Chiang Mai 2025 | Your Essential Travel Guide
- Fletch
- Apr 28
- 11 min read
Updated: May 28
An introduction to Chiang Mai, Thailand. If you are planning a trip to Thailand and are considering Chiang Mai as a possible contender for your itinerary then this 2025 guide is perfect for you. This guide includes all the essential must knows + must do + must see's when it comes to Chiang Mai. Including basics about the city’s location, how to get there, and essential tips for your next trip to Chiang Mai and really great things to do in Chiang Ma that you can not miss. And we know because we lived there.
If you are new to this blog, Hello & welcome (waves): We are a family that travels full time. Go check out our YouTube video here for more about us. And please subscribe to our YouTube Channel that we are trying to grow. In a nutshell our story: We ditched the rat race in June 2024 in the UK and bought one way tickets to Bali (where we are building a house) and whilst that is finished we slow travel the world full time with our kids. We spend a decent amount of time in each destination to find the best things that it has to offer and on an budget. Because we have kids and earn an average income online so must budget. And in 2025 we spent 2 months exploring the beautiful Thailand and re-kindled our love for the place that we last visited over 9 years ago with just our Daughter. Because we've only just visited again since then (but this time as a fam of 4!) we're sharing new up to date blogs and videos about this magical place to give you up to the minute travel content to help you plan your most memorable trip yet. So with that said, let's jump into this Chiang Mai Travel Guide.
Contents:
💰 Currency
🗣 Language
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Chiang Mai, Thailand: A Gateway to Culture, Mountains, and Mindful Travel
Tucked away in the lush hills of northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is the kind of place that invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and truly experience the heart of Thai culture. Far removed from the buzz and chaos of Bangkok, Chiang Mai blends ancient history with a laid-back, creative energy that makes it one of the most beloved travel destinations in Southeast Asia.
Whether you're here to explore centuries-old temples, wander through colourful street markets, or head into the mountains in search of waterfalls and hill tribe villages, Chiang Mai is your perfect northern escape.
📍 Where Is Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand, located about 700 km (435 miles) north of Bangkok, nestled in a valley surrounded by forested mountains. It's the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom, and that heritage is still visible today in its moats, crumbling city walls, and beautifully preserved temples.
Despite being a city, Chiang Mai feels more like a relaxed town—walkable, friendly, and infused with a sense of calm that sets it apart from other Thai destinations.
✈️ How to Get to Chiang Mai?
You have several options to reach Chiang Mai. Be sure to use our price comparison tools to ensure you are getting the best available prices:
By Air
Chiang Mai has an International Airport (CNX) so is well-connected, with daily domestic flights from Bangkok (takes around 1 hour), Phuket, Krabi, and also direct international flights from many international cities like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The airport is located just a 10–15 minute drive from the city centre - The Old City. And taking a flight to Chiang Mai is therefore the fastest way to get there. Since we slow travel we took the scenic 10 hour bus journey from Bangkok tickets via 12Go
By Train
For a scenic (and budget-friendly) journey, consider the overnight train from Bangkok. It takes about 12–14 hours and is a favourite among backpackers for its comfort and charm—especially if you book a sleeper berth. Book trains via 12Go for trains to Chiang Mai.
By Bus
Buses and VIP coaches also run daily from Bangkok and other cities, with a journey time of around 9–10 hours. This is a good option for travellers looking to save on accommodation with an overnight trip. We took this bus from Krabi in 2025 and used our favourite online booking service 12Go for our bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
🧳 Key Things to Know about Chiang Mai Before You Explore
🏯 Old City vs. Nimmanhaemin
Chiang Mai has two main areas:
- The Old City: A historic square filled with temples, guesthouses, and street markets—ideal for first-timers. Perfect for those seeking convenience and accessibility, the City Centre is an excellent choice with lot's of accommodation options including the Luxury 5* Shangri-La Hotel which is not far from the bustling Night Bazaar.
- Nimmanhaemin (Nimman): A trendy district with cafés, co-working spaces, and boutique shops—popular with digital nomads and younger travellers. We lived in Nimman and share everything we know about this place on our blog.
🗣 Language
Thai is the official language, but English is widely spoken in tourist areas. Don’t be shy to try a few basic Thai phrases—locals do appreciate the effort even if you feel silly trying!
💰 Currency
The Thai Baht (THB) is the local currency. ATMs are everywhere, and most places accept cash. Some upscale restaurants and hotels take credit cards.
☀️ Weather in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has three main seasons:
- Cool Season (Nov–Feb): The best time to visit—dry, sunny, and pleasant. However, the haze from nearby farms setting fires to clear the fields can affect the visibility. March is when the haze from Smokey Season is at its height so best to avoid (see more about this below).
- Hot Season (Mar–May): Very warm, but still a good time for adventure.
- Rainy Season (Jun–Oct): Lush landscapes, but expect regular afternoon showers.
Smokey season - From burning season - Whilst not a season in Thailand it is definitely something you'll want to consider on your next trip to Thailand and Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai Family Guide offers the most comprehensive information on the topic especially helpful if you have kids and a family.
🚙 Getting Around Chiang Mai
- Red Songthaews (shared taxis) are the most common way to get around.
- Grab (ride-hailing app) works well and is affordable.
- Scooter rentals are popular but not ideal for beginners due to local traffic quirks.
Best Days to Visit Chiang Mai
Weekdays are ideal for exploring Chiang Mai's cultural attractions and markets. Saturdays and Sundays are bustling with activity, especially at the weekend markets which can attract the crowds so if you can, weekdays are the best.
📅 Major Festivals in Chiang Mai
April - Songkran (Thai New Year) April 13th to 15th - During major festivals like Songkran, Chiang Mai comes alive with celebrations and events. This is the time when you can see the iconic water fights in the streets that symbolise renewal and cleansing and if you can get involved is a memorable experience.
May - Visakha Bucha Day (usually in May on the full moon of the 6th lunar month) - A major Buddhist holiday in Thailand that celebrates three events in Gautama Buddha's life — his birth, enlightenment, and death —all of which occurred on the same date in the Buddhist calendar. Check with attractions as some will have altered opening times etc. Read about our Monks Trail Walk on Visakha Bucha Day 2025 here + our experience of a Monk Chat in Chiang Mai where we got to speak with practicing monks and ask questions to find out about their way of life (a must do in my experience if you enjoy learning about cultures and spirituality) + our 1 Day Buddhist Meditation Retreat (again an absolute must do when in Chiang Mai).
November - Loy Krathong (usually in November) - Holidays such as Loy Krathong are great to experience. Celebrated annually on the night of the full moon in the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar, which usually falls in November. “Loy” means “to float,” and “Krathong” refers to a small, decorated basket—often made of banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense. People release these floating offerings into rivers, lakes, or ponds as a symbolic gesture. Cities like Chiang Mai host lantern festivals (Yi Peng) at this time, where thousands of sky lanterns are released. You'll get chance to make these baskets. You’ll see fireworks, traditional dance performances, and parades. It’s a magical, glowing night filled with lights and reflection—literally and emotionally and may be something you want to book your next Chiang Mai trip around.
🏨 Where to Stay in Chiang Mai?
There are 3 main areas in Chiang Mai all with a good choice of accommodation from hostel budget to luxury.
The City Centre: For those seeking convenience and accessibility. Here, you'll find luxurious 5* Luxury : 5* hotels like The Shangri-La Hotel (89/8 Chang Klan Road, Chiang Mai 50100 Thailand) And Na Nirand Romantic Boutique (1/1 Soi 9 Charoen Prathet Road, Chiang Mai 50100 Thailand)
Nimmanhaeminda Road: Known for its trendy cafes, boutiques, and art galleries, Nimmanhaeminda Road is popular among hip and creative travellers.
5* Luxury: Art Mai Gallery (21 Soi 3, Nimmanhaemin Road, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand) and Amanor Hotel Chaing Mai (22/2 Nimmanhaemin Road Soi 9, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand)
The Old Town: Steeped in history and charm, the Old Town is a favourite among travellers looking to immerse themselves in Chiang Mai's rich cultural heritage.
5* Luxury: The Chiang Mai Old Town (184 Ratchamanka Road Phra Sing, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand) and 137 Pillars House (2 Soi 1 Nawatgate Road Tambon Watgate, Chiang Mai 50000 Thailand)
🏨 Where to Stay in Chiang Mai?
Where to Stay? Booking.com is our fave for good options for Chiang Mai whether it comes to family accommodation, couples, budget or luxury. We sometimes use Agoda (especially for our South East Asian Travel like our fave hotel in Ho Chi Minh & our bargain Banyan Tree Bangkok bargain - but beware of the nightly rate prices, even if you put a longer duration, it only shows the nightly rate and you think you've got an absolute steal until you check out and that bargain price was actually just one night!) Also my backpackers and budgeters be sure to check out HostelWorld for hostel focused accommodation.
Here are my best stays for Chiang Mai.
Best for Families Chedi Home
Best for Couples Bodhi Serene Boutique Hotel + Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Hotel
Best for Style Lovers Arun Khiri Hotel + Glory Wabi Sabi Hotel
Stylish Decor at Glory Wabi Sabi Hotel in Chiang Mai
In Nimman - Cherlock Hotel
My Lust List Stay PE-LA Thapae Boutique Hotel
Dreamy Decor at Pe-La Thapae Hotel in Chiang Mai near to the Pae Gates (reminds me of Bali to which I'm always drawn to this type of aesthetics
🛍️ Best Markets in Chiang Mai?
I soon realised, when I started writing that this section absolutely needed it's own much larger dedicated section. And that's why I put together THIS GUIDE
For our Best Markets in Chiang Mai. An ever growing super detailed guide to the absolute best markets that think you need to visit and crammed with as much info as I could possibly give you for each market based on our 2025 recent experience. Because basically Chiang Mai is the home for some of the worlds best markets as it is for temples. Chiang Mai’s markets are up there with some of the best. And visiting a market is 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. So to which one should you visit? Check out our full list and pick which jumps out for you. We personally LOVE this market (take a look at the blog and video we put together but basically it's so beautiful, is great for kids, has the prettiest coffee shops, plus we quite like arty, crafty stuff and here you can do workshops and classes with local artists as well as the general market stuff). But if that's not your thing, there will definitely be something that appeals in this Chiang Mai market list.
🛕 Best Temples in Chiang Mai?
With over 300 temples in Chiang Mai alone, you're going to be pretty hard pushed to visit them all. And if you don't have time to visit a temple in your Chiang Mai stay or holiday, then a quick walk inside the Old Town, you're sure to stumble upon a temple that you can take a quick look inside. There are so many temples in Chiang Mai, all very beautiful and each with their own unique charm and energy. TIP: Make sure you have something to cover your shoulders (a shirt, shawl, t-shirt is fine) and something that covers the knees (elephant pants, long skirt, maxi dress, sarong) in your bag so you can put on before entering a temple. We love a temple and so they do feature quite highly on our travel and exploration itinerary. And we've visited many. So many that we have our favourite temples that we share with you on the blog. THIS GUIDE shares the best temples to visit in Chiang Mai as well as some other temple based activities that you need to do when in Chiang Mai. Trust us when we say. We had a life changing and very spiritual meditation experience with monks in a temple visit and we think everybody should do this at least once in their lifetime. Go checkout the guide here.
Things to Do in Chiang Mai?
There's so much to do in Chiang Mai that it really comes down to how long you have? We've put together this ultimate list of things to do in Chiang Mai for you to be able to pick and choose from.
But also check out our Chiang Mai Itineraries for 24 hours, 3 days in Chiang Mai, 5 Days in Chiang Mai, 2 weeks in Chiang Mai and you lucky thing... 1 month in Chiang Mai for our best things to cover whilst you're there.
Why Visit Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai offers a different side of Thailand—slower, deeper, and more connected to nature and tradition. It’s a city where you can spend the morning meditating in a 700-year-old temple, the afternoon sipping coffee at a jungle café, and the evening browsing local art at a street market. And if you’re into cooking classes, ethical elephant encounters, or chasing waterfalls, you’re in the right place. We personally love Chiang Mai and feel like it's more like the Ubud (Bali) of Thailand.
Chiang Mai isn't just a single destination—it's a feeling and a vibe. From its jungle-cloaked inland areas to island-dotted horizons, Chiang Mai offers something for every type of traveller.
Next up: The Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai - Now that you know how to get there and what to expect, let’s dive into what makes Chiang Mai truly unforgettable. 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. Coming Soon: The Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai
Ready to dive into temple-hopping, market strolling, and mountain trekking? In our next post, we’ll explore the top things to do in Chiang Mai—from iconic attractions to hidden local favourites.
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:
💡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 - We use this hotels checker to search hotels and accommodation for our Thailand trip. Use to check dates and costs to hotels and hostels in Thailand now or go to 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.
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