📌 Must-do itinerary in Chiang Mai! A super fulfilling experience without hiking!

If you're not planning on hiking up the mountains or visiting tourist attractions, there are tons of fun, photogenic, and delicious places to visit in and around Chiang Mai's Old City. This guide will take you on a leisurely journey through the city, showing you how to enjoy local cuisine, explore night markets, and go on a shopping spree – you won't be bored even at night!

📍 Must-see attractions (city area version)

🥇 1. Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Chedi Luang is the most famous and historically significant temple in Chiang Mai's Old City. Built over 600 years ago, it was once the tallest building in Chiang Mai. Although only ruins remain of the main tower after a major earthquake, the weathered bricks, the sacred Buddha statues, and the solemn, ancient atmosphere make it a must-visit destination for tourists. The temple also preserves ancient wooden carvings and golden Buddha halls, perfect for taking photos and quiet contemplation. It's recommended to visit in the morning or evening to avoid the midday heat.

🥈 2. Tha Phae Gate
Tha Pae Gate is the main eastern entrance to Chiang Mai's Old City, surrounded by walls on all four sides, and is one of the city's most iconic landmarks. The red brick walls and flocks of pigeons in the square make it a favorite spot for tourists to take photos. The morning light is soft for photos, while the evenings offer street performances and market stalls, creating a fantastic atmosphere. The Sunday Night Market starts here, leading into the Old City.

🥉 3. Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market
If you happen to be in Chiang Mai on a Sunday, you absolutely can't miss this massive night market! Starting at 5 PM, the entire road from Tha Pae Gate to Ratchadamnoen Road in the Old City is closed off, and both sides are lined with stalls selling local handmade jewelry, clothing, soaps, herbs, silverware, and Northern Thai snacks. There are also street performers, traditional bands, hand drums, and live painting, creating a truly authentic Chiang Mai atmosphere. I recommend heading to the food area near Wat Phan On; the sticky rice with mango, fried chicken, and coconut ice cream are absolutely delicious.

🏅 4. Chiang Mai Saturday Night Market
If you come on a Saturday, there's also a Saturday Night Market to explore! Located on Wua Lai Road, a small street famous for its silver crafts, it transforms into a night market on Saturday evenings. Compared to the Sunday Night Market, it's more authentic and popular with locals. The handicrafts, leather goods, local snacks, and music performances are excellent, and it's less crowded and easier to navigate.

🎖️ 5. Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
This is a night market in Chiang Mai that's open daily, located on Chang Klan Road. It's a large, tourist-oriented night market mainly selling clothes, bags, silver jewelry, wood carvings, leather goods, and various souvenirs. The night market also has an open-air restaurant area, bars, and Thai massage parlors where you can get a one-hour massage if you get tired of shopping. There are also many food stalls along the sides of the market selling snacks for around 100 baht each; grilled fish, tom yum soup, grilled chicken wings, and coconut ice cream are must-try dishes.

🎖️ 6. Central Festival Chiang Mai Shopping Mall <br data-start="1117" data-end="1120">Chiang Mai's largest modern department store, with cool and comfortable air conditioning. It houses Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, local Thai clothing brands, Tops supermarket, and a food court. You can find all kinds of delicious Thai fast food, desserts, and bubble tea here. There's also a cinema and a children's playground, making it suitable for the whole family. It's recommended to come here in the afternoon when it's too hot or rainy to escape the sun, enjoy the air conditioning, and have some food.

🎖️ 7. Jing Jai Market, Chiang Mai

If you enjoy browsing handmade goods, organic produce, coffee brunch, and trendy markets, Jing Jai Market is an absolute must-visit in Chiang Mai! It's a favorite market for locals and tourists alike on weekend mornings, located a little north of the city center, about a 10-minute drive away. It opens at 6:30 AM every Saturday and Sunday and is mainly divided into two sections:

• Organic Farmers Market : Sells fresh fruits and vegetables, organic food, handmade jams, dried bouquets, and hand-drip coffee stalls, all delivered directly from local farmers. The environment is comfortable and lush with greenery; a stroll through it is incredibly therapeutic.
• Flea Market, a lifestyle market , sells handmade jewelry, leather bags, natural soaps, clothing from small Chiang Mai design brands, as well as small-scale musical performances and antique stalls. Each stall has its own unique character.

📌 Suggested one-day itinerary in Chiang Mai (Saturday & Sunday)

time	journey
08:00	Visiting Jing Jai Market + Brunch
10:00	Wat Chedi Luang + Stroll through the Old City
11:30	Lunch
13:00	Central Festival: Shopping in air-conditioned comfort + massage
16:00	Warorot Market (Traditional Market + Snacks)
17:30	Strolling through Tha Pae Gate + feeding pigeons + taking photos
18:00	Chiang Mai Night Market or Saturday/Sunday Night Market (choose according to date)

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