Chiang Mai travel guide

Chiang Mai Tourism | Chiang Mai Guide

You're Going to Love Chiang Mai

With a population of 200,952, Chiang Mai is the largest city in Chiang Mai, Thailand by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Chiang Mai has to offer.

Where to Eat in Chiang Mai

If you’re looking for affordable options, Khao by Four Seasons (Four Seasons Resort) and The Vorra Bistro - Old Town (184/1 Ratchamanka Rd) are great picks.

When to visit Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai in March
Estimated hotel price
C$ 22
1 night at 3-star hotel
Chiang Mai in March
Estimated hotel price
C$ 22
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Chiang Mai in April, when the average temperature is 29 °C, and the highest can go up to 36 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 14 °C, with an average temperature of 21 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in September, when precipitation is around 250 mm. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Chiang Mai, with an average rainfall of 0 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Chiang Mai

Plane

When flying to Chiang Mai, you’ll arrive at Chiang Mai (CNX), which is located 3 km from the city centre The shortest flight to Chiang Mai from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 26h 40m.

Train

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is the only carrier operating train routes to Chiang Mai. The train station in Chiang Mai is called Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Railway Station, and is located 3.1 km from the city centre.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Chiang Mai, including Sombat Tour, Bangkok Bus Lines and Bus. The most popular bus station is Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2, located 4 km from downtown Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 is also a commonly used station, and is 4 km from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to Chiang Mai, you’ll arrive at Chiang Mai (CNX), which is located 3 km from the city centre The shortest flight to Chiang Mai from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 26h 40m.

Train

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is the only carrier operating train routes to Chiang Mai. The train station in Chiang Mai is called Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Railway Station, and is located 3.1 km from the city centre.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Chiang Mai, including Sombat Tour, Bangkok Bus Lines and Bus. The most popular bus station is Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2, located 4 km from downtown Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 is also a commonly used station, and is 4 km from the city centre.

Airports near Chiang Mai

Airlines serving Chiang Mai

KLM
Good (848 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,597 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,280 reviews)
Air France
Good (974 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (476 reviews)
Emirates
Good (2,124 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,480 reviews)
Finnair
Good (879 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (911 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (833 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (487 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (180 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (775 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (957 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (51 reviews)
Thai Airways
Good (213 reviews)
China Southern
Excellent (29 reviews)
Air China
Good (31 reviews)
Asiana Airlines
Excellent (258 reviews)
China Airlines
Excellent (605 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Chiang Mai

From 5-star hotels such as the Meliá Chiang Mai to great affordable options like the ibis Chiang Mai Nimman Journeyhub, Chiang Mai offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around C$ 36 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to C$ 151 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include The Common Hostel and Rustic River Boutique. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Chiang Mai, with prices from C$ 15 to C$ 320 per night. Chang Khlan is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Chiang Mai are about 6% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Chiang Mai by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Chiang Mai

Most booked hotels in Chiang Mai

U Nimman Chiang Mai
5 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
C$ 113+
Meliá Chiang Mai
5 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
C$ 148+
North Inn Town
2 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
C$ 22+
Veranda High Resort Chiang Mai - MGallery
5 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
C$ 151+
North Hill City Resort
5 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
C$ 91+
Shangri-La Chiang Mai
5 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
C$ 159+

Renting a car in Chiang Mai

Renting a car in Chiang Mai costs C$ 27 per day, on average, or C$ 108 if you want to rent it for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 2% cheaper than airport locations in Chiang Mai.

Expect to pay C$ 1.80 per litre in Chiang Mai (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 21.49 and C$ 28.65. Economy (Toyota Yaris or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Chiang Mai, while also 24% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Chiang Mai costs C$ 27 per day, on average, or C$ 108 if you want to rent it for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 2% cheaper than airport locations in Chiang Mai.

Expect to pay C$ 1.80 per litre in Chiang Mai (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 21.49 and C$ 28.65. Economy (Toyota Yaris or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Chiang Mai, while also 24% cheaper than other types, on average.