ULTIMATE ONE DAY ITINERARY CHIANG MAI
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Are you headed to Chiang Mai but will only have one full day to explore the city itself? You have come to the right place.
Chiang Mai has a huge number of temples to explore, markets to enjoy, and cute cafes to discover. I spent a full four weeks in town but didn’t manage to see all I had planned. The town definitely deserves a longer visit – but sometimes a day is all you have.
Based on my experiences I have come up with an itinerary that crams all the highlights into just one day so you can make the most of your time!
Your Perfect Day in Chiang Mai
Morning: Explore Old Town and visit temples
If you have not yet been to Chiang Mai you can’t even imagine the sheer number of temples clustered in the Old Town. And pretty much every one of them is spectacular and well worth a visit!
If you follow my suggested walk below, you will pass by dozens of other temples. My recommendation is to visit no more than three at a time though. Just as with Gothic cathedrals in Europe they will just blur into one another if you see too many in a go.
Still, if you see one that you can’t resist – go ahead and check it out! I won’t judge…
1. Start at (North) Town Gate
These are not the only elephants you will see in this post
If you look at the map you will notice a distinct square outline around the center of Chiang Mai. This is the Old Town, bordered by a moat and parts of the old city wall. Most of the sights are clustered in this area. While there are more entry points all along this outline (the wall is only left in pieces), there are four main gates: in the middle of each side.
I have planned the following walk from North Gate (obviously on the northern side). If you are staying outside of Old Town (or if it is hot), I recommend you take a Grab there to start your walk.
However, if you are staying in or very near Old Town, you can just make your way to the first temple on my list. And if you are coming from the South your best bet is to follow my morning itinerary in the opposite direction. The distances within Old Town are not huge so no need to worry too much about the starting point.
I love walking along the moat and admiring the landscaping
No matter at which gate you start, take a moment to admire the views of the moat and town wall. This area is beautifully landscaped and one of the prettiest things to see in town.
2. Make your way to Wat Chiang Man
This is not the most impressive photo but the others turned out even worse…
If you are starting at North Gate you will be just minutes from Wat Chiang Man. Wat Chiang Man is the oldest temple in Chiang Man. Entrance is free and it is quite popular with tourists. It has a serene atmosphere and the greenery lets you forget that you are in the middle of town.
Arentt elephants the coolest?
I especially loved Chedi Chang Lom, the Elephant Chedi, as I am fond of elephants. And this area definitely has a bit of a jungle vibe.
Tips for Visiting Temples in Chiang Mai
Wear shoes you can easily put on/take off as you will have to take them off when entering the temples.
If you are female, be prepared that you may not be able to enter some buildings/shrines due to cultural reasons.
Wear modest clothing (shoulders and knees should be covered)
Avoid pointing your feet at statues of Buddha
Remember that these are places of worship so show the same respect you would show in your own church/temple/shrine/mosque etc.
3. See the Three Kings Monument
On Sunday nights there is often live music on this plaza
From Wat Chiang Man make your way to the main Prapokklao Road and then turn left. After a couple of blocks you will get to the plaza with the Three Kings Monument.
The Three Kings Monument is a statue of three kings which are thought the founding fathers of Chiang Mai. It also denotes pretty much the center of town and you will find concerts and events there during the Sunday Night Market.
If you have more energy than me, if it is too hot to stay outside, or if you are especially interested in history, you can visit one of the museums located on the sides of this plaza: The Lanna Folklife Center or the Chiang Mai Cultural Center. Though these were on my list I never managed to visit so can’t give any personal input. But hey, you can manage in one day what I didn’t manage in a month!
4. Visit Wat Chedi Luang
So much cooler in person than on pictures
Continue southwards along Prapokklao Road until you see the entrance to Wat Chedi Luang on your left side. Do not make the mistake I did and think the entrance is on one of the other sides. The easiest one is right from this main road!
Wat Chedi Luang is probably the most famous and most important temple in town. It also is one of the few charging a fee (50 baht) for entrance and one of the main temple interiors is only accessible to men. However, in spite of these disadvantages I think it is absolutely worth a visit and should be on everyone’s itinerary.
The biggest “attraction” at this temple are the ruins of the chedi that was originally 82 meter high but partially collapsed due to an earthquake in 1545. To be honest, I was not that impressed with the chedi remains and Chedi Luang when I saw pictures of this temple prior to my visit. However, I went anyway as it was on EVERY list.
And of course the lists weren’t wrong. In person this central feature was indeed very impressive and I am glad I went. My photography skills are not the best so my photos are unlikely to impress you but just believe me when I say the ruins are very cool to see in real life!
Special tip: If a (probably young) monk approaches you during your visit and asks if you have time to talk, don’t just stare, say no and scurry on as if he was a beggar in the streets of a big city. Be less cynical than me – Wat Chedi Luang offers Monk Chats. These are basically opportunities for the monks to practise their English and give you a chance to ask questions about Thailand or Buddhism. And yes, I feel bad and wish I had taken advantage of the opportunity.
5. Last temple for the Morning: Wat Chet Lin
The garden and pond of Wat Chet Lin seem far away from busy Chiang Mai
Maybe you can already guess the next step: Yes, return to Prapokklao Road and continue your way south until you see Wat Chet Lin on your right.
By now you know that I was not kidding when I said that Chiang Mai has so many temples that it is hard to decide which ones to see. One reason I put Wat Chet Lin on this list is because it is one of my favorites. But the main reason I recommend it for this itinerary is the large lily pond in the back. This water feature sets it apart from the other temples and makes a great spot to just sit and relax for a bit. Great if you need a short break before going on with your day!
Lunch and early afternoon
By this time you are probably getting hungry and tired. I recommend you use lunch time and early afternoon to rest up and relax a bit before exploring further later in the day. As everyone has a different way of relaxing, I have a couple of different options to choose between.
A. Hotel and Pool
My favorite way to recharge!
This is probably the most relaxing option. Eat lunch in Old Town (Garden to Table Chiangmai comes highly recommended) or at your hotel and then spend a couple of hours either napping in your airconditioned room or chilling at the pool.
Are you still in the planning phases and wondering where to stay in Chiang Mai? Check out my recommendations for the best places to stay for first-time visitors!
B. Nimman and Shopping
Air-conditioned retail therapy is a great choice on a hot day
Get a Grab to One Nimman or Maya Mall, slightly Northwest of Old Town. Here you will find food courts as well as plenty of trendy cafés and restaurants. To me this area feels very similar to an upscale California shopping district. Enjoy the air conditioning as you shop or just browse.
C. Go on a Ping River Cruise
The Ping River Cruise makes for a relaxing interlude in a busy day
If you are thinking: No way am I going to waste my one day in Chiang Mai lying at the pool or shopping, a Ping River Cruise is the ideal solution. It is a very chill experience (there are no huge sights to be seen) that gives you a peek into life along the river.
Make sure to try Khao Soi, Chiang Mai’s most famous dish
Go ahead and book the version with a meal as it gives you the best value and you will be hungry after your morning adventure! My review of taking this boat tour will help you decide if it would be right for you.
D. Just relax at the Park
This park is a great place to relax
If touring Old Town took longer than expected (or if you got a late start) you could eat lunch in town and then head to Buak Had Public Park in the Southwestern corner of Old Town. Even better, grab some food and a drink at one of the many 7-Elevens in Chiang Mai and have a small picnic. The grilled cheese sandwiches are popular (they will heat them up for you) and I especially liked the inexpensive Chicken Caesar Salad offered at Thai 7-Elevens.
I loved this inexpensive salad but best skip the wine for your picnic in the park
Late Afternoon: Visit Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat
I hope you like temples because there are even more on the plan! On a longer trip it would of course be better to split the temples over different days but if you have only one day you still can’t miss Doi Suthep and Wat Phra Lat.
Wat Phra Lat is a completely different experience from all the other temples in Chiang Mai
Luckily, they are quite different from the Town Temples you saw in the morning: Wat Phra Lat looks like it is straight out of the Jungle Book and Doi Suthep is high on the mountain and much more glamourous than the temples you have seen earlier in the day.
Doi Suthep is especially impressive at dusk and at night
Unfortunately, getting to Doi Suthep and Wat Phra Lat is a bit more involved than the sights in Chiang Mai itself. Even though I usually explore independently I ended up taking a tour as I found the logistics a bit challenging.
As you only have one day, I would recommend you take a tour. It will be the easiest, most hassle-free way to see both temples in the early evening. I absolutely loved my evening tour (you can read my complete review)! Highly recommended.
I never used one of these red minibuses but they are very popular
Alternatively, you can try to get a Grab up the mountain (I have heard this is difficult but have not tried myself) or take a Grab to Chiang Mai University and then one of the red Songthaews to go up the mountain.
Evening: Enjoy a Night Market
Definitely pick up a pair (or two or three) of elephant pants!
If you take the tour I did you should be back in town between 8 and 9 pm and hopefully the same is true if you decided to explore on your own. Either way, there should be still enough time to visit one of Chiang Mai’s famous night markets!
If your one day in Chiang Mai happens to be a Sunday or a Saturday I recommend you visit the Sunday Night Market or the Saturday Night Walking Street respectively. They are the biggest thing going on in town!
But no problem if not – you can check out the Night Bazaar on the other week days. Here you will also have plenty of chances to buy elephant pants, get an inexpensive massage, or buy various souvenirs!
Food at Chiang Mai’s night markets is delicious and inexpensive
As far as food is concerned, all the night markets offer a huge variety of snacks and meals at great prices. You can check out everything I ate at the Sunday Night Market to get an idea of what is on offer.
Phaploen Market has live music, a good variety of food, and plenty of seats
At the Night Bazaar you will find various side markets with food courts. My personal recommendation is Phaploen Market with live music and a very tourist-friendly environment. Prices are slightly higher but still quite inexpensive. I ate here most days as my AirBnB was right across the street.
The most popular stall here is probably the Dumpling stall but my personal favorites were the Chicken Satay and the Fried Chicken. But no matter which you choose – definitely try the Roti. This filled fried pancake was my favorite food during my time in Thailand!
You can get Rotis with different fillings/toppings – I like banana and chocolate
What if you have two days instead?
Personally, I would not add on too much with two days but instead spread out the activities a bit more. Five temples in one day is a lot so splitting them will work even better. My recommendation would be:
Day One
Morning: Explore the temples in Old Town according to the one day itinerary.
Afternoon: Spend your afternoon either at the pool or do a Ping River Cruise
Evening: Enjoy a night market
Day Two
Morning: Explore Nimman or one of the local day markets
Afternoon: Putter around Old Town or visit Angkaew Reservoir
Evening: Visit Wat Phra Lat and Doi Suthep as above
The two days are interchangeable so if one of the days is on the weekend I would visit the night market on that day (prioritize Sunday over Saturday).
A big part of Chiang Mai’s charm lies in just wandering around and exploring
And what about a three day itinerary?
Chiang Mai definitely has enough to keep you occupied for three or more days. However, if budget allows I would recommend you stick to the two day itinerary and add a half- or full-day excursion on the third day.
The most popular Chiang Mai excursions are:
A) Climb the Sticky Waterfall (for example on this tour)
B) Tour Doi Inthanon Park (check out this Eco-Friendly Tour)
C) Visit an Elephant Camp (this tour is popular)
If you would rather not spend the money for an organized day-trip, go ahead and check out my list of inexpensive activities in Chiang Mai. And of course there area always more temples!
The Lanna Traditional House Museum makes for an inexpensive and relaxing visit
Chiang Mai – So much to do, so little time
Let’s face it – one day is too short to see all Chiang Mai has to offer. I am going to be honest: My one day itinerary crams in a lot and will make for a very full and somewhat exhausting day. But it is definitely doable (especially if you choose a relaxing afternoon activity) and you will hit the main highlights of Chiang Mai: beautiful temples, vibrant markets, and delicious food.
And hopefully you will fall in love with Chiang Mai just like I have and want to come back to explore this fun town more fully!
