Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Nestled within the mountains of the northern Thai countryside, Chiang Mai offers spectacular landscapes, besides being home to hundreds of elaborate Buddhist temples. The Chiang Mai of today is a vibrant and modern city that holds close to its spiritual and natural roots. With its unique landscapes, delightful food, and leafy boulevards, Chiang Mai has nothing to envy of its sibling Bangkok.

Population:

131,091 (2017)

Currency:

Thai Baht (THB) 1 = 100 Satang

Emergency Numbers:

Police, Ambulance: 191
Tourist Police: 1155
Fire Brigade: 199

Opening Hours:

From Mondays to Saturdays shops are open between 08.00-21.00. Shopping malls are generally open from 10.00-21.00. Banking hours are from 09.30-17.00 and from 10.00-19.00, seven days a week, in the larger shopping malls.

Newspapers:

Chiang Mai Trader News
Chiangmai Mail
Citylife Chiang Mai (online)

The City

“The rose of the north” is a friendly city located about 700 kilometres north of Bangkok that offers a relaxing atmosphere, great shopping and fun activities. This city is a popular holiday destination and many come here regularly from Bangkok.

Chiang Mai actually means “new city” and was founded in 1296 as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. At the time, the entire city was walled and surrounded by moats. The same area today is called the Old Town - an attraction in itself. Slowly, the new city developed around its walls, growing to become the place where past and present coexist together in perfect harmony.

Do & See

Rich in both history and culture, Chiang Mai is a city full of things to do and to see. Here you can find over 300 Buddhist temples, great shopping, an abundance of markets, tasty Thai food and numerous outings. Chiang Mai truly has something to offer for everyone!

Dining

You will find hundreds of dining options in Chiang Mai. Walking down the streets you will come across great street food, chic bars, and traditional restaurants.

Chiang Mai is especially known for having great vegetarian restaurants, and one would need a lot of time to try them all. The sheer variety of vegetarian food is hardly matched elsewhere in the world.

When in Chiang Mai, you will probably see a lot of options for attending short-term "cooking schools". Do not miss this opportunity if you like cooking. The cooking schools are very popular and involve teaching foreigners how to cook great, simple Thai food. One class normally goes on for a half or a full day, sometimes even longer.

With that said, here are the best places to eat in Chiang Mai, Thailand:

Cafes

Cafes and Chiang Mai is a match made in heaven. Everywhere you go you will find coffee shops; quirky, fun, small, large, you name it. In most cafes, you can use free WiFi, great for getting in touch with everyone at home while sipping on a good cup of coffee.

Below are the best cafes in Chiang Mai, Thailand: