The old capital of the Lanna kingdom in a mountain valley in northern Thailand: a moated Old City, over 300 temples, the golden stupa of Doi Suthep, the Night Bazaar and the Sunday Walking Street. Nearby are an ethical elephant sanctuary, Doi Inthanon mountain and the sticky waterfall. For families there is a zoo, a Night Safari and a water park. No direct flights from Ulaanbaatar — connect via Bangkok or take the overnight train. Mongolian citizens can stay 30 days visa-free.
🛂 Visa: Visa-free · 30 days✈ Flight: 9h☀ Best months: November, December, January
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: November, December, January.
Things to see (12)
🧸 for kids
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Culture≈30–50฿ (lift 20฿ each way)6:00–18:00
A 14th-century golden stupa on a 1,000 m mountain 15 km west of town. Climb the 306-step naga staircase or take the lift; the whole city is spread out below. Go early for cooler air and fewer people.
Old City temples: Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang
CultureWat Phra Singh's Lai Kham chapel 40฿, Wat Chedi Luang ≈40–50฿≈8:00–17:00
Travel guide
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goMongolian citizens need no visa, but fill in the TDAC digital card and plan around the smoke season.+
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Visa: 30 days visa-free
Under the Mongolia–Thailand bilateral agreement, an ordinary passport gives 30 days visa-free. The general 60-day exemption ended on 15 September 2026, but this does not affect Mongolia. For health or similar reasons the stay can be extended once (1,900฿); overstaying is fined 500฿ per day. Your passport should be valid for more than 6 months and you should hold a return ticket.
Every foreigner entering Thailand fills in the TDAC on the official site within 3 days before arrival — free. If you connect via Bangkok, you clear immigration there, so that is where it is checked. Other sites that charge a fee are agents or scams.
November to January is best: cool, dry and clear. From February to April wildfire smoke badly pollutes the air, so avoid it with children or anyone with breathing problems. Travel insurance is a must.
Tip: Book hotels and flights for the Yi Peng lantern festival months ahead.
🛬Landing and getting into townChiang Mai airport is only 4 km from the Old City — 15–25 minutes into town.+
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Airport taxi or Grab
The official taxi counter in arrivals charges ≈150–200฿ to the Old City (including the 50฿ airport surcharge). Grab costs ≈150–250฿ with the fare shown upfront. Evening rush hour (17:00–19:00) adds 15–20 minutes.
Night train no. 9 leaves Bangkok's Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal at 18:40 and reaches Chiang Mai around 7:15; a second-class lower berth costs ≈1,050฿. Lower berths sell out fast, so book early on the SRT site. Chiang Mai station is 3 km east of the Old City.
AIS and TrueMove H counters in the Suvarnabhumi and Chiang Mai arrivals halls: an 8-day plan ≈299฿, 15–30-day plans up to 599฿. Show your passport and staff will set it up.
If your phone supports eSIM, install one before the flight. SIMs and top-ups are sold at 7-Eleven and AIS/True shops in town. Café and hotel Wi-Fi is fast.
Tip: Download Chiang Mai and the Doi Inthanon area in Google Maps for offline use — signal drops in the mountains.
🚇Getting aroundNo metro: red songthaews, Grab/Bolt, tuk-tuks, and walking inside the Old City.+
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Red songthaew (rot daeng)
Red pickup trucks cruise the city — wave one down, say where you are going and agree the fare first. Within town it is ≈30฿ per person. Hire one to yourself and it becomes a taxi at a higher price.
Doi Inthanon, Elephant Nature Park and the sticky waterfall are far out, so hire a car with driver for the day or join a tour. Renting a motorbike requires an international licence and a helmet; mountain roads are dangerous.
Almost every Thai bank ATM charges about 220฿ (some 250–350฿) per withdrawal on a foreign card. Take out larger amounts at once; AEON ATMs are cheaper (≈150฿).
Markets, temples, songthaews and street food are all cash. Cards work in malls, bigger restaurants and hotels. Changing dollars at SuperRich or bank exchange booths in town gives a better rate.
Tip: When paying by card, choose to be charged in baht — conversion to tugrik or dollars costs more.
🍜FoodNorthern Thai food — cheaper than Bangkok, less fiery and more herbal.+
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What to eat
Khao soi (noodles in coconut curry broth) is Chiang Mai's signature dish. Also sai ua (herb sausage), nam prik noom (green chilli dip), sticky rice and khaep mu (pork crackling). Ask for 'mai phet' if you want it less spicy.
Tip: Drink only bottled water; ice is usually factory-made and safe.
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Markets and cheap eats
The Sunday Walking Street, Saturday Wualai Road market, the Chang Phueak Gate evening market and Warorot (Kad Luang) market are cheap with lots of choice. Nimman has cafés and international food.
In the smoke season check air quality daily, wear an N95 mask and skip strenuous outdoor activity on bad days. Motorbike accidents are the main risk — never ride without a helmet. Landslides happen in the mountains in the rainy season.
Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai Ram Hospital — 24-hour emergency, English-speaking, bill insurers directly. Don't support places with elephant rides or shows — choose an ethical sanctuary.
Insulting the royal family is a serious crime under Thai law. The King's portrait is on every banknote, so never step on money. Stand when the royal anthem plays in cinemas.
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At temples
Cover shoulders and knees and take your shoes off before entering a hall. Don't point your feet at a Buddha image, and women must not touch monks. Chiang Mai has temples everywhere, so carry a light scarf and long trousers.
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Talking and haggling
Raising your voice means losing face — smile and stay calm. Polite haggling is fine at markets, but not in temples, shops or restaurants. Touching someone's head is rude.
📱Useful apps+
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Transport
Grab and Bolt — taxis, tuk-tuks and food delivery with fares shown upfront. Google Maps — temples, markets, restaurants and offline maps.
IQAir AirVisual shows air pollution hour by hour. The Thailand Tourist Police app connects you straight to the Tourist Police and shares your location. LINE is how hotels and tour operators keep in touch.
The airport is 4 km from the Old City, 15–25 minutes; allow for evening traffic. If you are connecting to the MIAT flight in Bangkok on a separate ticket, leave at least 4–5 hours between flights.
In shops displaying 'VAT Refund for Tourists', show your passport and ask for the form. At the airport where you leave Thailand (usually Suvarnabhumi), show the goods at the customs counter before passport control to get the stamp.
AI answer: double-check anything beyond our researched facts with an official source.
The moated Old City's two most famous temples, 500 m apart. Wat Phra Singh's Lanna-style chapel houses the Phra Buddha Sihing image; Wat Chedi Luang has a 60 m brick stupa half-ruined by an earthquake in 1475. Chedi Luang holds a daily 'monk chat' where you can talk with monks in English.
Several blocks of market along Chang Klan Road: crafts, clothes, souvenirs and food courts. Haggle over prices; Anusarn Market has seafood and stage shows.
The week's biggest market, running over 1 km along Ratchadamnoen Road from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Phra Singh: Lanna crafts, street food, food courts in temple grounds. A similar market runs on Wualai Road on Saturdays.
NatureSingle-day visit 2,500฿ (children 1,250฿), transport and lunch includedHotel pickup ≈8:00, back ≈17:00
A sanctuary for rescued elephants in the Mae Taeng valley 60 km north of town — no riding, no shows. Feed and watch the elephants. Book ahead; unforgettable for families.
Nature300฿ (children 150฿) + 30฿ per car≈5:30–18:30
Thailand's highest point (2,565 m), ~100 km from town. The royal twin pagodas, Wachirathan waterfall and the Kew Mae Pan trail (Nov–May). It can be under 10°C at the top — bring warm clothes; a full day.
An 80-hectare zoo on wooded hills at the foot of Doi Suthep: giraffes, hippos, an aviary and an aquarium. It is big and hilly — take the tram or rent a golf cart.
The modern neighbourhood next to Chiang Mai University: coffee shops, art galleries, One Nimman, MAYA mall and evening bars. A hub for students and digital nomads.
A small artist village of wooden houses next to Wat Umong: pottery, carving and painting studios and cafés. Children can join a craft workshop; Sunday morning market.
NatureFree (some reports of a fee for foreigners)8:00–17:00
A limestone waterfall whose rock is not slippery, so you can climb straight up the flow. 60 km north of town; the 'Seven-Coloured' spring and picnic area are at the top.
Kids≈800–1,100฿ foreign adults (children less)11:00–22:00 (night trams from 18:00)
A park at the foot of Doi Suthep where trams take you close to animals at night: giraffes, zebras, tigers, lions. Evening light and fountain show; children love it.
