The must-visit markets in Chiang Mai
Most people heard of the famous Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market. This weekly night-time shopping paradise in the center of the old city is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Thailand. Locals and tourists alike love to come here on the weekends to shop for bargains and souvenirs. But are there other, more authentic markets? We have created a list for you of all the must-visit markets here in Chiang Mai. From small street-side food courts to enormous indoor malls and everything in between.
If you want to shop and eat till you drop on your holiday, then Chiang Mai is the place to be.
Local Chiang Mai Markets & Street Food Stalls
Chang Phuak Gate Market
This little late-night street food market right outside the North Gate is one of my favorites. Probably because it is so close to our office, but seeing how busy it gets there, I am sure it is also because of the fantastic food that you can find in this market. Try the Khao Ka Moo from the world-famous Cowboy Hat Lady and see if her pork stew tastes as good as Anthony Bourdain said. Or go for the best Sukiyaki in Thailand at Suki Coca. You can choose between soup or stir-fried and add any meat you like, be easy on the sauce though. It is spicy! Complete your dinner with a typical Thai banana pancake, the guy right next to the traffic lights serves the best ones.
Warorot Market
The Warorot Market is a 24-hour-a-day bargain heaven right in the center of China Town. The best time to visit this bustling market is in the morning. Start at the flower section right by the river and see all the colorful, fragrant flowers. From there, make your way into the four stories high market building, get yourself a steaming bowl of noodles and look around at all the fantastic, exotic, and weird products sold here.
If you are looking for good quality but cheap clothes, then you are in the right place. Move up the stairs to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors, and you will find more clothes and souvenirs than you can carry. Maybe buy an extra suitcase?
Ploen Ruedee Night Market
This little food market close to the Night Bazaar reminds me a bit of the food truck festivals in Europe. Not all the stalls offer great food, and some are quite expensive by Thai standards, but the seafood stall is our all-time favorite. It works like this; You choose your seafood. Then you choose your spicy sauce level, from 1 to 5, with level 5 being the spiciest. You will get a set of plastic gloves to eat the pile of seafood with your hands. Awesome! We thought level 2 would be OK for us as we love to eat spicy, but not too much. It was incredibly spicy but delicious. Make sure to order some drinks to wash it all down before you start eating.
There is a live band playing in the middle of the market, making it an excellent place for some after-dinner drinks.
Chiang Mai Gate Market
The Chiang Mai Gate Market is busy in the early morning and the evening. You must visit this market early if you want to try the best Mango Sticky Rice or Durian Sticky Rice in town. When you walk into the building, you will find a lady selling colorful sticky rice, right in the center of the market. She uses flowers to dye the rice, so it’s organic and safe to eat. She will top the rice with the freshest mango or durian, a delicious coconut sauce, and some fried mung beans for a nice crunch. First come, first serve! In the evening, the food stalls will be outside on the streets surrounding the market, making it an excellent place for an evening of strolling and snacking.
Chiang Mai Night Markets
Sunday Night Market
The Sunday Night Market is the most popular weekend market in Thailand. Thais come from all over the country to Chiang Mai to go shopping here. Over the years, this bustling market grew so much that it now covers almost the entire old city center. It gets jam-packed here after dinner, so we recommend going early if you want to enjoy the shopping here. Most stalls are up and running around 4 pm. Chiang Mai is well known for handicrafts and art, and many stalls sell various beautiful wood carvings, paintings, jewelry, and lacquerware. If you are looking for typical Thai souvenirs, then you are in the right place. The food options are a bit disappointing compared to the smaller street food markets in town, so we recommend having dinner somewhere else and visiting the Sunday Market just for snacking and souvenir shopping.
Saturday Night Walking Street
Can’t make it to the Sunday Market? No problem, the Saturday Night Walking Street on Wualai Road is just as good, and maybe even better. Wualai Road is an area with lots of silver and blacksmiths that migrated to Chiang Mai from Myanmar. On Saturday nights, they set up stalls in front of their shops to sell their products. Over the years, more sellers came to this street, and it slowly turned into one of the largest night markets in Chiang Mai. We recommend combining a visit to this market with a visit to the nearby Silver Temple.
The Saturday Night Market kicks off around 4 pm and closes around 11 pm. It spills over into the Chiang Mai Gate street food market, so there are loads of options to take care of your appetite before and after the shopping spree.
Night Bazaar
The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is often confused with the weekend markets. This busy and touristy Bazaar is open seven days a week from 5 pm until midnight and covers the Chang Klan Road from China Town to the Loi Kroh Road (Red light district) to the Anusarn Indoor Night Market. It is enormous and lacks the cozy atmosphere of the weekend markets. The ladyboy cabaret show at the Anusarn Night Market is hilarious and highly recommended. We recommend having dinner at the nearby Ploen Ruedee Market and then making your way to the Ladyboy Cabaret show passing through the night bazaar. The show starts at 9:30 pm and ends around 11 pm. You can read more about the nightlife in this area here.
Malin Plaza
Malin Plaza is a local market across the road from Chiang Mai University, about one kilometer west of Nimman Road. If you are looking for a different vibe than the touristy night markets in the old city, then this is the place to go. This trendy market is catering mostly to students and the young local crowd. You can find incredible bargains here for food, clothes, and gadgets. The lady at the entrance of the market makes one of the best strawberry smoothies in town.
Chiang Mai Shopping Malls
Central Airport Plaza
Central Airport Plaza is a local favorite, and due to its location near the airport, it is a great place to kill some time before a flight. The mall is packed at the weekends with families enjoying the air- conditioning and all the activities for the children. There is a little train that rides inside the mall, an arcade zone, a tropical fish tank, multiple food courts, and a movie theater on the top floor. Of course, you can find all the big brands, various clothing outlets, great discounts, and bargains.
Maya Mall
If you are looking for the hippest mall in Chiang Mai, then look no further. Wear your best set of clothes and hop into a taxi to Maya Mall in the trendy Nimman area. It is a place to see and to be seen.
Shop for Western delights at Rimping Supermarket on the ground floor. Buy things you never thought you needed at Japanese budget chains Mochi Mochi or Daiso. Or zip on a cocktail or craft beer at one of the rooftop bars looking out over the city. Recommended!
Central Festival Chiang Mai
An indoor ice-skating court in Thailand? One of the most advanced movie theaters on the planet? All the fancy brands you can imagine? Central Festival in Chiang Mai has it all, and more. A 15-minute taxi ride east of the old city will take you to this enormous shopping paradise. It is one of the best places in Chiang Mai to escape the heat during the hot season and spend the day strolling, eating, and shopping.
As you can see, Chiang Mai has somewhere to shop, something to buy, and something to eat for everyone. We recommend not rushing too much while you visit Chiang Mai and plan a few extra days to explore this fantastic city and its markets.