What to Know Before Visiting Chiang Mai, Thailand
What to Know Before Visiting Chiang Mai, Thailand
When we were planning our trip to Thailand, we had planned on only going to Bangkok and Phuket. However, a friend said “Do not miss Chiang Mai! Chiang Mai is the best!”. We wanted to see what was so special about this city in Thailand, so we added a visit to this awesome city to our trip. Visiting Chiang Mai is one of the best decisions we made!
The laid back city of Chiang Mai has everything Bangkok has, but without the overwhelming feeling of the big city! It’s got smoky mountains, peaceful country villages with long neck hill people, rainforests, night markets, amazing temples, delicious food, and warm, generous people.
COVID TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR THAILAND as of May 2022: Travel to Thailand is permitted with restrictions. See requirements and restrictions for travel to Thailand here .
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai means “New City”, and it was founded in 1296 as the capital of Lan Na, beating out the former capital of Northern Thailand, Chiang Rai. It’s about 435 miles north of the city of Bangkok, and it’s the largest city in northern Thailand. But, it feels like a small town.
This ancient city is on a lush valley on the borders of the Ping River. It’s surrounded by beautiful smoky mountains with hill tribes and elephant sanctuaries. Its Old City is small and easy to navigate, and the traffic is not nearly as chaotic as it is in Bangkok.
Important Things to Know Before Visiting Chiang Mai
- Don’t drink the water
- Dress modestly, but comfortable
- Don’t eat too much street food unless you have an iron gut… the bacteria in the food can be tough on the tummy
- Smile!! Don’t get upset, don’t yell… smile
- Use your Google Translate app and learn a few words in Thai
- Negotiate with Tuk Tuk drivers
Is Chiang Mai Safe?
The city of Chiang Mai is very safe for walking, in the day and the evening. However, as in most tourist cities you do have to watch for petty crimes, such as pickpockets.
Where to Stay When Visiting Chiang Mai
The best area to stay in when visiting Chiang Mai is the Old City, or just outside of it. Everything is within walking distance, and there’s tons to see and do. We stayed just outside of the Old City along the Ping River at Ping Nakara Boutique Hotel.
Ping Nakara Hotel & Spa
The Ping Nakara Hotel & Spa is a beautiful boutique hotel just outside of the Old City. It sits on the Ping River just a couple of blocks from the Night Bazaar. The Ping Nakara’s relaxed, yet elegant colonial atmosphere was the perfect spot for us.
Its architecture is a tasteful gingerbread highlighted by hand-carved wood. The hotel is in a quiet location, and it has a very friendly and welcoming staff.
The Ping Nakara has 19 elegantly furnished rooms, most with their own very large balconies. The rooms and bathrooms are huge. A beautiful breakfast is included and served outside on the veranda by the pool. In the afternoon, we enjoyed happy hour in the library or the rotunda.
A really fun part of this hotel was that they have two antique Mercedes’ they can transport you in, or, even more fun, a rickshaw! Whenever we wanted to go for just a short ride to dinner or to a temple nearby, they would pedal us to the location. Such a blast!
We booked this property through Agoda and got an even better deal than we would have if we’d gone directly through the hotel. In fact, we’re finding Agoda has some of the best deals out there! And, if Agoda doesn’t have the lowest price, but you show them you’ve found the lowest price somewhere else… they will match that price!
For other accommodations in Chiang Mai, including hotels, B&B’s and rental properties, go to Booking.com.
Where to Eat in Chiang Mai
There’s not much food better than Thai food, and Chiang Mai has the best in Thailand! Here are some of the restaurants we loved in Chiang Mai:
The Whole Earth
On our second night in Chiang Mai we walked just a couple of blocks to The Whole Earth. We had walked past this restaurant a couple of times, and it was packed each time. We figured it must be good.
Michael and I chose to sit outside on the veranda overlooking the yard. This is a beautiful restaurant and the service is fantastic. We ordered Spring Rolls, Massamun Curry, and Pad Thai… it was all scrumptious, and the prices are extremely reasonable for the amount of food you get!
Reservations are not necessary at The Whole Earth.
B Sam Cook Home 16
It was Valentine’s Day and we wanted to have a special evening. We found B Sam Cook Home 16 on TripAdvisor and made reservations. There was a special set menu for Valentine’s Day, and it was one of the most beautifully presented meals we have ever had.
Our six course meal It was all paired with cocktails and wine… all included it was $60 USD for both of us! This meal would have cost us probably $250 or $300 at home! This is what we had. The food was beautiful and delicious! See the photo of the menu for what we had.
Reservations are a must at B Sam Cook.
Da Antonio
It was our last night in Chiang Mai and we were craving Italian food… badly. So, I got on TripAdvisor to see what I could find. Da Antonio was rated in the top 10 for Italian restaurants in Chiang Mai, and it was just a few blocks from our hotel. We arrived just as it was opening and got a table outside.
We ordered Penne ALL’Amatriciana (my favorite), a pizza and lasagne. Not expecting much since we were in Thailand, we were pleasantly surprised! Da Antonio is owned by an Italian man who speaks broken English. The food was outstanding! In fact, I make a mean Lasagne that Michael has always said is his favorite… but, he said Da Antonio rivaled mine.
Reservations are not necessary at Da Antonio.
What About Tipping in Chiang Mai
As for tipping in Chiang Mai restaurants, just leaving your small change behind is sufficient at smaller restaurants and cafes. At the more high-end restaurants, a 10% tip is standard.
Best Time to Visit Chiang Mai
There is really no bad time for visiting Chiang Mai. However, for cooler temperatures and lower humidity you’ll want to visit between October and April. Of course, this is when the city is the busiest.
There is one thing to be aware of when deciding when to visit Chiang Mai… burning season, from February through April! We happened to be here in February, and the air pollution was quite bad. We had an Uber/Grab driver one day who explained to us that the “older folks” will not change their ways. He told us that the farmers in a lot of Southeast Asia burn their fields to get them ready for the following season. It makes the skies very smoky… so smoky you can’t even see the mountains.
How Long Should I Spend in Chiang Mai
Michael and I spent a total of four full days in Chiang Mai. We walked the Old City and saw temples, got massages and checked out the markets for the first two days. On our second day we visited an elephant sanctuary just outside of the city, and on our last day we took a full day tour up to the city of Chiang Rai. If you don’t do any side trips, then three days is plenty of time to spend in Chiang Mai.
How to Get There and Around
Getting There
Chiang Mai International Airport is just a 10 minute drive to the Old City. However, if you’re flying from the United States, or pretty much anywhere other than Asia, you will have to fly into one of Bangkok. The city of Bangkok has two main airports, the Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and the Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). See how to get the best deals on flights.
DON’T FORGET YOUR PASSPORT, and make sure your passport is up to date! Most countries will not permit you to enter unless your passport has more than six months remaining before it expires.
Do you need a Visa or Vaccinations?
With ivisa.com, you can check to see what documents you will need to enter Thailand, and you can apply right there for expedited travel documents, including visas and health declaration forms.
Getting from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
The quickest and least expensive way to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok, is to fly on one of the low-cost carriers. The flight is only a little over an hour long, and the fares start at around $30 USD for some of the low cost carriers. Low cost carriers in Thailand are Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air. But, we actually got a great deal on Thai Airways, which is an awesome airline – great service, great food and friendly staff.
If you’re flying on a low-cost carrier the fares may be low, but the additional fees can really add up. There are weight allowances, and if your baggage is over that weight you will pay an extra fee. There are also possible fees for choosing seats, and other add-ons. See how to find the best deals on flights.
Train
From Bangkok there are several direct trains into Chiang Mai each day. However, the fastest train is still going to take you 11 hours! It may be fun to sit on a train and watch the scenery go by on your way to Chiang Mai, but flying for one hour sure sounds a lot better to me!
Getting Around Chiang Mai
There are several ways to get around while visiting Chiang Mai. The first one is to walk. This city is extremely easy to navigate, it’s safe, and it’s fun checking out some of the side streets and alleyways.
Another great thing about walking is you can pop into one of the many massage parlors along the roads and get your sore feet rubbed. Here’s a great website with suggested walks and maps of the Old City. Chiang Mai is a great city to just wander.
Grab (Their version of Uber)
Grab is Southeast Asia’s rideshare version of Lyft or Uber, and it’s very inexpensive! Download the app here.
Tuk Tuk
Riding in a Tuk Tuk (pronounced “took took”) can be fun, but you have to be careful. The price of the ride will depend on the time of day and your destination, but make sure you negotiate!! In the daytime, your ride will cost you about 100 Baht, but you can usually get them down to about 80 Baht. Evenings are generally more expensive, at about 150 baht for a one way trip. Most of the Tuk Tuk drivers have a pretty good handle on basic English.
Another thing you have to be careful about with Tuk Tuks are scams. They may tell you they’re taking you where you want to go, but you wind up somewhere else… a karaoke bar or shopping! So, one of my more important travel tips for Chiang Mai is avoid using a Tuk Tuk!
Songthaew a/k/a Red Truck
A much better option than a Tuk Tuk is the Songthaew (pronounced “song tao”). This is a shared taxi that you can find everywhere… and they’re cheap!! They’ll take you anywhere you want to go, including to the mountains for about 30-60 baht per person.
Rickshaw
Another fun option to get around is hiring a rickshaw. They normally wait outside of hotels, and short rides will only cost you about 20 baht (.65). However, if you want them to pedal their legs off on a long journey for an entire half day, it’ll cost you a whopping $3.50 USD – LOL!
Rent a Car?
There are advantages and disadvantages to renting a car in Thailand. One of the advantages is you can visit other parts, rather than just your immediate surroundings. Drivers in Chiang Mai are considerate and respectful, and they don’t drive like maniacs.
However, this city is so easy to get around! If you’re not planning on taking any side trips from Chiang Mai, there’s just no need for a rental car. Plus, there’s one major disadvantage… parking can be a huge problem, especially if you’re staying in the center of the Old City.
Motorbike
Renting a motorbike to get around Chiang Mai is the most inexpensive way to travel, usually around $10 USD a day, plus a couple of bucks for a helmet! It can be tons of fun, and they’re much easier to park than a car!
However, unless you’re experienced at motorbike driving, this is something you should avoid. Keep in mind that you’ll be driving on the left side of the road on very busy, unfamiliar streets!
Share Your Travel Tips & Comments
As always, if you have any of your own travel tips to add to this post, any remarks on the article, or if my information needs an edit or addition, please leave your comments below. I value all of your input.