My Guide to Chiang Mai Old City

In this article, we will look at everything about the old city of Chiang Mai, including The best things to do and how to get around Chiang Mai Old City.

Chiang Mai Old City is the historic heart of Chiang Mai. It is a small square area, about 1.5 km by 1.5 km, packed with things to do and see.

Chiang Mai was founded in the 13th century by King Mengrai. It was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, and in the 16th century, it was annexed by the Siam Kingdom (now Thailand).

The old town was surrounded by a moat and a tall city wall, to protect against invasions, especially from the Burmese. Today, you can still see the moat around the old town, and some ruins of the fortified walls and the city gates.

The old city is the historic and cultural core of Chiang Mai, filled with temples, cultural sites, and traditional architecture. Additionally, it is home to lots of restaurants, shops, bars, cafes, massage places, and travel agencies.

You can check out my other articles about Chiang Mai:

Chiang Mai Old City Location Explained

Chiang Mai Old Town is the heart of Chiang Mai, a major city in North Thailand. It is a small area around about 1.5kms square and is surrounded by the moat and the ruins of the city walls.

The Old Town is located between the Ping River and Doi Suthep mountain, around 5 km northeast of Chiang Mai International Airport.

Major roads bordering the Old Town include Sri Poom Road (north), Bumrung Buri (south), Mun Mueang Rd (east), and Arak Road (west).

The Old town is the network of several main roads and lots of small alleys. Main streets are Rachadamnoen Rd and Ratchamanka Rd (connecting east and west side of the old city) as well as Samlan Rd and Prapokklao Rd (connecting north and south side of the old city).

How to Get Around Chiang Mai Old City?

The old town of Chiang Mai is relatively a small area, you can easily get around on foot, by bicycle, tuk tuk, and some riding share services such as Grab. I explore the old town on foot most of the time, whenever I felt tired (mostly because of the heat), I used Grab Bike to get around.

You can easily find tuk tuk and songthaews (red pickup trucks) on every corner in and around the old town. When using the local transports, you can bargain the price with the driver. I hate negotiation, so I choose the Grab Bike most of the time.

If you like to try a traditional three-wheeled bicycle taxi, you can take a rickshaw to explore the old town. I found several drivers in the areas around the Three King Monument area.

What to do at Chiang Mai Old City?

As the cultural heart of Chiang Mai, the old city is home to dozens of ancient temples, monuments, and Lanna-style architecture that reflect its rich past. The old town is also home to many night markets, restaurants, and cafes where you can try delicious Thai cuisine.

Exploring the ancient temples

The old town is home to many temples, many of them dating back to the Lana Kingdom period with intricate Lanna architecture, beautiful multi-tiered roofs, and detailed wood carvings.

Some of the most popular temples in the old town include Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phan Tao, and Wat Chiang Man. When you wander around the old town, you will come across many lesser-known temples where you can learn more about the spiritual life of the locals.

Wat Phra Singh, aka the Golden Temple, is the 14 century temple, home to the Buddha image and lots of beautiful wooden structures. Wat Chedi Luang is home to the remnants of a once towering chedi and the city pillar.

Some temples, including Wat Chedi Luang, offer monk chats. This is a great way to learn more about Buddhism and monk’s life.

Shopping at the Night Markets

The old town has many night markets where you can go shopping and eat street food. There are several markets within the old town and is within walking distance to the old town.

The Sunday Walking Street is located on Rachadamnoen Rd is one of the major markets in the heart of Chiang Mang. Every Sunday night, the street transforms into a lively pedestrian-only area, packed with crafts, street food, and live shows.

Other popular night markets in Chiang Mai Old Town are the Chang Phuak Market (near the North Gate) and Chiang Mai Gate Market (near the South Gate). These markets are open every night and great places for trying local street food and buying some souvenirs.

Within walking distance from the old town, you can explore the Saturday Night Market just south of the Chiang Mai Gate, the Night Bazaar and the Warorot Market in the east of the old town.

Taking photos with the ancient gates and city walls

There are remains of the city walls and gates around the old town. When walking around the neighborhood, you can take photos with these ruins.

The main gate to the city is the Tha Phae Gate on the eastern side of the old town. The gate is also the starting location of the Sunday Night market. There is a square in front of Tha Phae Gate where locals and tourists gather, and numerous vendors can be found in the area.

Other gates in the old town are the Suan Dok Gate in the west, Chang Puak Gate in the north, Chiang Mai Gate and Suan Prung Gate in the south. You can find the lively night markets on the north and south gates every evening. They are good places, offering a more local vibe than the Night Bazaar.

Visiting Cultural and Historical Sites

If you are interested in the history and culture of Chiang Mai, you can check out Chiang Mai Art & Cultural Centre to learn more about the history of the city since its foundation to modern day, as well as hill-tribe people, and Buddhism.

This museum is conveniently located in the heart of the old town, on Prapokklao Road, which is one of the main roads in the area. In front of the museum is the Three Kings Monument. These are the founders of Chiang Mai, including King Mengrai, King Ngam Muang of Phayao, and King Ramkamhaeng.

Enjoy Food and Coffee Culture

Chiang Mai Old Town is a haven for food lovers and coffee enthusiasts. You can easily find many trendy restaurants and cafes in every corner of the old City, from the main roads, to quiet alleys. You can try offering everything from typical Thai food to traditional Northern dishes.

In addition to nice restaurants, there are also many street food stalls on the market where you can buy delicious and cheap food. Some must try Thai Northern dishes are Khao Soi, Sai Ua, Nam Prik Ong, or Moo Ping.

Khao Soi is the most iconic dish in Chiang Mai. It is a creamy coconut curry noodle soup with crispy and soft egg noodles, usually served with chicken or beef, pickled mustard greens, and lime.

See more: A Half Day Cooking Class in Chiang Mai

Buak Hard Public Park

This is a nice public park located on the south west corner of the old town. It has lots of green areas and is home to a couple of lakes. It is a perfect place to relax, exercise, and escape from the heat of the city.

Try Traditional Lanna Thai Massage

Traditional Lanna Thai Massage is Northern Thailand (Lanna) style massage that is gentler, more meditative approach than the traditional Thai massage. It often includes herbal compresses, oils, or balms.

Having a traditional Lanna Thai massage is a must while in Chiang Mai, especially after a long day doing sightseeing and trekking. As a popular tourist destination, you will find lots of shops at reasonable prices. You can find massage shops everywhere in the old town, even at the night market.

Things to do Near Chiang Mai Old City

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is a famous nightlife area located just right of the old town, around 10 minutes walk away. There are many bars, night clubs, and massage shops along Loi Kroh Rd and Chang Klan Rd. There are numerous night markets and food complexes in this area, where you can eat, shop, and drink.

Temples outside of the Old City

There are numerous temples outside of the Old City. If you love temple hopping, you can check out Wat Suan Dok, Wat Sri Suphan, and Wat Lok Moli.

A bit further, 5km to the west from the old town, you can visit the famous Wat Pha Lat and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. You can reach these temples by vehicles or on foot by hiking on the monk’s trail.

WuaLai Walking Street (Saturday Night Market)

This is another place to go for nightlife near Chiang Mai old town. It is located on WuaLai street, just a couple of minutes walk from Chiang Mai South Gate. The market is a great place to eat street food and buy souvenirs to bring home.

However, it is only open on Saturday night. So, if you are staying in Chiang Mai on Saturday, make sure to check out this lively market.

Nimmanhaemin

Nimman is a trendy modern area located just west of Chiang Mai Old Town. It is popular with expat and young people. The area is packed with western comfort such as fast food chains (KFC, Mc Donald) as well as many restaurants serving international food and co-working places.

Nimman offers a relaxed yet lively nightlife scene, unlike the busy Chiang Mai night bazaar. The area is also home to hipster cafés, and stylish boutiques.

It is also home to two modern shopping malls, One Nimman and MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center. You can shop for almost everything at the indoor air conditioning building and it can be a great place to escape from the heat.

Warorot Market (Kad Luang)

This is a vibrant market located near Ping River and the Night Bazaar. The market is open every day and is a great place to experience local life. It has both indoor and outdoor areas. You can try street food, buy fabric, fresh fruit and dried snacks.

Ping River

The Ping River is a laid back area, located just 1km from the eastern gate of Chiang mai Old Town. There are several bridges, including Nawarat Bridge and Iron Bridge, connecting the two banks. You can walk on these bridges to reach the other side of the old town.

You can enjoy scenic meals at popular riverside restaurants and cafés like The Riverside, Deck 1, or Good View. The riverbanks offer beautiful views of the river and its surroundings.

Best Places to stay in Chiang Mai Old City

You can read more detail at this article Best Places to Stay in Old City Chiang Mai

In generall, The old town is small, and is packed with small guest houses, hotels, and backpacker hostels. It offers many options, but it is also very popular and sells out quickly during the peak season.

So, if you want to have reasonable prices and good quality accommodations, it is best to book in advance, at least in a couple of weeks.

If you want an easy walk to the vibrant nightlife area of The Night Bazaar, you can consider staying somewhere near Tha Phae Gate. The South Gate and North Gate area offer easy walks to the local night markets. No matter where you choose to stay, you can explore everything in Chiang Mai with ease.

See more:

In conclusion, the old town is the heart and soul of Chiang Mai. It is a charming town with lots of ancient temples, cultural attractions, vibrant markets, trendy restaurants, and cafes to explore.