Travel Stories

• activities

• wildlife and nature

6 min read • Sep 18, 2022

Discover bustling night markets, glimmering temples, fabulous flavors, superb cafés, and the many other fun things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

• history

• art and culture

6 min read • Apr 2, 2020

From elephant interactions to temple etiquette, here's how to travel responsibly in Chiang Mai.

• family travel

• connections

4 min read • Oct 29, 2019

Children and Chiang Mai: a match made in heaven. From playgrounds to yoga classes, here are some of the best activities for kids to enjoy in the city.

• sustainable travel

• connections

5 min read • Sep 27, 2019

Thai cuisine is a feast for the stomach and senses. Vegetarian and vegan Chiang Mai visitors can expect superfood smoothies, meat-free fast food and more

• art

• art and culture

6 min read • Sep 18, 2019

Filled with monks, markets, massages and meals on repeat, here’s our guide for how to spend a perfect weekend in Chiang Mai.

• health and wellness

• connections

5 min read • Sep 5, 2019

Between meditation trainings at Buddhist temples, local and visiting healers, and the famous traditional Thai massage, the northern hub of Chiang Mai naturally…

• art

• art and culture

4 min read • Aug 23, 2019

You’ve seen the photos: hundreds of floating fire lanterns lighting up the sky as small banana leaf boats with flowers, incense and candles drift down the…

• art

• art and culture

5 min read • Jun 24, 2019

You’ve spent the perfect day in Chiang Mai discovering glittering wats, savouring your fill of kôw soy (famous noodle soup) and fitting in a foot massage…

• food

• food and drink

4 min read • Jun 17, 2019

Tired of large bottles of Chang and buckets of SangSom? While sinking shots with the rest of the backpackers is a rite of passage for many travelling in…

• art

• art and culture

6 min read • Jun 14, 2019

Contemplating an Asian escape? Lonely Planet’s travel experts have combed the charming beach towns, scoured the cloud-snagging skylines and poked around…

• food

• food and drink

5 min read • Feb 25, 2019

Chiang Mai may not be able to compete with Bangkok’s myriad wining and dining establishments, but what it lacks in options it makes up for in charm and…

• food

• food and drink

5 min read • Feb 18, 2019

Lonely Planet Local Alana Morgan first moved to the northern Thai town of Chiang Mai thinking she would stay six to eight months. Seven years later and…

• food

• food and drink

4 min read • Feb 7, 2019

Move over, Melbourne. Thailand’s burgeoning cafe scene is grabbing firmly onto the spotlight. With hundreds of cafes, locally-grown beans and plenty of…

• food

• food and drink

5 min read • Jul 31, 2018

If you're planning to shop in Thailand, Chiang Mai is the place to bring an empty suitcase. The Rose of the North's reputation for shopping extends back…

• food

• food and drink

4 min read • Jul 18, 2018

On the east side of Mae Ping in Chiang Mai is the Wat Ket neighbourhood. Home to enterprising locals, foreign missionaries and Chinese traders who brought…

• food

• food and drink

5 min read • Jun 6, 2018

Chiang Mai has been heralded as an arty and mellow alternative to Bangkok for decades, and its popularity continues to grow. University students, locals…

• festivals and events

• art and culture

10 min read • Feb 15, 2018

Buddhist New Year is the time to see Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second city, at its most animated, from the religious processions to the water-warring,…

• road trips

• destination practicalities

4 min read • Jul 21, 2015

Thailand’s ubiquitous and scrawny scooters may not exactly inspire Easy Rider-style notions of freedom on the open road. But they’re actually one of the…

• food

• food and drink

3 min read • Dec 12, 2014

Take squiggly wheat-and-egg noodles, a rich, fragrant curry-based broth, sides of crunchy pickled greens, sliced shallots and lime, and you have kôw soy …

• food

• food and drink

3 min read • Dec 10, 2014

The laid-back city of Chiang Mai is an endearing mix of old and new: the moated, walled old quarter shelters ancient temples, while a traveller-friendly…