It is the second largest city in the country after Bangkok. Many also consider Chiang Mai to be the cultural capital of Thailand. The city is located 700 km north of the capital Bangkok. Nearby is the highest point in the country - Mount Doi Intanton. In winter, the temperature in the city can drop to + 13 °C. At the same time, it will be below 0 °C in the mountains.
The city is located in the north of the country in the valley of the Ping River. Chiang Mai is surrounded by high mountains. Scenic landscapes and beautiful mountain views - all this is the north of Thailand. In terms of population, the city ranks fifth in Thailand. 131 thousand people live here.
Many tourists come to Chiang Mai every year. Particular attention should be paid to hikers who want to fully immerse themselves in the culture of this region. Most of the sightseeing and hiking routes in the north of the country begin here.
Travel agencies offer various tours in the north of Thailand, which already include a visit to Chiang Mai. Such programs also have their drawbacks: you will have to explore the city in 1-2 days. In such a short period of time, you will not be able to fully experience the atmosphere of Chiang Mai. Moreover, there are other interesting places near the city that also deserve the attention of travelers. For example, Lamphun, Phrae, Maesai. You can easily reach them from Chiang Mai by bus, train or car.
If you want to immerse yourself in the history of the city, it is a must to see all the ancient sites. Chiang Mai was founded in the 13th century. Since that time, many temples and other historical sites have been preserved.
However, some travelers come for something completely different! Chiang Mai is not only a long history, but also fast Internet, delicious food, beautiful views and photo locations. Here you can also see bloggers who come to the north of Thailand for picturesque content. This is truly a paradise for professional photographers and Instagram lovers.
The tourist season starts in early November and ends in February. At this time, the city has a rather pleasant and comfortable climate. In spring and summer it is quite hot here, and the air is polluted with smoke. If you are planning to visit Chiang Mai, it is best to plan your trip in late autumn or winter. You can also visit the city in July or August. The fact is that in June the rainy season begins in Thailand, which helps to clean the air from dust and smoke. In September and October, precipitation increases, but already in November, good weather returns to the city.
This city is considered the cultural capital of Thailand. Various exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events are often held here. Many on the Internet write about Chiang Mai as the most unusual city in the world! There are tourists everywhere who can stay for several months. What is it that attracts them so much? Why is this city considered unique?
The reviews write that Chiang Mai is a very convenient and developed city. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true. There are several shopping and entertainment centers, as in other towns in Thailand. Moreover, there are practically no sidewalks in the center, all roadsides are full, and the appearance of the houses leaves much to be desired. By the way, the buildings are not tall. Almost all houses have only 4-6 floors. It is inconvenient for pedestrians to walk, and parking your car turns into a task with an asterisk. Relatively speaking, no amenities.
The streets are small, cramped, grey. Toward evening, Chiang Mai turns into an endless stream of people. There are continuous traffic jams on the roads that occur due to traffic lights - they can burn red for 5-7 minutes. Moreover, in Thailand, few people follow the rules of the road while driving.
There is public transport here, but the fare will be much higher than in other cities. For example, in Pattaya you will pay 10 baht for a trip, but here it is 30. The most popular mode of transport is red tuk-tuks. In cafes and restaurants, prices are about the same as in other areas of Thailand. The average cost of a dish is 250 - 350 baht.
It is worth noting that over the past few decades, the city has been gradually "captured" by the Chinese. It is possible that there are already many more of them than Thais. Everywhere you can see signs in Chinese, which are not even duplicated in English or Thai.
One day, maximum two, is enough for you to explore the old city. The rest of the time is better to devote to excursions. You can go to the mountainous regions of Thailand - Doi Inthanon National Park, Pai, Mae Hong Son, etc. Here you can definitely enjoy all the beauty of nature. It is here that all the uniqueness of the northern region of Thailand is stored.
Of course, Chiang Mai is difficult to compete with the capital of Thailand, but the amount of entertainment here is quite large. As soon as night falls, the inhabitants of the city begin to live a new life. The world of night lights of Chiang Mai is really mesmerizing!
The city has a huge number of restaurants, bars, clubs, even karaoke bars. Live music, songs and dances are everywhere. Mostly tourists and residents hang out near the gates of Tape, on Loi Croh Road and on the east coast of the local river.
Also in Chiang Mai you can find a real ring. Free fights are held daily in the arena (or for a small fee). On Thursdays, professional athletes take to the court. This is the spectacle you have to pay for. By the way, some bars offer their guests free viewing of such a competition. Sometimes even a tourist can become a participant in the battle, but this all happens in a more comic form.
There are go-go bars on Mun Mueang Road and nearby alleyways. Here in the evenings, various foreigners who came to work in Thailand have fun. These establishments also have billiards, music plays and you can watch a sports match.
But it is necessary to tell about some features. If you liked one of the girls, you do not need to try to get to know her and persistently ask to join your company. The fact is that the owners of bars specially plant girls who spin tourists for money. At the end, not a continuation of the evening awaits you, but a huge check.
Thai youth love to hang out in the Nimanhemin Road area. This is probably due to the local university, which is located nearby. There are also many beer bars, restaurants, cafes, where music plays all night. Most musicians and DJs are students: during the day they sit in class, and at night they are immersed in an atmosphere of creativity and fun.
Also in the evening you can go to the east. In the establishments of this part of Chiang Mai, the bartenders and waiters speak some English, so you will have a great opportunity to chat with the locals. Here, too, mostly students hang out, some of whom are employees of cafes and bars.
In the roadside establishments of Thailand there is no music and dancing, the maximum is a TV with the broadcast of the match. Beer here is quite inexpensive - 60-70 baht per bottle, and visitors are offered discounts or participate in promotions. For example, three glasses of beer for the price of two, etc. Most of the visitors are local residents. Tourists and expats hardly come here.
There are many places in the center for those who love live music. Here you can listen to jazz, rock, country. The embankment is full of restaurants and cafes, where both more experienced musicians and beginners perform.
By the way, local artists have a rather interesting principle of performances. Musicians can play in one cafe for an hour, and then easily go to a nearby restaurant. Consequently, you can see the same performer several times in one evening, but in different places.
Housing prices are relatively low here. Prices can be considered acceptable even by Thai standards. Guests of the city will be able to rent a room in a decent hotel, and a cheap room in a hostel.
Recently, Thai boutique resorts have been especially popular in Thailand. This is a relatively new hotel format that appeared at the beginning of the 21st century. They are mostly located in the city center. It has good service and living conditions. One boutique resort has no more than eight rooms, but almost every hotel of this kind has a pool.
It is cool in the city in the evening, so when booking a hotel, be sure to check if the room has air conditioning. It will help you both in the heat and in the cold.
If you want to stay in Chiang Mai for a month, it is better to book a small studio with a refrigerator, air conditioning and TV. It is also worth paying attention to the availability of a parking space. Among the additional services, first of all, you should pay attention to the Internet. It must be paid separately. The number itself will cost you 5000 - 7000 baht per month. Utilities are also paid separately.
When renting a home, pay special attention to the item in which the payment for electricity is indicated. As a rule, 1 kW costs 6 baht.
There are laundry facilities on almost every corner, only clothes are washed in cold water. While things are being washed, tourists can go to the nearest cafe and wait for the end of washing there.
