Is Chiang Mai Worth Visiting? (And 10 Excellent Reasons to Visit)

Are you wondering, if Chiang Mai, Thailand’s fun and vibrant, yet laid-back northern capital, is worth visiting? Read all about the best reasons to visit Chiang Mai! 

I asked my friends Dotti & Zandy at Travel Oasis since they’ve spent a lot of time in Chiang Mai over the years and have gotten to know this city very intimately. 

Chiang Mai has much to offer any visitor: ancient history, incredible food, nature at your doorstep, and all the comforts you could ask for. 

So yes. In short, Chiang Mai is worth visiting! Let’s jump into the 10 reasons to visit Chiang Mai!

10 Reasons to Visit Chiang Mai

1. Explore the Numerous Temples

If Bangkok is the City of Angels, then Chiang Mai is the City of Temples. Chiang Mai is absolutely overflowing with beautiful temples, and this alone makes Chiang Mai worth visiting. 

Chiang Mai was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. This dynasty reigned for nearly 500 years and it left behind dozens of beautiful temples in its wake. 

There are over 300 temples found in Chiang Mai, but we’ll just focus on some of the most popular, and our favorites. 

• Wat Phra Sing

Wat Phra Sing is the most popular temple in the city because it holds Chiang Mai’s most important Buddha image, the Lion Buddha. The most prominent feature of the temple complex is the enormous chapel that features both wood carvings and northern-style murals. 

• Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Chedi Luang dates back to the 15th century and used to be one of the tallest structures in Chiang Mai. It was damaged by an earthquake in the 16th century, but it’s still very beautiful and also holds the claim to fame for once housing the jade Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha), which is now found in the Grand Palace in Bangkok. 

• Wat Phan Tao

Located right next to Wat Chedi Luang is Wat Phan Tao. This ancient temple is unique in that it is made entirely of teak. 

• Wat Chiang Man

Wat Chiang Man is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. It’s often referred to as the elephant temple, due to the 15 elephant figures at the base of the large chedi, the lotus pond, the library, and the Ubosot. 

• Wat Umong

Wat Umong is a beautiful 700-year-old temple set in a secluded, forested location away from the city. One of the most interesting features of this temple is the cave-like tunnels crisscrossing the temple grounds. Relaxing by the lake is a particularly excellent way to unwind. 

• Wat Sri Suphan

Wat Sri Suphan is quite the sight! This temple is made of silver metals and alloys. It’s kind of like the White Temple in Chiang Rai, but a lot less touristy. The bad news? Women are not allowed inside. Boo!

2. Doi Suthep 

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, or as it’s most commonly known, Doi Suthep, is located just on the western outskirts of Chiang Mai. 

Doi Suthep is one of Thailand’s most sacred temples on the mountain overlooking the city. 

It’s so important to Chiang Mai that there’s a very famous Thai saying that “if you haven’t seen the view from Doi Suthep, you haven’t been to Chiang Mai.” 

That’s a big statement, but still, Chiang Mai is worth visiting to see this very special place. If the skies are clear, you’ll also be rewarded with great views over the city. 

Luckily, it’s also very easy to visit. There are multiple ways to get there. 

• Drive yourself. Rent a scooter and take Hwy 1004 (Huay Kaew Road) towards Chiang Mai Zoo. You’ll know you’re on the right track if you pass Maya Mall (it’s really big – you can’t miss it). It’s an easy drive so only minimal scooter experience is required. 
• Take a songthaew. Multiple songthaews (the red trucks that you’ll see all over Chiang Mai’s roads) head to Doi Suthep from Chiang Mai. Flag one down and ask if they’re heading in that direction. It should cost around 60 THB per person each way and take around 45 minutes, depending on traffic. 
• You can charter an entire songthaew. This should cost around 800-1000 THB ($25-$30 USD). 
• You can order a Grab. As with almost anywhere in Thailand, you can use the rideshare app Grab to ‘grab a ride’ to Doi Suthep. 
• Walk. You can actually just walk up the mountain! First, go along Suthep Road, past Chiang Mai University. When you see a green area, you’ll notice some billboards and a sign reading ‘nature hike’. Turn right, go straight for about 100 meters, and then take the first left. Follow this road to the trailhead. The entire walk should take around 2 – 3 hours. 

Once you get to the mountain, you have to climb over 300 stairs. The temple is located in a national park, so there are various walking trails to explore and some waterfalls you can swim in. While these may not reach the level of some other waterfalls we have been to (notably Gartmore Falls and Duwili Ella in Sri Lanka and along the Jatbula Trail in Australia), these are still very beautiful and well worth a visit!

Our recommendation? Spend the entire day in the park, enjoying the many hiking trails and beautiful nature. 

The temple is open from 6.30 AM to 6.30 PM every day and while the temple is free to visit, entry to the national park costs 100 THB ($3 USD) per person. 

Doi Suthep is still a temple, so you will need to dress appropriately (no shorts and shoulders must be covered). 

Pro tip: It can also get very busy, so time your visit: during the day, mid-week is best. Avoid the weekends!

You can also visit Doi Suthep and Wat Umong (another one of Chiang Mai’s most-popular temples), on a sunset evening tour. 

>> Book Your Doi Suthep and Wat Umong Sunset Tour! <<

3. Relax with Massages

With a massage center seemingly on every block, there are enough places in Chiang Mai that you could spend a year here and still probably try a new one every week. 

So yes, Chiang Mai is worth visiting because you can spoil yourself with daily (or twice daily) massages. 

Whatever you want in a massage, you can find it in Chiang Mai. Want it basic and cheap? Sure thing. Want to splash out and get a luxury treatment? Yep, you can find that too. 

What’s particularly great about Chiang Mai’s massage scene is the increasingly popular, social justice-oriented massages done by ex-prisoners. 

These massage centers train and employ women who have been imprisoned at the Chiang Mai Women’s Prison. The goal is to provide women with professional skills, so they can reintegrate into society successfully and reduce the risk of reoffending. 

There are now a number of massage centers in Chiang Mai offering the service. We visited the Women’s Massage Center by Ex-Prisoners. 

Dotti’s massage was fantastic and Zandy’s was good (but not great). But we can both confidently say that supporting this social enterprise was a great way to spend our money in Chiang Mai. 

Pro tip: if you’re really looking for a massage on the cheap, then you can’t beat the ‘temple massage’. If you visit any of the main temples in Chiang Mai, you’ll notice that there’s usually a section reserved for massages. They’re basic as hell (think mats lining the floor and multiple people in the same room), but they’re are about as cheap as you can find them – usually, around 150 THB ($5 USD) per hour.

4. Enjoy a Bowl of Khao Soi 

Chiang Mai is worth visiting just to eat khao soi, arguably Thailand’s greatest food and typically only found in northern Thailand. 

What is khao soi you ask? Well, imagine if red curry and noodle soup had a love child. 

Khao soi is a traditional northern Thailand curry made with rich coconut milk and local herbs and spices. Unlike most other Thai curries, is not served with a bowl of steamed rice but instead has delicious 2 types of noodles submerged in it. 

First, there are the thick, soft noodles and then the bowl is topped with fried crispy egg noodles. Khao soi is a delight!

There are a number of restaurants scattered throughout the city, but some of our favorites are Khao Soi Mae Sai and Khao Soi Nimman. 

5. Well, Food in General

Actually, it’s not just the khao soi that makes Chiang Mai worth visiting, it’s the food scene in general. 

There are no two ways about it: Chiang Mai is a foodie’s paradise. If you love good food, then Chiang Mai is 100% worth visiting. 

Some of our favorite restaurants include: 

• The House by Ginger 
• Freebird Cafe
• Northlands Restaurant 
• Aum Vegetarian Restaurant

It’s not just the restaurants that make Chiang Mai worth visiting. It’s the abundance of fresh produce that can be found all over the city, plus the juice and smoothie bars. Let’s not even get started on the mango sticky rice! 

6. Take a Cooking Class

After you’ve eaten all that delicious food, one of the best things you can do in Chiang Mai is to take a cooking class! 

Cooking classes have quickly become one of the city’s most popular activities and there are dozens of schools offering classes. 

When choosing a class, be sure to check how many dishes you’ll be making, whether or not you’ll visit a market, and how many people will be in the class. You’ll want as much personalized instruction as you can! 

We’ve taken a class with Chiang Mai Secret Cooking School and can’t recommend them enough. 

Trust us, Chiang Mai is worth visiting to learn the skills so you can whip up a delicious pad thai for your friends and family when you get home. They’ll be impressed! 

✅✅ Check out more Chiang Mai cooking classes!

7. Markets Galore

A visit to Chiang Mai is worth it to sample some of the city’s great markets. Chiang Mai boasts a diverse range of fascinating markets, in all shapes and sizes. Here are some of the best: 

1. The Sunday Market is the familiar face of the bunch. Stretching from Tha Pe Gate to Ratchadamnoen Road, every Sunday this market pumps out food, trinkets, and music. We recommend a foot massage! 

2. The Wualai Walking Street Market happens on Saturdays, opposite the Chiang Mai Gate. It’s a lot less crowded than the Sunday Market and has a great laid-back vibe. 

3. The Warorot Market is one of Chiang Mai’s oldest and most popular markets. Set in a multi-story building, this has everything from clothing and merchandise to produce and food stalls. It’s also really popular with locals in addition to tourists. 

4. The Muang Mai Market, while lesser-visited than the others, is a great cultural experience. It’s a wholesale market located in the northeast of the city. 

8.  Fun Day Trips

With stunning mountain scenery just outside the city limits, Chiang Mai is the perfect place to base yourself for some fun day trips or find hidden gems. 

As an added bonus, if you’re confident driving a scooter and want to head out on two wheels, it’s super easy and affordable to hire a scooter.

Here are some of the best day trips you can make from Chiang Mai: 

• Doi Inthanon 

Doi Inthanon, the highest point in Thailand, is located just 2 hours from the city. Doi Inthanon National Park (entry 300 THB per person) is over 480 sq km and home to numerous waterfalls and hiking trails. 

You can reach Doi Inthanon by scooter, or if you’d prefer four wheels, then via songthaew or even taxi (this should cost around 3000 THB). 

• Huay Teung Tao

This human-made reservoir, located only 14 km from Chiang Mai’s old city, is a great place to chill for the day. It’s super popular amongst Thai families. 

There are bamboo huts right on the water, you can grab some food from one of the many restaurants and now you can even paddleboard on the water! 

To get to Huay Teung Tao, drive a scooter, catch a songthaew or hail a Grab (a ride-sharing app). 

• Drive the Samoeng Loop

This 100 km loop traverses the hills just outside of Chiang Mai. Driving straight through takes 3 hours, but what’s the fun in that? 

Take your time as there are plenty of scenic spots to stop along the way. Don’t miss Nam Tok Mae Sa, a tiered waterfall great for swimming. 

9. Fun Nightlife

With so much buzzing activity, and a youthful, university-student population, it’s worth visiting Chiang Mai to experience its fun nightlife. 

You’re not going to find a ton of activity in the old city, but just outside you will find the North Gate Jazz Co-Op, our favorite spot for some live music. 

Nimman is where you’ll find really excellent nightlife. This trendy neighborhood is filled with tons of great restaurants and bars. For that reason, it’s the most popular area with expats. 

10. The Vibe Baby!

And last, but definitely not least, on our list of all the reasons Chiang Mai is worth visiting, is simply for the vibe that makes Chiang Mai such a fun city to hang out in. 

Chiang Mai is a big global hub, with lots of expats and digital nomads hanging around. 

Due to the low cost of living, combined with all of the awesome reasons above, Chiang Mai attracts creative and interesting people from all over the world, who give the city a beautiful, multicultural, and buzzing energy. It’s one of our favorite cities in the world, along with Istanbul and Melbourne. 

Chiang Mai is super creative and innovative and you can get a sense of this energy just by walking the streets or spending time in any of the many amazing cafes. 

With so many interesting foreigners and locals hanging around, there’s a wealth of meet-ups and activities happening in Chiang Mai that you can get involved in. 

How to get to Chiang Mai

No matter where you’re coming from, Chiang Mai is pretty easy to get to. 

Coming from overseas, you’ll most likely have a layover before landing at Chiang Mai airport. These mostly come from other Asian destinations, like Singapore, Seoul, and Beijing. 

When traveling domestically, you can get to Chiang Mai via plane, train, and bus. 

Chiang Mai’s airport is serviced by flights from every other major destination in Thailand as diverse and far apart as Mae Hong Son in the north to Phuket in the south. 

Chiang Mai has a big train station, with trains arriving throughout the day. From Bangkok, it’s around 12 hours. 

In northern Thailand, essentially all roads lead to Chiang Mai, so there will be a bus heading to Chiang Mai from any destination north of Bangkok that you can think of! 

>> Check Best Flights for Chiang Mai! <<

Where to Stay in Chiang Mai

Due to its ranking as one of the most popular tourist spots in Thailand, Chiang Mai is brimming with excellent accommodation options. 

Think cute boutique guesthouses, rooftop pools, and fun hostels, all for an absolute bargain. 

Here are some of the best places to stay in Chiang Mai: 

Chirin Home (Budget Option)

Book a stay with Chirin Home which has all the modern comforts you could ask for, even a (very small) pool. 

It’s within walking distance from the night bazaar and about 2 miles from the bus station.

>> Check Best Prices for Chirin Home! <<

My Chiang Mai Boutique Lodge (Mid-Range Option)

We really enjoyed staying at the My Chiang Mai Boutique Lodge. The location is good, the rooms are comfortable and the pool is much appreciated after a long day of sightseeing. 

>> Check Best Prices for My Chiang Mai Boutique Lodge! <<

Pao Come Boutique House (Mid-Range Option)

We’ve stayed at Pao Come Boutique House a couple of times and have really loved it. Set on a quiet back street, Pao Come has a super tranquil vibe, which is enhanced by its Lanna-style of architecture. 

Note that the second-floor rooms are considerably better than the ground-floor options, so try to seek one of these out if you can. 

>> Check Best Prices for Pao Come Boutique House! <<

Glory Boutique Suites (Mid-Range Option)

The units at Glory Boutique Suites are excellent, but what really makes it shine is the rooftop pool! Note that non-guests are allowed to use the pool if they order from the bar. 

>> Check Best Prices for Glory Boutique Suites! <<

FAQs: Is Chiang Mai Worth Visiting? 

How many days should you spend in Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai is the type of place you can spend weeks, if not months in, but we understand that not everyone has that type of time. 

We suggest budgeting for at least 4 days in Chiang Mai. This way, you have enough time to explore the city, take a cooking class and head out to the hills for some nature time. 

Is Chiang Mai or Bangkok better?

Both Chiang Mai and Bangkok are incredible world-class cities, but if we had to make a choice, then, well… our vote would go to Chiang Mai. 

While Bangkok has skyscrapers and big-city energy, Chiang Mai has all the conveniences of a city, but in a more laid-back, manageable form. 

When is the best month to visit Chiang Mai?

December is the best time to visit Chiang Mai. Thailand’s rainy season is from June to October and the north experiences an additional smokey season from February to May. 

In December, you can expect pleasant daytime temperatures of around 77°F-81°F (25°C-27°C), clear skies, and nights cool enough for a sweater. 

Is Chiang Mai safe?

Chiang Mai is very safe and we’ve never had any worries about our safety during our numerous visits. That said, you do need to still exercise caution when crossing the road–the traffic in Chiang Mai can get crazy and cars will not stop for you! 

Final thoughts: Is Chiang Mai Worth Visiting?

Is Chiang Mai worth visiting? Absolutely! 

There’s just so much to love about Chiang Mai: it’s accessible, easy to walk around, laid-back, has a great climate (outside of the smokey season) and again, it has that vibe! 

If you’re spending any time at all in Thailand, be sure to pencil in a visit to Chiang Mai. It’s so worth it. Check out my travel resources to get started on planning your trip!

About the Author: Dotti Mazga is one half of Travel Oasis, a worldwide travel blog focused on outdoor adventures and cultural travels in both common and uncommon destinations. When we’re not hanging out in fun cities like Chiang Mai or Istanbul, we love seeking out lesser-known places in the world. You can often find us camping in our little orange tent and embarking on adventurous multi-day hikes in places as diverse as Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. 

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