Location: Chiang Mai
Top Things to do in Chiang Mai
The 10 Best Things to do in Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Province
You could spend your whole Chiang Mai vacation exploring the famous Night Bazaar. Once you’ve exhausted the art of the cheerful haggle, however, there’s plenty more to explore. The National Museum and Botanic Garden are great places to soak up some local culture and to breathe in the delicate fragrance of Thai orchids. In the city’s center, the remains of ancient walls embrace over 30 temples. Limber travelers can climb 300 stairs to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, an ornate Buddhist temple in the hills.
Restaurants in Chiang Mai
1. Elephant Rescue Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,505 reviews
Elephant Rescue Park is a happy place for rescued elephants, located in the green valley of Chiang Mai. Our primary objective here is to rescue poor elephants from circus, hard work and mistreatment, provide a safe loving and secure environment for all the elephants that come and live with us, We try to keep them happy and healthy as they should be in nature but this can only be achieved with your help and support. Come and join us today. Don’t forget, all monies raised from our tours goes back to our elephants and towards rescuing new ones. You’ll get to feed them, walk with them, hug them, play with them, bathe with them and so much more.
Reviewed By mleonardo84 - Mexico City, Mexico
Lovely animals in a caring environment... totally recommend... please visit and support the place and the cause... great team running the place and providing and amazing experience with the elephants as protagonists
2. Kanta Elephant Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 722 reviews
Kanta Elephant Sanctuary, The Ultimate Elephant Sanctuary. A new dimension of seeing, feeling and touching the elephants in the wild open space, happily. As they are parts of our family there is no need to control them in the harm way. No Training Hook No Ankle Chain and absolutely No Riding. Our elephant were take care of by our Carer with love and respect.
Reviewed By katecV9899JY - London, United Kingdom
After looking through loads of reviews for a sanctuary where they treat the elephants properly, I can recommend Kanta wholeheartedly! Absolutely superb, picked up from hotel, change into uniforms and hats (elephants need bright colours to see you), fed sugar cane and grass, then made them sticky rice balls and fed them those too. “Nine”, our guide was superb, looked after and educated us all day, with so much information in good English. Lunch was delicious egg fried noodles, with soup and watermelon. Even bathed the elephants at the end. We loved it!
3. Wat Chedi Luang Varavihara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,000 reviews
Built about 600 years ago, this impressive temple once housed the precious Emerald Buddha.
Reviewed By Davinajs - Island of Malta, Malta
A must-see when visiting Chiang Mai old city, part of an historic temple complex, this impressive ancient temple was built around 14th century, originally 82 metres high with much of it collapsing after an earthquake.
4. Wat Phra Singh
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,509 reviews
This temple was built in 1345 under King Phayu, the fifth king of the Mangrai dynasty.
Reviewed By Davinajs - Island of Malta, Malta
It's easy to visit many of these temples dotted around when walking around the old city of Chiang Mai, the architecture here is stunning and well worth a visit.
5. Wat Umong
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,240 reviews
This unique 14th-century temple is built into the side of Suthep mountain and is constructed of a series of tunnels.
Reviewed By jiaogulanforhealth - Chiang Mai, Thailand
Easy to spend several hours there, going through the temple and strolling down to the lake to feed the fish, pigeons and turtles. 20 baht entrance fee to the temple.
6. Royal Park Rajapruek
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 870 reviews
The Ratchaphruek Flower Gardens are a must-see when visiting the Chiang Mai area. The expansive gardens are incredibly picturesque. Bike rentals are available and, for less active travelers, an electric bus is available to take you around.
Reviewed By Will4Vegan
The Royal Park absolutely deserves to be a top 5 attraction in Chiang Mai. It is incredible. Hundreds of acres of flowers and plants from around the world. I’m not a huge garden or nature guy, but this place blew me away. My fiancé and I spent hours walking the park, including visiting the orchid pavilion and the country area, which features plants from countries around the world. We saw many tourists taking the tram during their visit, and it seems like few people walk beyond the center area. In my opinion, that’s a mistake. There is so much to see and you will miss 90% of it if you are on the tram. It takes 3-4 hours to walk the entire grounds, and is well worth doing. You can stop at their tasty restaurant, which is about half way through, if that is too much walking for you in one go.
7. Wat Phra That Doi Kham (Temple of the Golden Mountain)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,528 reviews
Reviewed By DanW440 - Portland, United States
This is an area of much activity surrounding the hype and excitement of this amazing temple. It's beautiful and has so much to see - a very large and significant temple. Even though it was crowded we still enjoyed our visit. Lots of vendors abound so one can purchase items inside the temple walls as well as at the bottom of the long, long staircase. The usual dress code for sacred temples is expected, be sure to dress appropriately and be prepared to remove your shoes. Wondering the grounds for an hour and a half was more than enough time to see everything This amount of time spent allowed for beautiful pictures in daylight and in my opinion
8. Art in Paradise, Chiang Mai 3D Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,555 reviews
Reviewed By HITESHSHARE - Mumbai, India
all diffrent #D designs, you willreally enjoy takeing phots ,please download there app, and then do phots, its more fun, its good for all ages, must visit, it has entry fee.
9. Wat Pha Lat
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 518 reviews
Reviewed By vespana5
A great hike along the lower part of Doi Suthep. This place is well preserved, and although more and more people are starting to come up this path, it has still maintained its quiet atmosphere and serenity. It has a waterfall with a great overlook of Chiangmai (a lower and more closeup angle compared to the one by the highway road, and the back of Doi Suthep Temple). There is now a small coffee shop by the main road path, which is staffed by the monks.
10. Night Bazaar
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 7,960 reviews
Located in the center of town, the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is not to be missed. Travelers can take in rows and rows of handicrafts, from purses to sparkling jewelry. Just make sure to watch your wallet as pickpockets abound.
Reviewed By ruchakorac - Pittsburgh, United States
Love the night bazar so much to do, great shopping, lots of food, many choices if you walk away hungry it is totally your fault!! We found a really nice lady that will make custom Thai outfit for you at very reasonable price, she made 2 outfit for my niece so far, many place to stop for nice cold Chang Beer too!!
