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Nightlife in Chiang Mai

By Chris QuanUpdated Apr. 22, 2021

Chiang Mai is well-known for its abundance of age-old temples, so after you have visited a couple of these magnificent structures, you will surely want to unwind and relax. Chiang Mai is a lovely, modern metropolis in which you can have a lot of fun and entertainment also at night.

Not only during daytime this city is alive, but also in the evening; there are lots of activities you can do at night. The city offers a broad scope of night markets and places with food and drinks, and also a night safari.

Quick Facts

  • Shop at the biggest market in Chiang Mai
  • Enjoy the food of northern Thailand
  • Calm down in a local spa
  • Visit the night safari and meet with wild animals
  • Cycle around the city to discover more

7-Day Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Yi Peng Festival:

Explore the Night Bazaar

Chiang Mai is a shopper's paradise, and nothing beats shopping for a bargain in the famous Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. The Night Bazaar, on the east side of the old walled city, is approximately 1km long, on Thanon Chang Klan. The Night Bazaar is open every day of the year, regardless of the weather, from dusk till around midnight.

During daytime, Chang Klan Road is an ordinary street full of shops, hotels and restaurants of all types, including Starbucks, Burger King, and the first McDonalds in the city. There are also several large shopping arcades running off the main street. But it's at night time that the place really comes alive.

In the Night Bazaar you will find a huge variety of T-shirts, belts, shoes, jewelry, watches, and local Thai goods. Even if you do not want to buy anything, just going for a stroll up and down the Night Bazaar is an amazing experience. The place is alive with brightly colored lights, music, and aromatic smells as you pass by a hot food vendor. Just off the main street you will find a delightful selection of Thai seafood and noodles.

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Fill up your Tank on a Street Food Tour

Whether you fancy Thai noodles, soup, salad, stir-fry, vegetables, seafood, duck, chicken, pork or beef, Chiang Mai street food has it covered for the average price of 45 baht per person. It doesn't matter where you're based in the city, you won't be far from some of the best street food in Chiang Mai.

Traditionally, most of the vendors selling street food in Chiang Mai don't come out until the evening, but there are still plenty of daytime options. Don't be worried about food poisoning. Food hygiene levels are much better than they used to be.

Eat your way around Chiang Mai on a tantalizing tasting tour devoted to Thai street food. Accompanied by a local guide, you'll stroll around the city at night and try some of the best street food in Chiang Mai. Asia Highlights will organize the itinerary so you can focus on enjoying the street food.

6-Day Bangkok and Chiang Mai Highlights Tour:

Relax at a local Spa and Massage

After a long day exploring the beauty of Chiang Mai, it's time to refresh your mind, body, and soul with the authentic Thai massage and spa. Relieve stress and anxiety to feel entirely refreshed and rejuvenated.

There are many benefits from a spa and massage such as polishing the skin, promoting cell re-generation, refining pores, and offering skin relief. It also improves blood circulation, hence sending more oxygen and nutrients through the body and cells.

Not only will massage therapy help relax muscles, it can also help individuals become aware of their daily stress levels. Once the body recognizes what true relaxation feels like, the mind can then easily recreate it before stress becomes chronic and damaging. This can also help you enjoy a more balanced life.

Witness colorful Chiang Mai at night by Bike

Thailand has a strong and vibrant cycling culture, and the North is definitely the heartland of road riding. Chiang Mai has the largest cycling population. The region's great riding terrain and favorable climate have made it a popular training destination for teams from all over Asia.

Ride around and experience the magic of Chiang Mai at night, from a tranquil park where locals gather, past ancient temples with illuminated golden spires, to a night market with various types of delicious local food,C you will discover the true beauty of this ancient city.

This activity is suitable for all types of travelers, from couples to families. There will be a guide and a cycling route so you will not get lost. This activity should be on your "to-do list", as you will not be disappointed.

4-Day Best of Chiang Mai Tour:

Interact with Wild Animals at Chiang Mai Night Safari

At Chiang Mai Night Safari you will get to see all the zoo animals in the evening, from the safety of an open sided tram. The trams are colorfully decorated with all kinds of animals and contain 50 seats. Sometimes, animals come right up to the tram so that you can pet them.

You can interact with the animals on the Night Safari, from bathing elephants, feeding hippopotamus rhinoceros or bison to feeding the giraffes inside.

The Chiang Mai Night Safari also offers other attractions such as the light and sound Musical Fountain. There are two shows that start at 8pm and 9pm, and they are absolutely spectacular. You stand or sit around the edge of a really huge fountain and watch the display of cascading water sprays washing over the whole area with accompanying music.

Relax at one of the Cafes in Chiang Mai

Surrounded by the city walls, the old city is the original part of Chiang Mai, and it is also where you can find many of the most popular cafes. This is the perfect place to try some Thai cuisine or enjoy a cup of Thai tea while relaxing and having a chat.

Birds Nest Cafe

Hidden in a quiet corner of Chiang Mai's old city, Birds Nest Cafe offers some of the best Arabica coffee in town, alongside herbal teas, Massala tea and delicious smoothies. Most of the time, Birds Nest Cafe is extremely calm and chilled, but they regularly host events, with live music most Saturdays, movie nights and also special food-themed nights.

It's a great place, whether you just want to stop for one of their steaming cups of coffee or whether you're looking for a hearty breakfast, lunch or dinner. Birds Nest serves up some quality organic food, and Thai dishes. The majority of their ingredients come from local farms.

This cafe has plenty of space, the front room has a series of comfy chairs and sofas, while upstairs you will find an even more chilled zone, with a hammock and day beds. If soaking up the chilled atmosphere leaves you feeling a bit restless, there are plenty of books to read.

  • Opening hours: 09:30 to 20:00 every day
  • Address: Singharat Soi 3, Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • Tel: +66 87 177 4940

Marble Arch Cafe

Located on a corner of a Nimmanhaemin Road, Marble Arch is a long-standing Nimen cafe with a British theme. Although the menu has not much particularly British (apart from the tea selection), most of the decorations inside and outside of Marble Arch are British-themed, from the red telephone box and Queens guard, to Union Jack items on the shelves.

The cafe sells light snacks such as breakfasts, toast, Thai food and fish and chips. Drinks include coffees, teas, smoothies, sodas and shakes. And don't forget the cakes, the famous mango cheese cake with chunks of mango on top.

The modern and clean cafe is a wonderful detour on your shopping trip throughout the area and feels like a piece of home for English travelers and expats. With its chic decor and dynamic ambiance, Marble Arch remains an all-time favorite spot to relax, chat or grab a cup of coffee.

  • Opening hours: 24 hours a day
  • Address: 12/6-7 Soi 9 Nimmanhaemin Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • Tel: +66 53 212 323

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Explore Chiang Mai with Asia Highlights

There are many options for nightlife activities in Chiang Mai. Asia Highlights will help you choose, based on your interests. We recommend checking out our handpicked activities to experience more during your stay in Chiang Mai.

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