Today, it's the focal point for northern Thailand tourism. To appreciate and research Chiang Mai, it is best to spend at least 3 days for your travel. That is the minimum to have that Chiang Mai encounter. However, if you had only 1 day, here are some suggestions for your trip itinerary to get the best of the town.
Start off at the early morning about 8am and receive your breakfast at the most well-known standard marketplace in Chiang Mai: Warorot Market. Sit with the natives and see them go about their daily business, shopping for groceries as well as others. To get here, it is possible to take a red songtaew (pickup). Through the day, this is going to become your choice for a cheap and convenient transport around town.
The second end of your tour will probably be Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the temple on the hill from where you can find a fantastic view of Chiang Mai below. This is also accessible by songtaew. Wat Phra That's north Thailand's holiest temple and should not be missed. Many locals and tourists come here and pray. Don't forget your camera because this lovely temple provides many photography opportunities. The 290 Naga-flanked measures along with also the huge gold chedi are popular shots.
It ought to be around lunchtime now and if you're hungry, there are several Thai restaurants in the car park further down the road that you just came up on. Or you may eat in the old town of Chiang Mai, that is your next stop. Make your way to Wat Phra Singh, a temple inside the old city that's surround by a square moat.
Doi Suthep tours is one of the major temples in Chiang Mai and comprises the Lai Kham chapel featuring exquisite woodcarvings and northern-style murals and a magnificent scriptural repository with striking bas-reliefs.
You would have probably noticed enough temples for now and it's a fantastic time to rest your feet. So head on to a massage store or even a temple to have a good old traditional Thai massage or foot massage to recharge your own batteries. The price is really affordable: 1 hour of massage may be enjoyed for 200 baht or less.
After your massage, you will likely be hungry. Have a songtaew to the local Ping River where the river banks are lined with several restaurants offering excellent food by the river. The tourists' favorites lie involving Nawarat Bridge and Nakorn Ping Bridge. Enjoy your dinner and beverages here with live music.
And if you're still video game for some shopping, visit one of the icons of Chiang Mai: the Night Bazaar. Roadside carts selling all kinds of goods and souvenirs line each side of the street. The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar building houses many of the state's handicraft shops and is popular with tourists.