerpt a great description of the place, so I’ll put it here as well.

“Nimman Road and the surrounding side streets are at the heart of the trendiest part of Chiang Mai. Occasionally known by its full name of Nimmanhaemin Road, the place is alive with fashionable restaurants, cafés, bars, shops and boutique hotels. It definitely gives Chiang Mai a new angle, far removed from the traditional Thai sensibilities found in other areas of Thailand’s so-called ‘Rose of the North’” – Chiang Mai by Hotels.com

Back to the main city, there's a ton of things to do in the Old City. But I would recommend branching out from there. There's a really cool neighborhood called Nimman. This place is where all the university students hang out. There are tons of really cool restaurants and bars and lots of different little cafes for you to slip into. There are a lot of expats live in this neighborhood, so if you're looking for a place to stay a little bit more long term basis, you can find apartments here.
​
I really love this neighborhood, and it's cool to visit too, so check it out. Also there are a lot of great restaurants here where you can have local Thai food. There's a unique quality about Thai food that you don't necessarily get in the time that we do in the West. 

 Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
​
You'll love that you walk around Chiang Mai, you'll really notice the high density of temples. There are temples everywhere. The most famous one is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. There is a temple up there that has fantastic views of Chiang Mai, and the Chinese, or the stupa is magical. It's very very special, and is usually full of tourists. But this was my favorite, so we saved the best for last because I love this experience. 

Visit the Elephants

Elephants are the symbol of the city. it's a tremendous experience. But make sure you visit sancutaries where they’re ethical and treat elephants nicely. Check out this site  for more details of where you can meet these friendly elephants!

Is Chiang Mai safe for solo travel?

The questions I get asked a lot is do you feel safe walking around at night in Chiang Mai, especially when you're a foreigner in a new country. The answer to that question is YES. Thailand is a pretty safe country. Generally, there might be some theft, robberies and some break ins. So you have to watch your possessions carefully. But there’s less to worry about when it comes to serious crimes against foreigners.

So anyway let me know in the comments down below if you visited Chiang Mai, and if there's something I'm missing that you really enjoy, because I really want to come back here and have new experiences, and I'm sure other people will find it helpful. 

Where to Stay in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is quite a large place, with a lot of choice when it comes to hotels. Narrowing a choice of hundreds of properties down to just the one that’s perfect for you can be a challenge, but we think we can make it easier for you. We’ve picked out the best places in Chiang Mai according to a variety of budgets, locations and styles, so you can find the best hotel for your needs and preferences.

Agoda offers great rates in Asia hotels.
Click here or the banner below to book your stay in Chiang Mai to enjoy your trip now! 

​Related Blog Posts
Best Weekend Getaways from Bangkok
Where to Stay in Bangkok : Best neighborhood
Best Travel Book List : Life-changing travel books