Where to visit in Chiang Mai this winter

A must visit for any new, or returning visitor. The ancient city walls span a 1km radius around the ancient Lanna capital founded in 1296, today home to over 200 temples in the immediate vicinity. Today, it's a bustling hub of trendy coffee shops, experimental bars, massive markets and backpacker hangouts. It has almost everything Chiang Mai has to offer packed neatly into its 700-year-old walls, making it the ideal place to start your northern Thai adventure. 

Stay: If you can afford it, experience traditional Lanna luxury at Tamarind Village or Rachamankha Boutique Hotel, or save your pennies and overlook Wat Phra Singh (the city’s most sacred temple) at Buri Gallery House Resort. Backpackers, head to Libra Guesthouse for a cheap and activity filled stay. 

Eat: The House By Ginger is a great entryway into northern Thai cuisine in a clean and well presented environment. But if you prefer to go local from your first meal, then Huen Phen is your go-to. Out late? Sompetch Rice Porridge is open 24 hours a day serving hot congee and dim sum non-stop. 

Drink: Zoe in Yellow is the calling card for any backpacker, so charter a tuk tuk or stay away depending on your style. For cocktails, check out White Rabbit or Nophaburi Bar and for good music look to Deaf Shop and Chiang Mai OriginaLive. 

Do: The biggest attractions of the Old City are certainly the temples. Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang are the most famous, while Wat Chiang Man is actually the oldest temple, built the same year the city was founded. 

If you do just one thing…

Plan your visit to coincide with a Sunday and see the Old City roads transform into the biggest night market in northern Thailand. The Sunday Walking Street Market is packed with vendors selling handmade crafts, local art, delicious street food and souvenirs and is a must for any visitor, new or returning.

Nimmanhaemin Road, affectionately known as ‘Nimman’ is the beating heart of a more modern Chiang Mai, where art, culture and innovation collide. Known for its hip cafes, vibrant nightlife and creative spaces, this trendy neighbourhood often tops the list for those looking for a more cosmopolitan side to our ancient northern capital.

Stay: Buri Siri Hotel offers a great combination of affordable rooms and stylish, poolside resort atmospheres. But, if you prefer to be in the heart of the action, try cheking out ALEXA Hostel, sitting adjacent to One Nimman on soi 3. 

Eat: There’s almost endless options for food dotted across the 17 sois of Nimman. Western delights include Why Not? Italian Restaurant, Beast Burger and Smoothie Blues, while those seeking more local flavours should check out Khao Soi Nimman or Tong Tem Toh – but expect a queue for both. 

Drink: There’s two types of drinks that put Nimman on the map: alcohol and coffee. For drinking, head to soi 5 or soi 7, which are both lined with local bars serving whisky, beer and young people energy, or beeline straight for Warmup Café, the city’s biggest club. For coffee, Roast8ry Coffee Flagship Store serves award-winning coffees, while Yelloo and ROASTIV serve local bean blends that hit the spot. 

Do: There’s lots to do in this tiny part of Chiang Mai, but the most popular things include massage, shopping and exploring the malls and attractions around the Huay Kaew Intersection. This includes Think Park, One Nimman and Maya Lifestyle Mall. Great for food, drink and souvenir shopping. 

If you do just one thing…

Break the mould, ditch the trendy bars and restaurants and head to Tawandang Chiang Mai for the most authentic and thrilling Thai nightlife experience. Think cabaret performances, Thai country music, bottles of whisky and dancing around tables. A real eye opener for anyone uninitiated. 

Wat Ket is the district to the east of the Old City, over the other side of the Ping River. A little more laid-back than most other areas, this neighbourhood gives off an almost bohemian ambiance, boasting quaint riverside hotels, art galleries and multicultural communities. 

Stay: Riverside hotels are what this area is best known for, with some popular destinations including Hotel Ping Silhouette, B2 Riverside Colonial House, Baan Ing Ping and i-river chiangmai. There’s a number of nice hotels ‘inland’ too, although they simply can’t compete with the river views. 

Eat: Wat Ket is the home to Chiang Mai’s legendary American diner, The Duke’s, with its flagship restaurant located in the heart of the neighbourhood on the old Chiang Mai-Lam Phun road. It’s also home to the famous coconut cake café, Cake Baan Piemsuk, selling up to 100 cakes a day. One bite and you’ll know why they’re so popular. 

Drink: If you’re feeling sophisticated, Woo Cafe and Art Gallery serves fine wines that can be enjoyed at their chic restaurant-cum-gallery setup. For a more lively night out, The Riverside Bar & Restaurant and The Good View Bar & Restaurant sit as neighbours, both competing for audiences with live music, DJs and cheap drinks. 

Do: For vintage lovers, head to 1st Press and enjoy sultry jazz tunes playing on vinyl as you explore their vintage toy shop and play museum-worthy video games. For those with young ones, check out Elephant Parade House for an afternoon of painting elephant sculptures for a good cause. 

If you do just one thing…

Wat Ket is great for a more peaceful stay in the city, but just across the river sits Kad Luang (aka Warorot Market), the city’s biggest market hub selling everything from food and ingredients to gold, flowers, fabrics and accessories.

Doi Inthanon is Thailand’s highest mountain, towering some 2,565m above sea level. With a road that leads to the summit that’s lined with hotels, strawberry fields and intriguing nature trails, there’s no better place to enjoy the cool climes of the northern Thai winter than here. 

Stay: There’s tons of resorts all the way up the mountain to pick from, with the best locations found in the villages of Ban Luang, about halfway to the summit. Here you can take pick from homestays, resorts and campsites, while the official Doi Inthanon National Park office has a number of wood cabins and camping sites (you can rent a tent) you can pitch up in for as little as B20. 

Eat: The best food in this area can be found at your accommodation, but if your chosen spot lacks such luxury, Jom Jam restaurant and Krua Rompot serve up delicious local Thai food using locally sourced ingredients. 

Drink: Bars may be scarce on the mountain, but you’ll find plenty of Thai beers chilled in cornershop coolers. In recent years, locals have also ventured into winemaking using mountain-grown fruits – you can sample their creations at Inthanon Wine. Be prepared, however, as the flavours and sweetness levels are distinct and a world away from your classic merlot or malbec. 

Do: You're literally on a mountain – take a hike! Kiew Mae Pan Nature Trail is probably the most popular trail, sitting just below the summit and offering both forest paths and open meadow views of the world beyond. Nearby you can find the two Royal Pagodas that sit side by side against the clouds, while Ang Ka Luang Nature Trail leads you to the summit (although don’t expect much of a view from the top, sadly). 

If you do just one thing…

Doi Inthanon has lots of nature on offer but the Pha Dok Siew trail is a great activity driven hike that takes your Thailand experience to the next level. The trail requires you to be accompanied by a local hill tribe guide who will take you past several waterfalls, rice fields and flower plantations. The journey ends in a local village where you can witness the daily life of the Karen people and sample a flight of freshly brewed coffee samples.

Technically not part of Chiang Mai city but still very much part of the province, Chiang Dao is an idyllic escape into the heart of northern Thailand’s natural beauty that’s best experienced in the cooler winter months, best known for lush landscapes, impressive mountain peaks and peaceful atmospheres. 

Stay: Chiang Dao itself is quite a small town, but there are a number of nice places to stay both on the main strip and out into the natural surroundings. The big star of Chiang Dao has to be Chiang Dao Nest – a longstanding resort that needs advance booking to get a spot. Luckily there's plenty of other options nearby, with most of the best ones located near the Chiang Dao Cave or nearby hot springs. 

Eat: If sleeping wasn’t good enough already, Chiang Dao Nest is also famous for its food and experimental menu that combines local Thai ingredients with an eclectic exploration of French, Japanese and Mediterranean techniques and presentation. Jin’s is also a great choice for those looking for a nice date spot, while Kao Man Kai Jay Vegan Food is cheap, meat-free and delicious. 

Drink: Quiet towns come with few bars, however there are a number of standout cases in Chiang Dao. These include The Cave Bar, a cozy cocktail bar that even distils its own whisky; Microkosmos, that serves craft beers on tap; and Charoen Bar, a bottle shop with all you could ever want. 

Do: The main tourist attractions of Chiang Dao are the mountain (more of that later), the cave and the hot springs. Wat Tham Pha Plong stands out as one of the better temples in the area too, surrounded by forest and shadowed by Doi Chiang Dao Luang that towers above it.

If you do just one thing…

Plan your visit with the hiking season and join a hike to the top of Doi Chiang Dao Luang with the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary. Between November and January, the sanctuary runs overnight camping hikes to the summit. Booking is required and is also a tricky process, with an old website that swaps between Thai and English, but messaging their Facebook is a slow but better booking route for non-Thai speakers.