City or town
Things to see in Chiang Mai (Thailand): 36 places and when to go
Chiang Mai is a city in Thailand with around 397,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 36 places in and around it, mainly Temples (16), Nature (10), Mountains (7). The best known are Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Chedi Luang and Doi Suthep. The best time to come is November to February; also possible: March and May to October. In June there are 13 h 07 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 52. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- Thailand · 18.8, 98.98
- Population
- About 397,000
- Places
- 36 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- Temples (16) · Nature (10) · Mountains (7) · With kids (6) · Wildlife (6) · Stargazing (2)
- Best time
- November to February.
- Also possible
- March and May to October.
- Nearest airport
- CNX Chiang Mai, 4.1 km as the crow flies
- Highest point
- Doi Pui, at 1,685 m.
What to see in Chiang Mai
The places in and around Chiang Mai, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Wat Phra That Doi SuthepBuddhist temple in Chiang Mai province, Thailand6.1 km
- Wat Chedi LuangBuddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand1.6 km
- Doi SuthepMountain near Chiang Mai, northern Thailand9.4 km
- Wat Phra SinghBuddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand1.3 km
- Chiang Mai ZooZoo in Thailand3.8 km
- Wat Chiang ManBuddhist temple in Muang Chiang Mai district, Chiang Mai province, Thailand1.2 km
- Doi Suthep–Pui National ParkNational park of Thailand20 km
- Wat Chet YotBuddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand1.3 km
- Ban Ho MosqueMosque in Chiang Mai, Thailand2.7 km
- Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006Horticultural exposition in Thailand8.1 km
- Attaqwa MosqueMosque in Chiang Mai, Thailand3.0 km
- Wat Suan DokBuddhist temple in Chiang Mai province, Thailand1.9 km
- Wat Buppharam, Chiang MaiBuddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand2.3 km
- Wat UmongBuddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand3.4 km
- Chiang Mai National MuseumMuseum in Chiang Mai, Thailand1.3 km
- Chiang Mai Night SafariZoo in Thailand9.4 km
- Sacred Heart Cathedral, Chiang MaiChurch in Chiang Mai, Thailand3.7 km
- Bhubing PalaceRoyal residence8.3 km
- Doi PuiSummit of Doi Pui, Chiang Mai, Thailand10 km
- Mae Ta Khrai National ParkNational park in Chiang Mai and Lamphun province, Thailand27 km
- Thai National Radio TelescopeRadio telescope in Thailand26 km
- Wat Ku TaoBuddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand954 m
- Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong WorawihanBuddhist temple in Chiang Mai province, Thailand53 km
- Wat Chai MongkhonBuddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand3.4 km
And the other 12, by what you come to do:
- Temples: Wat Ket Karam, Wat Pa Dara Phirom
- Nature: Doi Khun Huai Khanun, Doi Mae Ngae, Doi Mon Sin Khu, Doi San Kio Sung, Doi Tham
- Stargazing: กล้องโทรทรรศน์ 0.7 เมตร
- With kids: Grand Canyon Water Park, Patara Elephant Farm, Siam Insect Zoo, Tube Trek Water Park Chiang Mai
When to go to Chiang Mai
The best time to visit Chiang Mai is November to February; also possible: March and May to October. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBest time10:59
- FebBest time11:23
- MarPossible11:52
- AprBetter not12:26
- MayPossible12:53
- JunPossible13:07
- JulPossible13:02
- AugPossible12:38
- SepPossible12:06
- OctPossible11:34
- NovBest time11:06
- DecBest time10:52
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 13 h 07 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 52. In January, 34 of the 36 places are at their best.
When to go to Thailand in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Chiang Mai
The nearest main airport is Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX, Chiang Mai), 4.1 km as the crow flies. How to get around Thailand (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Lampang6 places77 km
- Phayao5 places106 km
- Mae Hong Son7 places120 km
- Phrae5 places144 km
- Chiang Rai19 places152 km
- Uttaradit6 places176 km
And all of Thailand, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Chiang Mai?
The best known: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Chedi Luang, Doi Suthep, Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai Zoo. In all, 36 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Chiang Mai?
November to February; also possible: March and May to October. In June there are 13 h 07 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 52.
How do you get to Chiang Mai?
The nearest main airport is Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), 4.1 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Chiang Mai as the destination and these 36 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- ThailandBefore travelling to Thailand: 9 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. No visa is needed for tourism, but the visa-free stay was cut from 60 to 30 days on 15…
- Temples293 places for temples in Thailand, from Wat Phra Kaew to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: November to February. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.