Topic: Chiang Mai

Thailand’s second city and former capital of the ancient, independent Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai prides itself for its distinct northern culture and identity. Once a sleepy town, this city has now all of the attractions and facilities of any modern major city while still retaining many of its old-world charms.

Things to Do in Chiang Mai

The Old City with its historical moats and fortifications, and hundreds of ancient temples are its top attractions, but there are also plenty of undiscovered things to do off the tourist trail while its groundbreaking but  little know MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum is one of the best in the kingdom.

Festivals & Events

Nicknamed the Rose of the North, this is one of the best places in Thailand to enjoy its many festivals, from the Chiang Mai Flower Festival and the magical water floats and sky lanterns of Loy Krathong and Yi Peng to the Chiang Mai Jazz Festival and Songkran or Thai New Year. Lately, Thailand’s second city has also built a solid reputation for having become a true paradise for foodies.

Chiang Mai weather

Flanked by mountains and sitting astride the Ping River, this northern city enjoys a slightly cooler and less humid climate compared to the country’s central and southern regions, but also battles with severe smog problems at the end of the dry season (February – April).

Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Travel to here by train, enjoying its slow pace while watching landscapes and villages roll by. The regular train from Bangkok is a popular mode of transport with both locals and tourists – either by day or overnight. But even if you are strapped for time, you will soon be able to whizz between both cities by high speed train which the Thai government is currently planning to launch within the next few years.