50 Unique Things to do in Chiang Mai

Of all the places that I visited during my 14 days trip to Thailand, Chiang Mai remains close to heart. As, there is a certain magical spell about this place which is difficult to pronounce. But you know it’s there as you spend a few days in this city. Because, perhaps it has a perfect blend of the old city and the quirky new town. And there is history, culture, art, architecture, nightlife, shopping, kid’s parks, adventure and sports – all packed in one single city. We spent 6 days in Chiang Mai. But, I can easily spend an eternity here. Also, we did a lot of things while here. And a lot more are still on our wish list for next time.

So, let us list here the top 50 unique things to do in Chiang Mai which will make your visit and stay here really special. Broadly dividing the kind of experience in different categories, so you can pick something as per your choice.

Unique things to do in Chiang Mai for Cultural Experiences

1) Visit the temples in the Chiang Mai Old City

A Chiang Mai Temple Tour is definitely the top thing to do in Chiang Mai. There are hundreds of Buddhist Temples in Chiang Mai Old City. Definitely it will take months to cover them all. But most of the famous and beautiful temples are located near each other in the Chiang Mai Old City. So, we curated this self planned free walking tour of the Chiang Mai Old City along with a google map. Which you can as well take. Or, you can book a full day van in case you don’t want to do the walking. And visit the temples including Wat Phra Singh, Wat Lok Moli, Wat Chedi Luang and many more. It will also be a great free thing to do in Chiang Mai.

Related read : Self planned free walking temple tour of Chiang Mai Old City

2) Explore the city on a night biking tour in Chiang Mai

While Chiang Mai is a traditional city full of cultural and historical significance. And there is calm aura about the place which you can strongly feel. But at the same time, it is so vibrant during the night time. With food stalls lining the streets. And street markets coming up since evening in most of the areas. Also, with all the night clubs, restaurants and cafes buzzing with locals and tourist. In short, altogether it looks like a very different place at night. That is why we highly recommend exploring the city during night time. And the best way to do so will be using this unique night biking tour of Chiang Mai.

3) Contribute to giving alms to monks in Chiang Mai

Do you know that every morning the monks in Old Chiang Mai City go on an alms collection ritual, just the way it used to happen long back in the ancient past. It is believed that seeking alms makes one humble. And so does contributing to the alms. Watching the alms collection ritual itself is a very unique thing to do in Chiang Mai. And contributing to the morning alms will definitely be a very unique experience. I am not sure if this is something you get to experience anywhere else in the world. So, please don’t miss it while in Chiang Mai.

4) Chat with a buddhist monk in Chiang Mai

Now, we need not mention that it is definitely a unique thing to do in Chiang Mai. A chat with a monk program is one of a kind. And a few temples in Chiang Mai offer it, including the likes of Wat Chedi Luang. All you need to do is register at the temple premises with your name and nationality details. And then you will be provided a slot to chat with a monk. Young monks are accompanied with their teachers. And the interactive session is really very insightful. You can ask them all sort of questions that you are seeking answer to. Be it related to buddhism in Thailand, Thai Monks and their life or general questions of life.

5) Visit the temples of Chiang Rai

You can do a day trip to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai. Wherein you can visit the famous white temple of Chiang Rai. It might be a little long day. But it will be totally worth it to cover the blue and black temples as well. You can either take a guided tour to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai. Or, you can also commute from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by bus. What makes it one of the most unique experiences in Chiang Mai is the unique architecture of these temples. Beware thought, some find the architecture too artificial. Most of the people either totally fall in love with it or hate it. Do let us know your take!

6) Offer prayers at Doi Suthep

Doi Suthep is one of the most important and major buddhist temples of Chiang Mai. It is perched atop a hill outside the main city. You can conveniently reach here using a public transport like bus or songthaew. Or, you can book a private transfer to Doi Suthep. The temple premises are huge. And you should allocate minimum 2 hours to visit all the sub parts within.

7) Hike to Wat Pha Lat Temple

While Doi Suthep is the most important temple of Chiang Mai. Wat Pha Lat, although being smaller, is nested at a much more beautiful location. A few kilometers down the road that leads to Doi Suthep, this temple is situated amidst lush green forests. And the hiking trail to the temple makes it all the more exciting to reach here. The temple itself has a beautiful architecture and peaceful aura to it. And is generally devoid of the crowd that is attracted to Doi Suthep. In fact you can take this combined tour to Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat.

8) Interact with the locals

Every place is unique with one of a kind people and rich culture. So is Chiang Mai. The Thai people are very happy, generous and welcoming in general. So, do make your visit to Chiang Mai unforgettable with some hearty interaction with the locals. There are many ways to do it. You can learn about the local handicrafts and products while interacting with the local shopkeepers in the street markets. Also, when having food at local stalls and small restaurants, do interact with them to learn more about their culinary. You can also stay at a local house instead of a hotel. Similarly there are a lot of other ways to interact with locals and learn more about them. We are sure, it will be one of the most unique experiences you will have in Chiang Mai.

9) Take a ride on a Songthaew

There are autorickshaws that run in different Asian countries. The songthaews of Thailand are very similar to them, still very unique. And those in Chiang Mai are definitely very retro and one of a kind. We used them profusely to commute between our hotel -The Empire residency Nimman and the Chiang Mai Old City. They are shared and charge THB 20 per head at the time of this writing. You can also book Songthews for commuting to some places outside of Chiang Mai like the Umbrella making Artist Village or Doi Suthep and even Doi Inthanon National Park. So, while you ride taxis, cars and buses anywhere you go, Songthaew are a must try when in Chiang Mai.

Unique things to do in Chiang Mai for Culinary Experiences

10) Learn Thai cooking

Thai food is world famous. And where best to learn some of these cuisines than in Chiang Mai itself, as the food scene in the city is simply great. There are many Thai cooking classes available in Chiang Mai. It will just take a couple of hours for you to learn a new Thai recipe. And it will be definitely one of the most unique experiences that you can get while in Chiang Mai. So, do book a Thai cooking class when in Chiang Mai

11) Try veg Pad Thai

Thailand is a country with just around 3% vegetarian population. While here, you can have a lot of non vegetarian food platters across the restaurants and street markets. But what stands really out is some of the vegetarian versions of these recipes. That is why we suggest, while in Chiang Mai, you should try some of the vegetarian recipes. Especially the Veg Pad Thai! We did and we found them to be absolutely mouthwatering (And very healthy too!)

12) Stop for a coffee at the Cat Cafe in Chiang Mai

We didn’t really know the concept of animal cafes until we happened to visit the Ther Pup Dog Cafe in Bangalore. And since then we have been a fan of these kind of cafes. Although I am not sure of dog cafes, but Chiang Mai is famous of it’s cat cafes. If you have a (friendly) cat, you can visit here with them. And even if you don’t have one but you love cats, you should definitely visit one of these cat cafes in Chiang Mai. Another very unique thing to do here. And try some yummy cafe food as well.

13) Try the traditional Khantoke platter

The term “Khantoke” refers to the round tray in which the traditional platter is served.There are two types of khantoke, the Yuan khantoke and the Lao khantoke. While the former is made of teak wood, the later is made from bamboo strips.The Yuan khantoke is predominantly used in Northern Thailand while the Lao khantoke is used in Northeast Thailand, Laos, and Sib Song Panna. This platter is a typical Laana lunch or dinner that is done by the Thai people on several festivals and special occasions or even at small family gatherings. It comprises of several traditional dishes that are served together in small individual bowls, all put inside a round tray.  Old Chiang Mai Cultural center serves the Khantoke platter in a formal sitting arrangement. Having this platter is definitely a very unique thing to do in Chiang Mai!

14) Try the Rustic Blu Cafe for vegan delight

This one was an accidental discovery. The way we reached Chiang Mai, it was late for lunch. And we were wandering around in search of some vegetarian food. That is when we stumbled upon Rustic Blu Cafe in Nimman area. It is an upscale vegan cafe. Guys, every single recipe that we tried here was simply yumm .. including a beetroot burger and blueberry carrot cake. This is one place, we highly recommend you should try when in Chiang Mai.

15) Eat the street food of Chiang Mai

A culinary experience in Chiang Mai will remain incomplete without the mention of the street foods. There are street food stalls in almost all the streets of Chiang Mai, outside of malls, alongside the street markets, on the joints and corners of major roads…everywhere. And the variety of food at offer as well as the cost will amaze you. They offer freshly cooked local cuisines, as well as continental food, deserts, drinks, shakes and what not! There are street markets in the rest of the world – but the variety and cost that you find in Thailand really makes it a very unique experience. Although the vibe of these markets were very similar to the street markets of Goa, India like the Arpora Flea Market that I visited few years back.

16) Have lunch in a floating restaurant

There are nice restaurants in abundance in Thailand. But a floating restaurant will be one of a kind, isn’t it. Chiang Mai gives you the opportunity to experience a floating restaurant, transporting you in the world of Venice for a while. No wonder, it had to qualify as our favourite unique thing to do in Chiang Mai.

17) Eat at the Indian Restaurant like Achar

There are many Indian Restaurants in Chiang Mai. We particularly made a few visits to this restaurant Achar in Nimman. They are abundant in vegetarian food. And also a favourite amongst the Indians visiting Thailand. For those of you who haven’t experienced an Indian cuisine before, it will be a unique experience to try some Indian cuisines while in Chiang Mai.

Unique things to do in Chiang Mai for Nature Experiences

18) Do a day trip to Pai from Chiang Mai

Pai is the famous hippie mountain town of Chiang Mai. The journey to Pai is beautiful. it will be great if you can stay here overnight. Otherwise, just take a day trip to Pai from Chiang Mai. Again, it will be a long day but it will be totally worth it. You can either self drive to Pai or else take this private charter car for full day to Pai from Chiang Mai. Either ways, it’s definitely going to be a very beautiful trip to the hill town. And in case you are wondering, here’s a list of things to do in Pai, which will keep you occupied through the day.

19) Explore the golden triangle from Chiang Mai

The Golden Triangle consists of the border of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. In fact, doing this one over a day trip is going to be really hectic. So, we rather recommend you take this two day trip to the golden triangle along with White temple of Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai.

20) Do a day trip to Doi Inthanon Summit from Chiang Mai

The Doi Inthanon National Park is another unique place to visit in Thailand. It is located at a 1.5 hrs driving distance from Chiang Mai. And you can go here via a Songthaew or take this full day group tour to Doi Inthanon.Or, you can take this hiking tour to Doi Inthanon National Park.  As a part of this tour you can visit the Wachirathan Waterfalls and few other attractions on the way as well. The summit is the highest point of Doi Inthanon where you can enjoy the cold weather and a cup of tea. A little down is the Doi Inthanon Stupas and the beautiful landscaped park around them. You can easily spend couple of hours here.

21) Take a boat ride on Ping river

A leisurely boat ride in a traditional boat on the Ping River is definitely an offbeat experience to have in Chiang Mai. Many don’t even pay attention to this as they are dazzled by other high selling tourist attractions. But we highly recommend you go for it if you have time. You will definitely love the experience. No need to pre-book. You can simply go there in the morning and just buy your slots from one of the operators.

22) Visit the Wachirathan Waterfall

We visited the Wachirathan Waterfalls while returning back after our visit to Doi Inthanon National Park. The waterfall is enourmous and very refreshing. And there is a path to go down and sit on the rocks where the stream meets the ground and starts flowing! Definitely a must visit when in Chiang Mai.

23) Relax at the Butterfly farm

The Bai Orchid and Butterfly farm is one of the most sought after places in Chiang Mai for butterfly lovers. And why not, it hosts numerous different varieties of Butterflies. And attracts a lot of naturalists also, who come here to study these species. If you are with family and kids in Chiang Mai, it specially makes up for a perfect day trip to the orchid and butterfly farm.

24) Visit The San Kamphaeng Hot Springs

Totally natural, the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs are actually hot. In fact, they are boiling hot, with temperature soaring really high. The area around the hot springs has been very well manicured and coverted into a park kind of structure. The entrance fee is 200 THB per person. And these are accessible from morning 8:00am to evening 9:00pm. The hot springs consist of two main fountains. And these fountains then distribute water to numerous streams. You can actually sit besides a stream and even dip your feet into it to enjoy the warm water! Isn’t that wonderful. The hot springs are always curiosity invokers for mankind. And so is this one.

25) See Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden

Located in the mountains of Doi Suthep, the Queen Sirikit Botancal Gardens are a paradise for nature and bird lovers. The well manicured gardens contain a rich variety of flora that attract an equally rich variety of birds all through the year. You can head here early in the morning to enjoy nature at it’s best. Kids get ample area to play here. And also learn about different plants and tree species.

26) See Huay Kaew waterfall

Surely there are numerous waterfalls in the hills surrounding Chiang Mai. And Huay Kaew Waterfall is one of them. It is a natural site that one can visit for free. But, make sure to visit post the monsoons season so that you find a good volume of water in the waterfall. In summer the stream becomes really narrow. But you can really trek to the rocks around the waterfall, which is a great experience in itself any day.

Unique things to do in Chiang Mai for Adventure Experiences

27) Trek to Doi Inthanon National Park

Although you can always go to Doi Inthanon using a private transfer or a Songthaew. But if you are in for some adventure, you can as well trek to Doi Intanon National Park. There are dedicated group trekking tours to Doi Inthanon National Park available. Which you can pre-book. And they take you through 2-3 hours trek through the national park trail, spotting some wonderful flora, fauna and natural waterfalls along the way.

28) Hike or Bike to Doi Suthep

Again, this is one of the top things to do in Chiang Mai for an adventurous soul. There are dedicated hiking tours to Doi Suthep . You can as well rent a bike and travel to Doi Suthep from Chiang Mai. Which you can take from Chiang Mai. Most of them are half day tours. And some even start in the evening so that you don’t have to face the hot and humid daytime climate.

29) Trek to the sticky waterfalls

The Sticky waterfalls are one of the major attractions near Chiang Mai. You can do this trekking and full day tour to the Sticky waterfalls along with the nearby caves. And then enjoy the waterfalls themselves. These are one of a kind waterfalls in the world. The special deposit of minerals below the water really makes the surface sticky and thus the name – Sticky waterfalls!

30) Visit Chiang Mai’s Grand Canyon

We all know of the Grand Canyon of USA. And then there is the Grand Canyon of India – Gandikota – which we recently discovered. But do you know, that Chiang Mai has it’s own Grand Canyon. And you can do this half day trip to the Grand Canyon park of Chiang Mai. It is not very deep, so, you can also take a plunge into the river below and swim! Now, won’t that be a very unique thing to do while in Chiang Mai.

31) Camp in the hills

The hills surrounding Chiang Mai are lush green and beautiful. And the good news for adventure lovers is that they are full of camping options. So, do plan to camp in the hills. You can either join a group for camping. or, rent camping gears and just select your camping spot, book it and you are ready!

Related read : Travel Gear for outdoor travel

32) Zipline through the jungle of Chiang Mai

The flight of the Gibbon is a zipline over the rainforest around Chiang Mai, one of the best adventure activities to take in Chiang Mai. The safety standards are of world class. And the zipline crosses atop trees, natural trails and water bodies. Definitely an experience that you will cherish for the rest of the your life. So, we suggest trying this zipline activity in Chiang Mai as one of the topmost things to do in Chiang Mai.

33) Interact with elephants the responsible way

Although we keep off anything to do with animals on our trips. And let us warn you, you just have to be extra careful in Chiang Mai as there are so many “interact with animals” kind of tours being sold. But not all of them are ethical. So, in case you are really interested, find about a real, ethical elephant camp. Which allows for people to interact with the animal up close, yet in a responsible way. And then go for it.

34) Go rock climbing in the mountains

The mountains around Chiang Mai give several rock climbing options. No wonder rock climbing around Chiang Mai is such a famous activity. There are several organised rock climbing activities. So, you can enroll with one and enjoy some real adventure activity while in Chiang Mai!

In fact, Hot air balloon rides are also offered by some agencies in Chiang Mai. But we didn’t try it. Rather saved it for out bucket list trip to Melbourne, Australia !!

Overall, Chiang Mai is a perfect destination for planning an adventure trip.

Unique things to do in Chiang Mai as Shopping Experiences

35) Shop till you drop at the Sunday Night Market

The Sunday Night Market that starts right from the front of Wat Phra Singh and extends all through the main road in the old Chiang Mai City, is one of a kind. So, do visit it when you want to shop beautiful local products at dirt cheap prices while in Chiang Mai. The market is super crowded , with 3 rows of make shift shops standing on either side and in the center of the road. And hundreds of people flocking in. So, be prepared for a one of a kind shopping experience when heading here. We bought some really beautiful stoles, small pouches, hand painted T-shirts, artwork, magnets and many other small stuff from these shops.

36) Checkout the Wednesday Night Market

If you hate too much crowd, head instead to the Wednesday Night Market which is much more expansive. There is a big platform with food options at one end (And there are chairs to sit too!) While the stalls are speciously spread out in rest of the area. The prices are slightly higher than the Sunday Night Market, yet, very less when compared to the upscale market. And the product are nice. I bought beautiful white dresses for my daughters and some local handicrafts for gifting.

37) Checkout the Maya mall & 1 Nimman at Nimman Road

Although there are many malls in Chiang Mai. Since, we stayed close to Maya Mall in Nimman area both this mall and 1 Nimman were at walking distance from our place. So, we did explore these malls one day. Although most of the shops are upscale, shops like Moshi Moshi do provide for some cute gifting options.

38) Checkout the boutique shops at Nimman road

Apart from the malls, there are many cute boutique shops at Nimman Road. These sell local handicrafts and fabric products like bags and purses which make for really great gifting options. So, do check them out if you are looking for some unique gifting ideas.

Unique things to do in Chiang Mai for Art Experiences

39) Click the street art

While wandering the streets of Chiang Mai, I did notice some quirky and some cute street arts here and there. And I couldn’t help but click some of them. So, if you are an art lover, just grab your camera and wander the streets of Chiang Mai. I am sure you will have one of the most unique experiences of your lifetime clicking the street arts.

40) Take a lesson in water color from Worawuh

Now, this is a personal favorite. While I was in Chiang Mai on new year day, I decided to sign up for this watercolor session with Worawuh, one of the famous water color artists in Chiang Mai. In a single hour session, I learnt some of the tips and tricks that are going to help me all through my life to practice the art of water color painting. And painting side by side with Worawuh was definitely a one of a kind experience. Will definitely remain close to heart and highly recommended.

41) Paint an umbrella at the artist village

If you love art then visiting the artist village at Chiang Mai is going to be a very memorable moment for you. We visited the umbrella making artist village at the outskirts of Chiang Mai. The most delightful thing for me was the option to paint an umbrella myself, along with them! And visiting their shop later – which had a lot of hand painted products including trays, pens, fans, handicrafts, wall hangings and umbrellas in all different sizes that I could think of!

Related read : How much does it cost to visit Thailand?

Unique things to do in Chiang Mai for City Experiences

42) Enjoy the vibrant Chiang Mai night life

The Chiang Mai night life is ever so exciting. While the city seems so quiet and calm during the daytime, retaining it’s old city charm. At the same time, it turns into a vibrant place by evening itself. With stalls, night markets and food shops coming up all around as the evening approaches. And then going on till late at night. These are accompanied by live musical performances and dance shows. If you are more into pubs and bars, there are a plethora of options to explore. So, next time when you find yourself in Chiang Mai, don’t forget to check out the vibrant night life scene in the city.

43) See a cabaret show

The cabaret shows of Thailand are world famous. Thus, it’s almost a sin to miss one when in Chiang Mai. So, next time when you are in Chiang Mai, you have got to watch one cabaret show for sure. We can’t write much since we missed experiencing it. But our friends who were traveling with us did go to one and they totally loved it. You can go for a hassle free pre-booked show like this one. It comes with the transfers.

44) Cross the beautiful wooden bridge in the Chiang Mai Old City

Well, you might be wondering why I would emphasise on a wooden bridge amongst all the other so exciting activities mentioned in the list. All I can say is you have to experience it to understand. While we did a walking tour of the old Chiang Mai City, we crossed this beautiful wooden bridge covered with flowers . Which was just so out of the world! It was beautiful, scenic, instagram perfect spot that also provided an excellent view of the canals that it is stationed across. If you happen to be in Chiang Mai Old City, do cross this bridge once! We will definitely like to name it as one of the Chiang Mai attractions!

45) Enjoy a Thai Massage from an ex – prisoner!

Again, A Thai massage is very unique to Thailand. Wait, but isn’t thai massages available all across Thailand? Yes, but what we are talking here is Thai Massage by an ex-prisoner. There’s a very lovely concept behind. While the prisoners are trained in massage courses, they acquire a skill that helps them earn a decent livelihood when they re-enter the society. Most of these massage centres are open from morning 9:00am to evening 9:00pm. And generally there are no appointments. You will wait in a queue that operates on first come first serve basis as you arrive in the massage center. But once you get the Thai massage, the experience will be definitely one of a kind.

Unique things to do in Chiang Mai for Festivities & Local experiences

46) Witness the magical lanterns during the Loi Krathong Festival

Loi Krathong literally means floating baskets. This festival is celebrated annually in November across Thailand. It is a festival of lights, just like Diwali in India. The Thai wear traditional costumes on the festival day, float baskets in water bodies with lit lanterns in them. Off late, it is accompanied by a lot of firework. And lanterns are also released in the sky. Overall, the festival is beautiful. And to participate in it is definitely one of a kid experience. Thus we must say, witnessing the magical lanterns that fill up the night sky during the Loi Krathong Festival is definitely one of the most unique things to do in Chiang Mai.

47) Participate in the Songkran festival

The Songkran Festival marks the arrival of the new year in Thailand. It is based on the movement of the sun, when it transitions from pieces to aries. 14th April is the day that marks the transition from the old to the new year. And on 15th April, the new year is fully established. Coincidentally, many states in India also follow the same culture and observe new year on 14th April! The Thai celebrate the songkarn day by visiting the buddhist temples, offering alms to the monks, and also pouring water on Buddha statues. Which marks the washing away of sins from the previous year and a new beginning in life!

48) Join a yoga session

There are lots of yoga classes on offer in Chiang Mai. So, while you are there, apart from submersing in the culture of the place, trying local Thai cuisines and doing adventure activities. You can also go for a yoga session in Chiang Mai. There are short sessions of few hours as well as courses that run for days. So, choose the one that suites you the best. And then there are dedicated yoga retreats in Chiang Mai and meditation retreats that range from one day meditation retreats to several days meditation retreats.

49) Volunteer for good in Chiang Mai

Teach English , Work at an organic farm, at organizations working with disabled, orphans, single mothers and refugees, animal centers like authentic elephant parks and dog rehabiliation centers

50) Relax at your accommodation

Last but not the least, don’t over stuff your itinerary with activities. Like I said in the beginning , Chiang Mai has a magical and calming aura to itself. Do taste it’s laid back lifestyle by sometimes doing nothing and just relaxing at your accommodation. Chiang Mai has some very beautiful places to stay. Choose one away from the hustle and bustle of the city, in the lap of nature. So that you can spend a very relaxing time here. Enjoy your time and cherish your moments while in Chiang Mai.

We must agree it will take days or even months to try out all of these unique things to do in Chiang Mai. But if you are limited by your time, then we strongly suggest you pick the categories that best appeal to you. Or, if you want to have a mixed experience, pick a few things to do in Chiang Mai from each of the categories listed above. Constrained by travel time due to our day job, We did the same on our own trip to Chiang Mai (Soon to follow: our 5 days in Chiang Mai Itinerary).

Want to know more about our overall Thailand trip? Checkout our 14 days Thailand trip itinerary for the details.

Where to stay in Chiang Mai

If you are wondering where to stay in Chiang Mai City, look no further. We have got you covered. We ourselves stayed in the upscale and more modern Nimman area. While we also loved the rustic charm of the Old Chiang Mai City which is full of boutique hotels, budget accommodation and hostels as well. So, we will highly recommend these two areas when it comes to where to stay in Chiang Mai. We recommend The Empire residency Nimman that we stayed in . The hotel was perfect from point of view of family stay. And most importantly, it is located in the centre of the happening Nimman area, surrounded by cafes and restaurants. And it is also at a walking distance of around 2 km from the Chiang Mai Old City gates near Wat Phra Singh.

PS: Some of our links are affiliated, this means we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product by clicking those links. However, this will have no extra cost for you.