Chiang Rai Night Bazaar is a popular night spot in Chiang Rai. It is located right in the heart of the city center and is open every night. It is a great place to try street food, buy souvenirs, get a massage, enjoy some drinks, do some people-watching, and watch live cultural performances.
In this article, I will share all information about Chiang Rai Night Bazaar, including its location, how to get to, things to do at the night market, and other things to do nearby.
The Night Bazaar is actually my favorite place to hang out at night. I came to the market most nights to have dinner, massage, and watch the performances.
It’s great that it’s open every night, so everyone has a chance to visit, unlike the Saturday night market, which is only for people staying in town on certain days.
You can visit major sights such as the White Temple, Black Temple, Black House Museums, Tea Plantation, Karen Long Neck Village, or Golden Triangle during daytime, and visit the market at night.
You can check out other articles about Chiang Rai here:
- Where to Stay in Chiang Rai
- Top 14 Things to Do in Chiang Rai
- How to Spend 2-3 Days In Chiang Rai
- Getting to and Around Chiang Rai
Where is Chiang Rai Night Bazaar?
Chiang Rai Night Bazaar is a vibrant night market located in central Chiang Rai. It is right next to the Old Bus Terminal, right off the main road of Chiang Rai, Phaholyothin Road. It is around 10 minutes walk from Chiang Rai Clock Tower.
The night market is open every night and is a great place to go shopping, have dinner, and watch the show. You can have a reasonably-priced Thai massage in the middle of the lively market and people watch.
Basic info about Chiang Rai Night Bazaar
| Location | Next to Bus Terminal 1, Chiang Rai City Center |
| Opening Hours | 5pm-11pm everyday |
| What to Do | Eating, drinking, shopping, massage, people-watching, watching live performances. |
| Best time to visit | 6pm-9pm, when all the shops are open and there are performances on the stages. |
| Entrance fee | Free |
How to get to Chiang Rai Night Bazaar?
If you stay in Chiang Rai City Center, you can easily walk to the Night Bazaar. If you stay a bit further away, in the Kok Riverside area for example, you can take a few minutes taxi or tuk tuk ride to the market.
My hotel is at Na Rak O Resort and Little One, both are just a few minutes walk from the Night Bazaar. Before and after the night bazaar, you can walk to the Clock Tower for the water and light show. There are many bars, restaurants, and shops to explore on the roads near the night bazaar.
What to do at Chiang Rai Night Bazaar?
The night bazaar has a few different zones. There are a mix of street food stalls, souvenir shops, and massage shops, at the small alley from the Night Bazaar Gate on Phaholyothin Road to the Bus Terminal 1, and in the street in front of the food court.
The food court is located at the very end of the market, and there is also a nice setting area around Center Point Night Bazaar. Both these areas have a stage for live music and shows.
My tip is bring cash with you as most vendors only accept cash. Also practice your negotiation skill to bargain the prices of clothing, jewelry, and souvenirs. I don’t think you can bargain for the food’s price.
Street food
You can try a wide range of street food at the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar. The foot court has lots of restaurants and stalls where you can try regular Thai dishes as well as traditional Northern Thai dishes.
There are smoothies, mixed cut fruits, mango sticky rice, fried rice, pad Thai, and Khao Soi. You can try seafood, grilled meat, hot pot, and all sorts of other things.
There are tables and chairs in the center of the restaurants and stalls. You can sit here, eat, and watch cultural shows. They have hot pot for one, which is convenient for solo travelers like me to try.
Massage
After a long day sightseeing or trekking, you can consider taking a Thai massage at the market. While there are many massage shops along the main road, it is a great experience having a massage in the market and people watching. It is also a little cheaper to have a massage at the market.
I had a foot massage after a full day trekking in the countryside area of Chiang Rai. The shop is located in front of the foot court. It doesn’t have a name, the staff wear purple uniforms. I had a 30 minute foot massage. It was very relaxing. It cost me 150 baht, it is cheaper if you do one hour.
Shopping
There are lots of stalls and little shops inside the night bazaar selling everything. You can find clothes, handicrafts by hilltribes, bags, and jewelry. Make sure to bargain if you really want to buy something.
Watching live performances
There are two stages at the night market where you can watch live music and shows. One big one at the foot court and smaller one at the Center Point area.
There was live music all night, but one night during my visit, there were dances from ladyboys. They first performed at the foot court area then moved to the Center Point area.
Other night markets in Chiang Rai
Saturday Walking Market
This is a great night market to visit in Chiang Rai if you are staying in town on Saturday. The market is located on Thanalai Road, near Chiang Rai Pak. It is around 10 minutes walk from Chiang Rai Night Bazaar. The market stretches for about 1 km and is closed to vehicle traffic on Saturday evenings.
Like other night markets in Thailand, it has lots of street food stalls, souvenir options, and street performances. The market is open on Saturday from 5pm to 10pm. Be sure to add it to your list of things to do if you’re staying in Chiang Rai on Saturday.
Things to do near Chiang Rai Night Bazaar
There are several attractions in Chiang Rai City Center that are within walking distance from the Night Bazaar. They are the Saturday NIght market, Chiang Rai Clock Tower, Hilltribe Museum, and several local temples such as Wat Klang Wiang, Wat Phra Kaew, and Wat Phra Singha.
Chiang Rai Clock Tower
The clock tower is considered the center point of Chiang Rai. It is located at the busy section of three main roads. The best time to visit is at 7, 8, and 9pm to watch the lights and music show. It is located 600m from the NIght Bazaar.
Hilltribe Museum
Chiang Rai is a mountainous area and is home to lots of hill tribe villages such as Akha, Lisu, Chinese, and Lahu. You can learn about these hilltribe at the Hill Tribe Museum, located on the Thanalai Road, right next to The Saturday Night Market. The entrance fee is 50 baht.
Local temples
In addition to the famous White and Blue Temples, which require a vehicle to reach, there are several smaller temples near the Night Bazaar that you can easily explore on foot.
If you have time, I recommend visiting Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Phra Singha, and Wat Klang Wiang. These temples are lesser-known than the white and blue temples, offering a quieter atmosphere.
Where Should I stay near Chiang Rai Night Bazaar?
Chiang Rai has a range of hotels, guest houses, and hostels for all budgets. You can easily find many accommodations located within walking distance from the Night Bazaart. Staying in these hotels not only offer easy access to the night market, but also many other facilities such as the bus terminal 1.
I had a good experience staying at Na Rak O Resort and Little One. You can have a look at them. Alternatively, there are many other good hotels near the night bazaar if you book in advance.
So, you have it, my short guide on the Night Bazaar in Chiang Rai. It is a great place to hang out at night, eat local foods, do some shopping, and watch the cultural shows. It is open every night so you’ll have a chance to visit it if you stay overnight in Chiang Rai.