A stunning city located in northern Thailand. Despite the size and value of Chiang Mai, the city still feels incredibly authentic. This is evident throughout the entire area, specifically in Chiang Mai old city. Additionally, the location is surrounded by beautiful nature and mountains, providing access to exploring the jungle while visiting Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is just a short flight from Bangkok airways. 

In 2023, my boyfriend and I embarked on a journey through Thailand. What a unique experience it was! Although we still have much to see in this beautiful country, I can already say that Chiang Mai has become our favorite place by far. But which activities should you add to your Chiang Mai itinerary? Well in this blog I’d love to share more about our memories and the best things to do while visiting Chiang Mai! 

About Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the second largest city after Bangkok. However, the difference between the two cities is huge. While Bangkok has approximately 10 million inhabitants, Chiang Mai region has only about 125,000. This results in a significant contrast. Chiang Mai is still a truly authentic place and not as developed as the capital. It’s worth noting that Chiang Mai is definitely progressive, which is why many digital nomads choose to settle there. The city’s residents are incredibly friendly, the street food is delicious, and there is more than enough to do. The city is home to over 300 temples. In addition to the numerous temples, there are also countless coffee shops to be found. This is partly due to the many coffee plantations in the northern region of Thailand. Chiang Mai is also the perfect base location for a day trip to Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai is a must visit for seeing a few of the most famous temples like the Silver temple or other historic temple grounds. 

1. Zipline Adrenaline

We kick off our tips with some adrenaline! Ziplining through the jungle of Chiang Mai! This was truly one of my favorite activities in Chiang Mai. We booked a package with Jungle Flight, an organization with incredibly friendly staff who made the experience even better. We were picked up early in the morning from our hotel. After picking up two other groups, our journey to the jungle began. After a route filled with steep roads and tight bends, we arrived within an hour.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with a cup of coffee or tea, and if you wanted, even a cookie, before our zipline adventure could truly begin. At Jungle Flight, you receive comprehensive instructions from experienced instructors.

With over 30 ziplines, this was truly exhilarating. With so many lines, you’re sure to be occupied for quite a while. The highlight? The 1000-meter zipline. Additionally, they also have a zipline rollercoaster. If you’re looking for an extra dose of adrenaline, this is definitely a must-try. The rollercoaster isn’t mandatory and comes at an additional cost when booking. We opted to do the rollercoaster, and it was absolutely amazing! Definitely not something you want to miss. What truly made the experience complete was the rain, something that’s part of the rainforest experience.

After ziplining, we got to enjoy a delicious buffet. It was so tasty! With full bellies, we hopped back into the taxi and headed back to our accommodation! This activity is a must while visiting Chiang Mai or even visiting Thailand itself. 

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2. Enjoying Local Coffee and the Historic Center

Chiang Mai is home to an abundance of charming coffee shops, a reputation it proudly holds in Thailand. Everywhere you turn, you’ll find delightful local cafés on every street corner. But why are there so many? Well, it’s all thanks to the climate in northern Thailand, which is perfect for coffee plantations.

And let me tell you, the coffee is delightful! During our stay in Chiang Mai, we tried several spots, each with its own unique charm. In addition to coffee, there are also plenty of other tasty drinks available, like my personal favorite, iced chocolate milk.

From the many options, here are our absolute favorite spots:

• Rich Coffee House

• Fahtara Coffee

• Into the Woods

• Kati Breakfast and Brunch

All the above coffee spots in Chiang Mai’s old city are within walking distance from each other. That is also what is so amazing of the Chiang Mai city center. So just take your time, walking the streets, exploring the incredible temples scattered across and enjoy some local coffee. Don’t forget while walking around temple grounds to visit the place that serves the best street food and including the regional best Khoa Soi (egg noodles). This spot is runned by a Thai family and serves the best Khao Soi for only a few Thai Baht. 

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3. Jungle Trekking

Jungle Trekking, an activity we unfortunately did not undertake ourselves. The reason? Lack of time. When traveling, you often have to make choices about which activities to pursue and which ones to skip. During our visit to Chiang Mai, we had 5 nights to explore the city and its surroundings. Therefore, we unfortunately chose not to participate in a Jungle Trekking. Thailand, and especially Chiang Mai, is still on my list of countries I want to visit. I am sure that when the time comes, we will definitely go on a Jungle Trekking! But why a Jungle Trekking and what makes it so special?

During Jungle Trekking, you spend several days exploring the jungle of Chiang Mai. This location is perfect for long hikes through pristine nature. During the trekking, you will also participate in various activities such as visiting waterfalls, eating at local villages, and bamboo rafting. During your hike, there is also a great chance of encountering animals that call the jungle their home.

Personally, I just think it would be incredibly cool to discover nature in such a respectful way and experience new adventures! It is important that you consider visiting in the hot season or wet season. As the hot season speaks for itself, you can consider a lot of rain during wet season and your trekking. You can easily book a Jungle Trekking as a tour, so you have an experienced guide and everything is arranged for you.

4. Relaxing at the Spa

When I Think of Southeast Asia, I think immediately of Thai massages. So no wonder that in addition to the numerous coffee spots, Chiang Mai is also home to countless wellness spots. You can’t escape the many places where you can indulge in a delightful massage or other treatments. We’ve enjoyed a lovely oil massage multiple times, which is especially relaxing after a long day of exploration and adventure. Our ultimate favorite spa in the city? Zenza Spa Chiang Mai.

As you wander through the city, you’ll come across not only regular massage parlors but also some special places. Chiang Mai has several salons where elderly female ex-convicts work. These salons are set up to provide former prisoners with new opportunities for employment. In my opinion, it’s a fantastic initiative!

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5. Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of the must-see attractions in Chiang Mai. This enormous Buddhist temple is located on Doi Suthep mountain, and not just any mountain, but one that stands 1,676 meters tall. That means a quite climb up colorful stairs. Fortunately, the most sacred temple in northern Thailand is situated at an elevation of about 1,060 meters. That’s a bit of relief! But trust us, the climb is definitely worth it. The temple is stunning, and thanks to its height, you also get a breathtaking view. Our tip? Make sure to arrive early at the temple. You might just catch the sunrise, and that’s absolutely incredible!

6. Shop Till You Drop

What holiday is complete without spending at least one day shopping? Well, Chiang Mai happens to be the perfect city for that! The city boasts several large shopping malls where you can find all the stores you could wish for. In addition to shops, each mall also features a food court, as well as a game arcade and sometimes even a cinema. Isn’t that amazing?

Our favorite mall by far was the Maya Shopping Center. Chiang Mai has many Japanese influences, which you can clearly see in this shopping center. It was really fun to experience that aspect as well.

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7. Explore Doi Inthanon National Park & Sticky Waterfalls

During our scooter ride through the beautiful countryside around Chiang Mai, we stumbled upon Sri Lanna National Park. A tranquil park, open to visitors. Not to be confused with the other very popular natural attraction, Doi Inthanon National Park. Sri Lanna, on the other hand, was super quiet during our visit but still a fantastic experience.

We were able to arrange a boat trip with a local boat owner to explore the park via the water. We were amazed! As you venture further into the park, you’ll see floating houses, some in better condition than others. Guests can even stay in some of them. Apart from the enjoyable boat ride, the park itself was definitely worth exploring!

The national park is also perfect to combine with the well-known Sticky Waterfalls. These waterfalls are unique because they have certain algae that allow you to walk barefoot up the waterfall. There are multiple waterfalls, each with a rope to hold onto as you climb. The Sticky Waterfalls are fun in themselves because they are such a unique phenomenon.

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8. Take a day trip to Chiang Rai to visit the temples

Chiang Rai lies in the northwestern part of Thailand so it is well worth visiting if you are going there. It is best known for Wat Rong Khun, also known as White Temple, but there are many other things to see here. I’ll admit it’s amazing and worth the hype. About three hours drive away from Chiang Mai, making arriving at Chiang Rai a very quick process. The visit can be easily planned as a day trip. The tour is amazing and includes many stops during the journey, although it is still possible to view Chiang Rai and to return to your accommodation in Chiang Mai at night.

9. Artistic Baan Kang Wat

Baan Kang Wat, a quaint artistic spot just a short distance from the historic center of Chiang Mai. This place is easily accessible by scooter or taxi. The small town consists of various cute cottages that offer opportunities for shopping but especially for taking workshops. Each spot has its own unique creative aspect. The entire village itself is built in the same authentic Thai style, giving the whole village a charming aesthetic. We spent a few hours here, there is so much to see. My personal favorite was the place where they transformed old books into new notebooks. I regret not buying anything afterwards. A good reason to go back!

Close to Baan Kang Wat is No.39, a nice place to eat, drink, and chill. I must say, this is a real Instagram hotspot, something we only realized later. Overall, it’s a great place to sit and the food was delicious. The DJ created a nice atmosphere with music. Visit Baan Kang Wat and the surrounding area for the perfect day trip outside Chiang Mai old city. 

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10. Ploen Ruedee Night Market

You can’t visit Thailand without going to a Night Market. Fortunately, Chiang Mai also has a Nice and tasty Food Market. The Night Market may not be as large as those in Bangkok, but I would say there were definitely around 20 food stalls. With a variety of street food ranging from Pad Thai, sticky rice to refreshing ice cream for dessert. Wondering if you can also make some delicious food yourself? Then consider joining a Thai cooking Class! During the Thai cooking class you will learn to make Thai food like the famous sticky rice. Not sure where to start yet with Thai cuisine? Check out our other blog where we tell you all about it! 

What makes Ploen Ruedee so special to us? Apart from the cozy atmosphere with live musician incredible food, we have a special memory from our visit. While eating, we were asked to have a short English conversation with 2 young children from China. They were on vacation in Thailand and wanted to practice their English. And they did well, especially considering they attended an international school. It was just so fun and cute for me and my friend to chat with the 2 children about where they came from and what they had done during their vacation. After 10 minutes of chatting and taking a group photo, they went back to their parents and off to find the next people for a nice chat.

Close to the night market is also night bazaar where you can enjoy the full Thai culture experience. A must visit before you leave Chiang Mai. We just love the city and love Chiang Mai, the city has just so much to offer! 

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11. Tha Pae Sunday Walking Street

As the last activity on our list, we conclude with perhaps the biggest weekly event in the center of Chiang Mai: the Sunday Market. As the name suggests, this market is only present on Sunday evenings and runs into the night.

Tha Pae Sunday Walking Street is something you definitely don’t want to miss during your visit to Chiang Mai. When planning our trip to Thailand, we made sure to take this event into account so that we wouldn’t miss it. Early in the afternoon, the streets in the center are blocked and the locals slowly begin setting up their stalls and merchandise.

Around 8:00 PM, we went to the market ourselves, and it was incredibly busy! But also super fun, you’ll be amazed by what you see. You can find clothing, souvenirs, and delicious food at the small markets. No time for following a Thai cooking class? Just walk around the food court and you will be seeing some live preparing of Thai cuisine like Pad Thai. You can easily spend a few hours at the market. I would say, take it easy, as it’s so crowded that rushing through isn’t even possible. Just relax and love Chiang Mai.