Written by Christi Sparrow
Upon arriving in Chiang Mai, Thailand, it quickly becomes clear: there is no shortage of ways to engage your senses! Young travelers especially stand to marvel at the unique sights, distinct flavors, and welcoming attitude of Thai culture.
The largest city in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 as the new capital of the Lanna Kingdom. The city was built along the Ping River in order to facilitate trade and travel. Today Chiang Mai’s metropolitan area is home to nearly one million people and hundreds of ornate temples. These unique characteristics are just a few reasons why Chiang Mai is a wonderful, enchanting place to explore with your family.
Here is a taste of some of the best things to do in Chiang Mai with your kids. These unique family activities are sure to captivate travelers of any age.
Explore a Few Enchanting Temples
Chiang Mai is home to over 300 unique Buddhist temples. While visiting all of Chiang Mai’s temples isn’t realistic for most travelers, selecting a few to explore with your family will certainly enrich your itinerary.
The Old City boasts many temples within walking distance of each other, so it’s easy to see a few in one outing. Our family visited several temples throughout the city during our stay. Below I’ve highlighted three that we found particularly fun to visit with our kids, all of which happen to be outside the Old City. Note that proper attire is required, and you will be asked to remove your shoes before entering a worship space.
Wat Umong
This tranquil temple is located west of the Old City just south of Chiang Mai University. The wooded grounds offer much to explore. There is a small lake with fish, and you can buy fish food before walking out to a little island. (Watch out for the hungry pigeons who also patrol the area!) Throughout the property, wise sayings are displayed on the trees which make for fun family conversations.
But perhaps the most impressive feature of Wat Umong is the underground tunnels that include small meditation nooks and skylights. Our kids loved exploring the tunnels and finding hidden alcoves with little statues or candles.
On your way out, be sure to grab a fresh juice or smoothie from a local vendor. Our beet juice was only 30 Baht! Also, there are restrooms available on site.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Situated on Doi Suthep mountain, this large temple offers beautiful views of Chiang Mai on a clear day. We rode up the mountain in a songthaew which took about 30 minutes. (Alternatively you can hike up the mountain if you’re feeling adventurous!)
One of northern Thailand’s most sacred temples, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a feast for the eyes, (and your camera). There are long, serpent-lined staircases, elephant statues, intricate murals, altars with overflowing offerings, a museum, rows of large bells, and the large golden spire which towers above it all.
This impressive temple gets busy quickly, so plan to go early to avoid the crowds. You can elect to take a guided tour of the temple, or you can explore it on your own. There is a nominal entrance fee. Leave some time at the end of your visit to peruse the market stalls just outside the temple grounds and grab a snack before heading back down the mountain into the city.
Wat Ram Poeng
This serene temple is also a highly-regarded meditation center. Our first apartment was very close to Wat Ram Poeng, so we often wandered through the grounds and admired the ornate wooden temple, intricate statues, and peaceful environment. Here we also met a few friendly monks who enjoyed learning where we were visiting from.
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Spend a Day with Elephants
If you or anyone in your family is an animal lover, then absolutely one of the best things to do in Chiang Mai is spending a day with majestic Asian elephants. There are dozens of companies that offer half-day and full-day elephant encounters. Most itineraries include pick up and drop off from your accommodation, lunch, and some combination of interacting with, feeding, walking, and bathing the gentle giants. There is much controversy surrounding elephant riding, so we sought tour companies that forbid riding.
We had an incredible experience with Chiang Mai Elephant Heritage. We were picked up from our apartment in an air-conditioned van in which we were able to install our kids’ car seats for the 90-minute drive into the jungle. Our small group of eight tourists, (including us), spent a lovely day with two female Asian elephants, Aranya and Boonma, and our tour guide. We fed the elephants, walked with them, shared a mud bath with them, and bathed them in a nearby river. Our kids were a little intimidated at first, but Chloe soon got comfortable interacting with the elephants and enjoyed scrubbing them clean. Spending a day with these magnificent creatures will live long in our collective family memory.
Sample the City's Flavors on a Guided Food Tour
In our travels we have found that food tours are a terrific way for our family to explore a foreign city. Usually the tour groups are relatively small, and the local guides offer authentic glimpses of the city’s history, culture, and of course, flavors.
We chose a morning tour with Chiang Mai Foodie Tours, and we were not disappointed! The kids attended for free, and they were still invited to enjoy the food samples at each stop. During the first half of the four-hour tour, our guide led us through the Old City. We stopped for food samples from unassuming storefronts, decades-old local establishments, street vendors, and even saw a few temples. We sampled Thai breakfast items, snacks, rice dishes, and desserts.
Our tour provided transportation to a north side restaurant which is famous for its version of a local soup, Khao Soi. Then we visited two bustling markets and sampled even more local produce, sausage, desserts, and Thai tea. By the end of the tour, our stomachs were completely full! A food tour is absolutely one of the best things to do in Chiang Mai, (or any city!), with your family.
If you have older children, (in most cases at least nine years old), another popular culinary experience in Chiang Mai is to take a Thai cooking class. There are dozens of options. Nothing brings people together like food, and sampling or preparing local dishes with new-to-you ingredients is a great way to learn about Thai flavors and culture with your kids.
Treat Yourself to a Foot Massage
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the ubiquity of massage parlors in Chiang Mai. After a long day of sightseeing, what better way to relax than with a Thai foot massage? The city has seemingly endless massage businesses offering hour-long foot massages for the equivalent of about $8 USD. Our daughter Chloe came along for a few foot massage experiences, and the therapists loved having her. It was a fun, affordable way to feel pampered!
Visit the Chiang Mai Zoo
The Chiang Mai Zoo is quite large and offers plenty of exhibits to keep your family occupied for hours. They have a large African safari area complete with giraffes, zebras, gazelle, and ostriches. The zoo has meerkats, penguins, parrots, turtles, crocodiles, peacocks, flamingoes, tigers, lions, koalas, and monkeys, to name a few. For an extra fee, we visited the panda enclosure. We also purchased a small basket of fruit to feed an elephant!
Before you go, take note of a few logistical points. The zoo is quite hilly, so plan accordingly and wear comfortable shoes. If you have a stroller, bring it along for when little legs get tired. There are some spots that are not stroller-friendly, but overall it’s better to have it so your child can rest. There is a zoo tram available at an additional cost. The roads within the zoo see frequent cars, trucks, and carts, so keep a close eye on little ones.
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Get Lost in the Markets
Wandering through a few of the city’s many sprawling markets is one of the best things to do in Chiang Mai with your kids. There are so many options; it can be difficult to choose where to spend your time. In short, you can’t really go wrong. Each market is unique but still offers the chance to interact with locals, try regional foods, and snag a deal. We chose a night market, a daily market, and a farmers market to experience a variety of goods. Remember to bargain and have fun!
Sunday Night Market
The Sunday Night Market opens at 5 pm and stretches about one kilometer west from the Tha Phae Gate in the Old City along Rachadamnoen Road. There’s not much you can’t find at this bustling, colorful market. From souvenirs and local crafts to clothes and shoes to snacks and street food, this market can hold your family’s attention for hours.
We arrived just as the market was opening, and by 8 pm it was so crowded that it was difficult to maneuver the streets. But we came away with some treasures: a few small gifts for friends and family back home, a pair of slippers for Camden, some snacks for our pantry, and most notably, matching family elephant pants! For dinner we tried quail eggs, dim sum, sausage, avocado rice, and coconut ice cream. But there were so many street food options that even the pickiest eater in your family is bound to find something delicious.
Warorot Market
This daily, east side market is located near the Ping River and offers a sprawling selection of produce, prepared foods, and packaged snacks on the first floor. It has heaps of inexpensive clothes and general merchandise on the top floors and small food courts in the basements. Spanning two buildings and several side streets, this market is a memorable place to wander and enjoy a meal on-the-go.
Mueang Mai Market
Not far from the Warorot Market, this other east side market specializes in fresh local produce. The Mueang Mai Market is a great place to try local fruit and vegetables and stock up for breakfasts and snacks. We were introduced to this market during our food tour, (see “Food Tour” above), during which we tried mangosteen and jujube fruit for the first time.
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Let the Kids Loose in an Outdoor Park
Sometimes kids just need to run around and burn some energy! We found two parks in Chiang Mai that offered playgrounds to keep our kids moving.
Nong Buak Had Public Park
Nestled in the southwest corner of the Old City, Nong Buak Had Public Park is small but pleasant. There’s a playground area and a paved path that surrounds a pond. There are a few vendors inside the park selling toys and snacks.
Lanna Rama IX Park
A short drive north of the city, Lanna Rama IX Park has lots of green space which is a welcomed escape from the busy city streets. We organized a playdate here for a few families we met while in Chiang Mai. This park provides a little breathing space which makes for a nice place to spend a morning. Take note that not all areas are shaded, so be sure to pack sunscreen and sun hats!
Chiang Mai is such an exciting, diverse city, and admittedly, I’ve barely scratched the surface of what it has to offer visiting families. We hope this list of best things to do in Chiang Mai with your kids gives you a solid starting point from which to plan your family’s visit!
You may also like to read our key tips for visiting Chiang Mai with kids which includes where to shop for baby equipment, how to get around the city, and more.
Have you been to Chiang Mai? What were the highlights for your family? Comment below!
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