Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest and second most popular cultural city, after the capital of Bangkok. The atmosphere is noticeably different, even when not considering the lovely mountain setting. It’s not a beautiful city, but it is remarkably cheap.
Thailand’s northern capital, Chiang Mai is an extremely popular stop for anyone exploring Thailand beyond Bangkok and the islands. This is the hiking and trekking capital as well, so there are plenty of outdoor activities and tours available.
The food in Chiang Mai is another highlight since many of the most famous dishes are different from those that are popular in Bangkok, and cheaper as well.
The hotels and hostels in Chiang Mai are so inexpensive that many long-term travelers come to stay for weeks or months at a time, which means there is a lively expat and tourist scene.
| Population | 150,000 |
| Area | 1,000,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+7 |
| Currency | Thai baht |
| Airports | Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) |
Chiang Mai’s Night Market is one of the best in southeast Asia as it is a nightly social event in addition to an excellent place to eat, drink, and find souvenir bargains.
There are many impressive temples and complexes in and around Chiang Mai, and the city walls themselves are a major attraction.
The trekking and outdoor activities are very popular here, especially as the climate is much milder than Bangkok, especially in the winter months.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 7.00 - 13.00 |
| 8.00 - 20.00 |
| 13.00 - 63.00 |
| 26.00 - 115.00 |
| 85.00 - 200.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 4.73 - 11.53 |
| Budget breakfast | Street stalls serve great food for cheap. Cafes and Western food will cost a bit more. | $0.86 - $2.16 |
| Budget lunch | Again, really good street-stall meals are easy to find and cheap. Sitting down somewhere is still quite reasonable. | $1.29 - $3.45 |
| Budget dinner | Assuming you want a sit-down meal in the evening, there are plenty of great and cheap choices. | $2.59 - $4.60 |
| Beer (pint) | Beer in restaurants and pubs can be cheap as long as you aren't buying drinks for local girls. | $1.72 - $2.59 |
| Cocktails (glass) | Drinks made with local rum can be great deals. Foreign brands will cost much more. | $1.15 - $3.45 |
| Beer (bottle, retail) | In supermarkets and 7-Elevens you can get local cold beers at good prices. | $0.72 - $0.86 |
Most of the best Chiang Mai tours are those that take you outside of the city to nearby nature areas.
Walking tours of Chiang Mai are worthwhile.
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 84 | 57 | 0.3 |
| February | 90 | 59 | 0.2 |
| March | 95 | 65 | 0.5 |
| April | 97 | 71 | 2.0 |
| May | 93 | 74 | 6.2 |
| June | 90 | 75 | 5.2 |
| July | 89 | 75 | 6.3 |
| August | 88 | 74 | 9.3 |
| September | 88 | 73 | 9.0 |
| October | 88 | 71 | 4.8 |
| November | 86 | 66 | 2.1 |
| December | 83 | 59 | 0.8 |
In spite of Chiang Mai’s mountain location, it has very similar weather to the coastal cities in Southeast Asia. April is the hottest month, and the humidity can make things nearly unbearable. Things cool off a bit during the rainy season from May through mid-October, and rain tends to come in daily bursts rather than long drizzles. The weather from November through February is relatively mild making it by far the best time to visit.
| 21 Mar | 6:28am | 6:35pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:48am | 7:04pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:13am | 6:22pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:52am | 5:52pm |
The city is also one of the world’s great travel bargains, with all range of hotels being quite cheap by international standards, and Chiang Mai hostels are, of course, even cheaper. You can get rooms at high-standard 3-star Chiang Mai hotels for around the price of a hostel bed in northern Europe.
Hotels in Chiang Mai are some of the best bargains in the travel world. The high season runs from November through March, and the weeks around Christmas and New Years get even more expensive. From April through October you can often find excellent bargains at the fancy places, while most cheap places don’t change rates much.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 7.00 - 13.00 |
| 8.00 - 20.00 |
| 13.00 - 63.00 |
| 26.00 - 115.00 |
| 85.00 - 200.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 4.73 - 11.53 |
Chiang Mai has a large airport not far from the city center and fares from within Asia are generally very affordable.
There is train service between Bangkok and Chiang Mai that either goes overnight or leaves in the morning and takes all day.
There are long-distance buses going between major Thai cities as well. Look for the VIP buses that have only 3 larger seats across instead of four.
Chiang Mai is flat and not too large so it’s a good city for walking.
Taxis are cheap and easy to find while tuk-tuks can be even cheaper, if a bit less comfortable. Watch out for tuk-tuk drivers offering free rides in exchange for stops at jewelry or other overpriced stores.
Songthaews are trucks with bench seating in back and are the cheapest public transportation. They can be intimidating the first time you use them and they typically only go on fixed routes.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city center | 4.43 |
| Tuk-tuk from airport to city center | 1.44 - 1.72 |
| Public bus from airport to city | 0.52 |
| 3km taxi ride in Chiang Mai | 3.74 |
| 3km tuk-tuk ride in Chiang Mai | 1.15 - 1.44 |
| Public bus ride in Chiang Mai | 0.57 |