Things to Do in Chiang Mai Old Town

These are the best things to do in Chiang Mai Old Town, starting with checking into atmospheric Chiang Mai Old City lodgings with historic sights on their doorstep, soaking up Chiang Mai’s history and splendour at centuries-old temples and outstanding museums, and getting a taste of delicious Lanna cuisine at local restaurants, eateries and markets, and on food tours.

Northern Thailand’s old Lanna capital of Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest city after the Thai capital Bangkok and one of Thailand’s most popular destinations, and with good reason. Yet after a day in Chiang Mai, many travellers head for the hills to do treks, rafting and elephant experiences. We think Chiang Mai, particularly the Old City of Chiang Mai, is worth more time, especially for lovers of history, culture and food.

While we love hip Nimmanheimen for its vintage boutiques, art galleries, cafés, bakeries and bars, and fashionable restaurants offering everything from farm-to-table cuisine to tapas-sized sharing plates, we adore staying in Chiang Mai’s old walled city to absorb the history and atmosphere and savour the food, the best things to do in Chiang Mai Old Town as far as we’re concerned.

Even after loads of visits to Chiang Mai, we still enjoy taking time to visit the historic temples and excellent museums, feast on Lanna cuisine at the lively local markets, simple eateries, charming restaurants, and on mouthwatering food tours, as well as shop for crafts and textiles at the night markets. Bonus: cooking classes, affordable massages, and indulgent spa treatments.

If you’re on tight schedule, see our one day in Chiang Mai itinerary for a perfect day in the old Lanna capital, and our 48 hours in Chiang Mai itinerary for foodies.

Things to Do in Chiang Mai Old Town from Temple Hopping to Food Tours

This guide is by no means comprehensive but is simply a compilation of our favourite things to do in Chiang Mail Old Town.

Stay in an Atmospheric Chiang Mai Old Town Hotel with History on Your Doorstep

One of the first things to do in Chiang Mai Old Town is check into accommodation in the walled Old City so that you have the Old Town sights on your doorstep. Our top picks of where to stay in the walled Old City are two of Chiang Mai’s most atmospheric boutique hotels, Rachamankha and Tamarind Village.

Secreted behind high walls in a quiet corner of the Old City, enchanting Rachamankha hotel is a peaceful 25-room boutique hotel inspired by the ancient Chinese residences that gave rise to Lanna architecture. There’s a stunning swimming pool and the luxurious rooms and suites are furnished with antiques and Oriental carpets, and are set around palm-filled courtyard gardens.

In a traditional Lanna style, Tamarind Village is a tranquil boutique hideaway in the heart of Chiang Mai’s Old Town with centuries-old pagodas and museums within walking distance. Tucked behind high walls, it takes its name from the huge 200-year old tamarind tree in its tropical gardens. The 41 rooms and five suites are decorated in tribal textiles and rustic antiques, have quaint balconies and set around serene courtyards.

If you’re on a budget, check into nearby 99 the Gallery Hotel or Lamphu House. 99 The Gallery Hotel is in a fantastic location near the main sights, just steps from Wat Phra Singh and the Sunday Walking Street. The handsome and rather elegant mid-range hotel has polished floorboards, lofty ceilings and gilt-edged mirrors.

Tamarind Village aside, Old City locations don’t get much better than Lamphu House, with a handful of the Chiang Mai’s star attractions a short stroll away, including Wat Chedi Luang, which is just around the corner. For more hotel recommendations, see our guide to Where to Stay in Chiang Mai.

Absorb History, Splendour and Serenity at Chiang Mai’s Temples and Pagodas

One of the best things to do in Chiang Mai Old Town is to absorb the history, splendour and serenity of the Old City’s many temples and pagodas. Chiang Mai has hundreds of temples or wats, both working and in ruins, scattered across the city – don’t be surprised if you stumble across a tumbledown stupa in the backstreets of a Chiang Mai suburb.

Attempting to see all of Chiang Mai’s temples in the Old Town is an overwhelming and next to impossible task, but fortunately the most historic and most impressive wats are in Chiang Mai’s Old Town.

Make your first stop the compound of Wat Chedi Luang, which has numerous historic Buddhist pagodas and other heritage buildings. Start at atmospheric Wat Phan Tao, which you’ll see from Prapokkloa Road.

Originally on stilts, this teak monastery began life as a royal palace building for the ruler of Chiang Mai, Chao Mahawong, who used it from 1846 to 1854. Take off your shoes and slip inside the lofty prayer hall to see the 28 enormous teak pillars and gleaming gold Buddha image.

Behind Wat Phan Tao, you’ll find Wat Chedi Luang itself. Constructed of brick in the early 15th century but damaged by a 16th century earthquake (which is why there’s a bit missing on top), it was once home to the Emerald Buddha that now resides at Wat Phra Kaew at the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Next, stroll to the nearby gilded pagoda of Wat Phra Singh, another of Chiang Mai’s most significant temple complexes, and just a ten-minute mosey away. A royal temple, it’s thought to have been established in 1345 by King Mengrai.

Mengrai was the last king of the Lao kingdom of Ngoenyang, who became the first king of the Lanna kingdom (1296-1558) and was the founder of Chiang Mai. It’s one of the city’s most revered temples, which is especially evident by the lavish buildings and manicured hedges. It gets crowded with worshippers during Buddhist holidays.

Get a Taste of Lanna Cuisine and Northern Thai Specialties

Savouring the cuisine of Northern Thailand, best known as Lanna cuisine or Lanna food, as the area was part of the old Lanna kingdom and Chiang Mai was the Lanna capital, is another of the best things to do in Chiang Mai Old Town.

Northern Thailand specialties you need to try within Chiang Mai’s Old City include nam priks (relishes), such as nam prik num and nam prik ong, both gently spiced and fiery; herbaceous sour sausages (sai oua); khao soi gai, the spicy Northern Thai curry noodle soup; and gaeng hang lay moo, a Northern Thai pork curry of Burmese origin to the

We highly recommend kicking off your Chiang Mai Old City culinary explorations with a Chiang Mai food tour. Most food tours and cooking classes start at the Old Town’s bustling little Somphet Market, which, while compact, is a terrific destination for local snacks and fruit, and take you to a number of stalls and eateries so you can taste Chiang Mai’s specialties.

This 4-hour Lanna Kingdom food tour (10am-2pm; $59, including private local transport by songtaew) with Thai cook, Moui, a Chiang resident of 20 years, provides a delicious introduction to the food of Chiang Mai. You’ll savour 15 different snacks, dishes and drinks, including everything from Chiang Mai’s famous richly-spiced coconut soup, khao soi, to lip-smacking smoky grilled chicken, gai yang, and papaya salad, a match made in foodie heaven.

Or join Moui on a Northern Flavours food tour (5-9pm; $59, including local transport by rod daeng) for a taste of the region’s cuisine, which has been influenced by Burmese food. You’ll get off the beaten track and visit a local market to learn how to shop for ingredients, and graze on iconic Northern dishes from 5-6 vendors, sampling everything from mouthwatering khao ka moo (braised five-spice pork) served up by Chiang Mai’s famous cowgirl to gaeng hang lay, a deeply flavoured curry, and a Northern-style minced larb salad.

When it comes to Chiang Mai restaurants, one of the culinary treasures of Chiang Mai’s Old Town is Huen Phen near Wat Chedi Luang, which at over 50 years old is one of the oldest eateries in the Old City and one of the best spots for enjoying Northern Thai food.

Try the naem (sour fermented pork and sticky rice sausage), sai oua (Chiang Mai’s famous sausages distinguished by lemongrass and kaffir lime), earthy larb khua moo (spicy minced pork and offal salad), gaeng khanun (a sour soup made from young unripe jackfruit),and the Northern Thai-style khanom jeen nam ngiao (fresh rice noodles with a hearty, spicy broth).

For dinner, it’s hard to beat Dash Teak House, a popular restaurant spread across a beautiful two-storey teak house with balcony and fragrant garden that was owner Noi’s home. The menu features well-executed Lanna favourites and classics from across Thailand made with produce Noi sources from local farmers. The Massaman curry is sublime.

The fine dining restaurant at Rachamankha hotel is the place to eat to sample elevated regional Lanna specialties, with good wines, air-conditioning, and elegant surroundings. Expect an antique-filled interior with white linen-covered tables, fresh flowers and Ming porcelain on the walls.

The menu features impeccably cooked northern Thai Lanna food, as well as Burmese and Shan specialties. Chiang Mai was ruled by the Burmese from 1560-1775 while the Shan people of Shan State, Myanmar, are from the Tai ethnic group, the original Thai people. Known as Tai Yai in Northern Thailand they’re found in the mountains around Chiang Mai, as well as Mae Hong Son, Lampang and Chiang Rai, and other northern Thai areas.

If they’re on the menu, try the Shan salad (very different to Thai salads, with their use of sesame seeds and sesame oil), the aromatic Tai-Yai prawn soup, and the rich Burmese curry (oilier than Thai curries). Reservations advisable if you’re not staying at the hotel.