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FROM MY TRAVELS

Chiang Mai: Old City temples and markets

Last updated: October 2026

“Always look up” was my Chiang Mai caption. The Night Bazaar also supplied the Chiang Mai Beer singlet I wore while chasing waterfalls on the wider trip.

Allow1 dayBaseChiang MaiRoute4 stages
A leafy multi-storey courtyard seen from above, from Andy’s Chiang Mai post.

Route overview

Stops are approximate. Dashed lines show the order, not the roads. Optional stops are swaps, not extras.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Select a stop below to locate it. Drag to pan; use the controls or arrow keys to explore.

Before you go

  • Carry baht in smaller notes for markets, temples and local transport. Cards work best at hotels and bigger businesses. Watch for surcharges.
  • A Thai QR sign doesn’t mean your foreign banking app can pay. Keep some cash unless your own wallet app confirms it works.
  • Bangkok’s rail operators have separate ticketing arrangements. Outside the capital there’s usually no metro, so sort out local transport ahead.
  • Grab works in the cities. Islands, parks and rural pickups usually need a driver booked ahead. Confirm the return journey and waiting time.
  • Save addresses in Thai and use an offline translation app. ‘Sawasdee khrap’ is a polite hello for a male speaker; ‘khop khun khrap’ is thank you.
  • Buy a registered local SIM or compatible eSIM with the coverage you need. Have your passport available for registration and keep a screenshot of the accommodation address.

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A route for your visit

Times are rough. Allow extra time for getting there, leaving and transfers.

  1. Start at Wat Phra Singh

    Have breakfast in the Old City and allow about an hour at Wat Phra Singh. Slow down and look at the buildings and courtyard. It’s more than a photo at the gate. Dress for a working religious site and follow the posted rules inside individual buildings.

    Wat Phra Singh is one of the Old City’s most important Buddhist temples. The northern Thai craftsmanship is worth a close look. The quieter corners are as good as the main building.

  2. Walk across to Wat Chedi Luang

    Walk through the central lanes from Wat Phra Singh towards Wat Chedi Luang, stopping for a drink if the heat calls for it. Allow at least an hour for the second temple and its grounds. The ruined chedi gives this visit a different character, so take time to see the whole structure from the permitted paths. Do the two temples before lunch, then stop. No need to add more just to make the list longer. The afternoon can have a different pace.

    Wat Chedi Luang’s huge damaged chedi conveys the scale of the former Lanna capital. Walk around it slowly and see how much of the original shape is left.

  3. Lunch, then decide how much afternoon you want

    Khao soi is the lunch to find here. Pick a version that suits you and ask how spicy it is first. Afterwards, a café and a few nearby craft shops are enough for the hottest part of the day. If cooking is a bigger interest, book a class and its transfers as the main afternoon programme and adjust the lunch plan. Don't eat a huge meal immediately before an experience built around cooking and eating. For a quieter day, lunch and a short browse are enough before returning to your accommodation.

    Khao soi’s curry broth, egg noodles and contrasting toppings make it a distinctive northern Thai meal. Make lunch part of the visit. Don’t eat on the run between temples.

  4. Choose riverfront or market for the evening

    Head towards the river for dinner, or choose a walking market that actually operates that day. Keep the evening in one area and arrange the return ride. Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon are separate excursions, not last-minute additions after a city afternoon.

    Choose the evening area before setting off. The riverfront suits dinner and a walk; a market suits browsing and a few deliberate food stops. Check which market is actually on. Not every famous walking street runs every night. Keep purchases manageable and arrange the ride back. A shirt from a market can become a favourite trip souvenir without needing the evening to turn into a shopping marathon.

What to budget

Prices checked September 2026. These are for the named ticket or service. Check your date and what’s included before you pay.

  • Wat Chedi Luang foreign visitor entry: THB 50 — TAT’s published temple fee; other temple admissions and transport are separate. Price source

Budget THB 80–250 per person for a simple meal. That’s a rough guide. Drinks and nicer restaurants cost more. Price transfers separately, especially private drivers, boats and airport trips.

A few photo tips

  • Go early for softer light around the Old City temples, respecting any areas reserved for worship.
  • At Chedi Luang, step back within the permitted courtyard to show the chedi’s scale; do not climb for an elevated photograph.

If the weather changes

Give an indoor cultural visit and lunch more time, with shorter temple stops between showers; leave any mountain outing for suitable conditions.

The final day and your flight

Morning flight: stay within reach of Chiang Mai Airport the night before, then keep the morning for checkout and the transfer. Allow for the airline’s check-in time as well as the trip.

Afternoon flight: keep breakfast and perhaps a short Old City walk near your bags; Doi Inthanon and Pha Chor belong on separate days. Work out the transfer and bag pickup time before deciding when to finish.

Where to pause for food

Warorot Market, also called Kad Luang, gives the food browsing a definite destination. Keep it separate from a seated khao soi lunch, then use Tha Phae Gate as the landmark for returning towards the old city. See Wat Chedi Luang earlier in the day, while you still have energy to look up at it.

Getting around

Walk the compact Old City sections and use an agreed taxi or local ride for the river area. Check pickup arrangements at the end of the evening. Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon are separate outings, not interchangeable nearby stops.

Where to stay

For this walking route, an Old City base makes the morning straightforward. A riverfront or Night Bazaar-area stay can suit the evening better, with a transfer to the first temple. Weigh those up. You can’t be next to everything. If adding Doi Inthanon or Pha Chor, keep the same city base where possible and arrange the pickup there, so the mountain day doesn't begin with a hotel change. Compare Chiang Mai stays on Trip.com between the Old City and Night Bazaar area according to where you want to finish the evening.

For a shorter day or different weather

A cooking class can replace the afternoon cafés and shopping. Doi Suthep needs a separate transport window; Doi Inthanon and Pha Chor each work better on their own day. For a short visit, I’d keep the old-city temples, khao soi and the evening market.

Booking checks

Check temple hours and the exact day of any evening market. Keep temple clothing respectful and ask before photographing worshippers.

Visitor information and official links
Useful booking links (optional)

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Original photos from this trip