Northern Thailand · city
Chiang Mai
Stay in the old city for temple walks, or choose another neighbourhood for cafés and a quieter base.
The feel of the place
A northern city break for food lovers, temple walks and mountain outings.
Chiang Mai combines temples, markets, northern food and cafés with nearby mountain outings such as Doi Suthep. The city makes a convenient base for countryside trips, while more distant mountain towns need a separate journey. Seasonal haze can affect mountain views, particularly during February–April.
Keep in mind
The old city is easy to explore, but mountain outings need transport. February–April haze can also limit the views you came for.
Get to know Chiang Mai
What is Chiang Mai like?
Our editorial assessments · Select a factor to see how we scored this place.
Why we rate Chiang Mai 0/10
Chiang Mai is an inland city with no sea beaches. Choose a separate coastal stop if beach days matter to your trip.
What we assess
Beach appeal, convenient access and variety during a beach-focused stay, within the destination itself.
Why we rate Chiang Mai 7/10
The mountain backdrop and outings around Doi Suthep bring green scenery close to the city. The most dramatic landscapes require time away from the centre.
What we assess
The visual impact of natural surroundings and how central those landscapes are to a typical stay.
Why we rate Chiang Mai 9/10
Temples, Lanna heritage and traditional crafts give you plenty to explore. Many old-city sights fit naturally into walks between neighbourhoods.
What we assess
The variety, depth and practical access to historic places, temples, architecture, traditions and cultural experiences during a typical stay.
Why we rate Chiang Mai 9/10
Northern dishes, markets and an extensive café and restaurant scene make food a reason to visit. Local favourites sit alongside plenty of international options.
What we assess
Food quality, variety, distinctive local cooking and how readily visitors can find good places to eat, regardless of price.
Why we rate Chiang Mai 7/10
Live music, relaxed bars and livelier pockets offer varied evenings. The scene suits bar-hopping more than an all-night clubbing holiday.
What we assess
The choice, variety and liveliness of evening venues, their opening hours and how easily you can enjoy a typical night out.
Why we rate Chiang Mai 6/10
Quieter lanes and residential bases offer a slower pace, but traffic, markets and busy nightlife streets still shape a city stay.
What we assess
How easily you can enjoy a peaceful stay, considering traffic, nightlife noise, crowds and practical quieter bases.
Why we rate Chiang Mai 0/10
Chiang Mai is not a base for sea-island excursions. Its day trips focus on mountains, villages and countryside.
What we assess
The variety of worthwhile sea-island trips, convenient departures, journey times and flexibility under normal operating conditions.
Why we rate Chiang Mai 9/10
Walkable old-city areas, red shared taxis, tuk-tuks and arranged rides make a scooter optional. Mountain outings need a longer ride or organised trip.
What we assess
Freedom to explore without renting a scooter, using walking, public transport, taxis, tuk-tuks, ride-hailing or boats; transport price is assessed separately.
Why we rate Chiang Mai 9/10
Simple guesthouses, local meals and inexpensive city experiences make a modest-budget stay easy to plan. Longer excursions add to the total.
What we assess
How easily you can enjoy a typical stay on a modest budget, including simple accommodation, food, realistic transport and characteristic activities.
Scores out of 10 · Higher means more of that characteristicAbout these scores
How to read the scale
Scores describe how strongly a destination offers each characteristic. They are editorial assessments, not visitor ratings.
Higher does not always mean better
A higher nightlife score means a livelier scene. A higher quietness score means a calmer atmosphere. The right balance depends on your trip.
Plan your trip
When to go
See how temperature, rainfall and travel conditions change through the year. Select a month to focus on your travel dates.
| Factor | Chiang Mai |
|---|---|
| Average daytime high | 30°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 11 mm |
| Rainy days | 1.3 |
| Crowds | High |
| Stay prices | High |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 10 mm |
| Rainy days | 0.9 |
| Crowds | Moderate |
| Stay prices | Typical |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 35°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 20 mm |
| Rainy days | 2.8 |
| Crowds | Low |
| Stay prices | Low |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 37°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 54 mm |
| Rainy days | 6.8 |
| Crowds | Moderate |
| Stay prices | Typical |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 35°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 168 mm |
| Rainy days | 14.8 |
| Crowds | Low |
| Stay prices | Low |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 118 mm |
| Rainy days | 16.3 |
| Crowds | Low |
| Stay prices | Low |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 149 mm |
| Rainy days | 18.8 |
| Crowds | Moderate |
| Stay prices | Typical |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 223 mm |
| Rainy days | 20.9 |
| Crowds | Moderate |
| Stay prices | Typical |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 207 mm |
| Rainy days | 18.1 |
| Crowds | Low |
| Stay prices | Low |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 124 mm |
| Rainy days | 11.8 |
| Crowds | Moderate |
| Stay prices | Typical |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 31°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 41 mm |
| Rainy days | 4.2 |
| Crowds | High |
| Stay prices | High |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 29°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 14 mm |
| Rainy days | 1.8 |
| Crowds | High |
| Stay prices | High |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable |
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | ||||||||||||
| Chiang Mai |
30°C
|
33°C
|
35°C
|
37°C
|
35°C
|
33°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
31°C
|
29°C
|
| Monthly Rainfall | ||||||||||||
| Chiang Mai |
11 mm
|
10 mm
|
20 mm
|
54 mm
|
168 mm
|
118 mm
|
149 mm
|
223 mm
|
207 mm
|
124 mm
|
41 mm
|
14 mm
|
| Rainy days | ||||||||||||
| Chiang Mai | 1.3 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 6.8 | 14.8 | 16.3 | 18.8 | 20.9 | 18.1 | 11.8 | 4.2 | 1.8 |
| Crowds | ||||||||||||
| Chiang Mai | High | Moderate | Low | Moderate | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Moderate | High | High |
| Stay prices | ||||||||||||
| Chiang Mai | High | Typical | Low | Typical | Low | Low | Typical | Typical | Low | Typical | High | High |
| Sea conditions | ||||||||||||
| Chiang Mai | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Temperatures are historical average daytime highs, not the highest temperatures you might experience. Rainfall and rainy days are monthly averages, not a forecast. A rainy day need not mean rain all day.
Stay prices are relative to each destination’s usual rates. Holidays can bring extra crowds and higher prices. Sea conditions vary by beach and day; check local conditions before boat trips.
Chiang Mai: Thai Meteorological Department — CHIANG MAI (48327), 1991–2020.
The practical side
Getting to and around Chiang Mai
Arriving
Chiang Mai has its own airport. Plan the onward journey to your city neighbourhood separately from any later mountain or countryside excursions.
Without a scooter
Walkable old-city areas, red shared taxis, tuk-tuks and arranged rides make a scooter optional. Mountain outings need a longer ride or organised trip.
Before you decide
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