Things to do in Chiang Mai
Temples, markets, street food and mountain rides — here's what's actually worth your time in Chiang Mai, and how to reach each one.
Temples you shouldn't miss
You can't move in Chiang Mai without tripping over a temple — there are over 300. These are the ones to prioritise.
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep — the golden mountain temple that watches over the city, and the single most iconic thing to do here. Our full ride-up guide →
- Wat Phra Singh — the grandest temple inside the Old Town, all gilded Lanna woodwork. Our full guide →
- Wat Chedi Luang — a huge, half-ruined 14th-century chedi smack in the centre; best at dusk. Our full guide →
- Wat Suan Dok — photogenic white chedis out toward Nimman, famous for its open "monk chats". Our full guide →
- Wat Pha Lat — a hidden, mossy jungle temple on the way up Doi Suthep (the Monk's Trail).
The Old Town & the markets
The moat-ringed Old Town is the historic heart — easy to wander on foot, easier to potter around on a scooter. Come evening, it's all about the markets.
- Tha Phae Gate & the moat — the old walls and the city's main gathering square. In late November it's the heart of the lantern festival, and in mid-April it's ground zero for the Songkran water fight. Loy Krathong & Yi Peng 2026 guide → Songkran 2027 guide →
- Sunday Walking Street — the famous one, filling Ratchadamnoen Road every Sunday evening.
- Saturday Walking Street (Wualai) — the silversmith district's market, a touch more local.
- Chiang Mai Night Bazaar — the nightly market east of the moat.
- Warorot (Kad Luang) — the big, bustling daytime local market.
Day trips & rides
This is where Chiang Mai really shines — and where a scooter pays for itself. Some of the best riding in Thailand starts right here. These are the ones we've ridden and mapped:
San Kamphaeng Hot Springs and Bo Sang by scooter: the easy east loop
The flattest day ride from Chiang Mai: the old craft road through Bo Sang, a cave with 180 steps, eggs boiled in a hot spring and a foot soak, then home on the fast road. About 80 km, with map and 2026 prices.
Read the guide →
Mae Kampong by scooter: the mountain village day trip from Chiang Mai
A tea village in a steep valley 52 km east of the city, with a temple hall standing in a stream. The road out, the hot springs on the way, the steep finish, where to leave the scooter and how to dodge the weekend queue.
Read the guide →
Monk's Trail, Chiang Mai: ride to the trailhead, hike to Wat Pha Lat
The forest path to Wat Pha Lat is Chiang Mai's best short hike, and the trailhead is a 15-minute ride from the Old Town. Where it starts, where to park, what it costs now, and whether to carry on to Doi Suthep.
Read the guide →
Doi Ang Khang by scooter: the cold-season ride to the Myanmar border
Mist, strawberries, sakura and the Myanmar border at 1,400 m — the cold-season ride, with the one road rule every scooter rider needs to know.
Read the guide →
The Mae Hong Son Loop: Thailand's best motorbike road trip
Thailand's most famous motorbike road trip — 600-ish km, 1,864 curves, and some of the best riding in the country. Here's how to do it without rushing it.
Read the guide →
Chiang Mai to Pai by scooter: riding the legendary 762 curves
135 km, 762 curves, and one of Thailand's most loved rides. Here's the road to Pai, the best stops along the way, and what to do once you arrive.
Read the guide →
The Samoeng Loop: the perfect first ride from Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai's easiest great ride — a ~100 km half-day loop through the Mae Sa valley, the flower farms of Mon Cham and the sleepy town of Samoeng. All paved, perfect for first-timers.
Read the guide →
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: how to visit Chiang Mai's mountain temple
Chiang Mai's golden mountain temple — the naga staircase, the view over the city, and the easiest, most scenic way to get up there.
Read the guide →
Doi Inthanon: how to visit Thailand's highest mountain
Thailand's highest mountain is a big, brilliant day trip from Chiang Mai — waterfalls, royal pagodas and a 2,565 m summit. Here's the ride, the stops and what to know (bring a jacket).
Read the guide →
The Sticky Waterfalls (Bua Tong): climb a waterfall near Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai's quirkiest day trip: a limestone waterfall you can walk straight up, an easy hour's ride north — and completely free. Here's how to get there and what to know.
Read the guide →
5 scooter trips from Chiang Mai, by how much time you have
From a free morning to a free week: the five rides out of Chiang Mai actually worth your time, each with its own full guide.
Read the guide →More day trips worth the ride:
- Hang Dong Grand Canyon — a flooded quarry for a swim and a cliff-jump.
- Chiang Rai — a longer day trip to the surreal White Temple (Wat Rong Khun).
Elephants, nature & adventure
If you visit elephants, go ethical — choose a sanctuary that doesn't offer riding. Beyond that, the hills are full of waterfalls, viewpoints and adrenaline.
- Ethical elephant sanctuaries — observe, never ride. Several genuinely welfare-first projects sit in the hills around the city. How to pick one →
- Doi Inthanon National Park — cloud forest, waterfalls and the highest point in the country. Ride up there →
- Sticky Waterfalls (Bua Tong) — a limestone falls you can climb, an easy ride north. How to visit →
- Night Safari — trams through open enclosures after dark, giraffes at eye level. Great with kids. Prices & how it works →
- Ziplining & jungle — flight-of-the-gibbon-style courses through the canopy.
Food, coffee & drinks
Chiang Mai is a food town — arguably the coffee capital of Thailand, and a lot more fun after dark than people expect.
- Khao soi — the creamy northern curry-noodle dish you have to try at least once a day. Our northern Thai food guide →
- Breakfast in the Old Town — the moat area does a lovely slow morning, Western and Thai alike. Our 3 favourite spots →
- A cooking class — half- and full-day classes are a Chiang Mai rite of passage.
- Nimman cafés — the city's coffee-and-co-working district, packed with specialty roasters.
- A break from Thai food — when you need one, Chiang Mai does a surprisingly great burger. Where to find the best →
- After dark — the cocktail scene punches well above the city's size. Our honest pick of the bars →
- Cooking for yourself? — the fresh markets and supermarkets here are half the fun of staying longer. Where to buy groceries →
Move & train
Chiang Mai is a great place to keep training while you travel — the gyms have come a long way, the muay thai is world-class, and there's more climbing than you'd expect.
- Gyms for lifting — clean, air-conditioned and properly kitted out, from no-frills iron rooms to full commercial setups. Our pick of the best gyms →
- Muay thai — the north's signature sport; real camps take complete beginners, whether for a single session or a month of training. Where to train & watch fights →
- Climbing & bouldering — indoor walls in the city, plus the limestone crags at Crazy Horse Buttress out east.
- Run or ride it out — loop the moat early morning, or head out to Huay Tung Tao lake for flatter, greener kilometres.
Getting around
Almost all of this is easier — and a lot more fun — on your own scooter than waiting on songthaews. We run new models only and deliver them anywhere in Chiang Mai, so you can roll straight out to the temples, the markets and the mountains. New to renting? Start here →
Wondering what makes you street-legal here? The license rules, explained honestly →
Thinking of staying longer than a holiday? Read our honest guide to living and renting in Chiang Mai →
Chiang Mai trip questions
How many days do you need in Chiang Mai?
Three to four days covers the highlights — the Old Town temples, Doi Suthep, a market night and a day trip. A week lets you add the Samoeng Loop, the Sticky Waterfalls or an elephant sanctuary without rushing. Many people come for days and stay for months.
What is the best way to get around Chiang Mai?
A scooter is the local default — attractions are spread out, songthaews don't follow fixed routes, and Grab fares add up quickly. With a scooter you'll reach Doi Suthep, the canyon or any café in Nimman on your own schedule. We deliver one to your hotel for free.
When is the best time to visit Chiang Mai?
November to February — cool, dry and clear, perfect riding weather. March and April are the hot "burning season" months with hazy air, and June to October is the green rainy season: lush and quiet, with showers that usually pass quickly.
Is Chiang Mai walkable?
The Old Town inside the moat is very walkable. Beyond that — Nimman, the riverside, Doi Suthep, the university area — distances grow fast, and that's where two wheels make Chiang Mai feel small.
Ready to explore Chiang Mai?
Get a fresh, new scooter delivered to your door and see the temples, markets and mountains on your own schedule. Book online in two minutes.