Exploring Chiang Mai Like A Local

Relaxing in Baan Kang Wat

We spent 3 weeks living in Chiang Mai and it was glorious, what an incredible city that has something for everyone and a perfect place to just exist. This blog is more of a chit chat about what we did during our time here and the things we loved most. 

Where to Stay?

Since this was a longer stay we booked a 2 bedroom apartment with access to a salt water pool and gym at the Vidi Condominium in the Chang Phueak area. The location was faultless, across the road was a 7 eleven for all the essentials while the surrounding area was bursting with local eateries, delicious affordable food and drinks were everywhere. We would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend it for families or anyone wanting to enjoy a quieter side of Chiang Mai while still having easy access to all the tourist spots. Old City was about a 10-15mins tuk tuk ride and Maya mall and One Nimman were only a 10-15 minute walk away

One Very Happy Boy Enjoying The Apartment Pool

How to get around?

Though we had a lot within walking distance to venture further we found the best way was by scooter. We hired the same mint green Fazzio from the same place three times during our stay. The lady who runs Chiang Mai Motorbikes is super lovely, the scooters are clean, well maintained and she had a huge selection of different size helmets, this was important as not all rental places have kids helmets. Hugo even made a friend and ended up kicking a football in the street with her son. If scooters aren't your thing then tuk tuks and red vans are a convenient and affordable way to get around the city 

Temple Grounds of Wat Phantao

Our favourite markets?

Top pick would have to be Jing Jai market, located near the old city this market had the best variety of everything, stalls of high quality locally made clothing, beautiful arts and crafts and a massive food market serving local favourites and fresh produce. We arrived around 9am and the market was quietly humming, by the time we left at 11am it was packed, its 100% worth getting there early to really enjoy it.

Vendors At Jing Jai Market

Baan Kang Wat Artist Village was very picturesque, lots of small quirky boutiques with plenty of shade. Many of the shops offer hands on arts and crafts experiences such as pottery making, jewellery and keyring making and plenty of painting workshops. A great chill out spot to visit for something a little different, sit back and relax with craft coffee while listening to live music. This market is only a 5min drive from Wat Umong temple so makes a perfect day trip if you pair them together.

Workshop In Baan Kang Wat Artist Village

We visited Chiang Mai's biggest market, the night bazaar which runs every evening from 5pm through the Old City. We arrived just after 5pm and it was already buzzing, we made our way to the food section for a dinner of fried rice, Thai sausages and Roti before it really filled up. A walk through the market showcased many local arts, crafts, clothing and snacks all at very reasonable prices. the only downside was this market gets insanely busy very quickly, by 6:30pm it was shoulder to shoulder so we called it a night. Still worth a visit but be prepared for crowds.

A 15 minute walk from our apartment was One Nimman with a nightly market of local food and crafts. The Nimman area itself is very pretty and almost had a European feel to it making it a beautiful area to wander through, surrounding the market area are permanent stores and restaurants so its a great place to visit at any time.

One Of The Many Beautiful Spots Around One Nimman

Visiting Joy Elephant Sanctuary was incredible, we were hesitant about doing anything animal related due to how the animals are treated but after a lot of research we found one we believed to be truly ethical. If you want to know more about our time with the elephants, have a read of our blog HERE that explains the company we used and what was included in the day.

8 Year Old Ellie At Joy Elephant Sanctuary 

You cant come to Chiang Mai and not visit temples, over our 3 week stay here we visited 8 temples and all were very different and special in their own way, here are the ones we visited and what we loved about each one.

Wat Pha Lat - My personal favourite and a must visit. Tucked away on a hillside halfway up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep it is also known as the secret jungle temple and for good reason, it was calm, quiet, tranquil and the buildings seemed to almost become part of nature.

A Happy Buddha At Wat Pha Lat

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep - Perched at the top of the mountain overlooking Chiang Mai, we arrived at 5:30am to walk the 300 steps in darkness. As the golden Chedi came into view we could hear the early morning chants from local monks. From the viewing platform you could see the sky changing colour over the city. It was a early start but one of the most magical mornings we've ever had.

Sunrise At Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Umong - We renamed this the chicken temple as there were chickens and roosters everywhere! This felt more like a village to us than just a temple, there were multiple buildings, structures and gardens surrounding the Chedi and even a small lake. We were surprised our quiet this one was especially as it is home to 14th century tunnels you can still walk through, make sure to look up and check out the bats! Wat Umong was so different to the other temples and for that reason makes it worth the venture.

The Tunnels Of Wat Umong

Wat Sean Mueang Ma Luang - This was our favourite temple in the Old City and one we wandered into by chance. Made up of a few exquisitely decorated buildings the main Chedi was tucked away behind the main hall. While exploring here a local came and chatted to us showing us the drums and gong and how to use them. This temple is likely missed by most travellers so made it the perfect spot to start our day.

Wat Sean Mueang Ma Luang Gong 

Wat Chiang Man - The oldest temple in Chiang Mai with an impressive Chedi featuring 15 life size elephants. We really enjoyed this temple as it was small but felt special, we spent time taking in the surroundings and its sense of calm.

Elephants Surrounding The Base of Wat Chiang Man Chedi

Wat Phantao - This was a traditional teakwood hall that was relocated from Wat Chedi Luang in 1876, it features beautiful hand carved Lanna style details. Located near other temple grounds it's an easy place to visit as you explore the Old City.

Wat Chedi Luang - A special site for the locals, the temple grounds hold the city pillar which is said to protect Chiang Mai, a lot of ceremonies and festivals are still held on the temple grounds. The Partially ruined Chedi was nothing short of impressive and that alone makes Wat Chedi Luang worth a stop. Something to know before you go is women are not allowed in the Sao Inthakin building which houses the city pillar, this is based on traditional Lanna beliefs.

The 98 Meter Tall Chedi At Wat Chedi Luang

Wat Phra Singh - Possibly the most famous temple in the Old City, yet another breathtaking temple surrounded by highly decorated buildings. The grounds are home to the Lion Buddha image and some of the most stunning artwork in Chiang Mai.

Temple Etiquette - Despite how easy it is to research these things and the countless signs near temples we were disappointed to see so many people not respecting the sacred spaces. For both men and women legs and shoulders need to be covered, yes it’s hot but there’s plenty of options for light pants and tops. Shoes are to be taken off before entering certain areas and voices should be kept low and quiet. This is all about respect and honestly it’s not that hard, just put a t shirt on and throw a wrap in your bag to cover your legs, you’ll have much better interactions with the locals if you’re showing effort to be respectful.

Prayer Bells At Doi Suthep

Food, Food, Food!

The food options are endless, along every street are multiple vendors and restaurants selling a variety of tasty meals and snacks but here are the ones we loved most.

Chef Nut Khua Kai & Sukiyaki a local gem with the best fried rice we found in Chiang Mai and the most incredibly kind and friendly staff. On our fourth and final visit Hugo was given a huge hug and told to come back to see "Aunty" when he's back in Chiang Mai. This place was our favourite for more than just the amazing food, it became our comfort place.

Patiently Waiting At His Fav Eatery - Chef Nut Khua Kai & Sukiyaki

29 Coffties had the best Massaman and Panang curries, the food was full of so many fresh veges and serving sizes were generous. We loved that all the food was vegetarian and it was only a 5 minute walk from our apartment. This was another spot we visited more than once.

Some Of The Incredible Food At 29 Coffties

Garden to Table in the Old City had outstanding reviews so we choose this as the spot to try Khao Soi and we were not disappointed. The traditional dish was flavourful, delicious and we instantly understood why it was a favourite.

Khao Soi - A Popular Northern Thailand Dish

Rainys Veggie Burgers was the spot we visited to satisfying the burger cravings and it was absolutely fantastic. The patties were home made from grains and seeds and the sauces were to die for. Jason said the Kaprao sauce is the best sauce he’s ever eaten!

Pa Ping Pang was a little place I stumbled across when looking on Google maps to see what was near by and oh my gosh what a find. All that’s available is fresh buns with a choice of filling then grilled over charcoal, the Thai tea custard and condensed milk with Ovaltine buns were delicious.

Local Streets In Chang Phueak Area

Overall we spent most of our time in Chiang Mai hanging out in our local area, buying fruit and supplies from nearby stalls and stores, swimming in the pool and completing a full rewatch of the Harry Potter movies. We grew content in our space in Chiang Mai to the point it felt like leaving home when it was time to continue our adventure.

The people were kind, generous and so welcoming. Chiang Mai will always be a comfort spot for us a family and a city I know we will revisit.

To watch how we spent our time in Chiang Mai check out our YouTube video!