The Best Chiang Mai Things to Do (with map)

Last Updated: November 16, 2024

Leaving the Chaos of Bangkok

After 4 days in Bangkok, we were ready to leave its hurried streets. We escaped to peace and nature abound Chiang Mai. It is the largest city on the northern side and the second largest city in Thailand. It is known for its markets, temples, and elephant sanctuaries.

Amazing Temples of Northern Thailand

In preparation for our trip, we were taken aback by the intricately decorated temples and the promised views of the Thai highlands. We envisioned hiking into the depths of Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon, home to the best of Chiang Mai trekking, finding the best elephant sanctuary Chiang Mai has to offer, meeting orange-clad monks, marveling at the architecture and stuffing our bellies at the night bazaars. Chiang Mai attractions are plentiful, and with only 4 days on our itinerary, we agreed to be purposeful and determined.

Our eyes grew with sparkles by the minute as our travel day approached. But the imagery came crashing down when just a day before arriving in Chiang Mai. We learned about a thing called ‘Chiang Mai burning season’. It is during this time which all the beautiful scenery is covered by a thick blanket of smog due to agricultural land burning nearby.

Making Adjustments in Chiang Mai

It was too late to cancel our stay in Chiang Mai, so we quickly adjusted our plans. We resolved to explore early in the mornings and to stay mostly indoors. In the end, we still had an enjoyable experience and still highly recommend Chiang Mai. Instead of sharing a list of must-dos, we want to tell you the things you should know about Chiang Mai. The burning season included, and which exciting swaps you can make to popular Chiang Mai attractions. We hope our Chiang Mai tips help you plan your trip if you are facing an unexpected turn of events. 

Things to Know Before Coming to Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai offers fantastic experiences to travelers, from beautiful scenery to incredible opportunities to immerse in culture and festivals. The best time to travel to Chiang Mai is from November to January when the weather is pleasant and cool. And the famous Loy Krathong, Lantern Festival, is held in November. The rainy season happens from June to October. And the period you want to avoid is February through April when the burning of crop fields occurs, known as the burning season. The burning creates unhealthy levels of pollution to the point that staying inside is recommended. 

Know About Burning Season in Thailand

It appears that the burning season is not commonly mentioned unless you know to directly search for it. We know there were many other travelers in the same boat as us. If that’s you too, we recommend staying indoors as much as you can, using a mask if venturing out, and shortening your stay if possible. We resolved to make the most of our time in Chiang Mai, so below we share things to do to improve your experience if you arrived during the burning season.

How to Get Around in Thailand

There is a variety of ways to get around Chiang Mai. You can take taxis, buses, truck taxis, motorcycle taxis, and tuk-tuks. The most convenient way, though, that will help you skip the bargaining and pick you up and drop you off door-to-door is Grab, which is a local Uber. We also used the Grab app during our stay to escape the smog and heat.

Animal Tourism in Thailand

Animal tourism is one of the most popular Chiang Mai attractions. Tourists jump at the opportunity to snap a bucket list photo petting tigers, cuddling monkeys, and riding elephants. Unfortunately, whisked away in the exoticism of the moment, it may not occur to us the kind of treatment these animals face behind the scenes. A quick Google search will shed light on their devastating lives in captivity. So when choosing to participate in animal tourism in Chiang Mai, search for sanctuaries that do not mistreat the animals and offer ethical interactions like bathing and feeding elephants instead of watching them perform tricks.

Best Indoor Activities in Chiang Mai

Temple Running vs Museums

There are over 200 temples around Chiang Mai. Each is unique in its own way, and many are absolutely breathtaking. Walking around the temples is a magical experience. Ideally, renting a bike and covering the ones that interest you the most is best, but with such poor air quality, we opted to see a few by car. You can join a small private tour with Get Your Guide that will take you to Doi Suthep, Wat Pha Lat, and Wat Umong. Or create a makeshift tour of your own by hiring a Grab to drive you around the Old Town.

When you visit the temples, make sure you dress appropriately, which means covering your shoulders and legs and removing your shoes before entering. Some temples are only open to men, so pay attention to the signage.

Alternatively, make your way to Chiang Mai National Museum and Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center to learn about the history, traditions, art, culture, and lifestyle of the people living in the Lanna Kingdom, which Northern Thailand was formerly known as. Beautiful Buddha sculptures, miniature traditional house models, photo exhibits, and artifacts are what you can expect at these museums.

Night Markets vs Maya Kitchen

Instead of wandering around the night bazaars of Chiang Mai, searching for trinkets, souvenirs, and most importantly, street food to sample, we headed to Maya Kitchen. Located inside Chiang Mai’s ultra-modern Maya shopping mall in the Nimman area, Maya Kitchen is a beautiful food court that houses regional, national, and international dishes. The number one dish on our must-try list was Khao Soi – a coconut curry noodle soup with braised chicken, native to Chiang Mai. It quickly became one of our favorite Thai dishes of the trip.

Elephant Sanctuary vs Elephant Parade Land

Visiting an elephant sanctuary is one of the most popular things to do in Chiang Mai. There are many options to choose from in the area. We picked Kerchor Elephant Eco Park because we had heard it was among the best rescue centers in the area. It helped us learn about the importance of these majestic creatures and elephant conservation in Chiang Mai. We enjoyed feeding them, walking them through the jungle area and watching them get a bath. We even got to help prepare the food that we gave them. It was a very enjoyable day trip from Chiang Mai and well worth it.

Other options include  Elephant Parade Land, a museum, art exhibition, and workshop that donates a portion of its profits towards elephant welfare. Peruse the museum, get inspired by all the color-clad elephants, and then join a workshop where you get to paint your own mini statue. It is probably the best souvenir you can take with you from Chiang Mai. You can rest assured you have contributed to a good cause. Our elephants will remind us of this special city and how we made the most of our stay despite the unexpected plot twist. We hope our Chiang Mai tips help you as well. We will definitely be back!

Chiang Mai Things to Do Map