1) Coconut Market
Coconut Market is such a sweet outdoor market surrounded by coconut trees, with local stalls selling food, drinks, handmade items and local products. It’s a great place to grab something to eat so come hungry! We loved the coconut ice cream, pandan mini pancakes and banana pancakes! A quiet and relaxed place to enjoy and take some cute photos. I’d recommend visiting in the morning when the market is at its liveliest, and bring cash in small amounts. The market is on Friday to Sunday, open from 8am-3pm.
2) Jing Jai Market
Jing Jai Market is one of Chiang Mai’s most popular weekend markets, only 15 minutes from the Coconut market. There’s a relaxed atmosphere and a real variety of local food, fresh produce, handmade crafts, clothing and independent brands which aren’t the same as the usual market stalls. Go in the morning for the best experience, as it can get busy and some stalls may sell out (highly recommend you try the pandan coconut pancakes from inside the food hall!)
3) Changthong Heritage Park
Changthong Heritage Park is an insanely beautiful and peaceful place to explore, we love to go for a long nature walk wherever we travel, and this offers a quieter alternative to some of Chiang Mai’s busier attractions, making it a nice stop if you want to see something a little different while exploring the area. It’s open 9am-7pm every day and not far from the city centre.
4) Grand Canyon Chiang Mai
Grand Canyon Chiang Mai is a former quarry that has been transformed into a water park, with turquoise water, swimming areas and activities for anyone who fancies something a little more adventurous. It’s a great option for those who love to be a bit more active or want to cool off from the Thai heat. Just be sure to be careful when jumping into the water, you can Book here
5) Carp Café
Carp Café is known for its gorgeous Japanese-inspired design, where you can enjoy your lunch inside your own private pod submerged in the water surrounded by hundreds of koi fish. You can also buy fish food for just 20 baht. We enjoyed the coconut drink and iced lemon shake.
6) Wat Umong Temple
Wat Umong is a beautiful forest temple is known for its old brick tunnels, peaceful woodland setting and large grounds. When we arrived, we also took a stroll over the bridge to the large water area, where you can spot turtles having a swim! Bring small cash for entry and remember to dress respectfully, by covering your shoulders and knees, and keep noise to a minimum as it’s an active place of worship. Book here
7) Baan Kang Wat (Artists Village)
Baan Kang Wat, also known as ‘artists village’ is one of my favourite spots in Chiang Mai. The market is filled with independent shops, handmade crafts, art studios, cafés and creative spaces. Everything is handmade and completely unique to any other markets. Our favourite place was the ‘Note a book’ where you can emboss your own book with your chosen letters.
Be sure to try the famous Khao Soi (it’s so popular there’s usually a long wait) we also loved the cherry sorbet from one of the ice cream vendors!
It’s a great way to supporting local artists rather than shopping in big commercial stores. Allow yourself time to wander around without rushing, and check opening days before you visit because some shops may not open every day, and it’s closed on Mondays.
8) Sunday Walking Street Night Market
Sunday Walking Street is one of the best markets to visit in Chiang Mai, it’s best explored around 5-6pm when it’s just opened and hasn’t got too busy yet, as it does get super crowded. The streets fill with stalls selling very cheap street food, handmade jewellery, clothing, artwork and souvenirs, with plenty of opportunities to try different Thai dishes as you walk around. Be sure to try the nutella and banana roti!
9) Mae Kampong Village
Mae Kampong is a beautiful mountain village surrounded by the forest and waterfalls, it’s known for its traditional wooden houses, little cafés and peaceful atmosphere, which looks like something out of a Ghibli movie. It’s another great place to try local foods, bring small cash and leave early because it’s a bit of a drive.
Make sure to book a tour thar includes travel to and from your accommodation, because you can’t get grab up in the mountains! (We learnt the hard way the first time, when we got dropped off, but had to ask a tuk tuk driver to take us back, at a much higher cost!) Combine your visit with The Giant Treehouse Café, as both are in the same general area, you can book both here
10) The Giant Chiangmai treehouse café
The Giant Chiangmai Treehouse Café is a café just 15-20 minutes from Mae Kampong Village, with pods built around an absolutely ginormous tree and stunning views over the forest. It’s a lovely place to enjoy a drink or something to eat while taking in the scenery. Pair it with Mae Kampong Village for a full day out.
11) Get a massage at Fah Lanna Spa
Fah Lanna Spa is the perfect place to treat yourself to a bit of luxury while you’re in Chiang Mai! They offer a range of treatments, including traditional Thai massages, aromatherapy and full spa packages, so it’s ideal if you fancy some proper relaxation after lot’s of exploring.
There are a few locations around Chiang Mai, including the Old City and Nimman, so you can fit it around your itinerary. I’d recommend booking in advance, especially if you want to try one of their longer spa packages! Book here
12) Shooting Club Chiang Mai
If you’re interested in trying something different from the usual sightseeing activities, you could visit a shooting club in the Chiang Mai area. We enjoyed this more than we thought, make sure you always follow the instructor’s guidance and the venue’s safety rules throughout the experience. Book with an instructor here
13) Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden is another favourite of ours, the beautiful botanical garden is set in the mountains, with a huge collection of plants, landscaped gardens and glasshouses. One of the highlights is the canopy walkway, which lets you walk above the forest and enjoy the surrounding greenery from a different perspective.
It’s a great place to spend a few hours, especially if you enjoy nature and photography, so allow time to explore the different areas. You can book a tour that also includes a visit to Jinju orange farm, Mon Jam alpaca farm, flowers garden, WTF coffee camp (stunning) and Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden! Book here
14) Mae Sa Waterfall
Mae Sa Waterfall is surrounded by the forest in the Mae Rim area. The waterfall has multiple levels, with paths that let you explore different sections (a lot of walking, so be aware!) Wear shoes with good grip because the paths and rocks can be slippery, especially after rain. You can also visit Jungle De Cafe on the same day, as they’re close together.
15) Jungle De Café
Jungle De Café is a quiet and scenic café, where you can sit on a mesh canopy, overhanging right next to a waterfall. There’s limited choice for food, but what they did have was delicious!
You can even ride a jungle roller coaster and zip line right next to the cafe, which you can book here
16) Huay Tueng Thao Reservoir
I know I’ve said a few times already that some of these are my absolute favourites, but this really is such a special spot. Huay Tueng Thao Reservoir is such a peaceful place to visit, just outside the city. It’s known for its lake views, fun straw characters (you can even walk up through some of them!) and mountain backdrop with little bamboo huts where you can sit down and enjoy some cheap and delicious thai food on the water.
You can also rent a quad bike to explore the area, which we have done 3 times now, for around 1,000 baht (around £22 / $30) You can book a tour here
17) Dantewada Land of Angels Waterfall Park, bamboo rafting & Bua Thong Sticky Waterfall
Dantewada Land of Angels, Mae Taeng River Bamboo Rafting and Bua Thong Sticky Waterfall can all be combined into an full day trip. You’ll start at Dantewada Land of Angels, a beautiful park with waterfalls, streams and lots of iconic photo spots, before heading to Mae Taeng River for a relaxing bamboo rafting experience through the countryside.
Finish at Bua Thong Sticky Waterfall, one of Chiang Mai’s most unique attractions, where the grippy limestone rocks actually allow you to climb up the waterfall. It’s a full day out, so I’d recommend booking this tour that includes transport and all three stops rather than trying to organise everything separately. Book here
18) Doi Inthanon National Park
Doi Inthanon is home to Thailand’s highest mountain and is one of the best day trips from Chiang Mai if you want to see waterfalls, mountain scenery and beautiful nature trails. You’ll explore the summit, Ang Ka Nature Trail and the Twin Royal Pagodas, which have lovely landscaped gardens, rice paddies and incredible views.
As a part of the tour, you’ll get a delicious thai lunch, try some natural teas and be told about the culture and mountain itself, which was fascinating. It’s a full-day trip, so you’ll need to leave early. Make sure to bring a light jacket because it can be cooler at the top than in the city. Book here
19) Chom Café
Chom Café is undeniably the most beautiful cafe in Chiang Mai. The atmosphere makes it feel like you’ve stepped into a little rainforest. It’s a lovely place to stop for food and drinks, we loved the Khao Soi chicken curry and pineapple fried rice. It can get busy, so aim to get here early to avoid the crowds.
20) ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary
ChangChill offers an opportunity to learn about elephants and observe them in a natural setting, with an emphasis on elephant welfare rather than riding or performing tricks. It’s a full-day experience, so plan your itinerary around it rather than trying to squeeze in several other major attractions on the same day.
If you want to visit an elephant sanctuary, it’s worth researching its welfare practices carefully and choosing experiences that prioritise the animals needs. We booked privately through ChangChill website, this and ENP are the only two I can personally recommend because we only observed the elephants. Please do not engage with any parks who offer bathing and definitely NO riding (which is slowly getting banned)
21) Elephant Nature Park (ENP) Sanctuary
Elephant Nature Park is another well-known elephant rescue and rehabilitation centre where visitors can learn about the elephants and observe them in a welfare-focused environment. It’s a good option if you want to learn more about elephant conservation while supporting an experience that prioritises their wellbeing. Visits can take most of the day, including transfers from Chiang Mai, so leave this as your main activity rather than planning lots of other stops around it. We booked through their website directly.
22) One Nimman Market
One Nimman is our favourite market in Thailand, and we’ve been to so many! It’s filled with boutique shops, restaurants, cafés and regular market events. The market food stalls are insane, you have to try the chickem & cheese gyozas with soy sauce and chilli oil, the ‘dubai chocolate’ strawberries, stone baked pizza, juicy steak bites, honey lemon iced tea, thai curries, pad thai, Khao Soi.. the list is endless and it is ALL delicious (and super cheap!)
It’s a great place to spend an evening if you want something a little more modern than the traditional street markets. Market stalls and events can vary by day, so check what’s happening during your visit on their socials here: One Nimman Market Socials
23) Baan Landai Fine Thai Cuisine
Our favourite Thai restaurant in Chiang Mai, 100/10 no notes. It’s a proper sit-down restaurant rather than grabbing something from a market stall, and a great place for lunch after an afternoon of exploring the old town.
You will need to reserve a table in advance if you’re visiting at a busy time, because they are super popular, and for a reason! We loved the crab fried rice, steak, Khao Soi curry, red crab curry and the mango, lychee & raspberry smoothie.
24) Mali Cat Cafe
If you love cats, you are going to love this! There are so many cute cats here, all very well taken care of and healthy, with plenty of fresh food and water. They love to play, and sleep! Buy a treat to become everyone’s best friend.
You’ll get a drink included, it’s around 1,000 baht for an hour, and we went back 4 times over the space of 6 months (yes, I’m obsessed) Please be respectful of the cats if they want some space, do not pick them up and do NOT allow your children to poke, pull or bother the cats and stress them out.
25) Afternoon tea at Four Seasons
For something a little more luxurious, afternoon tea at Four Seasons Resort is such a treat. We actually came here for my birthday and it was so worth it. The hotel has the most stunning countryside and gardens, with colours so bright it feels like someone turned up the saturation.
We booked the Mango afternoon tea, they have different options available throughout the year. It came with a delicious variety of cakes, sandwiches and mango ice sorbet.
You can book directly through their website, I thought the price was really good for the Four Seasons, at 2,000 baht for two people (around £44 / $60)
26) Wonder Hill Farm
Wonder Hill Farm is the place to go if you enjoy scenic views, open spaces and taking a break from the city. They have a small variety of delicious and cheap cakes, we opted for the orange and the coconut cakes.
It’s out of the way, so I’d combine it with other nearby attractions such as ‘take a walk cafe’ and ‘Pang Pao Beach Cafe’ rather than making a long journey just for a short stop.
27) Pang Pao Beach Café
Pang Pao Beach Café is a fun café option if you fancy somewhere a little different. They have cute wooden huts with mesh canopies and bean bags, where you can enjoy a view of the ‘beach’ or watch the ducks have a swim in the pond.
There’s also guinea pigs, goats, bulls and various cats wandering around! It’s like a farm and a beach combined, which is odd but works!
28) Doi Suthep, Wat Suan Dok, Wat Pha Lat
This temple trip is a great way to see three very different sides of Chiang Mai’s spiritual and cultural heritage. Doi Suthep is the famous mountain temple with panoramic views over the city, Wat Suan Dok is known for its white chedis, and Wat Pha Lat is a peaceful forest temple tucked away in the greenery.
You can visit them independently, but a guided tour can make it easier to understand the history and arrange transport. The tour I recommend includes evening monks chanting, which offers a different experience from a daytime temple visit, even if you aren’t spiritual or religious, it’s completely moving. Book here
29) Siam Dragon Cabaret Show
The Siam Dragon Cabaret Show is a super fun way to enjoy an evening with elaborate costumes, dancing, music and light hearted comedy. The performers are stunning, and so much effort goes into a show, so be sure to get a photo with them after the show and tip! You can Book here
30) Muay Thai class at Dang Muay Thai
If you want to try something active in Chiang Mai, a Muay Thai class is a great way to experience Thailand’s national sport. Dang Muay Thai offers training for different experience levels, so you don’t need to be an expert to give it a go.
The only thing I would suggest, is making sure you’re properly fed and watered before coming, it can feel intense in the heat, but if you eat and drink an hour before you start, you’ll be fine!
Wear comfortable gym clothes and let the trainers know if you’re a complete beginner so they can help you get comfortable with the basics. Book here
31) Watch a Muay Thai fight
Watching a live Muay Thai fight is a completely different experience from taking a class, and a great way to understand how they use the skills you just learnt. You get to see the speed and technique of the fighters, along with the atmosphere and traditions that surround the sport.
Fight schedules and venues can vary throughout the week, so check the latest listings before you go and book tickets in advance if you want to avoid missing out. Book here
32) Jungle tubing and caves
For a more adventurous day out, jungle tubing and cave exploration combine a relaxing float along the river with the chance to explore a natural cave. Trips around the Samoeng area can include tubing on the river and visiting Mae Sap Cave, surrounded by countryside and forest scenery.
It’s worth booking a guided trip that includes transport, as these locations are outside central Chiang Mai and can be awkward to reach independently. Check the weather and river conditions before booking. Book here
33) Kingkong Smile Zipline
Kingkong Smile Zipline is a great option if you’re looking for an adrenaline-filled activity in the forest. My friend Emily (pictured) had to practically push me off the platform, because it’s a huge line! but as soon as I took off, I was so happy to have booked this tour, it’s just such an incredible experience.
You’ll zip between platforms, with different course options depending on how adventurous you want to be. Check the age, weight and health requirements before booking, wear suitable sports shoes and don’t drop your phone! Book here
34) Day trip to Chiang Rai (Highly recommended!) & Lalitta Café
Chiang Rai is well worth considering if you have an extra day in northern Thailand, especially if you want to see some of the region’s most famous temples. The White Temple is known for its striking white architecture and intricate details, while the Blue Temple and Black House offer very different styles of art and design.
I’d also add Lalitta Café, which has a fairytale-style setting with lush greenery, waterfalls and beautiful photo spots. Just bear in mind that Chiang Rai is a around a 3hr drive from Chiang Mai, so it’s a long day trip and you’ll want to book a tour to fit everything in without rushing. Book here
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