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Sticky Waterfalls
There are plenty of waterfalls around Chiang Mai. Sometimes they’re a bit boring because of the dry season, and sometimes too intense during the rainy season. What makes the Sticky Waterfalls ...
Shopping
You’ll need a magnifying glass to find charming shopping streets — or to be honest, they don’t really exist in Thailand. An afternoon of shopping is best spent like the Thai do: in big, often mega-sized shopping malls, where it’s nice and cool, and where you’ll usually find a food court to grab a bite to eat between stores.
In Chiang Mai, just grab a Bolt to ‘Central Festival’ — a huge five-story shopping mall. Around Christmas, a towering Christmas tree is set up in the middle of the mall. All the familiar international brands like H&M, Zara, Lacoste, and Mango are represented here. Don’t expect prices to be much lower than in Europe though. Central also has another branch near the airport: ‘Central Airport’.
In Nimman, you’ll find the ‘Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center’, which also features many major clothing brands.
Across from Maya is ‘Nimman One’. This offers a more local shopping experience, with lots of small souvenir and clothing shops. The layout is inspired by a Southern European village, complete with a central square and even a church tower — definitely something different. The Nimman neighborhood behind it also has a few fun little shops scattered around, but not in a concentrated shopping street.
Then there are the night markets (Saturday and Sunday) and the Night Bazaar — classic Thai-style evening markets with fun trinkets, a great atmosphere, but also a fair amount of junk.
If you’re a real treasure hunter, head to the ‘Jing Jai Market’ on Saturday or Sunday morning. It’s a super popular market, also among students, with many authentic stalls. A similar but slightly different experience is ‘Baan Kang Wat’, located a bit outside Chiang Mai. It’s an artsy village filled with original shops and creative spaces, open every day except Monday. Combine it with a visit to ‘Wat Umong’, a tunnel temple just a few hundred meters away.
Looking for a cheap pair of jeans for 300 THB? Try a local market. At the Warorot Market in Chinatown by the river, you’ll find plenty of budget clothing and shoes. Or visit the ‘Kad Na Mor Market’, also known as the ‘Student Market’, located near the end of the road towards Doi Suthep. It’s full of cheap fashion, mostly targeting students.
