Chiang Mai is the most popular tourist destination in North Thailand. It is the transport hub of the region, so getting to Chiang Mai is quite easy whether by road or by air.
I personally traveled to Chiang Mai by bus and by train, so, in this article, I will share with you how to get to Chiang Mai, as well as ways to get around and explore the city.
Here are the main content:
How to Get to Chiang Mai from Pai
Getting from Pai is easy by minivan and private taxi. It is around a 4 hour drive. There are two popular minivan companies taking you from Pai to Chiang Mai. It is Prem Pracha and AYA Service Pai. You can book the ticket at Pai Bus Station, tour agencies, from your accommodation, or book online.
Prempracha’s Minivan runs every hour between Pai and Chiang Mai from 7am to 5pm. It departs from Pai Bus Station located on Pai Walking Street and arrives at Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2.
Pai Bus Station is located in a central location within walking distance to most hotels and guest hotels in the town center. Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2 is located 5 km from the old town. From the Bus Terminal 2, you can get to the old town by Grab taxi or tuk tuk.
AYA Service company also has minivans running every hour from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm, from Pai town center stopping at several locations in Chiang Mai including the Old town, Bus terminal 2, 3, Train Station, and the Airport.
These are all reputable companies, so you can book from any of them. I personally have experience with Prempracha, tried to book with AYA Service, but it was fully booked at the time I wanted to go. Be sure to book in advance in the high season. I also recommend choosing the front seats if you have car sickness as the road between Pai and Chiang Mai has lots of sharp turns.
How to Get to Chiang Mai From Chiang Rai
From Chiang Rai, you can easily take a bus or private taxi to Chiang Mai. I personally take a bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai and I think it is a comfortable ride.
The GreenBus company has lots of buses running between Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1 and Chiang Mai from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm. The ride is around 3,5-4 hours.
The bus departs at Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1, which is centrally located in the city center of Chiang Rai. You can walk to the bus station and buy the ticket. You can buy tickets online at websites such as 12go.asia.
I bought a ticket online on the morning of the day I wanted to leave. They didn’t have available seats in the morning, so I had to buy the ticket in the afternoon. I recommend buying the ticket in advance at least a day before the departure either online or at the bus station to secure your time.
The bus terminates at Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 from where you can take additional transport to get to Chiang Mai City Center. There are plenty of tuk tuk and taxi options. If you arrive late in the evening, it is easier to use Apps such as Grab, InDriver, or Bolt. I didn’t see many Tuk tuk drivers at the bus station during this time.
How to Get to Chiang Mai from Sukhothai
There are several buses running daily between Sukhothai and Chiang Mai. Some buses depart from Sukhothai Bus Station which is located in Sukhothai New town (10km from Old City). It will terminate at either Chiang Mai Bus terminal 2 or 3.
You can book a ticket at your accommodation or online on 12go.asia. I stayed in Sukhothai old town and booked the ticket directly at the Wintour office. My bus departs at 9.50am from their office (walking distance from my guest house in Sukhothai) and arrives at Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2 at 3.15pm.
How to Get to Chiang Mai From Bangkok
The fastest way to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is by airplane. You can also take buses and trains to reach Chiang Mai. Taking flights is the most expensive option, especially if you have a budget and need to get to Chiang Mang as quickly as possible.
Many people prefer taking the train between Chiang Mai and Bangkok. It was a good experience and you can see lots of things on the journey. I recommend taking the 2nd class sleeper bed for a comfortable ride and reasonable price. If you don’t mind the price, go with the 1st class.
I personally took the overnight train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. I booked a ticket at Chiang Mai train station for the earliest train; only the hard seats and 1st class cabin were available.
I didn’t want to pay a lot for the 1 st class, so I took the hard seat with only fans. The 13 hour ride on the train on the hard seat was a nightmare, I don’t recommend taking this option! If I have to choose the hard seat on the train vs taking the bus, I will take the bus ride.
The train starts from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station or Don Mueang airport. If you book the bus, it will depart at Mo Chit Station and arrive at Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3. The bus ride is around 10-13 hours depending on the route. You can check the train schedule and price at dticket.railway.co.th
Getting from Chiang Mai Bus Station, Train Station, and Airport to the City Center
Chiang Mai Bus Station, train station, and the airport are all located outside of the old town. It is not within walking distance. They are all around 5 km away, you’ll need to use a taxi or tuk tuk to get into your hotel.
If you want to avoid bargaining, you can check apps like Grab, Indrive, or Bolt. There is no Uber in Chiang Mai. I prefer using the InDrive App while in Thailand, it has cheaper deals compared to Bolt and Grab. If InDrive is not available at the time of booking, you can check other apps.
A tip: I recommend allowing lots of extra time if you need to get to the Bus Station, train station, or airport. The traffic in Chiang Mai can be very heavy during rush hour. I almost missed the bus when trying to get from the Nimman area to the bus terminal 2 because of the traffic.
How to Get around Chiang Mai
There are many ways to get around Chiang Mai. You can easily explore the old town on foot, motorbike taxi, as well as Tuk Tuk, Songthaew, and other Uber apps such as Grab, Indrive, and Bolt.
I love walking. I walk as much as I can to see major sights in the old town. But when I feel tired of walking, sometimes it’s too hot, I just use a Grab Bike. If I need to travel with my suitcase, for example, changing accommodations, to get to the train station or bus station, I will use Grab taxi, Bolt, or InDrive.
I like these apps because I don’t have to bargain the price with the driver every ride. Tuk Tuk and Songthaew are also fun ways to explore the city, but you’ll need to bargain each ride. I don’t like bargaining, but if you are new to Thailand, and have never tried it, I recommend trying at least a couple of times though.
If you are comfortable with your driving skill, you can consider renting a scooter. This is one of the best ways to explore Chiang Mai and its surroundings. It is much cheaper than the guided tours and gives you freedom to see everything you want to see. Make sure you are good at driving, have a valid license, insurance, and remember to wear a helmet!
If you don’t drive, don’t worry. There are tons of joining tours that take you to famous attractions in Chiang Mai and its surroundings.
Getting around Chiang Mai on foot
Walking is one of my favorite ways to explore the Chiang Mai and Nimman area. I walked all around the old town, visiting different temples, gates, night markets, and the night Bazaar. You can easily cross the River to the other side of the city.
The Nimman area is also compact and easily explored on foot. Lots of restaurants and shops are located between Nimman Soi 1 (around Nimman One shopping center) and Nimman Soi 17.
I also took Grab Bike from the old town to the head of the Monk’s trail and hiked all the way up to Wat Pha Lat and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
Explore Chiang Mai on Motorbike
If you are a good driver, you can consider renting a motorbike in Chiang Mai. I didn’t rent a motorbike in Chiang Mai but had a great time exploring other cities in Thailand on a motorbike. Just make sure you have everything you need to have a safe and enjoyable ride in Chiang Mai.
Firstly, be sure you have an international driver license and insurance. Then when it comes to choosing the rental shops, be sure to check all reviews before renting. Most shops require a deposit and never leave your passport as a deposit. I also recommend checking the road condition before riding and always wear a helmet to ensure your safety.
Explore Chiang Mai on guided tours
Taking guided tours are a great way to explore Chiang Mai. The tours will pick you up and drop off at your hotel. They also have tour guides that give you information about the places you visit.
You can book tours from many tour agencies in the old town. You can get a very good price from some tour agencies, so I recommend browsing around to get the best deals.
I booked a couple of tours from Chiangmai Fullmoon Travel and she gave me good deals. I like the cooking class and the full day tour to Doi Inthanon and Elephant Sanctuary. If you are around, you can check her.
You can book it online to secure your travel plan, but it is usually cheaper to book in person at the local agencies. Be sure to book in advance though, as popular tours can be fully booked at the date you want, especially in the high season.
Using riding shares Grab, Bolt, InDrive in Chiang Mai
I used Grab Bike and Grab Taxi many times in Chiang Mai. If you travel with a suitcase or with a group of people, Grab taxi is a great option, if you solo without a suitcase, a Grab Bike is the best choice.
At the time in Chiang Mai, I didn’t use Bold or InDrive, but I use it a lot in other cities of Thailand. I recommend checking the prices in these apps too. It is usually cheaper than Grab. I like InDrive App the most, the cheapest and I like to pay by Cash to the driver.
Get around with the red Songthaew & Tuk Tuk
I took Songthaew and tuk tuk in Chiang Mai a few times. The first time was from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 to my hotel in the Old Town. I checked the Grab taxi price, it was 100 baht. I was about to order a Grab, but the man next to me asked if he wanted to share the tuk tuk ride with him. It was 150 baht for two. The Tuk tuk driver dropped me at my hotel first then another person.
I also took the red private Songthaew from Chiang Mai old town to the Sticky Waterfall. As I remember I paid 1000-something Thai baht. He drops me at the waterfall, I spend time there as much as I want, He will wait for me, and take me back to the old town.
Another time, I took the Songthaew from Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. I hiked all the way to the temple and It was dark after exploring. I paid 100 baht to get to the old town and sit in the front with the driver. The Songthaew was full of people in the back.
Chiang Mai is a wonderful city with lots of things to do and see. You can enjoy relaxing atmosphere, visiting temples, try delicious local cuisines, trekking, visit an elephant sanctuary, or take a cooking class.
See more:
- Best areas and neighborhoods to Stay in Chiang Mai
- My 4-5 Days In Chiang Mai Itinerary
- 23 Things to Do & See in Chiang Mai
As a major tourist destination in Thailand, you will have lots of ways to reach the city and to get around. I hope you found some helpful ways in my article and have a great trip to Chiang Mai!