Baan Kang Wat Chiang Mai: Why You’ll Fall in Love With This Art Village

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Tucked away in the quieter suburbs of Chiang Mai, far from the busy night bazaars and bustling Old Town streets, lies a peaceful little creative haven that stole our hearts—Baan Kang Wat. If you're searching for a place to experience Chiang Mai’s thriving art scene, support local artisans, sip on great coffee, and enjoy a relaxing family-friendly outing, this is your spot. And it's up there on our Top Best Markets of Chiang Mai List! Oh and did I mention every inch of Baan Kang Wat Market has instagram worthy photo opportunities literally EVERYWHERE! Read on... {Insert Market visit video}

We spent a dreamy morning which turned into afternoon (the kids did a painting workshop) here with the kids and left already planning our return (we want to do a pottery workshop and water color workshop... oh and book binding workshop too!).

In fact there's not a workshop that we don't want to return back for let's be honest. We're an arty family and if you're a lover of arts, crafts and aesthetically beautiful decor too, then Here’s everything you need to know to fall in love with it too 💛

🌿 What is Baan Kang Wat?

Baan Kang Wat (which translates to “house beside the temple”) is a beautifully designed community arts village made up of locally owned cafes, workshops, craft stores, studios, and galleries. Located near Wat Ram Poeng on the western side of Chiang Mai, it’s a quiet, tree-shaded space that feels a world away from the crowds.

We really recommend you pair this visit with a visit to Wat Umong Temple (which is around a 5 min drive from this market - you could actually walk there if needed). Umong temple is a truly magical beautiful forest temple covered in vines and moss that it feels as though you are in a fairytale. With tunnels to explore. Well worth a visit in our opinion and up there on our list of The Best Temples to visit in Ching Mai List of Chiang Mai's many temple. At last count there are over 300.

Each little wooden house in the artist complex has its own charm—selling everything from handmade ceramics to art prints, slow fashion, sustainable goods, and even locally made skincare. Think of it as Chiang Mai’s answer to an outdoor artisan mall, but with much more soul.

🎨 Why It’s Great for Families

We loved how kid-friendly Baan Kang Wat is. The open spaces and car-free layout made it easy for our little ones to wander freely. Many shops have interactive corners, and there’s even a small amphitheatre where local events, storytelling, and performances are sometimes held. When we visited, live music filled the air, the most delicious Northern Thai food bubbled away in big metal pans, vines and leaves swayed and people were sat eating, drinking and being creative doing various craft workshop wherever you looked.

There are lots of cozy nooks to sit down, enjoy a treat, read, be creative and just soak in the creative vibes. Our kids especially loved the cake stop at Chiang Mai Cafe and the art class as well as pottering the whole market!

Entry is free, but you will find it hard to resist as the things for sale at this market are unusual and definitely not available anywhere else. You'll have a hard time NOT buying anything. As a full time travel family, we can't really buy things (because quite literally we have no home right now and so everything we buy we must carry to the next destination. So mostly we don't buy, choosing experiences over things). But we bought at this market.

☕ Best Things to Do at Baan Kang Wat

Here’s what not to miss:

• Grab a coffee at one of the many swoon beautiful coffee shops. Graph – a stunning little cafe serving seriously good coffee and cakes.

• Browse local art & handmade goods – from notebooks to woven bags, everything feels personal and beautifully made.

• Take a peek inside the art studios – some artists even let you watch them work or try out crafts yourself.

• Attend a workshop – depending on when you visit, you may be able to take part in a pottery or painting class.

• Visit the organic grocery or bookshop – filled with thoughtful, local finds.

🗺️ How to Get There

Baan Kang Wat is located near Wat Ram Poeng (a well-known temple also worth visiting). Here's how to reach it:

📍 Address: 191-197 Suthep Rd, Tambon Su Thep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200

🚙 By Grab/Taxi: It’s about a 15-minute drive from Chiang Mai Old Town. Simply enter “Baan Kang Wat” into the app and make sure it's the market and not the temple. We recommend Wat Umong Forest Temple in the morning and Baan Kang Wat artist market later in the morning /afternoon.

🛵 By Scooter: There’s ample parking if you're exploring on two wheels.

🚶‍♀️ By Songthaew: You can ask for one going towards Suthep and hop off nearby, though this option may require a bit of walking. There are Songthaews waiting at the carpark to take home too. Check out our guide on everything you need to know about getting around Chiang Mai.

🕒 Opening Hours

Most shops are open daily, but the best time to visit is on weekends when more cafes and stalls are open and the market vibe is livelier. We visited on a Thursday and everything was thriving and open. Busy but not too busy. I can imagine at weekends in peak season that this market gets extremely busy.

⏰ Opening Hours: Typically 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM📅

💡 Our Tips

• Go early to beat the heat and enjoy a quiet coffee before it gets busy.

• Bring cash, as not all stores take cards.

• Check out the event schedule on their Facebook page if you're hoping to catch a workshop or live art session.

• Wear comfortable shoes—there’s a bit of walking involved if you explore nearby.

💛 Why You'll Fall in Love With It

Baan Kang Wat isn’t just a market or an art space—it’s a community. You feel it in the way shopkeepers greet you, in the slow, peaceful rhythm of the day, and in the creativity that seeps from every corner.

For us, it was a chance to slow down, connect with local makers, and show our kids that travel isn’t just about ticking off tourist spots—it’s about experiencing authentic, local life. Whether you're traveling as a couple, solo, or with children, Baan Kang Wat is one of those places you’ll always remember.

📌 Save this to your Chiang Mai itinerary—and don’t forget your camera!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THE FOLLOWING GUIDES

Next up: The Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai - Stay tuned for a roundup of the top things to do, from magical enchanted temples to markets that you will not be able to resist buying from.

Want help planning your Chiang Mai adventure? Let me know in the comments & I can help you create the perfect itinerary for you. I hope you found this post helpful. In the meantime keep up with our daily updates below:

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💡HELPFUL PLANNING TOOLS FOR YOUR THAILAND TRIP 💡

✈️ - CHIANG MAI FLIGHTS - We use this flight checker to search the best flight tickets fall or our Thailand flights. We used this flight checker to get flights from Singapore to Krabi with the best prices at the time. Then we took the bus from Krabi to Bangkok. Then onwards to Chiang Mai via the bus also. Use to check dates and flight costs to Bangkok Airport (International and Domestic) now or go to our Flight Planning Page fore more

🚌🚆🚇 - CHIANG MAI TRAVEL - We took the overnight bus from Krabi to Bangkok that left Krabi at 3pm and arrived in Bangkok the following morning at 6am. Then onwards from Bangkok to Chiang Mai via the day time bus that set off from Bangkok at 10am and arrived in Chiang Mai at 8pm. Both booked via 12Go.

🏨 - CHIANG MAI ACCOMMODATION - Use our Accommodation Planning Page for more

🧭🗺️👣 - CHIANG MAI THAILAND TOURS & GUIDES - We use Get Your Guide for all of the trips in Thailand. But we also love Klook too. TIP: Use both to compare offerings as trips will be different.

This post includes affiliate links that we may receive a small commission from at no extra cost to you. Thank You for supporting our blog!