The northern capital of Taiwan is huge and cannot be walked around, so there are various types of public transport that allow you to get from one point of the city to another in the shortest possible time. In the article we will tell you about the types of vehicles that can be used to move around the city.
If you have the right to drive a motorcycle, then you can use such transport - it will be much cheaper. If you do not have such rights, you can always rent a bicycle.
If you want to visit all the corners and sights of the town, then you will definitely need transport. If you want to see only the main tourist places of the northern capital, then all of them are located within the city limits. In such a situation, you only have to know the rates of local taxi drivers who depart from the station.
In the New City, traffic is carried out according to the usual rules of the road, but in the Old City you will have to work harder to drive on city roads in transport. The fact is that one-way traffic is often used in the Old Town and you can’t always move according to the rules - it’s not clear where the passage is open and where movement is prohibited.
The old city is surrounded by two ring roads. On the first one, you can travel by transport only counterclockwise, and on the second one, only in the opposite direction. The roads are located at a distance of thirty meters from each other and a moat with water is equipped between them. The two roads are connected by small streets, for this reason it will not be difficult to move from the first ring road to the second one.
In the east, the city is connected to its new part by several highways. In order to drive on these highways, you need to know the rules - on the first road you can only go in one direction from east to west, and on the other road you can only go in the opposite direction.
Songthaews are pickup trucks with a roof. Very similar to the vehicles in Pattaya city, only they are covered at the back. They can be painted in a variety of colors. Burgundy and red colors run in the urban environment. On such cars you can quickly get to various attractions of the town. Each vehicle has a written route around the city.
If there is no such sticker, then you are faced with private traders who ply at a contractual cost. These songthaews take you from the Old City to the airport for only 80 baht.
This is the cheapest means of transportation in the city - in the northern capital. Such vehicles travel on city roads and the surrounding area. It can be used to get from the station to the hotel, or to visit numerous places of interest.
The fare for such transport is about 50 baht. In some cases, this price is reduced to 30 baht, but such a price reduction is very rare. And this applies not only to tourists, local residents use transport at the same price.
For 30 baht, you can drive very short distances, about two kilometers, for example, from the airport to the river or the Vororot market square, which is located nearby. But from the station to the Old Town, you need to travel a long distance and no one will be lucky for you for 30 baht, the standard price of such a trip by transport is 50 baht, and you won’t be able to bargain.
An exception to the general rule is mongteo, which runs on a route between two stations or on a route in an urban environment, as well as a highway from the city in the direction of the west and southwest.
The cost of such a route will be lower - only 15 baht, and the price tag is on the windshield. Such vehicles run from half past seven to eighteen o'clock in the evening. On weekdays, transport departs every 20 minutes during rush hour and every 40 minutes during normal times. On weekends, transport runs every 30 minutes. The disadvantage of such a vehicle is that they rarely meet and ply along a route that is not very convenient for tourists.
Such means of transportation in Chiang Mai are no different from the Tuk-tuks of Bangkok - a vehicle on three wheels. A maximum of 2-3 people can move in it at the same time. They drive within the city limits, and also often stop near famous sights. Be prepared to pay between 80 and 110 baht for a trip. For less than 50 baht, they won't budge. Depending on the distance within the city, the trip will cost 160 baht. In the evening, the cost of such transport increases. The trip is paid for mileage, not the number of people. For this reason, if you want to save money, take passengers with you.
Mostly cars are located near famous sights or in places popular for tourists. Just like that, it is almost impossible to meet a free car in the city.
There is a meter in the car, and it is always on, and the trip from the airport to the hotel has a standard cost. (If officially ordered by phone at the hotel desk). This is the most comfortable means of transportation, but at the same time the most expensive for getting around the city.
They are practically not found in other cities and popular resorts. But in Chiang Mai, you have a great opportunity to use this means of transportation before it is completely eradicated. Outwardly, it is a bicycle on three wheels, and a special chair is installed at the back. This vehicle is designed for one person. The fare depends on the distance.
If you want to quickly move from one point of the city to another, then this type of transport will not suit you. Its speed is not much faster than walking speed, and it is not as agile as a motorcycle or a regular bicycle.
Renting a motorbike and bicycle is an excellent solution for those travelers who want to quickly move around the city and at the same time pay a very affordable price. The places where you can rent a motorcycle or bicycle are most in the Old Town. Here you can rent both a large motorcycle and a regular one. The cost of renting a bike starts from 200 baht, but basically they require you to pay 250 baht. If you rent for a month, you can negotiate for 3000 baht. Fuel costs approximately, as in Bangkok, about 40 baht.
You can also rent a bicycle in the Old Town for trips within the city limits or in the vicinity of the city. If you want to visit the observation deck, it is better to rent a bike, as riding a bike uphill for about seven kilometers is not the most pleasant pastime.
Remember to use personal protective equipment - helmets, as the police regularly round up motorcyclists without a helmet.
To rent a motorcycle, you need a copy of your passport, and if you don’t have one, then you will have to pay a deposit of 2000-3000 baht.
