Top 10 Things to Do in Chiang Mai

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Destinavo

Are you traveling to Chiang Mai? Here’s a list of our favorite attractions and the top 10 things to do in Chiang Mai as a tourist!

Elephant Nature Park

Have you always dreamed of meeting an elephant, then you should visit the famous Elephant Nature Park, a place where they really care for the formerly abused elephants. Besides the fantastic interaction with the big animals, the staff will also tell you much you didn’t know about elephants and their way of life. The best thing about this place is that they don’t let the visitors ride on the elephants and everything takes place on the terms of the elephants.

At Elephant Nature Park they offer a great experience where you get to interact with the elephants and give them the love and care that they deserve.

Wat Sri Suphan 

In silver manufacturing district Wualai, the temple of Wat Sri Suphan is located. This temple really stands out since it’s entirely made out of silver. Unfortunately, women aren’t allowed to go inside, but it’s still worth coming here just to see it from the outside.

Doi Inthanon

About two hours drive from Chiang Mai lies the national park Doi Inthanon. Here you will find Thailand’s highest mountain, which is located 2565 meters above sea level. This park is a popular attraction for both tourists and locals and has about 12 000 visitors a day during peak season. At the national park, it’s easy to spend a few hours just watching the beautiful gardens, rivers, waterfalls, fascinating wildlife and the beautiful royal twin pagodas.


Also Read: Best Chiang Mai Apartments


Chiang Mai 3D Art Museum

If you want to find something fun and different to do during your stay in Chiang Mai? Then you have to head to Chiang Mai 3D Art Museum. Here you can see cool 3D paintings and take a lot of fun photos – a place that’s fun for the whole family!

Wat Phra That Doi Kham (Temple of the Golden Mountain)

Wat Phra That Doi Kham Temple is best known for its 17-meter high Buddha statue. The temple was built in the late 700’s and is located on top of a hill outside Chiang Mai. Come here and be enchanted by the temple’s beautiful details, statues and the stunning views of Chiang Mai.

Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Chedi Luang is a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai’s Old Town. Wat Chedi Luang is one of the oldest, most important, and most impressive temples. One simply cannot visit the city without visiting this temple, since it’s one of the best things to do in Chiang Mai.


Thailand FAQ: Why are there so many temples in Thailand?


Thai Farm Cooking School

Get to know the Thai cuisine and take a cooking class with Thai Farm Cooking School. Here you can try to cook Thai food from scratch, from shopping at the local market to the finished flavorful dishes. During this course, you get to learn how to cook several popular Thai dishes and also socialize with other people taking the cooking class!

One of the best things to do in Chiang Mai if you love Thai food!

Paak Dang Restaurant

Paak Dang is a cozy restaurant that offers excellent views of the Ping River. The Thai food and the well-made drinks are delicious, and the atmosphere cannot be cozier than this. This is one of those restaurants that you don’t want to miss during your stay in Chiang Mai!

Chiang Mai Gate Market

Chiang Mai Gate Market is the place for you who seek the best street food of Chiang Mai. Every night the locals put up their stalls and sell everything from Pad Kra Pow (Spicy meat and basil dish) to perfect desserts with fresh mango. The market is held every evening throughout the week, but it’s best to come here during the weekdays since it’s fewer vendors during the weekends.

Lantern Festival

The famous Lantern Festival is a local and religious celebration to honor Buddha. Here they release thousands of floating lanterns into the air, forming a sea of light that illuminates the sky and the water in a magical way. The date varies from year to year and is usually released only a few weeks in advance. A week after the first celebration they have a second that’s for tourists visiting the city.

This is no doubt one of the best and most magical things to do in Chiang Mai!

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