Chiang Mai

Know where you want to stay in Chiang Mai already? We have hotels listed by area - Airport, Chiang Mai City, Doi Angkhang, Hang Dong, Mae Rim, Mountainside, Night Bazaar, Outer Chiang Mai, Riverside, Suthep Pui, Mae Hong Son.

Or you can see all hotels listed by Name, Location and Price. Here's the full list of Chiang Mai Hotels. (Read more...)

Chiang Mai features hundreds of things to do and see. A countless number of significant and historic temples, located all over the Old City area, are awaiting discovery. The variety of hill-tribe villages will bring a unique and memorable experience to visitors.

Nature lovers can explore the mountainside and green scenery with elephant trekking and river rafting, or simply join off-track sightseeing trips on bikes or bicycles. (Read more...)

Chiang Mai City features 700-year-old historical attractions in the Old City area (Tha Phae). There are more than 30 temples of interest and hundreds of chedis and stupas dating back to the 13th Century. The city is surrounded by verdant green mountains. The highest one, Doi Suthep, is where the Ping River originates, flowing down to the city and the most important river in northerners' lives.

Apart from the Old City, other popular areas for tourists are the Chiang Mai Riverside, the area surrounding Chiang Mai's famous Night Bazaar, a backpacker area with cheap accommodation (also in the Old City area), while many hotels and resorts have opened up on the outskirts of the city offering tranquil settings with close-to-nature experiences. And a couple of hours' drive from Chiang Mai lie the popular destinations of Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son in an area called The Golden Triangle. (Read more...)

Chiang Mai is the capital of Thailand's northern region. It's an historical city with literally hundreds of colourful and significant attractions. For example, glittering temples that are up to 700 years old and Buddhist chedis dotted all over the city, in the typical style of the Lanna Kingdom with added Burmese influences.

There are several museums that trace the city's history. Visit the famous golden chedi at the top of Doi Suthep. Enjoy the fresh air and walks in lush forests at its National Park. Chiang Mai Zoo has become a popular attraction for families, home to a wide range of animal species. Its cultural, historical and natural attractions make Chiang Mai a charming destination to discover – ensuring a unique and memorable holiday. (Read more...)

There are numerous things to do in Chiang Mai, but experiencing the original unique lifestyle of the indigenous hill-tribes should feature high on anyone's itinerary. Learn about these colourful people's laidback lifestyle close to nature and gain an understanding of their unique customs. Tours can be arranged and villages explored in a day, or join an overnight trip.

Appreciate nature while riding an elephant or go bamboo rafting at one of the many national parks. Shopping is another favorite pastime in Chiang Mai with handicrafts, gifts and souvenirs that are unique to the area. Examples are exquisite and intricate wooden carvings and colourful hand-painted and handmade umbrellas from the Bosang village. (Read more...)

Thai food is delicious, and traditional northern Thai cuisine is especially popular since it is a little less spicy (as a result of the Burmese influence). 'Kantoke' is a set menu dinner consisting of various northern delicacies and often, while enjoying the food, customers will be entertained with folk dancing to the sounds of traditional Thai musical instruments. Look out for traditional spicy northern sausage. And don't forget to try 'kabe moo' (pork rind), which is eaten with delicious green chili paste.

Romantic dinners can be enjoyed at a variety of Thai and international restaurants along the Ping River. Street food, of course, can be found everywhere, and is as tasty and cheap as elsewhere in Thailand. (Read more...)

Although the nightlife scene is not big in Chiang Mai, there are more than enough pubs, bars, and discothèques located around the city (mainly on Moon Muang Road, near Tha Phae Gate) to keep night owls busy. Chiang Mai also has a number of classy bars, open-air beer gardens, 'mobile' bars and karaoke venues.

Especially on weekends, bands perform live at some Riverside restaurants, and a couple of well-known ladyboy cabaret shows provide wholesome entertainment for the whole family. For an entirely different after-dark experience, escape from the conventional nightlife scene to the Chiang Mai Night Safari and Zoo to see what the real nocturnal animals are up to. (Read more...)

Forget about sprawling shopping malls and multi-storeyed department stores. In Chiang Mai, it's the massive Night Bazaar that steals the shopping spotlight. This huge indoor and outdoor market sells everything from traditional items like silverware, silk, pottery, celadon, wooden carvings and souvenirs to art, antiques and counterfeit goods (DVDs, CDs, videogames and the like).

Bosang Village is another highlight, a small village on the outskirts of the city where beautiful parasols are made and painted by hand. Besides street entertainment and some street exhibitions, the Sunday Street Festival is another good place to shop for local handicrafts. Other than that, Chiang Mai has a plethora of modern stores, boutique-style shops and the kind of commercial activity one would expect from a medium-sized city. (Read more...)