When people travel to Thailand they are often drawn to the beautiful islands and the bustling city of Bangkok but do not consider Chiang Mai.  Chiang Mai is a vibrant city that should not be passed up.  It is one of our favorite travel destinations because of its rich history, welcoming people, delicious food and let’s be honest, I love a good foot massage and mango sticky rice.  There are so many things to do in this area it can be hard to know where to start. This list of things to do in Chiang Mai will help make the most of your time.

Stroll Through the Chiang Mai Old City

Behind the historic walls of Chiang Mai Old City, you will find streets lined with temples, shops, restaurants, cafes, and historic buildings.  Spend a day casually strolling through the streets embracing all that Chiang Mai has to offer.

After a morning of sightseeing stop in at a small cafe for some northern Thailand’s famous Kao Soi, followed by a relaxing afternoon Thai massage before venturing out in the evening to the bustling night bazaars.

Visit the Many Temples in Chiang Mai

With 300 Buddhist temples within the city, visiting the temples is one of the most popular things to do in Chiang Mai.  The most visited temples within the old city are Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Phan Tao.  Grab a Chiang Mai walking map, book a tour, or a hire a tuk-tuk and spend the day enjoying these beautiful temples.

Temple Dress Codes

When visiting you are expected to have shoulders and knees covered before entering a temple. Longer shorts, capris, pants, and skirts are acceptable as are t-shirts although tank tops or see-through clothing are not allowed.  The moisture-wicking pants, with zip-off legs, can be great for Thailand and visiting temples.

If needed, a scarf or pashmina wrap can be used to cover the shoulders when wearing a tank top or can be converted to a long skirt by wrapping it around your legs.  Some of the larger temples will have covers available for a small fee.

Shoes also need to be removed and left outside prior to entering temples. Slip-on shoes without laces are most convenient.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Perched high above the city, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the most visited temple in Chiang Mai.  This impressive temple is located 30 minutes outside of Chiang Mai and can be reached by car, red truck (covered pick-up trucks with row seats in the back), motorbike or with a tour.

Friends, to get to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep you have to travel on a windy mountain road.  If you are prone to motion sickness you may want to check out my favorite ginger chews to settle your stomach.  Find out more about Reed’s Ginger Candy Chews here. They are great for settling your stomach and do not cause drowsiness like some medications.

At the top of the 309 steps, you will find the pagodas, shrines, and panoramic view of the Thai countryside.  You can either climb the 309 steps or take the lift.  These are easy steps to climb and are wide enough to stop and take breaks if needed.

Also, this attraction can get very busy so the earlier you visit the better in order to have time to enjoy everything before the crowds gather.

Foot & Leg Massage

One of my favorite things to do in Chiang Mai is to relax with a foot and leg massage after a long day of walking. You can often find a 30-60 minute foot and leg massage for around 150-300 baht or $5-$10 USD. These should not be passed up! We met another couple who made it a practice to get one every day, which I completely adopted!

Thai Massage

If you are looking for a full-body treatment, there is absolutely nothing like a Thai massage. This is not a standard oil massage as you might expect.  Instead, it’s a combination of stretching, pulling, and acupressure.  It can feel a little rough but you walk away feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. The prices for Thai massages are very reasonable at around 400-600 baht, or approximately $15-20 USD, for a 60-90 minute massage.  A Thai massage should definitely be on your list of things to do in Chiang Mai!

Stroll Through the Markets

Warorot Market

The Warorot Market is incredible and should be added to your list of things to do in Chiang Mai!  They have everything from fruits and vegetables to meat, seafood that is often still swimming in a bucket, flowers, spices, fabric, clothing, household goods, and so much more.

This market also has a variety of food stalls, which you should not pass up.  I had some of the best, and spiciest, green papaya salad from one of the food vendors at this market.  Although my lips and tongue were on fire from the spice, it was amazingly flavorful with its combination of the five flavor profiles: sweet, salty, hot, sour and savory.  Yum!  If you are concerned that the food will be too spicy, just be clear that you want your dish mild.

Night Bazaars

Night bazaars are one of our favorite things to do in Chiang Mai and there are three located on the east side of the old walled city.  We loved the night bazaars so much that we strolled through them every night.

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

You will find the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar every night on the sidewalks of the Chang Khlan Road.  By mid-afternoon, you’ll find vendors setting up their stalls preparing for the shoppers that flood the area once the sun goes down.  As the evening rolls in, the area fills with colorful lights, the wonderful aroma of Thai food, and this otherwise nondescript area truly comes to life with people searching for bargains.

After 6 p.m. you will find stall after stall of vendors selling all types of products from scarves, dresses, t-shirts, shoes, watches, jewelry, Thai products, food, etc.  Even when bartering at the bazaars, it still pays to shop around, as you will find a difference in price between vendors.

Kalare Night Bazaar

The Kalare Night Bazaar is a slower-paced market located further down Chang Khlan Road from the bustling Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.  You will find its entrance near the 7 Eleven.

The Kalare Night Bazaar is full of vendors with more of an artisan flare who are showing their art, jewelry, clothing, and other craft items. In addition, there is also a popular food court within the Kalare Night Bazaar with numerous food stalls offering a variety of food options.

Anusarn Market

Anusarn Market is my favorite of the three and offers the most variety.  This market is filled with rows of vendors and other offerings such as fish pedicure spas, massage stands, and a Ladyboy Cabaret Show.

In addition to the many vendors, there are a variety of restaurants and foods stands within the market.  We ate at the food stands multiple times and were not disappointed.  I’d highly recommend giving it a try.

Mango Sticky Rice Stand

And even better than the food stands at the Anusarn Market is the Mango Sticky Rice stand.

Do not pass up the Mango Sticky Rice.  My mouth waters just thinking of it.  It is one of the most delicious treats I’ve ever tried and has become a daily indulgence when in Thailand.

It is a combination of the sweetest, juiciest mango you’ve ever tasted and rice sweetened with sugar and coconut milk. I’m pretty sure it’s the food of angels!

Hotels Near the Night Bazaars

We chose to stay near the night bazaars for easy access.  If this appeals to you there are a few different hotels in the area that provide easy access to the night bazaars.  The Le Meridian Chiang Mai, Shangri-La Hotel, DusitD2, and Duangtawan Hotel Chiang Mai, are all about a 5-minute walk from the night bazaars.

Yi Peng and Loy Krathong (Thai Festival of Lights)

The popular festival of lights in northern Thailand is a combination of Yi Peng and Loy Krathong.  Both celebrations occur during the full moon in November.  The Yi Peng festival is characterized by the release of the floating lanterns while floating lights are released on the river for Loy Krathong.

The largest mass release of floating lanterns is held on the outskirts of Chiang Mai.  Those who don’t want to pay for this expensive event and want to avoid the traffic jams, participate in the smaller lantern release along the Ping River.

This is an absolutely incredible experience and something everyone should experience.  You can purchase lanterns from vendors on the street to be constructed, lit and released.

Navigating the streets along the bridge can feel claustrophobic as thousands of people make their way to the bridge to release their lanterns.  However, with patience, you can make your way through the crowd but it is a lot of people.

Volunteer at an Elephant Sanctuary

People flock to Chiang Mai for the opportunity to see the elephants or better yet ride the elephants.  Most people aren’t aware of is the harsh taming methods elephants are subjected to during training.  Unfortunately, the training often includes what is known as “breaking the elephants” by using bullhooks, ropes, and other tools.  This is a scary, torturous and unpleasant experience for the elephants.

Luckily, there are several ethical and humane rescues or sanctuaries for visitors who want to spend time with the elephants.

Rescues and sanctuaries provide a caring and supportive environment for the elephants.  Most importantly they do not force elephants to do anything nor do they ride them.  In fact, riding elephants is actually not good for the elephant’s back.

Rescues and sanctuaries provide you a better elephant experience.  The day often includes feeding, bathing, swimming and walking with the elephants.  This is a much more personal experience than the other elephant programs.

Do some research to ensure you select a company that is ethical in their treatment of the elephants.  Both TripAdvisor or Google are great resources for reading reviews from other travelers.

The Elephant Nature Park and Elephant Jungle Sanctuary both have outstanding reputations for their work rescuing and ethically caring for elephants.

Cooking Class

A cooking class is a great way to learn the ins and outs of Thai cooking.  We loved the Zab E Lee Thai Cooking School.

The course started with a visit to a local market to learn about the various ingredients.  Each person was able to select an appetizer, soup, stir fry, curry paste and curry dish to make during the course. There were plenty of options and each person was able to individualize the amount of heat/spice to their liking.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they were able to accommodate my food allergies. In order to avoid gluten, our instructor made sure I did not use soy sauce or oyster sauce.  In addition, you are provided a cookbook with all of the recipes that are used.

We smiled and laughed throughout the evening as everyone learned to cook. I would highly recommend this class!  You can find reviews on TripAdvisor.

Food Tour

A food tour should absolutely be on your list of things to do in Chiang Mai.  One of the things that draws people to Chiang Mai is its rich and flavorful food.  We wanted to learn from the locals so we went on the Chiang Mai Street Food Tours and were not disappointed.

The tour provides the opportunity to try a variety of food that we otherwise would not have tried. However, we could hardly take our last few bites because we were so full.  You can find reviews on TripAdvisor.

Book the Trip!

Chiang Mai is a wonderful city full of rich culture, amazing activities, flavorful food and opportunities to relax.  You should add Chiang Mai to your bucket list today!

If you are interested in additional tips about Thailand, check out the 25 Essential Thailand Travel Tips I Wish I’d Known Sooner.