The Ultimate 3-Day Chiang Mai Travel Itinerary

This 3-day Chiang Mai travel itinerary will no doubt ensure you have the best time in Northern Thailand. We’ll cover everything from the best things to do, foods to eat, top Chiang Mai attractions, and the best areas to stay. If this is your first time traveling to Chiang Mai, this guide is all you will need to plan the perfect trip.

Chiang Mai is the jewel of the North and a trip to Thailand wouldn’t be complete without making a stop in this amazing city. It’s the largest and most popular city in northern Thailand.

This humble city is located in the north of the country and offers an authentic Thai culture. It’s way more relaxed than the other larger tourist spots like Bangkok and Phuket but still provides a multitude of attractions and activities.

Chiang Mai dates back to the 13^th century and the ‘Old City’ is still surrounded by a moat with four bridges guarded by gates that used to once connect people to the outside world. The city provides a combination of nature, culture, incredible food, history, and adventure, all while giving you modern comforts. The city has now become one of the main digital nomad hubs in Southeast Asia.

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Overview of 3 Day Chiang Mai Travel Itinerary

Here’s a quick overview of what we have planned for your 3-day Chiang Mai travel itinerary. You won’t have to think about what to do in Chiang Mai during your time there. This travel itinerary takes the hassle out of all the planning for you, while ensuring you have the best time.

1: Temple Hopping, explore Chiang Mai Old City, visit some of the popular cafes and night markets, and finish the day with a relaxing massage

2: Take a cooking class, visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, some more night markets, and enjoy a cabaret show

3: Visit an elephant Sanctuary, shop, and have dinner at the night markets, finish off your 3 day Chiang Mai travel itinerary with a lovely Thai massage.

The Ultimate 3-Day Chiang Mai Travel Itinerary

If you are wondering what to do in Chiang Mai, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together the perfect 3-day Chiang Mai travel itinerary which covers the top attractions in the city. We’ve even included some of the yummiest places to eat and the foods you must try in Chiang Mai. This is the ultimate Chaing Mai travel itinerary and while it’s busy, it’s packed with the best things the city has to offer to allow you to make the most of your time there.

This 3-day Chiang Mai travel Itinerary allows you plenty of time to sit down and enjoy the local dishes at some of the recommended spots in the city. This Chiang Mai travel itinerary can help you plan your trip, and ensure you have an amazing visit!

Day 1 – 3 Day Chiang Mai Travel Itinerary

There is no better way to start your 3-day Chiang Mai travel itinerary than kicking it off with some of the incredible temples that are located in the Old City.  You’ll then have some time to explore the Old City and enjoy dinner at the night markets before finishing the night off with a relaxing massage. Start early and have a big breakfast as you’ll most likely end up having a late lunch.

Morning: Temple hopping

If this is your first time in Chiang Mai, then the Old City is a great area to be staying in and a good starting point to cover the city’s top attractions. The best way to get around is on foot. You can start the day by exploring some of Chiang Mai’s top temples. No Chiang Mai itinerary would be complete without a bit of temple hopping around the city.

There are over 300 temples in Chiang Mai, which is crazy if you consider the size of the city. So, you aren’t going to get through them all in one visit. Thankfully many of them are located inside the Old City. And since you won’t have time to explore all 300 temples, we’ve shortlisted some of the top Temples for your 3-day Chiang Mai itinerary. This route ticks off the main temples, without you having to travel back and forth around Chiang Mai. You start by exploring Chiang Mai’s Old City from the famous Tha Phae Gate.

Wat Chedi Luang

This popular temple is located in the heart of Chiang Mai’s Old City. Wat Chedi Luang is famous for its enormous Chedi which was once the tallest structure in Chiang Mai. It was 82 meters high during the peak of the Lana Kingdom until an earthquake destroyed the top 30 meters of the structure.

Wander the temple site and admire giant staircases flanked by water serpent statues. Thailand’s most famous relic, the Emerald Buddha statue, used to live here but it’s since been moved to the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The entrance fee is 40 baht for adults and 20 baht for children and includes all the little temples in the complex.

Wat Phan Tao

Another beautiful temple built from dark teak wood. This temple is often overlooked by tourists but is well worth a visit. If you’re lucky enough to be in Chiang Mai for Loy Krathong and the Yi Peng Festival, hundreds of lanterns are displayed all around Wat Phan Tao. Entrance is free but as with most temples that are free to enter, you can leave a small donation.

Wat Phra Singh – The Golden Temple 

This temple is one of the most popular attractions in Chiang Mai and showcases architecture in the Lanna style. The name Wat Phra Singh translates to Lion Buddha and as such, the temple hall was constructed to accommodate the 14th-century Lion Buddha. The interior is even more richly decorated than the outside, making it easy to see why it’s called the Golden Temple. Entrance is free but the temple hall costs 20 baht to enter.

Note: The Three Kings Monument is on the way to the next temple, so you can take a slight detour to walk past this legendary monument

Wat Inthkhin Sadue Muang

Built from dark wood with gold accents, this temple stands out due to its unique style. There is no entrance fee.

Wat Chiang Man

This is Chiang Mai’s oldest temple known for its elephant chedi. A must–visit when you are in Chiang Mai. There is no entrance fee.

Wat Saen Muang Ma Luang (Wat Hua Khuang)

This small and slightly hidden temple is down a small road near the north gate of the city. There is no entrance fee.

Wat Lok Moki 

This temple is just outside of the city walls, on the north side. It is one of the oldest temples in Chiang Mai and has one of the tallest chedis in the area. There is no entrance fee.

Wat Sri Suphan – Silver Temple (Outside the city walls but well worth a visit at some stage)

The Silver Temple is one of the most unique temples you will visit in Chiang Mai. The temple isn’t made of silver, it’s only painted with a silver colour which gives it a beautiful and unique style. There is an entrance fee of 50 THB to enter the temple grounds, however, women aren’t allowed inside the temple.

If you follow this list of temples to visit in Chiang Mai, it’s easy enough to map them out and visit them yourself. Alternatively, you can take this walking tour if you’d like some guidance. There’s also a Chiang Mai Temples and Market Tuk-Tuk Evening Night Tour if you are looking to do something different.

Note: Remember to dress properly, cover your shoulders and knees, and take off your shoes and hats when visiting temples.

Afternoon – Explore Chiang Mai Old City

You’ll most likely end up having a late lunch after temple hopping. It’s probably not a bad thing as you’ll be hungry enough to enjoy some of the local delicacies. Visit one of the many recommended eating spots below. Enjoy some delicious Khao Soi. If you are anything like us, we had a bowl of Khao Soi every single day we were in Chiang Mai. And now we are on a mission to replicate it and try to make it as close to the Khao Soi we had in Chiang Mai. Yes, it’s that good!

You’ll find Khao Soi being served almost everywhere in Chiang Mai, but our personal favorite was at Khao Soi Khun Yai. You’ll read about this place in almost all Chiang Mai blogs. We were worried it would be overhyped and the food wouldn’t be as good as everyone was making it out to be. When we got there, we almost instantly got a table. Maybe we just got lucky as we had read in most places, you’ll be waiting here for at least 20 to 30 minutes, if not longer to get a table. The food came out fairly quickly and the owners were an absolute delight. Important to note that they are open from 10 am to 2 pm and once they run out of Khao Soi that is it for the day.

After lunch take a stroll to Chiang Mai Old City. Depending on what time of the year you visit, it most likely will be quite hot. So, make sure you have a nice cold drink in your hand as you walk through the streets of Chiang Mai.

Other things to do in Chiang Mai Old City

• Tha Phae Gate: There are four gates at each corner of Chiang Mai but this is the most impressive. You’ll find lots of street food stands here and on Saturday evenings, you’ll find live music.
• Hua Lin Corner: City wall with a moat
• Shopping: If you are looking to cool down, you can visit one of the many malls in Chiang Mai including Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center and Central Festival Chiang Mai.
• Cafes: Chiang Mai is known for its unique and beautiful cafes. Pop into one of the many cafes around the city. Some cafes to visit are:
  • Fern Forest Café
  • My Secret Café
  • Khum Café
  • Birds Nest Cafe

Evening – Night Markets and Massage

One of the best things to do in Chiang Mai is visiting the incredible night markets. Depending on the days you are in Chiang Mai, you can swap this evening with another night on the 3-day Chiang Mai travel itinerary so it falls on the appropriate day.

While a lot of people will tell you their favorite was the Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market, we preferred the Chiang Mai Saturday Night Market (Wua Lai Walking Street Market) more! We felt that there were more food stalls and it was well laid out.

Thousands of people, both locals and tourists visit these night markets. You can buy and taste food as you walk down the street. There are plenty of stalls where you can find everything from wooden products, shoes, watches, paintings, tribal handicrafts, souvenirs, and a multitude of other things. The markets are large and always crowded, but it is pleasant to walk around, and everything is so well priced.

If you aren’t in Chiang Mai on a weekend, other markets you can visit are the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Chang Puak Market, and Anusarn Market.

Massage

Finally, after a long day spent exploring Chiang Mai on foot, treat yourself to a traditional Thai massage! You will find massage parlors all over the city. It costs anywhere between 250 and 300 Baht for a one-hour foot massage and between 300 and 500 Bahts for a full body massage depending on where you go.

Note: Thai massages can be quite firm, so if you are looking for a relaxing massage, make sure to specify you’d prefer a relaxing massage instead of a Thai massage.

That’s it for day 1. You’ve covered a lot of ground today exploring some of the most beautiful temples in the city as well as the Old City of Chiang Mai.

Day 2: 3 – day Chiang Mai Travel Itinerary

You’ve made it to day 2 of your 3-day Chiang Mai travel itinerary. Hopefully, you are feeling nice and relaxed after your massage and a good night’s sleep. Today you’ll be doing a cooking class and heading to the famous and beautiful Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Doi Suthep does get busy as the day progresses along so feel free to swap these around if you don’t want to do the morning cooking class. The reason we have included a morning class as opposed to an evening class is because the morning classes offer a market tour and, in our opinion, they are worthwhile doing. The great things about 3-day itinerary is that there is so much flexibility to swap things around.

Morning and Afternoon – Cooking class

You can’t come to Chiang Mai and not attend a cooking class. This part of Thailand offers some of the best food you will eat. Have a light breakfast as you will be eating a lot this morning, especially if you do your class with Thai Akha Kitchen, who we highly recommend! We were looking for a slightly different take on Thai food and learned the cuisine of the Akha people, an indigenous Southeast – Asian hill tribe.

The morning classes typically run from about 9 am to 3 pm and include a market tour of the local markets. Thai Akha Kitchen was INCREDIBLY organized on the day. The tour included pickup and drop off, a market tour, learning to cook 11 dishes and everything was planned so meticulously.

We learned a lot about fresh Thai produce and tried a few local foods at the markets. We’ve done a few cooking classes during our travels, and these guys were on another level with their organization which made the whole cooking class so seamless. We took our kids, ages 4 and 9 to the class, and didn’t have to worry about them at all. They had stations set up for the kids and made sure they were included in everything we did.

We ground our pastes from scratch and made our own curries, soups, stir-fries, and sticky mango rice. And the best part, we got to eat all that food. It was A LOT of food!  It’s one of the best activities to do in Chiang Mai. And also, when you return from your travels, you’ll at least be able to cook some traditional Thai food for yourself 😊

Check out the cooking classes here.

Evening – Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Night Markets and Cabaret Show

Shortly after you get dropped back to your accommodation, you’ll make your way to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This is one of Chiang Mai’s most impressive temples and lies just outside the city atop a large hill. While most people refer to the temple as “Doi Suthep”, its full name is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

Entrance fee: Tickets for foreigners cost 50 baht for a roundtrip on the cable car. This includes the 30-baht admission fee.  Alternatively, you can climb 306 steps for free to reach the top which may be a good way to burn all the delicious food you consumed throughout the day. The walk up the stairs is fairly easy. This sunrise tour to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep includes delicious local breakfast, transportation and entry to the temple.

There are a couple of ways to get to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep:

1. Songthaew: Take a songthaew from the Old City. It’s roughly about 100-baht pp one way and takes about 45 minutes to get to the top of the mountain. If you are traveling as a family or with a group of friends, you could privately hire the songthaew to take you up the mountain and return to the Old City. They usually include up to 2 hours for you to go up to the temples and walk around. We went with this option and paid about 2500 baht for a return trip. Pay them on your return.
2. Scooter: If you are single or a couple, you could consider hiring a scooter for the day if you feel comfortable enough to ride and have a valid international driver’s license.
3. Taxi: Take a taxi. This may be the most expensive option.
4. Tours: Join one of the tours. if you don’t want the hassle of getting up there and back. In our opinion, this isn’t necessary.
5. Grab: Lastly, there’s the option to take a grab or line, if you can get one to take you up there. You can always catch a one-way ride with the songthaews on your way back down

Once you get to the top, you’ll notice how stunning Wat Phra That Doi Suthep truly is. As you walk through the grounds, you’ll come across gold Buddha statues, glittering temples, and towering pagodas. You can easily spend a couple of hours here admiring the beauty. Don’t miss the viewpoint where you can look over Chiang Mai city and take in the beautiful sunset which will have you falling in love with Chiang Mai all the more.

Dinner

Depending on what day you are in the city of Chiang Mai, you can visit one of the night markets (Wua Lai Walking Street Market on Saturdays or the Sunday Walking Markets (Tha Phae Walking Stree)). Alternatively, if you aren’t in the city on the weekend, you can head to Chiang Mai night markets to grab some food or simply pick from the list of eateries provided below.

Chiang Mai Nightlife

Check out a famous Chiang Mai Cabaret Show.  These usually start around 9.30, but make sure to purchase your tickets in advance if you know this is something you want to do.

If you aren’t feeling like a Cabaret show, then walk around town and explore the nightlife, or simply head for another massage.

Day 3: 3 – day Chiang Mai Travel Itinerary

Today you’ll start bright and early as you’ll be visiting one of the Elephant Sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. Even if you are in Chiang Mai for a few days, we’d highly recommend visiting one of these ethical sanctuaries that teaches you so much about the work they do and the well-being of the elephants. Of course, if you are traveling to other parts of Thailand, you can also opt to do this elsewhere.

Morning – Elephant Sanctuary

When choosing to visit an elephant sanctuary, please try to select one that looks out for the wellbeing of these majestic animals. There are several elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. Make sure you research any animal experience thoroughly and check recent reviews. You can either spend half a day or a full day on these tours.

You will usually start the day by feeding them and getting to know the elephants, you might walk with them in the surrounding forest, and you can even bathe them.

Lunch will most likely be included in your tour so you don’t have to worry about finding a spot. And if not, make your way to have some more Khao Soi at one of the local establishments.

Depending on whether you have selected a full or half-day tour, you may have some downtime in the afternoon before you make your way to the night markets. You can choose to go shopping or make the most of getting a well-priced massage.

Evening – Dinner and shopping at the night markets followed by a massage

Once again if you are in Chiang Mai on a weekend, try to make it to the Wua Lai Walking Street Market (Saturday) or Sunday Walking Markets (Tha Phae Walking Stree). And if not, then you can head to one of the night markets like:

• Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
• Anusarn Night Market
• Chiang Mai Gate Market (south gate)
• Lanna Square Chiang Mai Night Market

Finally finish off your 3 glorious days in Chiang Mai with a relaxing Thai massage.

There you have it, the ultimate 3–day Chiang Mai travel itinerary! 3 full days is the minimum time we’d advise for this wonderful city. However, if you have a bit more time in your Thailand itinerary you can always add another couple of days to Chiang Mai.

Happy Travels!

Other Things To See and Do in Chiang Mai

• Go for a hike in the mountains
• Visit Bo Sang Umbrella Village
• Give Ziplining a shot
• A day trip to the Golden Triangle
• Take a cruise down the river
• Visit Warorot Market
• Jungle Trekking

Chiang Mai Travel Guide – Know Before You Go

Best Time to Visit Chiang Mai

The dry or cool season which lasts from November to March is probably the best time to visit Chiang Mai. The weather is cooler and not as humid as other times of the year and tends to be perfect for hikes and other outdoor activities. If you are exploring the mountainous regions around Chiang Mai, the temperature can drop to as low as 10 degrees due to the higher altitude, so you may even need a light jacket to take along on your hike.

March to May can be quite hot and probably best to avoid visiting during this time. It is best to avoid these months when visiting Chiang Mai as it also happens to be the burning season. This is when farmers burn the remains of last season’s crops, creating big, thick clouds of smoke and causing high levels of air pollution. Humidity is high and visibility is low during this time, making it quite uncomfortable.

June to October you have the rainy season so it will make it a lot harder to plan activities outdoors. But if you are coming to Chiang Mai for the food alone, then you may be able to find your way around the rain.

How Many Days Do You Need in Chiang Mai?

It all depends on what you want out of your time in Chiang Mai. You could be in Chiang Mai for weeks and still not want to leave this incredible city. Lucky for you I’ve condensed some of the top attractions into a 3-day Chiang Mai travel itinerary. If you have 3 nights in Chiang Mai, you’ll easily get through the top attractions in the city.

More time in Chiang Mai?

If you have an extra few days to spend in the city, you can take some day trips to Chiang Rai and Doi Inthanon National Park.

4–day Chiang Mai Itinerary: Chiang Rai

Take a day trip to Chiang Rai. While that’s possible, you’ll spend around 4 hours on the road (4 hours to get there and 4 hours back). Ideally, you should spend at least one night in Chiang Rai otherwise it ends up being a very long and tiring day.

The most famous attractions in Chiang Rai are the Blue and the White Temple. If you are making a trip there are back in a day, there’s a chance you may only have time to cover these two attractions.

5–day Chiang Mai Itinerary: Doi Inthanon National Park

Visit the highest mountain in Thailand at Doi Inthanon National Park and enjoy the serene surroundings. You can take one of these tours to make it easier to get there and back or you can hire a car and drive yourself there.

Most of the day tours will include stops at a local market, a waterfall, an elephant sanctuary or the Twin Pagodas. So you’ll get to see and experience more than just the National Park.

6–day Chiang Mai Itinerary: Visit Dantewada (Land of Angels Waterfall Park) and Bua Tong waterfall

It would probably be best to hire a driver for the day to cover these two attractions as both of them are a little out of the way and you would need to be quite confident driving on the roads and highways in Thailand if you were to do it yourself.

Dantewada is still probably not as widely visited by tourists as some of the other attractions in and around Chiang Mai. The man-made attraction features two massive waterfalls, caves, beautifully manicured flower gardens, a coffee shop, and a café. It’s a great spot to head to if you are traveling with kids.

Bua Tong Waterfall is one of the more popular trips from Chiang Mai. The natural waterfall is unique as you can climb up the rocks as the waterfall flows down. The limestone rocks aren’t slippery due to a mineral that causes them to stay rough, so your feet are able to grip onto them while you walk.  Hence the origin of the nickname “the sticky waterfalls”. The waterfall also has ropes that you can use while climbing.

There’s a short nature trail and picnic area near the waterfall so be sure to pack a picnic with you.

Best Areas to Stay in Chiang Mai

Here is an outline of the best areas to stay in Chiang Mai. Once you know the areas a little more, you can book accommodation based on your budget and style.

The main areas we recommend staying in Chiang Mai are as follows:

Old City (near Tha Phae Gate)

This area is best for first-time visitors as it’s within walking distance to most of the top attractions in Chiang Mai. The neighborhood is walkable and you’ll find yourself in the literal heart of Chiang Mai.

There’s a large range of accommodation catering to couples, families and even backpackers. This area is probably one of the best places to stay in Chiang Mai because of its location as well as its history. You don’t need a car or bike and can get around on foot.

Night Bazaar

This is the perfect place to stay in Chiang Mai if you are looking for some shopping, street food and nightlife. Just east of the Old City, this area is rightly named for the city’s largest night market, which runs nightly.

The centrally located neighborhood comes to life around 6 p.m. each night when the stalls start setting up for the night market. The Night Bazaar is massive, covers several city blocks, and is full of shopping and nightlife. A good place to buy souvenirs from.

Accommodation includes a range from budget guesthouses to luxury hotels but tends to be on the pricier side than in Old City.

One thing to keep in mind is this area can get crowded, especially during the evenings when the Night Bazaar begins.

Riverside

Riverside is one of the higher-end areas to stay in Chiang Mai and is catered to families and luxury stays. You’ll find boutique hotels, coffee shops, and a few upper-end stores in this area. It’s a more classic and sophisticated area of Chiang Mai

Santitham

This quaint neighborhood is well-located and provides affordable accommodation. You’ll find plenty more expats around here. Santitham provides a more local experience and isn’t overrun by tourists.

Nimmanhaemin

This part of Chiang Mai is famous for its digital nomad culture and is full of coffee shops, and galleries and has some pretty cool bars too.

Nimman offers a diverse shopping experience with boutique shops, fashion boutiques, and shopping malls like One Nimman or Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre.

In terms of accommodation, you can find places for a few hundred baht per night, or splurge on a higher-end boutique hotel.

Getting Around Chiang Mai

It’s incredibly easy to follow this 3-day Chiang Mai travel itinerary because most of the main attractions in Chiang Mai are within or near the Old City.

Walking

The square of the Chiang Mai Old City is around 1.5km on each side, so it’s easy to walk everywhere within the surrounding moat. Other attractions that are close to the Old City are the Night Bazaar

With all the delicious food you are about to eat, walking to some of the attractions may not be such a bad idea. You find some of the hidden treasures along the way that you wouldn’t otherwise come across.

Songthaews

This is the most common form of public transport in Chiang Mai. It’s usually shared transportation so is a very economical way to get around. They are also great for day trips outside the main city.

A Songthaew is a pick-up truck with two rows of back benches. It has no seat belts, nor any other safety equipment on board.

Songthaews in Chiang Mai can be found in 6 colors, namely Red, Yellow, White, Blue, Green, and Orange color. Different color indicates different directions and routes. A red songthaew is the most commonly found in downtown Chiang Mai. 

Tuk – Tuks

Tuk – Tuks are a fun way to get around the city. They tend to be more expensive than the Songthaews.  Just make sure you negotiate a price based on where you are going first.

Grabs/ Bolt

Grab or Bolt are both widely used in Chiang Mai and are a great low-cost way of getting around. They are private, air-conditioned cars and are a better option if you are traveling a longer distance.

Rent a Scooter

Alternatively, if you feel comfortable enough to ride around Chiang Mai, you can rent a scooter. It’s one of the easiest ways to get around and you have the flexibility to go when and where you want. Just make sure you have a valid license, wear a helmet and feel confident enough to ride on Thai roads.

Best Places to Eat in Chiang Mai

Here are some of the best places to eat in Chiang Mai

• Khao Soi Khun Yai
• Khao Soi Wua Lai
• SP Chicken Restaurant
• Chiang Mai Night Market
• Huan Kung Kum
• Anusarn Market
• Wua Lai Walking Street
• Kats Kitchen
• Reform Café (Vegetarian)
• Chang Phueak Pork Leg Rice (a.k.a Cowboy Hat Lady)

Foods to Try in Chiang Mai

The food in Chiang Mai is quite different from the rest of Thailand. Some of our greatest memories of Chiang Mai come down to the food. It’s one of the reasons why many people return to this place. Tradition dishes have bright colors and unique flavors. Make sure to take the time to experience the wonderful taste of traditional dishes in this city. Here are some of the top foods to try in Chiang Mai. You can thank us later!

Khao Soi

One of the more popular and traditional dishes of Chiang Mai. Khao Soi is fried egg noodles in a soupy curry, with beef, or chicken served with chili sauce, pickled mustard greens, and lemon.

Sai Oua

This is Chiang Mai’s special sausage, different from regular sausages. It’s made from ground pork and filled with spices such as lemongrass, cilantro, shallots, galangal, dried chili, and pepper. It is then grilled on a charcoal stove.

Miang Kham

A unique do–it–yourself snack in Chiang Mai that is packed full of flavor. It was probably one of our favorite things to eat in Chiang Mai, not to mention fun to make. You would generally fill a betel leaf with ingredients such as pineapple, dried shrimp, peanuts, chili, shallots, roasted coconut, ginger, sweet syrup, and a small lime wedge (yes, a wedge with the skin on. Trust us it just works!). Roll it up and you’re good to go. The sweet and sour sauce is the highlight of this dish. You’ll find this street food at the night markets of roadside stalls.

Luk Chup

This eye-catching snack is found at most of the night markets. It’s made from green beans, sugar, and coconut water, then shaped into very colorful fruits and vegetables. If you are a fan of sweet dishes, do not miss the opportunity to enjoy Luk Chup.

Green Papaya Salad

If all salads tasted this delicious, no one would have any issues eating them. Thai green papaya salad, also known as Som Tam, is one of the most famous street foods in Chiang Mai as well as in Thailand.  It’s made with raw papaya, chili, tomatoes, green beans, fish sauce, jaggery, and fresh lime juice.

Gaeng Hung Lay

This northern Thai dish is made of pork and ginger curry. The fatty pork is cooked to perfection and will melt in your mouth.

Pad Thái

Pad Thai as we know it, is one of the main dishes of the Thai people and popular all around the world. This traditional fried rice noodle dish is cooked with eggs and tofu, red chili, tamarind powder, fish sauce, and jaggery. The noodles are then topped with crushed roasted peanuts and served with a wedge of lemon.

Mango sticky rice

This dessert is hands down one of the most popular dishes to try in Thailand.  It’s as simple as the name suggests, sticky rice with coconut sauce and succulent fresh mango. You’ll see this everywhere in the market stalls and as dessert items on many menus.

Larb Kua

This northern Thai dish is packed with flavor. It uses either pork, chicken, or beef as the protein base. Mixed in with some dried chilies, larb curry, and a healthy dose of herbs and spices, you’ve got a dish full of flavor.

Khao Kha Moo

Khao Kha Moo is a succulent plate of stewed pork leg usually served with rice, vegetables, and an egg.  It is served with pickled mustard greens and garlic chili sauce, as sides to mix into the pork and rice. A perfect meal for a chilly day.

Coconut Icecream

You can’t miss the popular coconut ice cream that you can find all over Thailand. It’s delicious and refreshing!

Exotic Food

And finally, if you are feeling adventurous enough, you’ll see fried crickets, silkworms, bats, and dried lizards that you can try.

Note: The information here is updated the best we can at the time of writing this article. Please check attractions, activities, and transport before you can as things tend to change from time to time.

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