What to do in Chiang Mai: 17 activities not to be missed!

What to visit in Chiang Mai? The city offers a multitude of activities, here are the main ones not to be missed during your stay in the Rose of the North.

This is my favourite big Thai city, a pedestrian-friendly city where the people are particularly welcoming.

For information on the city see our article :
Chiang Mai: the complete guide

The Temples

The beauty of Chiang Mai's temples will not leave you indifferent, here are the most important temples to discover in the city or in the surroundings.

1. Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

The Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a magnificent temple, a must see, it is located 15 kilometres away, on the heights of Chiang Mai.

From the temple there is an impressive view of the city and unfortunately also of the pollution.

See article: the Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

2. Wat Chiang Man

Wat Chiang Man

Wat Chiang Man is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai.

King Mengrai lived there at the time of the city's construction.

It houses two statues of Buddha Phra Sila (a marble Buddha) and Phra Satang Man (a crystal Buddha).

3. Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh

It is located within the city walls, dating from 1345, this temple is an example of classical architecture in northern Thailand.

It houses the Phra Singh Buddha, a highly venerated image transferred here several years ago from Chiang Rai.

It is built entirely of wood.

4. Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Chedi Luang (วัดเจดีย์หลวง), the temple of the great stupa, was founded in 1401.

It is dominated by a large chedi of the type Lannawhich was built over several years.

An earthquake damaged it in the 16th century, and only the lower two-thirds are still visible.

Originally, the complex consisted of three temples, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Ho Tham and Wat Sukmin.

5. Wiang KumKam

Wiang KumKam

Wiang KumKam is the site of an old town on the southern outskirts of Chiang Mai.

King Mengrai lived there for ten years before the foundation of Chiang Mai.

The site has a large number of ruined temples.

6. Wat U Mong

Wat U Mong

Wat U-Mong is a forest temple in a cave in the hills west of the city, near theChiang Mai University.

Wat U-Mong is known for its fasting Buddha image and hundreds of Buddhist proverbs in English and Thai displayed on trees around the site.

7. Wat Suan Dork

Wat Suan Dork

Wat Suan Dork is a 14th century temple located just west of the old city walls.

It was built by King Lanna for a revered monk from Sukhothai as a residence during his rainy season retreat.

The name of the temple suan dork means "flower garden".

It has several unique features, including the large ordination hall.

It is unusual not only for its size, but also for the fact that it is open on the sides rather than fully enclosed.

Another feature of the temple is the large number of chedis housing the funerary ashes of the rulers of Chiang Mai.

This temple is also the seat of one of the most important monastic universities in Thailand, the Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya Buddhist University.

The museums

8. The Thai Traditional House Museum

Museum of Traditional Thai Houses

For architecture enthusiasts, this space allows you to see the different styles of wooden house construction in the Lanna culture.

See our article :
Museum of Traditional Thai Houses

9. The Tribal Museum

Tribal Museum

This ethnological museum, located a little outside the city in a beautiful park, introduces us to the culture of the nine main mountain tribes of the North:

the Karen, Hmong, Yao, and Lisus, the AkhaThe Lahu, Lau, Thin, and Khamu.

Open to the public every day from 09.00 to 16.00 except on Saturdays, Sundays and during the holidays.

Tel: +66 (0) 53 21 08 72
Address: Lanna Rama 9 Park, Chotana Rd, Chiang-Mai 50300, Thailand

10. The Art in Paradise Museum

If you want to create a buzz on social networks, you can go and visit this illusion museum. The kids will love it!

Address: 199/9 Chang Khlan Rd, Chiang Mai 50200

Website : artinparadise.com

The markets

11. Warorot Market

Warorot Market

It is the biggest market in the city, with all kinds of products: food, handicrafts, clothes...

If you want hats, bags or clothing from the mountain tribes this is the place to buy them!

It is also an important flower market.

It is located on the banks of the Mae Ping River.

12. The Night Bazaar

The Night Bazaar

It is a market mainly for tourists, you can find beautiful objects there but rarely at the best price!

On the other hand there are many delicious food stalls with local specialities, nice restaurants and bars and sometimes entertainment (dancing), Thai boxing…).

It is located in the centre of the city on Chang Klan road and is open every day from 6pm to midnight.

13. The Sunday night market

Sunday night market

You will find handicrafts, clothes, sculptures, perfumes, lots and lots of things at good prices, which is why it attracts so many people.

As the name suggests, it takes place every Sunday evening on Rajdamnoen Street near Tha Pae gate from 5pm to 11pm.

14. Festivals and celebrations

Some Thai festivals and celebrations are particularly impressive in Chiang Mai, such as the Loy Kratong or Festival of Lights and the SongKran or Thai New YearIt is a student, festive and international city.

If you are in the area on the first weekend of February, don't miss the flower festival:

Flower Festival

See : Chiang Mai Flower Festival or Flower Festival

15. The delicious cuisine of the north

Chiang Mai is also famous for its food, which is a mixture of Thai, Chinese, Lao and Burmese cuisine.

If I had only one dish to recommend, it would be this one:

The Khao Soy

A delicious noodle soup with curry that is a specialty of northern Thailand.
See the recipe for Khao Soy

Khao Soy

16. Chiang Mai Zoo

Koala at Chiang Mai Zoo

It is a zoological park with over 7,000 species of animals in a large area that also includes an aquarium.

See our article : Chiang Mai Zoo

17. Nightlife: where to go out at night in Chiang Mai

There is no shortage of places to go, between the bars and restaurants of the night bazaar, the hot district of Loi Khro, the numerous discotheques...

But there is one place that attracts many people:

Zoe In Yellow

Zoe In Yellow

This is the most famous place to party, with a whole range of bars, restaurants and discos open until very late at night.

There are also many food stalls or trolleys, which come around in the evening, if you like banana and nutella pancakes!

The atmosphere starts around 11 o'clock in the evening and is truly international.

The Yellow Zone is located in the corner of Ratvithi and Ratchaphakhinai.

Guided tours

What to do in Chiang Mai: video

A very well done video in English to discover the top things to do in Chiang Mai:

Source :Photos : Wat Chiang Man : Adam Carr ; Wat Chedi Luang : Yves LC ; Street food : Steve Evans ; Umbelliferae at the Sunday night market : Steve Evans; Sunday night market: Takeaway; Wat Suan Dork: Francesca Doi Suthep Temple: jpatokal; Art in Paradise: Mariamichelle Wat Phra Singh: Kokunut555; Wiang KumKam: Mathew Schwartz: U Mong: Panupong Roopyai; Tribal Museum: FredTC; Warorot Market: DTT; Yellow bar: entrusttefl.com