Chiang Mai is decidedly mellower than bustling Bangkok, with a collection of culturally relevant places to see. The northern Thai region is probably best known for its hundreds of sacred temples and statues of Buddha, but you can also enjoy unique shopping experiences where you can find the perfect souvenirs. When you have some downtime, you can relax in one pf the city’s museums or enjoy the outdoors in a wildlife or national park.
Temples
- A few of Chiang Mai's temples deserve to be high on your must-see list. Wat Phra Singh, or the Temple of the Lion Buddha, was built in the 14th century to hold the ashes of King Kam Fu. Today, the monastic library within the temple still holds ancient Buddhist scriptures. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is perched near the peak of Mount Suthep, and contains a number of murals and shrines, as well as a replica of the Emerald Buddha that now resides in Bangkok. Head to the forested foothills of Suthep to see Wat U Mong, which is built right into the mountain. This wat is also known for the the maze of tunnels that run through it. The Wat Chedi Luang ruins, which previously housed the Emerald Buddha, now have a restored stupa, complete with a jade Buddha, multiple elephant sculptures and a city pillar. Next to the Chedi Luang is Wat Phan Tao, where you can see a reclining Buddha sculpture. The oldest wat in Chiang Man is Phra Tang Khamani, where you can find the marble Phra Sila Buddha and the White Emerald Buddha.
Shopping
- During the day, the stores and restaurants on Chang Khlan Road seem fairly ordinary. You can go to Starbucks or grab an order of fries at the McDonald's. At night, however, the street transforms to become the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, where you can find vendors selling designer goods at inexpensive prices. Be sure to check the labels, as many of the “designer” items are actually fakes, and don’t be afraid to barter with the vendor to get even lower prices. For a truly authentic Chiang Mai experience, come to the Saturday Walking Street Market, located on Wualai Walking Street. In addition to a plethora of handcrafted goods you can shop for, you might also catch some of the street performances of traditional Thai music and dancing, as well as indulge in some of the regional cuisine.
- Nature
- Doi Inthanon is Thailand’s tallest mountain, and straddling the mountain is the Doi Inthanon National Park. Hike around the park’s trails to see the cascading waterfalls and twin pagodas and do some bird watching. Chiang Mai has several elephant training camps you can visit, though conditions of each vary, with some sites letting the elephants roam the forest for a large part of the day and others having more questionable practices. As an alternative, spend a day or night volunteering at Elephant Nature Park, which acts as a rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary. Here you can help feed and bathe the elephants -- and even sleep among them in park huts.
Museums
- Learn about the area’s Lanna culture, history and lifestyle at the Lanna Folklife Museum. The colonial-style building houses a variety of art exhibits, including sculptures, paintings, ceramics, basket weaving and textiles. For a more modern take on art, head to the Art in Paradise museum for a dose of three-dimensional illusion art. The museum prompts visitors with “Stand Here” stickers for taking unique optical illusion photos.
