A Little Guide… The Secret Spots I Loved While Living in Chiang Mai

Last updated on August 2, 2025 by Shannon

Chiang Mai remains one of the most livable cities in Southeast Asia—especially for slow travelers and digital nomads. I loved the year I spent living as an expat there—the culture, food, and history. So good.

There were spots in and around Chiang Mai that I returned to time and again. Some of the spots mentioned here are in all the guidebooks—they’re there for a reason! Other spots are best known to locals and the expat community.

This guide is far from comprehensive, but rather those things I loved doing while living there. (Updated for 2025—includes my latest visit and fresh local favorites.)

Secret Places I Love

Wat Umong

Chiang Mai is awash in temples, each imbued with its own spirituality and aesthetic splendor. Yet, Wat Umong holds a distinct allure. Situated a bit outside the moat, it sidesteps the throngs of tourists who typically flock to Chiang Mai’s more famous temples.

As you head out of the city, you’ll wonder why I suggested Wat Umong as opposed to the multitude of temples you pass. The answer lies in its breathtaking forest surroundings and 14th-century origins.

The temple grounds are replete with labyrinthine tunnels where locals often engage in quiet contemplation or prayer, in front of Buddha altars discreetly nestled into alcoves and miniature caves.

While you’re in the area, set aside some time for the Baan Kang Wat Artist Village. A treasure trove of artisanal craftsmanship, this village offers dining experiences, workshops, and the opportunity to buy products directly from independent Thai artists focused on handmade and sustainable products. These two hidden sanctuaries are tucked into the foot of the Doi Suthep mountain and are easily visited together.

Huay Tung Tao Lake

Huay Tung Tao Lake is the kind of place that’s spoken of in hushed tones among Thai families and long-term expats. Its serene waters are framed by a backdrop of mountains, offering a tranquility that feels worlds apart from the city bustle.

The climate here is a key draw, especially during the sweltering months of March and April, just before the monsoon showers break the heat. Envisage this: A tranquil day spent in a stilted bungalow, poised right above the mirror-like water.

Huay Tung Tao Lake is an idyllic setting to relax, chat, and enjoy a locally-sourced meal from the 20+ restaurants as you soak in nature’s luxuriance. And it’d be a fun trip for families visiting Chiang Mai keen to swim, enjoy pedal boats, and a slice of nature. Just ~10km from Chiang Mai, it’s a spot we went to in a group with a deck of cards, some books, and an empty agenda.

Samoeng Loop

Motorcycle enthusiasts, listen up. The Samoeng Loop offers a journey through some of the most underrated vistas around Chiang Mai. A continuous ribbon of road, approximately 100 kilometers in length, the loop takes you through farms, forests, and small villages, offering glimpses of rural life that most tourists miss.

You’ll need at least five hours to complete the loop, if not longer since you’ll want to stop for a bit at the Samoeng view point, which is over 1100 meters above sea level. It’s a fun day trip and offers numerous spots to pause, reflect, and snap some photographs for the memory book. Plan on stopping in a smaller town along your route for local food, and you can grab snacks from local vendors at the viewpoint.

Bicyclists also use this challenging route for the views and an adventurous day out.

San Kamphaeng Hot Springs

Located about 36 kilometers from Chiang Mai, San Kamphaeng Hot Springs is another less-trodden gem that can be easily visited by renting a motorbike or even public transport if you have more time.

Imagine easing into mineral-rich hot springs, encircled by lush greenery. The facility also offers private cabins for those who prefer a more secluded experience. A trip here can be both invigorating and restorative, and it’s a sublime way to wind down a trip filled with exploration.

Mae Sa Waterfall

Just a scenic drive from the city center, Mae Sa Waterfall presents a refreshing escapade. While this waterfall is known among locals, it’s largely ignored by tourists, making it an ideal spot for travelers who appreciate solitude amid natural beauty.

The waterfall consists of several tiers, each offering its own unique vantage point and swimming area. Wander along the trail and you’ll find charming spots to read, sketch, or simply marvel at the raw beauty of the cascading waters. While this will not be the most beautiful waterfall you’ve ever seen in your life, it is a nice day if you have a lot to spend in Chiang Mai.

Under-the-Radar Vegetarian Restaurants

I’ve been a vegetarian for many years, and Thailand has a lot to offer in that regard. While this section focuses exclusively on vegetarian options, rest assured that several of these places serve delectable choices for meat-eaters as well.

One of the endearing qualities of Thai cuisine is its inclusivity when it comes to meat substitutes. In fact, many Southeast Asian dishes can include both tofu and meat in the same recipe. Thailand excels in vegetarian food; you may find yourself pleasantly surprised by the depth of flavors if you give these vegetarian establishments a try. The “meat” you see in the photos is usually a substitute, often made from seitan or textured mushroom.

For those with celiac disease, it’s important to note that seitan is made from wheat gluten and is a common ingredient in many vegetarian dishes here—use a translation card to stay safe while eating. However, for vegetarians who don’t have gluten sensitivities, seitan offers a texture that is more akin to meat—though not its flavor—compared to the textured tofu dishes commonly found in Western cuisine.

I have to admit, the idea of eating something that mimicked the texture of meat was initially off-putting for me. I’ve never been a fan of meat’s taste, so I rarely go for flavored substitutes. But the Thai versions of these dishes are nothing short of flavorful and delicious.

Most restaurants both large and small easily understand your request for vegetarian food when you say it in Thai. This is a good article teaching how to ask for vegetarian food in Thai.

Tien Sieng Vegetarian Foods

Inside the moat. On Phra Pokklao, almost to Chiang Mai Gate.
Serves breakfast and lunch every day except Sunday (6:30 AM–4:30 PM)—don’t visit just before closing or all of the good dishes are gone!

Every single day offers up an array of about eight different vegetarian dishes, and soup is available every day, as is a wide selection of textured fake meats. This was a staple restaurant in my weekly rotation when I lived in Chiang Mai—whenever I wanted something filling and affordable, I went here and joined the throngs of locals having lunch.

Ming Qwan

Inside the moat. North side of Ratchadamnoen, a block up from Wat Phra Singh. Map here.
Small and cozy, this place regularly has local Thais filling the tables as well. Ming Qwan is laid out much like the the Tien Sieng Veggie restaurant, with a similar selection, but her soup is far superior.

Ask for a dumpling and noodle soup with dark broth—ranks among my top three favorite meals in Chiang Mai. The dishes are pre-made for the day, and thus served room temperature (except for the soup), which some people hate, I do not.

Organic Veggie Restaurant

Outside the moat, off of Nimmanhaemin Soi 13, about three stalls back from the Burmese place. Map here.
My niece Ana exclusive referred to this Burmese place as “Hole in the Wall” because that’s what is looks like—it’s a truly tiny shop, but they serve delicious food of the veg and non-veg variety, and with a tasty mixed rice (as opposed to the plain white rice you see everywhere).

Next door is a khao soi stand too, and it is great for the meat eaters! It has all your standard Thai dishes and is ideal for lunch (though we did early dinners there too!).

Chiang Mai Gate

Inside the moat. The South Gate of the city, right on the inside moat road are scattered stalls.
This is a hotspot for local street food eats—that means cheap. Vegetarian eats run about 35 baht here—under 60 baht for a meaty dish. There’s a good hodgepodge of locals and tourists here and it’s a great place to sample a bit of everything Chiang Mai has to offer.

Start with a smoothie, grab a meal, top it off with mango sticky rice—all within a few street-food stalls of each other!

Salad Concept and Khun Churn

Outside the moat. Nimmanhaemin Soi 13 & Soi 15 respectively.
The two best Western veggie spots in town and very close to each other; Khun Churn is a 150 baht vegetarian buffet with fresh salads, Thai dishes, and Chiang Mai’s signature dish, khao soi.

Salad Concept on the other hand is has a huge array of salad toppings, lettuces, and dressings for the ultimate salad if you’re craving a completely fresh and meat-optional meal! They’ve more recently opened another location on the moat road.

Pun Pun

Outside the moat and inside Wat Suan Dok off of the West side of the moat. Map here.
Pun Pun expanded and now has two locations, the one inside the Wat is very healthy versions of the major Thai dishes, while the one near Kad Suan Kaew mall is more fusion food and has a decidedly more Western (and pricier menu).

Other notable places that are tasty and are my secret spots that feature a good mix of locals and expats includes Freebird Cafe (lunch only). My veggie friends also wrote about their favorite spots.

Best Temples to Visit in Chiang Mai

Plan on dedicating at least a day to exploring the temples around Chiang Mai. This region of Thailand has the densest concentration of wats in the entire country — there’s a lot to see.

Rent a bike from any of the local vendors in the backpacker area of town (Northwest corner inside the moat). Then explore Chiang Mai by winding your bike through the narrow lanes and back alleys and into all the nooks and crannies holding temples, statues, buddhas, dragons, and more.

There are a lot of Wats. Pick a few, wake up early, and visit before it gets too hot and crowded. My four favorites, listed here, are all must-visits and have unique aspects that make them distinct among the city’s many options.

Chedi Luang

Inside the moat. Corner of Phra Pok Klao & Ratchamanka.
Another popular wat (and for good reason) it’s pretty and quiet and likely nearby any of the popular guesthouses and eating spots you pick in town!

Wat Phra Singh

Inside the moat. Ratchadamnoen & Singharat.
The crowning glory of downtown Chiang Mai and one of the most popular wats in town. Although tourists crowd the lanes around the temple during the day, wake up early and you will likely be the only traveler on the streets watching the monks file out of the temple for dawn alms. (There is a cute coffee shop just across the street to the left, Shong Cafe, very sweet owner!)

Wat Suan Dok

Outside the moat. Suthep Road, just before Nimmanhaemin.
Definitely located on any tourist map in town, explore the pretty white structures and temples before enjoying lunch at Pun Pun, an organic café at the far back of the temple complex.

Doi Suthep

Outside the moat. Must take transportation. Songthaews leave from the CM Zoo on Huay Kaew.
High on the nearest hillside, Wat Doi Suthep has a brilliant gold shining Chedi and expansive views of the sprawling city of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Great for sunrise photographers or anyone in search of early-morning solitude then the Doi Suthep temple is ideal.

On a general note, before jumping into the major sections, since so much of my life revolves around internet—and yours might too!—Black Canyon Coffee has long had the fastest internet speeds in all of Chiang Mai. In recent years, however, there are many other great coffee shops, and even coworking spaces. You can absolutely plan on finding reliable internet in Chiang Mai.

Best Hidden Gem Markets in Chiang Mai

There are a good number of markets in Chiang Mai—a ton. So this is really just a couple, all can be made fun and enjoyable.

Sunday Night Market

This market proves that you don’t have to “go local” to have a fun experience. It’s touristy as hell, claustrophobically packed with people after 7pm, but a lot of fun and a Sunday Night ritual. Go early (between 5p and 6p) for dinner at the Wats on one end of the walking street; the east-most Wat, (near to Thapae Gate), has the best smoked pork in the city according to my roommate. I prefer the vegetarian options at Wat Sum Pow 200 meters further west down the road (find the vegetarian samosa lady and say hi!).
TIP: Go for a back massage and people watch for an entertaining half-hour.

Warorot Market

Outside the moat. Near the Mae Ping River. All songthaews and tuk-tuks will understand!
A huge complex open daily for the bulk of the day (7am – 6pm). Good for a wander and street eats. Also a great spot if you need to replace some clothes in your backpack or do a bit of shopping for other–they have the fun, the useful, and the mundane.

5 Places to Have a Good Time

Bully Sing-Along Karaoke

Inside the moat. Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Complex.
This is my kind of fun, more so that the major dance clubs most weeks. The karaoke bar is hard to find and on the top floor, at the very back of the shopping mall. The selling point: small themed and personal karaoke rooms with an array of ridiculously awesome karaoke videos… a lot of fun if you go with a handful of friends!

Second Floor Bar

Inside the moat. Kitty corner from Zoe in Yellow. On corner of Ratwithi & Ratchaphakhinai.
A really chill spot, very low key with an open-air patio. Free salsa lessons are currently on Thursdays (but seem to move around through the week, so check!).  Reasonably priced drinks and one of the few spots serving tasty BeerLao!

UN Irish Pub

Inside the moat. 24-24/1 Ratvithi Road.
I heart the UN Pub – it’s a great spot and popular with just about everyone, but mostly foreigners. Quiz nights on Thursdays are always packed (and surprisingly tough!).

Northgate Jazz

On the inside moat road. Right near the North Gate of Chiang Mai, Sri Phum Road.
Popular with expats and Thais alike because of the open-mic nights and fun vibe, it’s not unusual to see the crowds spilling out on the sidewalk on the busy nights. Reasonably priced drinks and good option. I believe Tuesdays are still the hot night there.

Zoe in Yellow

Inside the moat. 48/4-5 Ratvithi Road
Your quintessential backpacker bar – trendy and surrounded by several other happening bars and dance clubs with fire-dancers and entertainment on busy nights.

Best Chiang Mai Day Trips in Chiang Mai

Elephant Nature Park

This is bookable directly through the organization and they will pick you up in Chiang Mai. They offer up day-trips, several days, and even weeklong stays at the nature park. If you’re looking to interact with elephants in Thailand, this is the only place you should consider, they are a conservation center and take in mistreated elephants and offer a safe environment with ethical interactions for tourists!

Tiger Kingdom

You’ll see signs for this attraction all over town and you might be inclined to check it out. I am not a huge fan of zoo tourism, but this is the more reputable of the Tiger projects in Thailand. Tiger Temple swears the tigers are not drugged and instead have been trained through behavior modification to play nice with the tourists.

This is a fuzzy area on the ethics scale. I am not entirely opposed to it from what I’ve read online and heard from other travelers, but it’s a personal call whether you believe their claims. This post breaks down on the ethical tourism situation in Thailand.

Akha Ama Coffee Journey

Wonderfully local, these coffee journeys are limited throughout the year to only coffee-harvesting season (roughly November through March). Check the website and if you’re in town for one of the monthly journeys you will never forget the experience.

You spend the weekend in a small hill tribe community and Lee, the founder, explains his village’s slow journey toward fair-trade and sustainable coffee growing. He also runs a great coffee shop outside of the downtown area, worth finding!)

Best Festivals & Celebrations in Chiang Mai

The province of Chiang Mai is filled with beautiful celebrations throughout the year. Somewhere near Chiang Mai city, there is some sort of interesting festival taking place every month of the year. I made a habit of visiting everything on the calendar at least once, even the small ones in nearby towns.

Some make fun day trips from the city, other festivals—like Songkran and Loy Krathong—take over the entire city of Chiang Mai. Check the calendar and see if you’re in town for any of these fun ones:

Bo Sang Umbrella Festival (January)

This is a small and low-key weekend festival in one of the tiny towns about 15 kilometers outside of Chiang Mai. If you’re in town it’s worth spending half a day or so wandering the streets (pick up an umbrella as a souvenir) and then head back to town. (Directions and specifics included in the post).

Chiang Mai Flower Festival (February)

Chiang Mai is nicknamed the “Rose of the North” and never is the name more apt than during the annual Flower Festival which features parades, a beauty pageant, plenty of street foods, and the famous orchids from this region.

Songkran Thai New Year Festivities (April)

Take part in the world’s largest water fight; the streets of the city are drenched during this week of festivities as the young and the old take part in the revelry, as well as the more spiritual side of the celebrations with the cleansing of Buddhas and other ceremonies.

Loi Krathong Lantern Festival (November)

I timed my trip back to Chiang Mai with my niece so that we could both experience this week of festivities. The visual images are striking and it’s like a beautiful and spiritual evening as locals and foreigners light thin lanterns and send them floating into the sky, and also make krathongs and release them into the river.

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There is a ton to do in and around Chiang Mai. This is a mere start of the handful of things you can do inside the city and on a short visit. There are certainly more comprehensive lists, but this is what I loved during my year+ living in Chiang Mai both solo, and I moved back to the city with my 11-year-old niece in tow, so this post includes several spots that work great for kids too.

Visiting Chiang Mai

How to Get to and Around

Chiang Mai is located pretty far north, so it’s a long trek to get there from most everywhere. Use Bookaway to plan your best route—it lists all of your options, including pricing out train versus plane versus bus.

Use my Thailand transportation guide to understand how to use Songthaews and tuk-tuks to navigate the city on this low-cost shared transport.

Best Places to Stay in Chiang Mai

Various members of the expat family living here in Chiang Mai have used these hotels and guesthouses—here’s the crème of the crop that we use again and again when we’re passing through rather than living here (looking for expat options or just more of a selection? This link covers all the long-term accommodation in Chiang Mai!).

Budget: Green Sleep Hostel

Midrange: My Chiangmai Boutique Lodge

Splurge: Phra Singh Village or Baan Hanibah

Onward Travel

I have detailed guides for not only all of Thailand, but guides to Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.