Chiang Mai is a magical place in Thailand, and SO different from Bangkok. I love the city, and I think 3 days in Chiang Mai is the perfect amount of time to spend there. To give you the best experience, I’ve come up with the best 3 day Chiang Mai itinerary!
By following this itinerary, you’ll eat some amazing street food, see the best temples in the city, and even see elephants on a tour outside of the city!
Keep reading for the ultimate three day Chiang Mai itinerary, which maximizes your time in the city to make sure you see the best places and eat the best food.
Published: January 20, 2025
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3 Day Chiang Mai Itinerary
Three days is the perfect amount of time to spend exploring Chiang Mai and see all the top spots, in addition to a day trip.
Here is a day-by-day breakdown for your 3-day itinerary for Chiang Mai!
Day 1 in Chiang Mai
Welcome to Chiang Mai! To get a good feel for the city, sign up for a walking tour to start day one. You’ll be able to get acquainted with the city, learn its history, and ask your tour guide questions.
I used Guru Walk to book my free walking tour in Chiang Mai, and I had a great experience.
After your walking tour, get some recommendations from your tour guide for afternoon activities, or check out the temples in town that weren’t included on the tour.
Furthermore, Chiang Mai can be hot a lot of the year, grab a yummy lunch somewhere in the shade or with air conditioning if you can find it. Make sure you stay hydrated and take breaks, like at a coffee shop or even 7-11.
I love visiting 7-11 in Thailand to grab cold drinks, ice cream, and some cool snacks that you can’t find anywhere else. And the bonus is that 7-11 in Thailand is very cheap!
After your afternoon of exploring and seeing more temples, do a street food tour for dinner.
Taking a street food tour in Thailand is one of my favorite memories from the country, and the street food here can’t be beaten.
The benefit of taking a street food tour in Chiang Mai is that you can try a ton of different foods with a guide who will tell you about all of them. Your guide will also make sure you will only eat food that is safe for foreign bellies to decrease your risk of getting sick.
Alternatively, if today is a Sunday, head to Chiang Mai’s famous Sunday Night Market. As you can guess, this only happens once a week on Sundays, so if you are in Chiang Mai on a Sunday night, make sure you hit up the market!
Day 2 in Chiang Mai
Today, you are going to be doing one of my favorite things from my trip to Chiang Mai: visiting an elephant sanctuary. There are many tours and day trips to sanctuaries, many of which also include temple visits and treks.
There are a lot of ethics involved in each elephant sanctuary, and you will need to do some research to decide what you feel comfortable with. At a minimum, I recommend avoiding anywhere that allows you to ride elephants.
Personally, I booked a full-day tour, which included the elephant sanctuary full of animals rescued from entertainment, a trek with waterfalls and rice fields, and a visit to the Royal Twin Pagodas in Doi Inthanon National Park.
If you end up booking a tour with more than just an elephant sanctuary, it’s going to be a long day, so if you want something easy for dinner, head to a night market or the Sunday market.
Alternatively, tonight is a great night to eat somewhere nicer if you want to enjoy a full-service, sit-down meal.
Pro tip: The roads outside of Chiang Mai are CURVY, and if you get car sick (like me, unfortunately), make sure you bring medicine or whatever helps you avoid it.
For motion sickness, I recommend these nausea relief bands. I wear them on planes, in cars, and on boats, and they help so much! The best part is they don’t make me drowsy. Alternatively, I take Dramamine if I have a long plane or car ride that I want to sleep on (or the non-drowsy Dramamine for shorter rides).
Day 3 in Chiang Mai
Your last day in Chiang Mai has arrived, and I’m guessing you’ve already fallen in love with the city! But this itinerary still has some things to do to enjoy day 3 in Chiang Mai.
For either lunch or dinner today, book a cooking class! You will have to decide if you’d rather do this during the day or at night, then you can plan the rest of your day accordingly.
If you decide to do a cooking class at night, spend the day walking around Chiang Mai, shopping, and even enjoy a museum or two.
You can also rent a bike or motorcycle (if you feel comfortable) and see some of the countryside near Chiang Mai, including more temples. You can also hire a driver for the day to take you around if that’s easier and in your budget. No matter what you decide, make sure you are back in time for your cooking class.
Or, if you are doing a cooking class for lunch, spend the night enjoying another night market. If it’s Sunday, you guessed it, head to the Sunday night market in Chiang Mai. Otherwise, head to a different one to try a new food or indulge in a favorite you have enjoyed over the past few days.
Tours to Book in Chiang Mai
Booking a tour in Chiang Mai is a great way to maximize your time there and see the top sites, including elephant sanctuaries, Doi Inthanon, and the best temples. I used Viator to book all my tours in Chiang Mai, including my cooking class, elephant sanctuary visit, and street food tour.
Here are the top tours in Chiang Mai:
Getting Around Chiang Mai
Getting around Chiang Mai is simple and affordable. Here are the easiest ways to get around the city:
1. Red Songthaews: The red Songthaews are shared taxis that cost just 30 baht per ride within the main square area, or a little more if you are going further. You can hail one easily and let the driver know your destination.
2. Rent a Car or Motorcycle: If you’re confident driving, renting a car or motorcycle gives you the freedom to explore beyond the city. Just be sure you’re comfortable driving on the left side of the road and have the proper licenses. You can also hire a driver for the day if you want to be on your own schedule without driving yourself.
3. Walking: Chiang Mai’s old town is compact and easy to explore on foot. Most temples, cafes, and markets are within walking distance.
These options make it easy to navigate Chiang Mai and enjoy everything the city offers.
Where to Stay in Chiang Mai
To make the most of your time in Chiang Mai, you want to stay somewhere with good reviews in a good location. Check out these great hotels and home rentals at the best prices: