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Best Markets of Chiang Mai

Updated: May 16

🛍️ The Best Markets to Visit in Chiang Mai, Thailand: A Local & Tourist Guide


Chiang Mai isn’t just temples and mountains—it’s a market lover’s paradise. From the bustling night bazaars to creative artisan enclaves and fresh morning produce stalls, Chiang Mai’s markets are full of life, colour, flavour, and culture. 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!


As a full-time traveling family who spent an extended time living in Chiang Mai and Thailand, we explored every type of market you can imagine, from food havens to local craft villages. Whether you're after souvenirs, street eats, or just a taste of local life, here are the best markets to visit in Chiang Mai—complete with helpful tips, locations, and must-try experiences.

These of my favourite day markets. 🤩 Details of each are listed below! And this list is being added to every time we stumble upon (as so happens in Chiang Mai) another beautiful and amazing market. So let's dive in...


🛒 1. Chiang Mai Sunday Night Walking Street (Tha Pae Gate)

📍 Rachadamnoen Road, Old City

This is the biggest and most popular market in Chiang Mai, and for good reason. Every Sunday evening, Rachadamnoen Road transforms into a lively, pedestrian-only street filled with:

  • Handmade crafts

  • Local street food (try the coconut pancakes!)

  • Performers, buskers, and musicians

  • Beautiful souvenirs

🕒 Open: Sundays, 4 PM – 10 PM👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Great for families but go early to avoid the crowds.


🌃 2. Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

📍 Chang Klan Road

If you’re in the mood for some evening shopping and food-hopping, the Night Bazaar is perfect. This massive open-air and indoor market runs nightly and features:

  • Bargain clothes and accessories

  • Art, trinkets, and wood carvings

  • Food courts and live music

🕒 Open: Daily, 5 PM – 11 PM💡 Tip: Head upstairs at Kalare Night Bazaar for the food court with kid-friendly options and international dishes.



🎨 3. Baan Kang Wat Art Market

📍 Suthep area, near Wat Ram Poeng


This hidden gem is an artsy village-style market with a calm, creative vibe. It’s a wonderful weekend spot filled with:

  • Local artist studios

  • Indie cafes

  • Handmade gifts

  • Ceramics and prints

  • Mini workshops


🕒 Open: Tues - Sun (closed on Mon) 10am-6pm Why we love it: It’s quieter, with many shaded courtyards and space for kids to explore. You could spend the whole day here. Plenty of coffee options, food options and classes and workshops as well as stalls and shops to potter around. Live music and performances at the amphitheatre daily. See Why We Fell In Love with Baan Kang Wat Art Market and why we think you will too!


🍲 4. Warorot Market (Kad Luang)

📍 Chang Moi Road, near the Ping River

One of the oldest markets in Chiang Mai, Warorot is where the locals shop. It’s chaotic, colorful, and completely authentic. Expect:

  • Fresh produce and spices

  • Dried fruit and Thai snacks

  • Household items and local clothing

  • Flower market just next door 🌸

🕒 Open: Daily, 6 AM – 6 PM🛍️

Tip: Great place to buy local herbs and teas to take home!



🌙 5. Saturday Night Market (Wualai Walking Street)

📍 Wualai Road, just outside the Old City’s south gate

A slightly smaller version of the Sunday market but still a must-do. It’s known for:

  • Local silverware (Wualai is Chiang Mai’s silver district!)

  • Quirky gifts and street performances

  • Delicious grilled meats and snacks

🕒 Open: Saturdays, 4 PM – 10 PM

🎵 Bonus: Street musicians add a great family-friendly atmosphere.


🍜 6. Malin Night Market

📍 Near Chiang Mai University

This is where Chiang Mai’s students hang out, making it a more youthful and trendy vibe. Expect:

  • Cheap eats and bubble tea galore

  • Affordable fashion and accessories

  • Funky pop-up stalls

🕒 Open: Daily, 5 PM – 11 PM

💸 Budget tip: This is the most affordable market for street food!



🧺 7. Jing Jai Farmers Market (JJ Market)

📍 Assadathon Road, North Chiang Mai

Only 5 minutes away from Tha Phae Gate and just 10 mins from Chiang Mai International Airport. This weekend organic farmers market is a great morning outing set within 3 zones, namely Jing Jai Village (a community space, with Lanna architecture and beautiful greenery, unique eateries & cafes, and office space and open space for artists) | Jing Jai Market (many shops selling handmade/heartmade products from local designers and artists. And cafes/restaurants offering homemade, seasonal and organic locally sourced ingredients. Home to the Jing Jai Weekend Market (open every Saturday and Sunday morning), and Jing Jai Gallery (a gallery showcasing local art exhibitions from fine arts, music, and cinematic arts. Open daily). Overall expect loads of food stalls, coffee trucks and shopping stalls. Set in a laid-back, open green space, this market features:

  • Organic produce and healthy food

  • Artisan stalls

  • Eco-friendly brands

  • Local musicians and open lawns

🕒 Open: open everyday

8:30am-9pm. Saturdays & Sundays, 7 AM – 1 PM

🌿 Great for: Relaxed brunches and letting the kids run around.

Check out their What's on Guide for weekly daily events here




🧺 8. Chamcha Market

📍 13, 16 หมู่ 2 ซอย 11, San Klang, San Kamphaeng District, Chiang Mai 50130, Thailand

A chic weekend market away from hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai’s tourist spots. Less crowded and more spread out with small stalls selling delicious snacks, cakes and homemade jam, handicrafts, clothes, souvenirs, and more. With lot's of shade, live music and street performances.

🕒 Open: open Saturdays & Sundays, from morning until early afternoon

🌿 Great for: Child friendly and relaxed pace

Check out their facebook page for what's on.


🧺 9. The Coconut Market

📍 94 Soi Ban Tong 2 Mu 3, Fa Ham, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50000

Located in the middle of a coconut plantation so is very naturally beautiful. The Coconut Market sells coconut snacks, foods and yummies, and also has lot's of clothes stalls, accessories, handicrafts and gifts. Well worth a visit if you are a coconut lover like us!

🕒 Open: open Saturdays & Sundays, from morning until early afternoon. TIP: Go early as this market closes at 3pm

🌿 Great for: Nature lovers and those wanting a laid back less full on busy market


🚶‍♀️ Final Thoughts: Market-Hopping Tips for Chiang Mai

  • 🧴 Bring hand sanitizer and tissues—not all food stalls provide napkins!

  • 🛍️ Bring cash – most vendors don’t take cards.

  • 🧢 Go early for the best experience and cooler temperatures.

  • 🧃 Stay hydrated – many markets offer fresh coconut or fruit juices.

  • Combine a market visit with a temple visit to pack out the exploration.


Whether you're shopping for souvenirs, trying local food, or just soaking in the atmosphere, Chiang Mai’s markets are an essential part of the local experience. It's one of the best ways to support local artisans and businesses while making beautiful memories in this culturally rich northern Thai city.



I'm going to share my top 4 fave markets in Chiang Mai on my instagram:

📌 Save this post for your trip to Chiang Mai!

1. Baan Kang Wat 🎨

A unique market selling handicrafts along with many DIY workshops. Definitely come here if you’re feeling crafty!

Tues - Sun (closed on Mon)

10am-6pm


2. Jing Jai Market 🛍️

A larger market with loads of food stalls, coffee trucks, and shopping stalls.

open everyday

8:30am-9pm


3. Chamcha Market 🌿

A more spread out market with lots to offer. It doesn’t feel as crowded as others, and everywhere you look is so beautiful!

Sat & Sun

9am-2pm


4. Coconut Market 🥥

A coconut lover’s haven! This market is nestled right on a coconut farm. The place to go to try some coconut snacks.

Fri - Sun

8am-3pm


Have you been to any of these markets?! Let me know in the comments if you know of any great markets for us to explore that deserves a spot in this list.


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:

On YouTube:

Monitizing our new small youtube account - follow for updates on whats working and what we're doing to start a new passive income stream


💡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!

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