Chiang Mai moves at a different pace than Bangkok, a moated old city of over 300 temples, a genuinely cooler climate in the surrounding mountains, and a food and craft culture rooted in northern Thai and Lanna traditions distinct from the rest of the country.
The Old City Temples
Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh, the old city's two most important temples, are both walkable from each other and represent different eras of Lanna architecture, visit in the early morning when monks are conducting rounds and the air is still cool.
Doi Suthep, the mountaintop temple visible from most of the city, is reached by a winding road and a 300-step naga staircase, the golden chedi at the top, and the view back down over Chiang Mai, justify the climb.
Elephants and the Surrounding Hills
Choose an ethical elephant sanctuary carefully, the best ones, like Elephant Nature Park, focus on observation and care rather than riding, feeding rescued elephants and letting them behave naturally rather than performing.
The Sunday Walking Street market through the old city is Chiang Mai's best showcase of northern Thai crafts and food, go early evening when it opens and work through the stalls before the crowds peak.
Recommended Stay · Chiang Mai · Riverside
137 Pillars House
A restored 19th-century teak consulate building set in tropical gardens along the river, blending colonial-era architecture with genuine Lanna hospitality, quiet, small, and a short tuk-tuk ride from the old city.
