Chiang Mai offers a completely different side of Thailand from the islands and beaches in the south. The north of Thailand shows you a more traditional side to Thailand and includes mountain scenery, historic temples, busy night markets, excellent food and some of the best day trips. Chiang Mai is the perfect base to explore all of this.
It is also one of the easiest cities in Thailand to enjoy on a budget. Many of the main temples are free or cost less than 50 Thai Baht to enter, local dishes can still be found for around 50–100 THB and accommodation is also really cheap.
This guide covers the best things to do in Chiang Mai itself, followed by the main day trips from Chiang Mai, including Doi Inthanon National Park, an elephant sanctuary and Chiang Rai. This is the best way to plan a Chiang Mai 3 day itinerary and beyond if you want to extend your time here to 4,5 or 6 days I got you covered.
I will then list my itinerary on the time in Chiang Mai as part of my 14 day trip to Thailand. You cannot properly visit the city and complete all three major day trips in only three days, so I have also explained which excursion I would choose and how to adjust the itinerary depending on your interests. In total I spend around 3.5 days before continuing on my Thai itinerary by traveling to Phuket.
Things to Do in Chiang Mai
Before looking at the day trips, it is worth spending at least one or two days exploring Chiang Mai itself. I fitted these things in on arrival day, departure day and the rest of the day when we visited the elephant sanctuary as the one we went to was not quite a full day trip.
The city is best known for its temples, but there is much more to do here. You can explore local markets, take a Thai cooking class, try northern Thai food, visit the surrounding mountains and experience a much more relaxed atmosphere than you will find in Bangkok.
Explore Chiang Mai Old City
Chiang Mai’s Old City is surrounded by a square moat and the remains of its historic walls. This is where you will find many of the most famous temples, restaurants, cafés, guesthouses and massage shops. We stayed inside the walls and were nearby the major sights however taxis are really cheap so you can stay slightly outside the walls and then navigate yourself in.
Most of the Old City can be explored on foot. However, the pavements are not always in the best condition and the afternoon heat can become uncomfortable. Start exploring early, take regular breaks and use a songthaew or Grab when you need to travel farther.
You do not need to visit every temple inside the Old City. I only caught glimpses of two to be honest as the most amazing temples were those in Bangkok and further down in Chiang Rai. Too many temples can be repetitive in Thailand so I only visited the most unique ones, like Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi and like I said the ones in Bangkok and Chiang Rai
Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Chedi Luang is one of the most impressive temples in Chiang Mai. In fact this was the only one I actually visited
Its enormous ruined chedi once dominated the city skyline, although part of the structure was damaged during an earthquake. Even in its partially ruined state, it remains one of the most memorable sights inside the Old City.
The temple complex is larger than it first appears, so leave enough time to walk around the different buildings. You may also see signs for Monk Chat, where visitors can speak with Buddhist monks and learn more about their daily lives.
Time needed: Around 45 minutes
Entrance: Approximately 40 THB
Typical opening hours: 6:00 AM–6:00 PM
Current visitor information continues to list an entrance price of around 40 THB, although temple fees and access to individual buildings can change.
Wat Phra Singh
Wat Phra Singh is another of Chiang Mai’s most important temple complexes.
The buildings are beautifully maintained and decorated with the dark wooden roofs, golden details and detailed artwork associated with northern Thailand’s Lanna architecture.
Wat Phra Singh is located towards the western side of the Old City. You can walk here from Wat Chedi Luang in around 10–15 minutes, making it easy to combine both temples. However I couldn’t be bothered to visit as it was hot and all I wanted to do was to chug some beer poolside at my hotel.
The grounds are generally free to explore, although a small fee may occasionally apply to the main hall or certain areas.
Time needed: 30–45 minutes
Entrance: Free or a small fee for selected buildings
Typical opening hours: Early morning until late afternoon
Wat Chiang Man
Wat Chiang Man is believed to be the oldest temple in Chiang Mai.
It is quieter than Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh, making it a good place to visit early in the morning. The main highlight is the Elephant Chedi, which appears to be supported by a row of stone elephants.
Entrance is normally free.
Time needed: Around 30 minutes
Entrance: Free
Typical opening hours: 6:00 AM–5:00 PM
Walk Around Tha Phae Gate
Tha Phae Gate is one of the main entrances into the Old City and one of Chiang Mai’s most recognisable landmarks.
The reconstructed brick wall is a popular photo stop, although the square is often filled with tourists and pigeons. You do not need to spend a long time here, but it is a useful starting point for exploring the eastern side of the Old City.
On Sundays, the road leading west from Tha Phae Gate becomes part of the enormous Sunday Walking Street Market.
Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Now this is a temple I went to and I would recommend you going as well. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is located on the mountain overlooking Chiang Mai and is one of the city’s must-see attractions.
You can climb the famous staircase decorated with long naga serpent railings or pay to use the funicular. I actually skipped on the funicular as there were loads of people and the serpent like staircase is one of the main attractions here. Once at the top, you will see the temple’s golden chedi and several viewpoints over Chiang Mai.
The view can become hazy, particularly during northern Thailand’s burning season, but the temple itself is still worth seeing.
Doi Suthep is around 15 kilometres from central Chiang Mai. Shared red songthaews regularly travel up the mountain, although you may need to wait until enough passengers have joined. A private songthaew or Grab is easier but more expensive. I honestly got a Grab and the driver waited for me and dropped me off in the next temple as well. I can’t quite remember the price but it wasn’t expensive at all.
Time needed: 3–4 hours including transport
Temple entrance: Around 30 THB
Funicular: Approximately 50 THB
Typical opening hours: 6:00 AM–8:00 PM
International visitors are generally charged around 30 THB to enter the temple, with the funicular costing extra.
Hike the Monk’s Trail to Wat Pha Lat
Wat Pha Lat is a forest temple located below Doi Suthep.
It feels much quieter and more natural than many of Chiang Mai’s central temples. Small shrines, stone stairways and temple buildings sit among the trees beside a stream.
You can reach Wat Pha Lat by taxi, or hike there using the Monk’s Trail. The walk from the trailhead normally takes around 45 minutes to one hour depending on your fitness.
The path is not extremely difficult, but it can become muddy and slippery after rain. Wear proper shoes and avoid hiking alone late in the day. You can continue farther towards Doi Suthep, but this section is considerably steeper.
I visited both of these with my private Grab, however if you do want to hike the Monk’s trail I would just stop at Wat Pha Lat and then catch a Grab.
Visit Chiang Mai’s Night Markets
Chiang Mai is one of the best cities in Thailand for night markets. The best market depends on which day you are visiting. The best ones are definitely in the weekend and I unfortunately skipped on these but there is one which opens every day that you can go to.
Sunday Walking Street Market
The Sunday Walking Street is the largest and most popular market in Chiang Mai.
It begins around Tha Phae Gate and continues along Ratchadamnoen Road through the Old City. You will find street food, artwork, clothes, handmade products, souvenirs and performers.
The market usually begins at around 4:00 PM, but I would arrive before 6:00 PM. It becomes extremely crowded later in the evening.
The Sunday market normally runs from approximately 4:00 PM until 11:00 PM or midnight.
Saturday Walking Street
The Saturday Walking Street is held along Wualai Road, just south of the Old City.
It is slightly smaller than the Sunday market but still has plenty of food and local products. Visit this one when your trip does not include a Sunday night.
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
The Night Bazaar is open every evening around Chang Klan Road.
It is more tourist-focused than the weekend markets, but it remains a good alternative when you are visiting during the week. The surrounding Anusarn Market is particularly good for food.
Take a Thai Cooking Class
Chiang Mai is one of the best places in Thailand to take a cooking class.
Most classes include transport from your accommodation, a visit to a local market and the chance to prepare several dishes. You can normally choose between curries, stir-fries, soups, spring rolls and desserts such as mango sticky rice.
Many cooking schools are located on farms outside the city. These take longer but offer a more relaxed experience than classes held inside central Chiang Mai.
Do not eat a large meal beforehand. You will normally prepare far more food than you expect.
I didn’t fit this in as I am not keen on cooking but be prepared to spend another half a day in Chiang Mai or else skip on the half day temple tour of Doi Suthep
Time needed: 4–6 hours
Typical cost: Around 900–1,500 THB
Usually included: Transport, ingredients, meal and recipe book
Try Khao Soi
You should not leave Chiang Mai without trying khao soi.
This northern Thai dish combines soft noodles and crispy noodles in a rich coconut curry broth. It is normally served with lime, pickled vegetables, shallots and chilli on the side.
You can find khao soi throughout Chiang Mai for around 50–100 THB. Some of the most popular restaurants have queues during lunchtime, but you do not necessarily need to visit a famous restaurant to find a good bowl.
Other northern dishes worth trying include sai ua sausage, gaeng hang lay curry and nam prik noom chilli dip.
Get a Thai Massage
Right in front of our hotel there was this massage parlour and it seemed really fancy not a shady corner shop with women begging you to give you a massage if you know what I mean. We had some time to kill when waiting for our flight and after the 300 step climb to Doi Suthep I got a full body Thai massage for just €50 and it felt amazing.
There are cheaper but the one I went to is Zen Sense Health Massage @ZenSquare
Best Day Trips from Chiang Mai
While there are plenty of things to do in Chiang Mai, the main reason I based myself here is to surround myself and have an easy route to some of the most amazing national parks and temples.
The three main excursions I did were Doi Inthanon National Park, an elephant sanctuary and Chiang Rai. However, each requires most or all of a day.
Doi Inthanon National Park
Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand and one of the best day trips from Chiang Mai. The summit is mostly a sign, however there are many waterfalls and small hikes through forest and coffee plantations that you keep yourself busy in this national park.
One of the main attractions are the King and Queen Pagodas which are absolutely stunning to visit. Then the waterfalls and the forest trail offer a nice touch. I am going to write a more in depth guide on Doi Inthanon next to explain all the things to do and how to get there!
Doi Inthanon is around 90 minutes to two hours from Chiang Mai, depending on traffic and where you stop.
There is no simple public transport route covering the main attractions inside the park. The easiest options are a shared tour, private driver or rental car.
I would choose a small group tour unless you are travelling with several people. Tours normally include transport, a guide, lunch and the main stops, although you must check whether national park and pagoda fees are included.
Duration: Around 10–12 hours
Shared tour cost: Approximately 1,200–1,800 THB
National park entrance: 300 THB for foreign adults
Twin Pagodas: Around 100 THB extra
Best for: Hiking, waterfalls and mountain scenery
The current standard foreign visitor fee remains 300 THB for adults, with separate charges applying to vehicles and selected attractions.
I paid for a private driver to transport us there and found him on facebook but you can get shared tours and even private tours from Viator or GetYourGuide.
Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip
Visiting an elephant sanctuary is one of the most popular experiences in Chiang Mai, but you need to choose carefully.
The word “sanctuary” is not a guarantee that elephants are treated ethically. Avoid places offering elephant riding, tricks, performances or constant forced physical interaction.
Bathing elephants is often advertised as ethical, but it still requires animals to enter the water and interact with each new tour group. A hands-off or observation-focused programme is normally the better option.
Elephant Nature Park is one of the best-known rescue centres near Chiang Mai. Its current programmes include half-day visits and a full-day SkyWalk experience where visitors observe rescued elephants moving around the sanctuary.
At the time of writing, half-day visits cost approximately 2,500 THB, while the full-day SkyWalk programme costs around 3,500 THB. Transport from Chiang Mai is included in the listed programmes.
When checking any sanctuary, look for:
- No elephant riding.
- No circus-style tricks or performances.
- No chains used for tourist photos.
- Small visitor groups.
- Elephants able to move away from visitors.
- Observation rather than forced touching.
- Clear information about where the elephants came from.
Duration: Half day or full day
Typical cost: 2,000–3,500 THB
Best for: Wildlife and conservation-focused experiences
Chiang Rai Day Trip
Chiang Rai is famous for its unusual modern temples, particularly the White Temple and Blue Temple. These are in my opinion as a must visit.
A typical Chiang Rai day tour from Chiang Mai includes:
- Wat Rong Khun, better known as the White Temple.
- Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple.
- Baan Dam Museum or Black House.
- Sometimes the Golden Triangle or a hot spring stop.
The White Temple is easily the main highlight. Its white exterior is covered in mirrored details, while its artwork combines Buddhist imagery with unexpected references to modern films and popular culture.
The White Temple currently charges approximately 100 THB and is generally open from around 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.
Unfortuantely, Chiang Rai is pretty far roughly three hours from Chiang Mai, meaning you can spend six hours or more sitting in a minivan. This will go up even more if you want to visit the Golden Triangle as well. I skipped this and stuck to the temples only.
Duration: Approximately 12–14 hours
Typical tour cost: Around 1,200–2,000 THB
Best for: Temples, art and photography
I will go more in depth on the Chiang Rai itinerary in a seperate upcoming post so stay tuned!
Sticky Waterfalls
Bua Tong Sticky Waterfalls are another popular day trip from Chiang Mai. If you have even more time than this is another option to go to.
The waterfalls are around 60 kilometres from Chiang Mai. There is no particularly convenient public transport option, so most visitors use a tour, private songthaew, Grab arranged for a return journey or rental vehicle.
Duration: Half day
Entrance: Usually free
Best for: Swimming, climbing and a relaxed outdoor day
Chiang Mai Recommended 5 Day Itinerary
The following plan focuses on three day trips and one day in Chiang Mai.
Day 1 – Chiang Mai Old City and Night Market
Aim to arrive in Chiang Mai late afternoon. You will have time to explore some of the old city and experience a night market.
Day 2 – Doi Inthanon
Day 3 – Chiang Rai Day Trip
Day 4 – Elephant Sanctuary + Cooking Class – Cooking class if you have time or else go for a Thai Massage
Day 5 – Doi Suthep + Massage – I had a late afternoon flight and in the morning I went to Doi Suthep and it only took me around 3 hours. Then I came back and got a well deserved massage.
My Chiang Mai 3 Day Itinerary Recommendations – What to Skip.
If you are coming up to Chiang Mai I think that the day trips are a must do. Thailand most ethical and most famous elephant sanctuaries are a must do here in Chiang Mai. I also would definitely recommend going to both Doi Inthanon and Chiang Rai.
What I would skip is the sticky waterfalls unless you have time to kill due to flight logistics. The cooking class is a nice to have as is Doi Suthep. If you only have time for 3 days in your wider Thai itinerary then I would just fit in the 3 day trips and be gone.
Where to Stay in Chiang Mai
For a three-day visit, the Old City is the most convenient area to stay.
You will be within walking distance of the main temples, markets, restaurants and tour pickup points. This is particularly useful when your day trips include early hotel collection.
Stay around Nimman when you prefer modern cafés, bars, shopping and nightlife. However, you will need transport to reach many Old City attractions.
The Night Bazaar area provides a good compromise. It is close to evening markets and restaurants while remaining a short Grab or songthaew ride from the Old City.
Best Time to Visit Chiang Mai
November to January is generally the best time to visit Chiang Mai.
Temperatures are cooler, conditions are normally drier and the surrounding countryside is still relatively green. November also brings the Loy Krathong and Yi Peng celebrations, although accommodation becomes more expensive. This is the famous lantern festival and if you are thinking about visiting Thailand in November/ December then definitely check when the lantern festival is and try to align.
The main period to be careful with is northern Thailand’s burning season. Air quality can deteriorate from March through April and is often at its worst during March. In 2026, Chiang Mai again experienced serious haze and wildfire-related pollution, so this is not an outdated warning. Check live air-quality readings before travelling. I actually visited at the start of March and I was fortunate enough that it hasn’t started yet. If it did wear a face mask and be careful.
The rainy season normally runs from around May until October. You will encounter showers, but these are often concentrated into shorter periods rather than continuous rain all day. The countryside is also at its greenest during this period.
Conclusion – Chiang Mai Itinerary
Chiang Mai is one of the best destinations to include in a Thailand itinerary because it offers something completely different from the country’s southern islands.
The best things to do in Chiang Mai include exploring the Old City, visiting Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh, climbing to Doi Suthep, walking the Monk’s Trail, trying khao soi, taking a cooking class and exploring the night markets.
However like I said the true magic of northern Thailand lies in the nature of Doi Inthanon and the temples in Chiang Rai, not to mention the numerous elephant sanctuaries you find here.
I would spend a minimum of 3 nights here giving you at least 3 full days to go on the full day excursions and visit the actual old city and its surroundings. This Chiang Mai 3 day itinerary can be easily turned into 4,5 and even 6 days if you do everything I mentioned in this guide.
After northern Thailand, I continued south to visit Phi Phi Islands and plan an early trip to Maya Bay and keep on going by visiting Phuket and Krabi. Stay tuned for all my Thailand guides which I am rolling out gradually. In the meantime if you want even more old temples than the ones in Chiang Mai read on the old capital of Ayutthaya next!
