Chiang Mai Old City

Chiang Mai is the cultural capital of northern Thailand, a laid-back city whose old heart is a square moated and walled quarter dense with hundreds of ancient temples, or wats, and quiet lanes. Cooler and more relaxed than Bangkok, it is famous for its crafts and markets, its lively night bazaar, the mountaintop temple of Doi Suthep above it, and as a base for the mountains and hill tribes of the north.

What you'll find

• The old-city temples - the hundreds of ancient wats within the moat.
• Doi Suthep - the golden mountaintop temple above the city.
• The night bazaar and markets - the famous markets and Sunday walking street.
• The crafts and cooking - the handicrafts and popular cooking classes.

When to go

November to February for the cool, dry season and the beautiful Yi Peng lantern festival; avoid the burning season of roughly March and April, when farm fires blanket the north in smoke and haze.

Practical notes

The burning season of around February to April brings serious air pollution to the north, so avoid those months. The city is relaxed but has become very popular with tourists and digital nomads. Elephant attractions vary hugely in ethics, so choose a genuine sanctuary that does not offer riding.

Nearby

The mountains, hill tribes and the town of Pai are to the north; the elephant sanctuaries are nearby.