The complete guide to discover Chiang Mai, know when to go, transport, all useful information to prepare your trip.
Chiang Mai is a multicultural city, composed of Thai, mountain people and foreign visitors from Asia or the West to discover a beautiful region and its craftsmanship renowned throughout the world.
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Description
It is the 6th largest city in Thailandan important cultural centre and the capital of the Chiang Mai province (in yellow on the map).
It is a student city as well as a tourist mecca, offering many attractions for its thousands of Thai and foreign visitors.
Chiang Mai's fame is not new and comes from its strategic location on the ancient Silk Road.
Long before the arrival of foreign tourists it was already an important centre for handicrafts, umbrellas, silver jewellery and wooden sculptures.
Chiang Mai province has a population of about 1.6 million, of which about 700,000 are in Chiang Mai city.
Chiang Mai is located 681 kilometres north of Bangkokamong the highest mountains in the country.
The city is located on the banks of the Ping River (Mae nam Ping in Thai), an important tributary of the Chao Phraya River.
Akha girls in Chiang Mai
When to go to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has a humid and dry tropical climate.
It is warm all year round during the day but nights can be quite cool between December and March.
Average temperature in Chiang Mai
The seasons
There are 3 seasons, the hot season, the rainy season and the cool season.
The hot season
It lasts from March to June with daily temperatures between 30 and 35°C and occasional storms.
The climate in the city becomes very dry and the air can be polluted by smoke from burning crops (for exploitation).
This is the least recommended time of year to visit the region and is not recommended for people with respiratory problems such as asthma.
The rainy season
It starts in July and ends in September.
But you should know that it doesn't rain every day, it's often heavy showers but they don't last long.
The cool season
It lasts from October to February, which is a good time to visit the north of the country.
It is also the high tourist season.
But the evenings can be a bit chilly, so a light jacket or jumper is recommended.
You can follow the weather for the main regions of Thailand here:
Weather in Thailand : 6 day forecast + Climate and Seasons
See also :
When to go to Thailand?
History
King Mengrai founded Chiang Mai (meaning "new city") on 12 April 1296, it succeeded Chiang Rai as the capital of the Lanna kingdom.
Mengrai had a moat and wall built around the town to protect it from Burmese attacks.
The city lost its importance during the decline of the Lanna kingdom, and was often occupied by the Burmese or by the Thais of the kingdom ofAyutthaya.
Between 1546 and 1556 it was united with the Lan Xang kingdom and ruled by King Setthathirath, then came under the rule of the Burmese Taungu dynasty from 1558 to 1725.
During the war against the Burmese Konbaung Dynasty, Chiang Mai was deserted and remained abandoned for fifteen years (1776 - 1791).
Lampang was the capital of what remained of the Lanna kingdom during this period.
Chiang Mai became part of Siam in 1774, when King Taksin took it back from the Burmese.
The city then rebuilt itself both culturally and economically to become the capital of northern Thailand, the second largest city after Bangkok.
What to see and do in Chiang Mai
The city has no shortage of attractions and places to visit.
The old town
Tapae gate
Often considered the main attraction, the old town is the beating heart of Chiang Mai.
Surrounded by the old city walls, the area is home to countless cafés, restaurants, hotels and discos.
Chiang Mai National Museum
Chiang Mai National Museum
The old town is home to the Chiang Mai National Museum - over 700 years old, this museum is dedicated to the history, nature and culture of the city.
Museum address: 451 Chang Phueak, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
Wat Chiang Man
Wat Chiang Man
This is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, it was established in 1296 when the city was founded and served as the residence of King Mengrai.
A city for gourmets
Chiang Mai is also famous for its food, which is a mixture of Thai, Chinese, Lao and Burmese cuisine.
The Michelin Guide 2020 has classified seventeen restaurants as "Offre Gourmande" and another 33 as "Assiette Michelin".
You will find the list of the 50 restaurants on this page: guide.michelin.com
Other attractions in Chiang Mai
What to see and do in Chiang Mai: activities not to be missed!
Guided tours
Find a hotel in Chiang Mai
You'll have no trouble finding hotel accommodation, but if you're coming between November and February, Thailand's peak season, it's best to book in advance.
You can find the best hotel deals in Chiang Mai with Booking.com
Transport
You can book your plane, bus, train or boat tickets via our partner 12go.asia :
How to get to or from Chiang Mai
See also our article :
Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train, bus or plane
By bus
From Bangkok you have to go to Mo Chit bus station, you can also find buses from Kao San Road, but they have a bad reputation.
By train
You can reach Chiang Mai by train from Bangkok (Hua Lamphong station).
If you leave Bangkok with the 6pm night train you will arrive around 8am.
By air
You can find the lowest long-haul flight prices to Chiang Mai by comparing periods with Skyscanner.
There are regular flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai from Don Muang or Suvarnabhumi airports, with low cost tickets available for around 1000 baht.
You will find links to the low cost company websites on :
Transport in Thailand, getting around by plane
Getting around Chiang Mai
Free tourist maps of the city and surrounding area, in English and Thai, are available in hotels and guesthouses.
They are very useful for indicating the exact destination to a driver.
To get around the city you can choose between :
The Tuk-Tuk
A rather expensive transport which costs between 50 and 100 baht depending on the distance and the time of day.
The red collective taxi
The red collective taxi, called Songthaew
Also called Songthaew (meaning "2 benches") or Silor (meaning "4 wheels").
The easiest and cheapest way to get around, the ride costs 20 baht per person when staying in the city.
The taxi drops off the various customers along a route that it defines and adjusts according to the requests.
The scooter
It rents from 150 to 250 baht per day (depending on the model and engine size).
To be reserved for those who are used to 2-wheelers. Insurance is included but minimal.
It is better to leave a photocopy of your passport and a deposit with the rental company than to leave the original passport, because if the scooter is damaged, the rental company may give you a hard time.
A word of advice: if you have to repair your car, it is better to do it yourself at your own expense in one of the many small garages in the city, as sometimes the rental companies will try to rip you off.
And don't forget that the biggest danger in Thailand is the road, be careful!
See :
Thailand is the world champion in two-wheeler deaths, insurance companies refuse to pay!
The taxi-meter
There are a few, to be used only for long distances.
The bus
It is the cheapest way to travel but it is also the most complicated for foreigners who do not speak Thai.
On foot
Compared to other cities, it is quite easy to get around the centre on foot.
Make sure you use the stop buttons on red lights before crossing, there are many drivers!
Photos of Chiang Mai
Video on Chiang Mai
A nice little video about life in the city:
Maps of Chiang Mai
Google map
Source: wikitravel.org Photos: Chiang Mai Old Wall: Martin-Manuel Beaulne; Chiang Mai Old Town: Bjørn Erik Pedersen; Tuk tuk: Brownie13; Chiang Mai Railway Station: Manop; Baan Haw Mosque: Iceway12; Chiang Mai Street: Bình Giang; Red Songtaew: Kenneth Robert; Police Tuk tuk: Takeaway; Akha girls: Naturepost
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