Sukhothai and Chiang Mai are two peaceful cities in North Thailand. Both were once the capital cities of ancient Thailand, and are now filled with cultural attractions, friendly locals, and delicious food.
In this article, I will compare Sukhothai and Chiang Mai, focusing on their locations, accommodations, temples, cultural attractions, nightlife, shopping, and food.
I’ve been travelling all around Thailand, visiting many places, including Chiang Mai and Sukhothai, so I hope to give you the best possible recommendations based on my first hand experiences.
Is it better to visit Chiang Mai or Sukhothai?
Generally speaking, Chiang Mai is better than Sukhothai if you want a good mix of nightlife, shopping, cultural, and natural attractions. Chiang Mai has a more central location in Northern Thailand, making it convenient to explore famous attractions in the region like Pai, Chiang Rai, or Golden Triangle.
Sukhothai is the better place if you want to explore a small town vibe with iconic Buddha images and less touristy atmosphere. Most people spend 1-2 nights in Sukhothai and a longer time in Chiang Mai.
Many long term travelers and expat lived in Chiang Mai due to its convenience of the big city and cheaper cost of living compared to other big cities in Thailand such as Phuket and Bangkok.
Chiang Mai is a more popular tourist destination because it is the transport and tourist hub of North Thailand. It is more easily accessible by air, train, and bus. Many travelers stop in Sukhothai a night or two when they travel between North Thailand and either Central or Southern Thailand by road.
I enjoyed my stay in both Chiang Mai and Sukhothai. I stopped at Sukhothai for two nights while traveling from Ayutthaya/ Khao Yai/ Lopburi/ to Chiang Mai. Each city offers a unique experience, and I’m glad I had the chance to visit them all.
Both cities are rich in history and culture. Chiang Mai was the 2nd capital city of the Lanna Kingdom from the 13th-16th century. Sukhothai was the first capital of the Kingdom of Siam from the 13th -15th century. There are plenty of temples and ruins in each place dating back to their foundations.
My recommend hotels in Chiang Mai:
- Luxury: InterContinental
- Mid-range: The Wing Boutique Hotel
- Budget: BaanBooLoo Village
My top hotel picks in Sukhothai:
- Mid-range: Legendha Sukhothai Hotel
- Mid-range: Le Charme
- Budget: OldTown Boutique House
Location & How to Get There
Both Chiang Mai and Sukhothai are located in North Thailand. Chiang Mai is located on the banks of Ping River, around 700km north of Bangkok. Sukhothai is located in Lower North Thailand, around 430 km north of Bangkok and 280km south of Chiang Mai.
Both cities have airports, so you can easily reach them by plane. Sukhothai has a smaller airport with only direct flights from Bangkok. Chiang Mai is more accessible by air because it has a greater number of domestic and international flights.
You can get to these two cities by buses and by trains. Chiang Mai has a train station located just 5km away from the old town, so the closest train station to Sukhothai is Phitsanulok, located 70km away. So you’ll need an additional taxi or bus from Phitsanulok to Sukhothai.
Accommodations
Both Chiang Mai and Sukhothai have a good range of accommodations for all preferences. In both places, you can find cozy family-run boutique hotels that have a homey atmosphere.
As the more developed city and tourist hub of North Thailand, Chiang Mai has more luxury options. So, if you want something luxurious, Chiang Mai is the place to go.
In the tourist season (November to May), accommodations frequently get fully booked, so make sure to book well in advance to secure your spot. Loy Krathong and Songkran are also peak times, with many places fully booked due to the high demand.
See more:
Temples and Cultural attractions
Both cities have ancient temples dating back to their foundation in the 13th century. Additionally, each city is also home to museums where you can learn about the history. The Loy Krathong festival in November is a major event in both places, attracting many visitors who come to see the celebrations.
The temples in Chiang Mai have Lanna-style architecture with intricate woodwork and golden details, heavily influenced by Burmese and Khmer designs. You can find temples in and outside the old city.
The temple in Sukhothai has Sukhothai-style architecture with simple, elegant stupas and Buddha images. The temples are mostly found in Sukhothai Historical Park.
Famous temples in Chiang Mai are Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chiang Man, and Wat Umong. Famous temples in Sukhothai are Wat Mahathat, Wat Si Chum, and Wat Saphan Hin.
Natural Attractions
Chiang Mai is a better known destination for natural attractions and outdoor activities. Chiang Mai is surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and lush forests, making it a great destination for nature-based activities such as hiking, mountain biking, zip lining,….
Top natural attractions in Chiang include Doi Inthanon National Park, Doi Suthep–Pui National Park, Sticky Waterfalls, Elephant Nature Park, or Chiang Dao. Doi Inthanon National Park itself has many nature trails, waterfalls, and it is home to Thailand’s highest peak.
Sukhothai is more famous for its historical park, but the surrounding province offers peaceful countryside, and small hills. You can go hiking at the nearby Ramkhamhaeng National Park (Khao Luang).
Nightlife
Chiang Mai has a better nightlife scene, packed with night markets, bars, restaurants, and music veneers. Sukhothai has good enough nightlife with restaurants and night markets for a relaxing drink and meal in the evening.
The Night Bazaar (around Chang Klan Road) is the nightlife hub of Chiang Mai where you can find a street of bars, clubs, and night markets. It’s a popular place to hangout at night for tourists.
Addonly, you can walk around the old town with a more relaxing atmosphere with nice restaurants and bars and night markets. I like to browse food at the Chiang Mai Gate Night Market, and Chang Phuak Market. There are Walking Street Night Markets but only on Saturday and Sunday.
If you want to experience modern restaurants and bars, catering for expats and long time travelers, you can head to the Nimman area. Many trendy restaurants serving western food are located here.
The nightlife in Sukhothai is very quiet, with several restaurants and some night markets in the Old Town. There is a daily night market next to the lake and Wat Traphang Thong, and the night market inside the historical park on weekends only.
Shopping
Chiang Mai, without a doubt, is the best place to go shopping. The city is bigger and home to more modern shopping malls and night markets. Sukhothai is more remote and compact, and it offers limited shopping experiences, without big malls and small night markets.
You can find typical Thai souvenirs at both cities, but there are more choices in Chiang Mai. In Sukhothai, I like to shop at the weekend night market inside the historical park. There are several stalls selling lovely local handicraft and Thai souvenirs.
In Chiang Mai, I like to shop at Nimman One, Maya Mall, Chiang Mai Gate Market, Anusarn Market, Waroros Market, and the White Market. I missed the weekend markets because I didn’t stay there for the weekend.
Food
Both places have a great food scene but Chiang Mai is the better place to go for foodies. It’s one of the best food cities in Thailand, with a strong northern identity and a massive range of restaurants, markets, cafés, and street stalls.
The famous creamy curry noodle dish, Khao Soi, is the most famous dish in Chiang Mai. You can eat at street food stalls at the night markets, or at the footcourt inside a mall or at the night bazaar. There are also many nicely decorated restaurants and cafes in Chiang Mai.
In addition to local Thai food, you can find vegan, fusion, Japanese, Korean, Western, and fine-dining options everywhere. Coffee culture is huge in Chiang Mai, especially in Nimmanhaemin.
The food scene in Sukhothai is much smaller and more local, but it has its own specialties and charm. The Sukhothai Noodle is the most popular dish in Sukhothai. There are some nice restaurants and many street stalls at the night markets.
Day trips
There are more options for day trips from Chiang Mai than Sukhothai. Most people come to Sukhothai for a couple of nights to explore the historical park, while Chiang Mai has more tourist amenities and a great base for many day trips.
Top day trips from Chiang Mai are to Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Rai, Golden Triangle, Elephant Nature Park, or Chiang Dao. Top Day Trips from Sukhothai are the Si Satchanalai Historical Park, Ramkhamhaeng National Park, or Phitsanulok.
Getting Around & Transportation
Chiang is more touristy, so it has all kinds of transport for visitors to get around. Within the old town or night Bazaar area, you can explore on foot. There are also tuk tuks, songthaews, local taxis, or riding chares services such as Grab, Bold, or InDrive.
To explore nearby national parks, waterfalls, or Elephant Sanctuaries, you can take guided tours. You can consider hiring a private driver for a destination or for a day, you can bargain the price with the price. Check the price beforehand, then haggle with the driver.
Sukhothai Old Town is a tiny city, so you can easily get around with a bicycle, on foot, or electric golf carts. There aren’t ride share services such as Grab in Sukhothai, but there are plenty of local songthaews.
See more:
So, you have it, my comparison between Sukhothai and Chiang Mai. Overall, Chiang Mai is the better option if you want a good mix of cultural attractions, natural activities, and adventure. It has the convenience of the big city with lots of tourist amenities, nightlife, and shops.
Sukhothai is the better choice if you want a smaller city vibe with stunning ancient temples, statues, and ruins set in a tranquil, scenic area. This place has a more remote feel compared to Chiang Mai, so it has limited nightlife, shopping, and dining experience.