Old City – temples & slow life
Square moat, ancient walls, dozens of temples and small streets. Perfect if you want to walk everywhere and feel the historical side of Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai – Complete First-Timer’s Guide
Chiang Mai is Thailand’s mountain capital in the north – calmer than Bangkok, cooler than the islands and full of temples, cafés, green hills and creative energy. This guide helps you understand what the city really feels like, where to stay, what to see and how to combine Chiang Mai with Bangkok and Phuket.
How Chiang Mai Really Feels
Bangkok is energy, Phuket is sea – Chiang Mai is calm. The city is big enough to have everything you need, but small enough to feel walkable and human. Mornings are cool, evenings are soft, and the rhythm is slower than in the south.
You wake up to monks collecting alms in the Old City, spend the day between temples and cafés, then watch the sunset from a mountain or rooftop before ending the day at a night market. It’s a place where many travellers say: “I could live here for a while.”
Where to Stay in Chiang Mai
Your experience changes a lot depending on the area you choose. Four zones matter the most for first-time visitors:
Nimman – modern & creative
Trendy cafés, co-working spaces and boutique hotels west of the Old City. Good for digital nomads and travellers who like a contemporary vibe.
Riverside & Night Bazaar
Riverside stays feel romantic and relaxed, while the Night Bazaar area is practical and full of markets, food stalls and shops.
Temples You Shouldn’t Miss
Chiang Mai is one of Thailand’s spiritual centres. Even if you only visit a few temples, these three will give you a great feeling for the city:
Recommended temple experience
Doi Suthep Sunrise Tour (Small Group)
See Wat Phra That Doi Suthep early, with fewer crowds and panoramic views over Chiang Mai.
View on Viator- Wat Phra Singh: elegant temple complex in the Old City with beautiful halls and a very active monastic community.
- Wat Chedi Luang: a huge, partly-ruined chedi in the heart of Chiang Mai – especially atmospheric at sunset.
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: the famous mountain temple overlooking the city, with golden stupas and sweeping views.
Nature, Mountains & Ethical Elephants
Northern Thailand is all about green hills, forests, waterfalls and village life. From Chiang Mai you can reach national parks, rice terraces and ethical elephant sanctuaries on easy day trips.
Recommended ethical elephant experience
Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Day Tour
Spend time with rescued elephants in an ethical setting—no riding—plus hotel pickup and lunch.
View on Viator- Doi Suthep–Pui National Park: waterfalls, viewpoints and coffee farms in the hills just above the city.
- Doi Inthanon: Thailand’s highest mountain, with cool temperatures, cloud forests and impressive pagodas.
- Ethical elephant sanctuaries: choose places without riding, without chains and without elephant shows – you simply observe, feed and sometimes bathe the animals in a respectful way.
Food, Night Markets & Cafés
Chiang Mai is famous for its food. The most iconic dish is Khao Soi – a rich curry noodle soup with crispy noodles on top. You’ll also find northern sausages, chilli dips, sticky rice and endless street food.
Recommended food experience
Thai Cooking Class with Market Visit
Shop at a local market and cook classic northern Thai dishes with a local instructor.
View on Viator- Sunday Walking Street Market inside the Old City – perfect mix of food, crafts and live music.
- Night Bazaar – very touristy but still fun for a first evening.
- Nimman – full of modern cafés, brunch spots and dessert places.
When to Visit Chiang Mai
The most popular time is the cool, dry season from November to February – comfortable temperatures and many festivals. The hot season that follows can be warm but still enjoyable if you plan activities for mornings and evenings.
Some years there is a period with haze in the wider region, usually around late February to April. It changes from year to year – some seasons are lighter, some heavier – but even then most travellers still enjoy temples, markets, cafés and mountain trips closer to the city.
Suggested 3-Day Chiang Mai Itinerary
Day 1 – Old City & markets
- Wat Phra Singh & Wat Chedi Luang
- Slow walk through Old City streets
- Evening at a night market
Day 2 – Doi Suthep & hills
- Morning visit to Doi Suthep temple
- Viewpoints and waterfalls nearby
- Dinner and drinks in Nimman
Day 3 – Nature or elephants
- Day trip to Doi Inthanon or an ethical elephant sanctuary
- Relaxed last evening by the river
Combine Chiang Mai with Bangkok and Phuket
Chiang Mai fits perfectly into a classic Thailand itinerary: start with the temples and food of Bangkok, relax on the beaches around Phuket and then cool down in the mountains of the north.
If you’re still planning your route, you can also read our guides for Bangkok for first-timers and Phuket for first-timers to see how everything fits together.
More Chiang Mai Highlights to Add to Your List
Once you have a feel for the main areas and temples, you can start adding more specific places and experiences. These names often come up when travellers talk about their favourite memories of Chiang Mai:
More temples & city spots
- Wat Chiang Man – the oldest temple in the city.
- Wat Suan Dok – white chedis and sunset views.
- Wat Lok Moli – a beautiful wooden viharn and brick chedi.
- Wat Umong – a forest temple with tunnels, just outside town.
Nature, mountains & viewpoints
- Doi Suthep–Pui viewpoints – multiple stops as you drive up the mountain.
- Huay Kaew & Mon Tha Than waterfalls – easy to reach from the city.
- Doi Inthanon – Thailand’s highest peak and royal pagodas.
- Mon Jam & Mae Rim – hills, gardens and cool-weather views.
Markets & local life
- Sunday Walking Street – handicrafts, food and live music in the Old City.
- Saturday Night Market (Wua Lai) – another evening option outside the walls.
- Chang Phuak Gate night stalls – famous for street food.
- Warorot Market (Kad Luang) – a very local daytime market.
Villages & experiences
- Mae Kampong – a small village in the hills with homestays and waterfalls.
- Mae Chaem area – rice terraces and countryside scenery.
- Ethical elephant sanctuaries – no riding, no chains, no shows.
- Coffee farms & jungle treks – ideal for a cooler day out of the city.
If you like the mix of temples, mountains and villages, you can explore them with a guide on our Explorers Expedition Tour, which combines waterfalls, jungle and local life around Chiang Mai.
Map & areas of Chiang Mai
To orient yourself before you arrive, you can open the city in Google Maps and check distances between the areas mentioned in this guide.
Open map in Google MapsRecommended tours from Chiang Mai
A few guided experiences that many travellers book together with this destination:
Best day trip
Doi Inthanon National Park Trekking Day Tour
Waterfalls, the Twin Pagodas, and a nature trail in Thailand’s highest national park.
View on Viator