Introduction
Get plugged straight into life in Chiang Mai from the moment you step off the plane. Follow this step by step guide and save yourself hours of stress and hassle on arrival.
Find everything you need to get connected, get around, get fed and get a roof over your head from day one.
Expert advice from real people who live here and know Chiang Mai like the back of our hand.
Without further delay, first and foremost…
What to do when you arrive in Chiang Mai!
You’ve just stepped off the plane, grabbed your bags and are ready to enter our beautiful city.
But now what?
Arriving in a new country can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to getting your bearings and setting up your day to day life.
Don’t worry we’ve got you covered with a step-by-step guide to ensure your transition to Chiang Mai is smooth and hassle-free.
Essential things to do before arriving in Chiang Mai
There are a couple things you can do before your journey to ensure the smoothest possible arrival, let’s start with 4 essential apps to download.
GRAB APP
The grab app is essential when in Thailand and can add some serious convenience to your life.
This is the travel app out here.
Simply pick your current location, enter your destination and have a taxi booked at very competitive rates within minutes.
With the ability to add a credit or debit card to pay for journeys or use cash, this really is the best option for exploring Chiang Mai.
It also is the best choice for food delivery. Get access to Chiang Mai’s best restaurants from the convenience of your home. Have food delivered to your hotel or condo within moments for a very small fee.
By having this app already downloaded you can step out of the airport, have a taxi waiting for you and have food waiting at your hotel reception. How’s that for convenience!
Download from your respective app store.
Google Maps / Maps.Me
This one is self explanatory. Essential for navigating your way around Chiang Mai.
Discover new spots and activities and easily check reviews before committing to them, saving yourself from potential disappointment or worse.
BUT, if you haven’t picked up a data plan yet (more on that later) then you may want to consider an offline maps app called Maps.Me.
This allows you to download offline maps for Chiang Mai and navigate with ease without needing an active internet connection. We would recommend having both.
Download from your respective app store.
Google Translate
This app allows you to communicate in Thai, without knowing any Thai. You can now speak Thai.
Use the built in google lens feature to scan Thai food menus or any Thai writing and have it turn into English on your screen. You can now read Thai.
If you love your street food, google lens opens so many options as many local restaurants have Thai only menus. We can’t recommend this app enough.
Download from your respective app store.
LINE APP
There is one app in Thailand that covers both calls and texts and every Thai person uses it: Line.
You can use this for contacting hotels and activity providers, getting new friends’ contact details and for making calls and texts via mobile data.
Download this free app and sign up before arrival in Chiang Mai if you’re planning on being a social person with locals.
Note: Whatsapp is less frequently used but will suffice for communications with most major businesses if this is all you need.
That’s apps done. Let’s move onto spending money.
Do card payments work in Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is a modern city and larger established businesses accept card payments as standard.
Visa and Mastercard are commonly accepted, but you may have issues with American Express, keep that in mind. Smaller businesses and market vendors are unlikely to take card payments however.
Fortunately you are never very far away from an ATM, with them being available outside most convenience stores. ATM fees can make withdrawing cash expensive and exchange rates from your card provider may not be the best.
With the right card provider, you can save on both ATM fees and get the best available exchange rates. Providers such as wise and revolut both have options for this.
Cash
Bring plenty of cash with you. Bars, small restaurants and street food stalls don’t often accept cards.
ATM fees and bank fees add up and chances are your home exchange rate will be better. Get your cash in advance.
7/11 is your one stop shop for all your daily essentials yet it still only accepts cash for small transactions and many debit cards do not work there. We think it’s weird personally.
If you’re needing a late night cheese toastie or a bottle of water, ensure you have cash available.
Pro Tip: 7/11 also makes the perfect place to break 1000 Baht notes down into smaller bills. Many market vendors and small businesses don’t have the change to accept 1000 Baht bills.
It’s worth noting that Tuk Tuks and some small businesses won’t have card machines available. So we would certainly recommend obtaining some cash before arrival.
Travel Insurance
Don’t end up on gofundme begging for money if you have an accident. Get travel insurance before you leave that covers you for what you plan on doing. We personally use Genki and strongly recommend you check them out yourselves, in short, they’re the best option for people travelling to Chiang Mai for over a week. Simple.
We drink a lot of coffee. When you buy something using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission to pay for that coffee at no extra cost to you.
If you’re going to ride motorbikes, make sure to check the policy covers this. In many cases you will need to obtain an international driving permit from your home country at a minimum. We recommend you do your own research here.
For detailed information on renting a motorbike in Chiang Mai check our guide on it.
With that out the way, here two other providers we’ve used in the past before we switched to Genki.
World Nomads
Decent traditional travel insurance policies and decent prices for short term stays. You can even activate the policy from abroad if you forgot to book before leaving.
Safety Wing
More suitable for digital nomads, remote workers and people staying for more than a month. This won’t cover flights and baggage but does cover health related emergencies up to a good level.
Done. Now we’ve covered the pre arrival basics, let’s move onto the steps you should take on arrival.
Step 1. Get a SIM Card and Data Plan in Chiang Mai
The first thing you’ll want to do when you land is get a local SIM card. A reliable internet connection is your essential lifeline for navigating the city, staying connected with loved ones, and overall life convenience.
One question: is this just a holiday? Or are you planning on staying here longer term.
If it’s just a holiday, then buy your sim card at the airport. If you’re here longer term, visit a shopping mall.
Options for SIM cards in Chian Mai airport.
We would recommend two mobile data providers for Chiang Mai: True and AIS. From our experience these providers have the best coverage in Chiang Mai, best internet costs and have kiosks in Chiang Mai airport.
Staff typically speak a basic level of English therefore you just need to tell them the length of your holiday and they will give you your options.
They can set it all up for you and after a short time you will be online and ready to enjoy your holiday. Please note you will need to show your passport when purchasing a SIM card in Thailand.
Long Term Mobile Plans
If you’re planning on staying in Chiang Mai longer term then your best and most cost effective option is to visit an official mobile provider store.
There are multiple options available but the easiest locations to find mobile providers are in the major shopping malls.
MAYA Mall (Nimman)
Central Festival
Central Plaza Airport
Each location has both AIS and TrueMove Mobile stores. Remember to bring your passport, let staff know you’re looking for a long term monthly plan, take a number and soon you will be presented with the plans available.
Key considerations for cell phone plans in Chiang Mai
If you work remotely, then having a backup internet connection in the event of a power outage is very useful. These do happen occasionally, we even wrote an article covering power outages in Chiang Mai here.
There are plenty of high speed unlimited data plans available at very reasonable prices. Both True and AIS will often offer discounted plans for your first year of use.
Internet speeds provided by serviced apartments/condos and other monthly stay options can vary and in peak usage times may be painfully slow. The frustration this creates isn’t worth suffering and a solution exists.
In the past we have used mobile data instead of hotel/ condo wifi. We found TrueMove had the fastest and most reliable internet speeds which were even fast and stable enough for online gaming and streaming.
Call and text packages mostly wont be used if you have the Line app so don’t worry about this when choosing your package, just focus on data and the speed of it.
Step 2. Find suitable accommodation in Chiang Mai
Securing a place to stay is key for settling in immediately upon arrival in Chiang Mai.
The options for accommodation can be overwhelming and are certainly not all equal.
So to keep this guide short-ish, let’s organize this into two sections: short term stays and long term stays.
Initial considerations
When booking your accommodation you need to establish what is most important to you.
Thai beds can be notoriously hard, do you like this or is a softer mattress important to you?
Do you need high speed internet?
What kind of amenities do you require, a gym, pool or sauna?
Would you like daily cleaning? Will you eat at home and if so are plates and cutlery available?
The best way to establish this is by reading reviews across multiple websites for the accommodation you are looking at and carefully checking what each accommodation provides for you.
We cover this and provide our top recommendations in our full guide to accommodation in Chiang Mai Thailand.
Short Term Accommodation in Chiang Mai
Your best options for short term accommodation in Chiang mai are to book in advance via:
Booking.com
There are options available for all budgets with hotel options starting as cheap as 600 Baht ($17.80, £13.50) per night. Hostels/ shared rooms can be even cheaper and whole homes and luxury villas are available for higher budgets.
During non peak season many hotels have availability for walk-ins and are happy to show you a room example prior to booking. However we would not recommend this for your first couple nights as you sleep off the jet lag.
It’s not smart rocking up to Chiang mai without at least one night in a hotel booked. You do not want to be carrying your bags through the midday heat looking for a hotel unless you enjoy heat stroke!
Also don’t ask a tuk tuk for advice on a hotel, that rarely ends well.
It’s important to consider which Chiang Mai area is right for you in advance.
If you enjoy modern restaurants, bars and being right in the hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai’s hip modern area then Nimman is for you. Perfect for remote workers, digital nomads and those wanting a higher end experience.
If you are looking for temples, markets and a more authentic Thailand experience then Old City is your best choice. This will be the hub for backpacker friendly accommodation choices and tourist attractions.
Chiang Mai is a city perfectly setup for tourism and your short term options are endless. We recommend taking some time to plan your trip and find the accommodation perfect for you to ensure a perfect trip to Chiang Mai.
Long Term Accommodation in Chiang Mai
Finding long term accommodation in Chiang Mai is easier than most people think. With so many options available we will cover the main strategies people follow below.
While some people choose to go the airbnb route for monthly stays, we’ve found monthly serviced accommodation offers better value for money overall.
Therefore let’s cover our proven strategies for finding serviced monthly accommodation below.
1 – 6 Month Stays in Chiang Mai
Strategy 1: Explore on foot.
This method is perfect for those who are active and want to get a real feel for the area they are considering.
Book a week in a hotel in the area you like the look of, then spend your first few days exploring on foot or by vehicle.
Whenever you see a condo development you like the look of, simply walk into reception and ask about available monthly rental units. That’s how it’s done here.
You will often find condo developments advertising monthly stay rates outside the hotels. If available they will gladly show you the room and facilities.
Strategy 2: Do it online.
The most time effective way is to utilize google maps. Pick an area you are interested in, zoom in and view the accommodation available. You will find reviews, photos, contact details and sometimes even a website advertising rates.
Emailing/ texting condo developments via Line app and asking for availability and prices is perfectly fine. Within a few hours you should have a nice list of potential options to visit on your arrival to Chiang Mai.
6+ Month Stays in Chiang Mai
Strategy 3: Chiang Mai Estate agents
There are plenty of English speaking real estate agents available who are more than happy to find your long term Chiang Mai accommodation.
A great website to start your search is Thailand Property.
Here you will find hundreds of available rentals and contact details for all the Chiang Mai estate agents. Browse away to get a good idea of what’s available in the area you like.
Alternatively, you can get in touch with an estate agent and advise them of your requirements for a more personal and tailored approach.
With their local experience, they will be able to help you through the entire process from search to moving in.
Two estate agents we have personally had good experience with in the past are:
66 Property
Both of the above agents have English speaking staff and years of local knowledge to help find your perfect home in Chiang Mai.
Strategy 4: Facebook Groups
There are plenty of groups on Facebook where new property rentals are posted daily. Simply search “Chiang Mai Property’ and join a few groups to see what’s available.
From experience the properties posted here tend to go fast if they are at a fair price.
You also will need to be a little careful here.
It’s not uncommon for people to post properties listed elsewhere at a higher price in an attempt to pocket the difference.
So never give out sensitive information or pay any money without first confirming you’re dealing with the real landlord and you hold a contract in your hands.
Electricity costs in Chiang Mai
The rate for electricity you pay can vary. For private rentals it should be the government rate which is around 4-5 Baht per unit at the time of writing.
Serviced accommodation and condos will often charge more than this at around 6-8 Baht per unit, with some even going as high as 12 Baht per unit. This higher rate is typically a sign of a greedy landlord and should serve as a red flag as to how they view you as a tenant…avoid any property that charges over 8 baht a unit is our best advice.
For more advice on how to avoid landlord issues, check our rental mistakes guide here.
Average electricity usage for a remote worker in Chiang Mai
Electricity costs can add up fast if you like running air conditioning all the time so it’s worth considering this if you’re on a tight budget.
As a benchmark 200-350 units of electricity per month is pretty average for a 40 SQM 1 bedroom condo being shared by 2 people with moderate aircon usage.
The units used per month varies by month increasing in hotter months and decreasing in colder.
Property Done. Next.
Transport in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai’s traffic is much better than Bangkok’s but Thailand roads in general are not safe places.
The average driver’s mindset seems to be: good luck everyone, I will act like no one else is on the road.
Scooters on the wrong side of the road, people pulling out and turning without looking, people on their phones while driving, you get the picture.
We have a full article on Chiang Mai Transport here. But for a brief summary, if you’re unfamiliar with driving in Thailand, opt for walking, book a Grab taxi or catch a Tuk Tuk. Simple.
Car rental in Chiang Mai
If you have driving experience, rent a car. Just take it easy and warm up on some calmer roads before getting onto the busier roads. It may also be wise to avoid rush hour traffic as this is the most chaotic time of day.
Scooter/ Motorbike rental in Chiang Mai
If you have riding experience, definitely rent a scooter/ motorbike. For full information on renting motorbikes in Chiang Mai see this article. There are some truly amazing riding roads to explore through the Chiang Mai mountains and two wheels is by far the easiest way to get around the city. Wear a helmet if you don’t want to get fined.
If you have no riding experience yet still want to rent a scooter, we recommend either receiving riding training in your home country first, or taking a day course here to get some experience.
But if you’re feeling brave and want to say yolo, we wish you luck and just make sure you have good travel insurance to keep your parents happy.
Pro Tip to avoid road fines in Chiang Mai
Thai police will set up checkpoints at various locations around the city. They will check to see if you are wearing a helmet first and then to see if you have a driving license.
Your home license won’t be accepted, but an international driving permit will be. So if you plan on riding a scooter here, we recommend getting an international driving permit prior to arrival. It will be cheaper than the fine for having no license.
So what’s next?
If you’ve followed the advice in this guide you should be prepared and ready to explore Chiang Mai.
But, nobody wants to embarrass themselves without realizing it, right? So to save you the hassle of learning the hard way, let’s briefly touch on Thai culture.
Thai culture essential crash course
- This truly is the land of smiles. Chiang Mai is an exceptional example of this. You will be greeted with a smile and “Wai” everywhere you go.
- Chiang Mai people are very friendly, respectful and kind. So why not do as the locals do, smile back and nod your head while doing it. This simple show of respect will go a long way and earn locals respect fast.
- If you wish to Wai to Thai people keep it simple. Put your hands together like you are praying at the center of your chest and smile. But, a simple smile and nod is totally fine also, your choice.
- Hello is: Sa-wa-dee khaap/ kaa (Khaap is for men, Kaa is for women).
- Like most places, a calm and polite attitude will get you far, whereas an angry and loud attitude could find you in trouble fast.
- Tipping is not mandatory but is appreciated. If you can afford to leave a small tip with your meal, it will make the restaurant staff very happy.
- Feet are considered the lowest and dirtiest part of the body here. Don’t point your feet at things and people and certainly don’t touch people with your feet.
- Shoes off inside people’s homes and inside temples.
- Avoid touching people’s heads, this is the holiest part of the body and should be respected.
- Monks won’t say hello to you. It’s nothing personal.
- Cover up in temples. The dress code effectively is to cover your shoulders and legs.
- Men: Wear trousers/ pants and a t-shirt. No beer tank tops.
- Women: Wear trousers/ long pants/ long dress and cover your shoulders and chest/ back.
- Men: Wear trousers/ pants and a t-shirt. No beer tank tops.
- Do not disrespect the Thai monarchy. This genuinely could land you in jail. Be respectful.
Navigating Thai bathrooms
Toilet paper goes in the trash, don’t flush it. Plumbing out here can’t handle it and you don’t want the experience of a toilet overflowing on you. Not fun.
Also not all public restrooms have toilet paper so it’s worth keeping some tissue with you just in case.
The legendary bum gun/ butt sprayer! Your first time using it may be a “weird” experience, but after a few weeks of use you will begin to question how you ever existed without it.
Point, aim and shoot. Some are more powerful than others so be gentle on the trigger. Use toilet paper to dry.
Does it get cold in Chiang Mai?
Believe it or not, during the winter months it actually can get cold at night.
Now there won’t be snow on the ground but it can get chilly. Especially if you decide to head into the mountains for the night, you may just see a frost on the ground in the morning.
So it’s worth packing a hoodie, sweater or warm layer just in case.
Beyond that, its beautiful warm weather almost all year round.
For a full breakdown of Chiang Mai weather see this article.
Conclusion
On that note, we’ve come to the end of this article.
From apps, travel money, SIM cards, accommodation, transport and even some cultural knowledge, we’ve covered everything you need to know to have the best possible start in Chiang Mai Thailand.
All that’s left is for you to get out there and enjoy it!
Thanks for reading and if you have any more curiosities about Chiang Mai be sure to search for what you’re looking for on our website. We try to cover all topics anyone traveling or moving to Chiang Mai needs to know.
