Chiang Mai is a really fun city with tons of activities, cozy restaurants and fine accommodations. Whether you feel like doing a water activity, touring by motorbike, visiting temples or learning Thai cooking: there is a lot you can do in Chiang Mai. Discover the 18 best things to do in Chiang Mai (and surrounding areas) here.
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Within Chiang Mai’s beautiful city walls you will find the Old Town with atmospheric restaurants, quaint souvenir shops and cozy cafes with live music. It is a great place to walk around here in the evening and enjoy all the beauty. Below we will elaborate on the question, “What to do in Chiang Mai?” Featuring the 18 best things to do in Chiang Mai.
1. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
This is the most famous temple in Chiang Mai. From the city you motorbike uphill in 30 minutes to arrive at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Doi Suthep for short. The road is very good and the route winds uphill. Driving the motorbike around here is already a fun activity. From the parking lot, which is very touristy, you can easily walk up the 305 steps to the temple and the viewpoint.
Be sure to carry covering clothes: for women, knees and shoulders should be covered. In addition, do not wear a shirt with a low neck.
Be aware that if you drive out of Chiang Mai, there is a good chance you will run into a police trap. Here you must show your international driver’s license with the stamp that you hold a motorcycle license. Don’t you have this? Then you will be fined 500 baht. With the piece of paper from the fine, you may then drive around again for 3 days without being able to get another fine. However, if you do not have a motorcycle license, you are also driving around uninsured. In the event of an accident, insurance will not reimburse anything. Therefore, think carefully before renting a motorbike and read all the detailed information about renting a motorbike in Asia in this blog.
If you prefer not to rent a motorbike, you can also take a cab to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Red cabs are all over Chiang Mai and you can hail one to drive you, along with others, to the temple.
2. Cooking course in Chiang MaI
Chiang Mai is known for its delicious food (like the rest of Thailand, of course). How nice would it be if you could make some of these amazing dishes at home? Therefore, one of the most enjoyable activities in Chiang Mai, as far as we are concerned, is to take a cooking class.
In the cooking course, you will first be taken to a local market where you will be explained the different ingredients you will be using later. After this, you will also get some explanation about the herbs. After that, it’s time to cook! You get to choose what kind of dishes you want to make, for example, green, red, massaman or penang curry. You will be helped by the experienced chefs of the cooking school who will guide you step by step when to put which ingredient in the pan.
At the end, of course, you get to eat everything yourself. You now taste the truly fresh flavors and you will be amazed at your own cooking skills. The nicest cooking classes in Chiang Mai are these from Grandma’s Cooking School, Zabb E Lee and Smile Organic Farm.
3. Grand Canyon water park
Do you fancy a water activity in hot Chiang Mai? Then be sure to visit the Grand Canyon water park. It is located in a beautiful spot in nature and you will have the greatest fun on the water here. Jump and climb over the obstacles and be sure to keep your balance on the slippery obstacle course. It is a huge fun outing for young and old, definitely recommended with children. Book your tickets to the Grand Canyon Waterpark here.
4. Chiang Mai Night Market
Chiang Mai is known for its many night markets. One night market is mainly about good food while the other focuses on souvenirs. Below we list the most famous night markets in Chiang Mai that you definitely want to visit.
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar ~ souvenirs
At the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, you’ll find mostly souvenirs. From jewelry to purses to beautiful paintings to clothing, you’ll find it all here. If you still have room in your suitcase or backpack, you can have fun here for hours.
Street Food & Kalare Night Market
This night market is mainly about street food and good food. Each stall sells something different: sushi, pad thai, curry, stir fried dishes, Mexican and desserts. You can also score a nice drink here and often live music is played. Good to know: the dishes are all very inexpensive. You often pay between 50 and 80 baht per dish.
Sunday Walking Street
Every Sunday in the afternoon, this entire street is transformed into one big night market. Food, souvenirs, clothing, you can’t think of anything or you’ll find it here. Are you in Chiang Mai on a Sunday? Then don’t miss this night market. The Google Maps location can be found here.
Wua Lai Walking Street
This is a lesser-known night market in Chiang Mai but also well worth a visit. Along the street you will find numerous stalls selling food, drinks and souvenirs. You’ll also mostly find many more locals here than at the other night markets. The Google Maps location can be found here.
5. Zipline in Chiang Mai
What could be more fun than ziplining from tree to tree in the middle of the beautiful nature of Northern Thailand? We love ziplining immensely and it is also a fantastic activity in Chiang Mai. There are many providers for ziplining in Chiang Mai but we think this provider is the best. Book your tickets for ziplining in Chiang Mai here.
6. Visit the temples of Chiang Mai
There are SO many temples to be found in Chiang Mai. In the old town alone, you will come across dozens of them. We have listed the most beautiful and most visited ones for you below.
Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Chedi Luang is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. You’ll find this ancient temple right in the middle of the old town in Chiang Mai. Once the insanely huge stupa of Wat Chedi Luang was as high as 80 meters. Unfortunately, during an earthquake in the 16th century, the stupa was damaged and half collapsed, giving it a slightly less imposing appearance today. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended to visit during your stay in Chiang Mai.
You pay 50 baht (€1.20) admission per person and you can walk around here for at least an hour.
What Rajamontean
This beautiful temple is located north of the old city, still just inside the city walls. The temple is not typically Thai, which is probably because many of the monks came over from Laos.
Admission to Wat Rajamontean is free.
What Lok Moli
Wat Lok Moli is directly opposite the previous temple, Wat Rajamontean. This temple has two parts: one part where you actually walk in and see the Buddha statues and one part where you enter the monks’ compound. Here you may behold the special statue built in the middle.
Admission to Wat Lok Moli is free.
Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan
Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan is locally called Wat Phra Singh, conveniently. This temples is, in our opinion, one of the most beautiful in Chiang Mai, with a special story. In 1925, three urns believed to contain ashes of the royal family were discovered here. After this, however, these urns were not recovered. A visit to Wat Phra Singh is really worthwhile during your visit to Chiang Mai.
Admission to Wat Phra Singh is free.
Wat Chiang Man
This is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. You will find a huge number of Buddha statues, gold and various details. It is a beautiful temple to walk around in for half an hour.
Admission to Wat Chiang Man is free.
7. Great night out at the Ladyboy Cabaret
One of the highlights of Chiang Mai’s nightlife is the Ladyboy Cabaret. Every night at 9:30 p.m. the 1.5-hour show starts where the beautiful women/ladyboys with dance, humor and a touch of sexy will make you experience a fantastic evening. If you arrive at 9:25 p.m. it’s early enough, the show often doesn’t start until between 9:30 and 9:40 p.m. Admission costs 380 baht and you get one drink free.
8. Going out at Zoë in Yellow
The other nightlife highlight in Chiang Mai is Zoë in Yellow. This is the most popular place for backpackers to have a drink and then go out. Make sure you get there a little early because the music goes out as early as 01:00. Ideally, then you can be back on the road the next day fit for the best activities in Chiang Mai.
9. Doi Inthanon National Park
Doi Inthanon National Park is often skipped by travelers because it is a lot further away from Chiang Mai. About a 2-hour motorbike drive away you will find this National Park. We definitely do not recommend visiting the Doi Inthanon National Park with a day tour because you will really be doing a lot of driving. Rather, rent a motorbike and make it a two-day trip.
In Doi Inthanon National Park, you can drive to Thailand’s highest mountain. On top of this mountain you will find two, almost identical, temples. We did not find the temples themselves very special. Surrounding it is a garden where domestic and foreign tourists enjoy having a photo shoot. All in all, we didn’t find it very special, but on a clear day you do have a spectacular view of the valley from here.
You can easily rent a motorbike in Chiang Mai and take a two-day tour to Doi Inthanon. Or if you really have plenty of time, riding the Mae Hong Son Loop is hugely recommended. Then you will also spend 1 or 2 days in Doi Inthanon. Read more about the Mae Hong Son Loop and all the activities in Doi Inthanon in this article. Would you rather go for one day anyway? Then you can book this tour, which will take you past the most beautiful places in Doi Inthanon. You won’t have to drive back by yourself in the dark, which we certainly wouldn’t recommend.
10. Sticky Waterfall
The Sticky Waterfalls are a huge recommendation to visit from Chiang Mai. It is a long drive (over an hour) but it is completely worth it. In fact, at the Sticky Waterfalls you can climb the waterfall on your bare feet, how special! This is because the water flowing over the rocks leaves a calcium-rich mineral layer, which prevents algae from growing. As a result, the white rocks have tremendous grip and have been nicknamed “sticky. There are some green rocks with algae growing on them and they are slippery, so be careful with this.
There are four different levels of the waterfall. You will see a sign at each level. We recommend descending to level 3 and setting down your gear here. From here you can easily climb and also descend the waterfall. At the steep sections there are ropes you can use to pull yourself up easily.
The Sticky Waterfalls are really a fun activity to do when you are in Chiang Mai. Most tourists keep their clothes on, since they are going to climb the waterfall alone, then you won’t get too wet. Still, it may be wise to bring swimwear because the water is wonderfully cooling. Admission is free and it is recommended to go early (08:00 from Chiang Mai drive away), that way you will be ahead of the big tourist crowds.
If you prefer not to drive the motorbike yourself, you can also join a tour. The minivan will pick you up at your hotel in Chiang Mai and take you and a fun guide to the Sticky Waterfall. The guide gives some explanations about the waterfall and takes a huge number of nice pictures of you afterward. After you have clambered enough over the waterfall you will enjoy a delicious lunch before being taken back to Chiang Mai, highly recommend this tour!
11. Visit the Chiang Dao Cave
If you have been to the Sticky Waterfall, it is recommended that you drive on to the Chiang Dao Cave. The Chiang Dao Cave Temple is a limestone cave and Buddhist temple located on the fourth highest mountain in Thailand. Inside the cave you will find, among other things, a sleeping Buddha and many beautiful images. If you enjoy learning more background information, you can also hire a guide. In this way, you also immediately support the local population.
12. Don’t visit Elephant Nature Park
Elephant Nature Park is known as one of the best elephant sanctuaries in Thailand. You are not allowed to wash, feed or touch the elephants here. This sounds very good, of course, and it certainly is. Unfortunately, you are allowed to walk among the elephants here, at an appropriate distance, but you can get very close, really to just over a meter. This is not okay and we do not want to support or recommend this in any way. It is one of the best elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, but this does not mean it is really the very best for the elephants.
We always advise against visiting such places. Rather, go on safari in Khao Yai National Park, Kui Buri National Park or Khao Sok where you can spot truly wild elephants without them bothering you. Of course, everyone holds his or her own opinion on this; this is ours. We always recommend that if you want to see wildlife, go to a country or place where you can actually see them in the wild.
This way you can be sure that you are not supporting bad practices. For example, consider a trip to Sri Lanka, where you can do several insane safaris. Or of course South Africa or Tanzania, where you can also do amazing safaris. Again, this is our opinion and we only hope to inform everyone properly.
13. Jungle trekking from Chiang Mai
There are a huge number of jungle treks that can be booked from Chiang Mai. You can opt for a one-day tour but there are also tours where you go out for several days in a row. In that case, you sleep in the homes of locals, very basic but definitely cool to do once. The guide will introduce you to the nature around Chiang Mai and explain local life. It is immensely interesting and recommended to do a jungle trekking in Chiang Mai. You can book the jungle trek through Getyourguide but you can also visit one of the many tourist offices in Chiang Mai to discuss your requirements.
14. Pha Chor Canyon
At this canyon you will find no water activity but spectacular scenery where you can hike. The Pha Chor Canyon is on the road to Doi Inthanon, an hour’s drive from Chiang Mai.
Make sure you get to Pha Chor Canyon early. During the day it gets hot quickly, the sun is really burning here. From the parking lot, it is a short climb to a viewpoint. Other than that, it’s just a beautiful area to take a nice walk or sit quietly. If you don’t feel like walking far, parking in parking lot 3 is recommended.
You pay 100 baht per foreign adult. In addition, you pay 20 baht if you come by motorbike or car.
15. Three Kings Monument
The Three Kings Monument enthrones the three kings who are considered the creators of Chiang Mai. From left to right, you can see Phaya Ngam Muang, Phaya Mangrai and Phaya Ruang on the image. You’ll find the Three Kings Monument in the heart of Chiang Mai, near the cultural center and city hall. You can find the Google Maps location here.
16. Art in Paradise Chiang Mai
This is a super fun museum to walk around in for an hour. You will find 3D images and various optical illusions. The Art in Paradise museum is especially recommended on a rainy day in Chiang Mai and if you are traveling with children, this is also perfect. They will have the greatest fun.
Admission is very expensive, though: 460 baht for an adult. Tip: Book your ticket through this link to pay only 400 baht. Children and the elderly pay 240 baht.
17. Quad Riding
Do you fancy an activity full of adrenaline? Then quad biking is perfect for you. Through nature, over hills and through mud you tear through the quad. You can choose how long you want to ride the quad. We recommend choosing at least one hour. At first it is rather uncomfortable but after a while you get the hang of it and then it is a shame when it ends so soon.
Tickets for quad biking in Chiang Mai can be purchased through this site.
18. Mae Hong Son Loop
The Mae Hong Son Loop is a crazy 800-kilometer route through northern Thailand. It is a run that officially begins and ends in Chiang Mai. Along the way, you’ll pass all the local villages, beautiful viewpoints and through rice fields. You can ride the loop in 5 days, but we actually recommend 7 days. This way you can really see all the beauty and don’t have to rush.
After 5, 6 or 7 days of driving, you will arrive in Pai. Pai is a delightful mountain village, even further north than Chiang Mai. Pai is mainly known for its laid-back life but there are also quite a few fun activities to be found.
After visiting Pai, you can drive the motorbike back to Chiang Mai to continue your travels. The route from Pai to Chiang Mai is again really beautiful and there are also some nice stops where you can rest.
How to get to Chiang Mai?
From Bangkok or Ayutthaya, you can easily catch the night train to Chiang Mai. You board the train in the evening and get off in Chiang Mai the next morning. This way you save an overnight stay and you can do something in Chiang Mai the day after, ideal! Read all about the night train here.
It is also possible to fly to Chiang Mai. Especially if you are coming from Ao Nang / Krabi or Phuket, this is recommended.
The best restaurants in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has almost only nice restaurants. We could list a comprehensive list here right now, but there are so many cute and cozy restaurants that this would be a hopeless task. We recommend just walking around Chiang Mai Old Town in the evening and sitting down at a restaurant that looks nice. Everywhere in Chiang Mai they have spectacularly good food so that’s fine.
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