Key information about Chiang Mai

200 - 250 THB

Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places.

10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere

Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)

Airport Bus (20 TBH, takes 20 minutes), Taxi (150 TBH, takes 15 minutes), Grab (240 TBH)

You can fly easily from Bangkok or take a bus or train. The flight from Bangkok is about 1 hour but bus and train journeys have a duration of 12 or more hours on average.

Grab

Tuk-Tuk: 60 - 150 TBH
Songthaew (shared pickup truck): 30 - 50 TBH
Bus: 30 - 50 TBH
Taxi: Depending on distance, generally less than 250 THB

Hail tuk-tuks and songthaews on the street. Always set a price before boarding a tuk-tuk or taxi. Ask a local for prices before boarding a songthaew. As a visitor, expect to slightly overpay on songthaews. For the bus, you can upload funds onto a RABBIT card, which you can buy for 45 THB at stations and kiosks around the city. It's also common to rent a scooter to get around the city. Typical costs are 150 THB per day but without any insurance.

AIS, DTAC

490 TBH for 5GB of data valid for 1 month

Airport, authorized branch stores and mini-markets

Thai

Low

Not drinkable

Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables.

Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua

Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food

90 options on HappyCow

GrabFood, FoodPanda

Rimping: This Japanese supermarket chain has established itself as Chiang Mai's most upscale set of grocery stores. Here, you'll find lots of fresh, organic goods, as well as imported goods from Japan and some from Europe. Fantastic wine selections, too.
Tops: This supermarket chain offers a wide range of goods at lower prices than Rimping. Here you'll find good variety of quality goods both local and imported.
Tesco Lotus: This huge store has all sorts of grocery, household and furniture goods. There is only one in Chiang Mai but are likely to find anything you need here.
Big C: This is a favorite among locals for cheaper, local goods. These stores are found across Chiang Mai and offer good prices but a limited variety of goods.
Markets: Chiang Mai, as the rest of Thailand, has a strong outdoor market culture and this should be your first choice for shopping in the city. The Sunday Market is a huge gathering of vendors, selling all sorts of things beyond food. Warorot and Sompet Markets are favorites for fresh produce, local foods and street food. The Night Bazaar and Saturday Night Market are also extremely popular in Chiang Mai and offer great opportunities for shopping and eating out authentically.