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Must-see places in Chiang Mai
Things to see and do in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, the northern capital and its 300 temples is also a gateway to the nature, the jungle and the hill tribes. It is the starting point for many treks but the city itself with its historic center surrounded by ramparts and moats also has a lot of charm. The most famous place in Chiang Mai is the Doi Suthep temple. Its night bazaar is also very popular with tourists.At the end of the page, I have also listed some good tours, excursions and activities you can do in or from Chiang Mai. Click here to see them.
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Map of sights in Chiang Mai
Must-sees Other sights
Must-visit places in Chiang Mai
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
วัดพระธาตุดอยสุเทพMy opinion : 5/5
A must see. On the top of a mountain, it is the most famous temple in the area. It is very popular with the thais and of course tourists and offers a magnificent view (often more clear in late afternoon) on Chiang Mai
Wat Phra Singh
วัดพระสิงห์My opinion : 5/5
The most visited temple in the city, it is a perfect illustration of the nothern architectural style
Sunday Walking Street
ถนนคนเดินเชียงใหม่ วันอาทิตย์My opinion : 4/5
This big night market takes place every Sunday night in the center of Chiang Mai including food stands in two temples. A popular ambience. We really suggest you to go even if you will not be alone !
Doi Inthanon
อุทยานแห่งชาติดอยอินทนนท์My opinion : 5/5
It is the highest mountain in Thailand and also one very interesting national park near Chiang Mai's. People like to go there especially for treks, discovering nature, birds, flowers, waterfalls, mountain villages and rice fields. And of course the two pagodas on the summit.
Wat Palad
วัดผาลาดMy opinion : 5/5
is a charming forest temple with superb refined statues and a quiet and pleasant atmosphere. A small haven of peace often ignored by the many tourists who pass right by each day in their ascent to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep a few kilometers higher.
Saturday Walking Street
ถนนคนเดินวัวลายMy opinion : 5/5
Big night market a little less known than Sunday Walking Street, Chiang Mai Saturday Walking Street also attracts a lot of people and allows you to do a little shopping and have dinner by tasting the local cuisine at the very numerous stalls and street restaurants. The neighboring Silver Temple is also superbly lit and open to the public these evenings.
Silver Temple
วัดศรีสุพรรณMy opinion : 5/5
As its name suggests this temple is known for its hall covered internally and externally with silver finely carved or engraved. It is particularly beautiful at night with its colorful illuminations. Next to Saturday Walking Street, it's worth visiting it at the same time you enjoy the traditional Saturday pedestrian street in Chiang Mai.
Ban Pa Pong Piang rice terraces
บ้านป่าบงเปียงMy opinion : 5/5
This tiny village in the mountains of Doi Inthanon has, it is said, the most beautiful rice terraces in Thailand. I do not know if it is true but yes, they are superb. Staying up there in spartan conditions is one of the most beautiful experiences you can experience in Chiang Mai province during the rainy season.
San Kamphaeng Hot Springs
น้ำพุร้อนสันกำแพงMy opinion : 5/5
These naturally warm water sources are probably the most famous hots srpings among those close to Chiang Mai. You can soak your feet in the hot mineral water, cook eggs, or bathe fully and swim in the hot mineral water pool and get a massage of course. A nice relaxing outing!
Bo Sang Umbrella making village
บ่อสร้างMy opinion : 4/5
This village a few kilometers from Chiang Mai is famous for its traditional umbrella making. Throughout the year, you can go there and visit the workshops to see all the stages of the confection and in January is held a big festival. In the village, umbrellas are ubiquitous but there are also workshops of silver work, wood carving...
Elephant Nature Park
My opinion : 5/5
It is the elephant sanctuary of reference in Thailand. There, you are sure to live a beautiful and respectful encounter with elephants. Because even if things slowly change (thanks to the work of Lek Chailert the founder of the park and the people she gathered around her), there are still many elephant camps or so-called sanctuaries where animal welfare is not a concern.
Straw King Kong statues
คิงคองฟางยักษ์My opinion : 4/5
These giant King Kong statues built with rice straw became in a few months one of the great curiosities in Chiang Mai. They are installed near Huay Thung Tao Lake about ten kilometers from the city.
Sticky Waterfall (Bua Thong waterfall)
น้ำตกบัวตองMy opinion : 4/5
The Bua Thong waterfall, a 1-hour drive from Chiang Mai city is nicknamed Sticky Waterfall because of its naturally gripping coating which allows you to climb it by its bed very easily. That's also why people go to visit it: to climb the waterfall!Find a room in Chiang Mai
Other places worth visiting in Chiang Mai
Wat Chedi Luang
with its beautiful chedi. Here, you can meet and chat with buddhists monks in a dedicated spacee
Wat Luang Khun Win
This temple lost in the jungle more than a 1h30 drive from Chiang Mai is a real little hidden gem that for the moment very few foreign tourists know about and yet it is worth a visit. Be careful, its access is a bit complicated, especially the last 5 kilometers of a dirt track in the forest.
Wat Ched Yod
just a little outside of town on the the highway,he has beautifully preserved stucco carvings.
Wat U-Mong
(the one just outside the city. There is another temple with the same name attractive in the city center ). In the forest, with underground sanctuaries, in the nature and with one little lake, Wat U Mong is a very relaxing place.
Huay Thung Tao Lake
This reservoir with mountains in the background is located about ten kilometers from the center of Chiang Mai and is a good place to relax with family, enjoy the lake and its activities (swimming, pedal boats, kayak ...) and eat good food. The restaurants serve very good Thai food at very affordable prices that you eat in small huts.
Wat Phra That Doi Saket
This temple stands on a hill 27 kilometers outside Chiang Mai and looks a bit like Wat Phra That Doi Suthep with its golden chedi but is smaller and less touristy. A little further up, there is a temple which offers a magnificent view of the surroundings especially during the rainy season.
Muang On Cave
The interior of this cave on the road from Chiang Mai to San Kamphaeng Hot Springs is really impressive. This is a stop that I recommend you to do before diving into the hot mineral water pool a few kilometers further or when you go to see Bo Sang handicraft village.
Wat Ban Den
This gigantic temple about fifty kilometers from Chiang Mai city located in the Mae Taeng district is quite famous. There are many buildings and amazing statues sometimes flashy colors. Many people say it is the most beautiful temple in the area. I have a different opinion but go there to make yours.
Wiang Kum Kam
Wiang Kum Kam is an ancient city in which there are ruins of temples that are 5 or 6 centuries old and others a little more recent. It is especially a god site for bike rides in its small streets, to discover its temples. Little known to tourists, this is not a must visit in Chiang Mai but a place that I personally like.
Fire massage village (Yam Khang massage)
The small village of Ban Rai Kong Khing is famous for an astonishing type of massage practiced by very, very few people: Yam Khang massage. Nicknamed fire massage, it is impressive but also has recognized virtues. The village, organized as a community, also offers other activities including cooking classes
Chiang Mai Zoo
just before the several kilometers rise up to the Doi Suthep mountain, it mainly famous because of its pandas couple and their baby. It is very large and has many animal species.
Wat Pan Tao
and its magnificent Lanna style teak building which was a royal residence before being transformed into a temple.
Wat Chiang Man
this is the first temple built in Chiang Mai and therefore the oldest one in the city.
Wat Lok Molee
small temple that is often missed but has a large brick chedi and beautiful a wooden hall.
Wat Phra That Doi Kham
This temple full of charm is perched on a mountain and little known by foreign tourists. But is quite interesting and offers among other things a beautiful view over the valley where you can see the Royal Park Rajapruek. A nice place to couple with the visit of Rajapruek floral park .
Royal Park Rajapruek
This large floral park dedicated to King Rama IX is about ten kilometers from Chiang Mai. There are many plants and flowers including a charming orchid garden. The best time to visit it is from December to February when many flowers are blooming. You will also find a nice royal pavilion there.
Huay Kaew Waterfall
It is the easiest waterfall to reach from Chiang Mai city. Located at the foot of the Doi Suthep mount, it can be a pleasant stop after visiting the perched temple. Just be aware that at the end of the dry season, the water level can be very low and therefore the waterfall far less interesting.
Grand Canyon
Natural Canyon filled with fresh water, 18 km from Chiang Mai, the place hosts two parks, a large waterpark with plenty of elements including inflatable ones and another quieter, more beautiful and cheaper where you can also swim and cross the canyon on a zippeline.
Wat Ton Kwen
This small temple and its wooden hall located about fifteen kilometers from Chiang Mai does not lack of charm. Very fe tourists go visit it. Foreigners are really not numerous to go there since many of whom are unaware of its existence but it is a nice quick stop to add on the road to Rajapruek Park or Wat Phra That Doi Kham.
Kuan Im Chokchai chinese temple
You will not find this surprising little Chinese temple in any travel book guide. However, it is worth visiting it for its dragon and tiger statues crossed by corridors with colorful murals. An amazing visit that may change to all what you saw during your stay in Chiang Mai...
Wat Muen Ngoen Kong
Little known temple but not lacking in charm. It has a lovely lanna-style ordination hall, a golden chedi and a reclining Buddha in one of its halls.
Elephant Poopoo Paper Park
It's a nice place to visit especially with kids that shows you its process of turning elephant dung into paper. You can get your hands dirty and there are workshops to create products based on this paper.
Khlong Mae Kha
A small portion of the Mae Kha Canal in the city of Chiang Mai has been cleaned up and renovated and became since 2021 one of the new popular places in the city. Not the most unmissable visit in Chiang Mai but a charming place that hosts more and more events.
Wat Suan Dok
not particularly interesting to visit but like in Wat Chedi Luang you can meet the monks to discuss with them
Bhubing Palace
The interior of this royal palace can not be visited but people come for its gardens, its rose garden, its reservoir, its winter flowers, its centenarian ferns... Not a must visit in my opinion but that will interest flowers and plants lovers and it is not far from Doi Suthep temple.
Warorot Market
It is the largest and most frequented market in Chiang Mai. On 3 floors in two large buildings separated by a street, there are many things to buy and tourists come for the curiosity to visit this amazing big market.
Pha Chor Grand Canyon
This canyon located a 1 hour drive from Chiang Mai. It is famous for its rocky walls with columns shaped by natural erosion over centuries. People sometimes call Pha Chor, the Grand Canyon of Thailand despite its rather modest dimensions.
Wat Buppharam
which has certainly a historical and architectural interest but is best remembered for his statue of Donald
Tours in Chiang Mai and around
This selection includes tours, excursions and activities in Chiang Mai that I have tested myself or that were tested by people I fully trust, as well as offers from agencies and websites known for their reliability and quality.
Comfortable immersion stay with the Karen hill tribe
Offered in English
Spend 2 days or 3 days immersed with the Karen hill tribe in a mountain village in a comfortable homestay. Share their daily life, their activities and meet the elephants in an ethical and respectable setting. An unforgettable and unique adventure !
Details & Booking
Immersive stay in a Karen mountain village
Offered in EnglishShare in the life of the Karen people in a small village nestled in the mountains of Chiang Mai. They will give you a glimpse into their simple rural life, close to nature, and introduce you to their culture, crafts, and cuisine. These are moments that will surely be highlights of your stay in Thailand.
Details & Booking
Two days trek at Doi Inthanon and Ban Pa Pong Piang (Chiang Mai)
Offered in EnglishDiscover the nature and life of the Karen hill tribe at Doi Inthanon mountains near Chiang Mai. This tour will also take you to see the most beautiful rice terraces in Thailand!
Details & Booking
Chiang Mai Sightseeing Tour: Tha Pae Gate, Wat Umong & Local Market
Offered in EnglishAmazing with at Chiang Mai, sightseeing around the town,famous Tha phae gate,visit local market and Wat Umong is unique because of its location in the forest and its system of tunnels. The serene and peaceful atmosphere at the 13th century
Details & Booking
Explore Doi Suthep & Wat Pha Lat
Offered in EnglishVisit Doi Suthep Temple, the most famous temple in Chiang Mai with exquisite Lanna architecture! You can also see the panoramic view of Chiang Mai from the top of the temple. Then, we'll visit Doi Pui National Park and the hidden temple called Wat Pha Lat Temple!
Details & Booking
Paramotor flight over the Chiang Mai countryside
Offered in EnglishFly over the stunning landscapes of Chiang Mai, mountain ridges, fields and rice paddies as far as the eye can see and enjoy a breathtaking view above the clouds. Paramotor flights during the day or at sunrise and sunset. A memorable experience in Chiang Mai!
Details & Booking
Two days trek on Doi Inthanon mountain with visit of a Karen village
Offered in EnglishDiscover the jungle and the mountains and the life of the Karen hill tribe during a 2-day trek on the highest mountain in Thailand. Tee your Karen English-speaking guide will also amaze you with its magic tricks!
Details & Booking
Sacred Jungle Trail Trek up to Doi Suthep Temple in Chiang Mai
Offered in EnglishTrek up to Doi Suthep temple, the most revered temple in Chiang Mai with a guide starting from the monk's trail and then plunging into the jungle. You will come across a forest temple and hidden waterfalls.
Details & Booking
Chiang Mai : Bua Tong Sticky Waterfalls and Picnic with a Local
Offered in EnglishSticky and pretty, the Bua Tong Waterfalls in Chiang Mai will surely give you a one-of-a-kind experience. Let's climb the Bua Tong limestone waterfalls and make a splash in the pool surrounded by greenery.
Details & Booking
Evening Street Food Walking Tour at Chiang Mai Gate
Offered in EnglishIf you’re in Chiang Mai, you might find at the Chiang Mai Gate the food stalls located on the south side of the Old City’s square moat. The Chiang Mai Gate food stalls come to life around 5-10 pm everyday, and I'll be taking you there! Let's go!
Details & Booking
Chiang Mai: Bamboo Rafting with Local Lunch
Offered in EnglishWe'll be taking an hour's drive from Chiang Mai to Mae Wang. We'll go up to the rafting river, which takes only about 30 minutes. One raft can take about 3-4 people depending on the weight. You can also go rafting by yourself or with a guide!
Details & Booking
Taste the 10 Must-Try Dishes in Chiang Mai
Offered in EnglishI'll take you to 10 local food places in Chiang Mai city selected by me, a true Local Expert through and through! I would love to show you what we eat in daily, so be ready to spend your extraordinary day tasting some extraordinary food!
Details & Booking
Alms Offering & Temple Hopping in Chiang Mai
Offered in EnglishIn this trip, we will follow the guidance of a local to give your offering to the monks in the early morning. Most of common gifts are included rice, fresh fruit and traditional dessert in the alms bowl. We will then go on the the most important temple hopping in Chiang Mai and discover the ancient days of this peaceful city.
Details & Booking
Travel Chiang Mai: Umbrella Village, Wood Carving Village & Unique Silver Temple
Offered in EnglishVisit Bo Sang umbrella making center in Sankampaeng, Silverware and Thai silk. You can do tattoo painting or buy unique T-shirt or mobile phone case for artists to paint or create in 10 minutes. Wood carving at Baan Tawai. And visit stunning Silver Temple.
Details & Booking
Private 3-Hour Vegetable and Fruit Carving Class in Chiang Mai!
Offered in EnglishCome and experience Thai vegetable and fruit carving arts during this 3-hour private class in Chiang Mai! You'll learn about traditional Thai carving techniques and have fun transforming local fruits and vegetables into your own unique art pieces!
Details & Booking
Tours from Chiang Mai
TakeMeTour (Ad)
Visit Historic Lamphun, Eat with Locals in the Countryside and Cook Northern-Style Dinner
Lamphun was the second Lanna capital and it's more than 1,300 years old. You'll learn more about the Lanna culture, including the local way of life, Buddhist customs and food. We'll lunch with Lamphun locals and cook easy dinner like northerners at my home.Details & Booking
TakeMeTour (Ad)
Chiang Rai famous temples from Chiang Mai
Visit the most beautiful temples in Chiang Rai : one all white and one all blue! We'll also go to the unique Black House museum, also the lotus temple unseen in Thailand and have one of the best Khao Soi in Chiang Rai for lunch.Details & Booking
TakeMeTour (Ad)
Explore the Unseen Temple & Secret Village in Lampang
Join me and you'll get to explore an unforgettably beautiful temple on the cliffs and the beautiful scenery at the border between Lampang and Chiangmai! You'll also get to relax at a waterfall and a hot spring!Details & Booking
TakeMeTour (Ad)
See Sunset at White Temple with Heartmade Meal in a Farm
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, we'll visit the fanciful Blue Temple, have organic lunch and Blue Latte at the farm restaurant Sawan Bon Din (Heaven on Earth), Black house, Singha Park and see the vanilla sunset (weather pemitting) at the White temple.Details & Booking
TakeMeTour (Ad)
Sightseeing and Northern Thai Home-Cooking at Farmhouse in Lamphun
Let's cook and eat like a northerner! If you want to experience original Northern Thai food (beyond tasting), let us make your wish come true. Learn how we cook and serve these special dishes at our farmhouse in Lamphun and go sightseeing around the city.Details & Booking
Places to see elsewhere in Thailand
Si Satchanalai Historical Park
about sixty kilometers from Sukothai, in a little less designed nature, it houses the ruins of the same kind that the one in Sukhothai but less numerous.
Koh Chang island
Koh Chang Island and its neighbors are probably the number one reason why tourists come to visit Trat Province. With beautiful beaches, jungle, waterfalls, mangroves and a fishing village, it is a…
Koh Kood island
L'île de Koh Kood est bien moins connue que sa voisine Koh Chang et c'est tant mieux car elle est plus préservée et pas encore trop développée. Mais sa popularité ne cesse de grandir. La bonne…
Wat Phra Non
literally translated Temple of the Reclining Buddha. It is true that the 9 meters long statue it houses is superb but the architecture and the fine decoration of the main hall are also very beautiful.
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