Chiang Mai

In the Old City, this coliving blends private rooms with an easy, community-first coworking setup. Reliable wifi, shared spaces, and low‑key events make it simple to settle in and meet other remote workers, steps from temples, cafés, and the moat.

A calm coliving near the Ping River with bright, modern rooms and an airy work area. It’s a good fit if you want quieter evenings, riverfront walks, and a quick ride into the Old City when you’re ready for cafés and markets.

A community‑oriented base that pairs comfortable rooms with a solid coworking space. Expect an events calendar, shared kitchens, and an easy way to plug into a social rhythm without sacrificing focused work time.

A Chiang Mai favorite close to Nimman’s cafés and coworking culture. Private rooms, steady wifi, and multiple work zones make it a practical, good‑value base for short or longer stays.

A simple, well‑located studio in Nimman—clean, compact, and convenient for café‑hopping and coworking days. Ideal if you prefer your own space and an independent routine right in the neighborhood.

Set inside the Old City, Werun Nimbly offers modern, tidy rooms on a quiet street with easy access to temples and the moat. A straightforward, comfortable base if you want to walk everywhere.

Inside the Old City, The Peaberry pairs Lanna‑inspired touches with warm, attentive service. A comfortable, walkable base for exploring the moat area, markets, and nearby coffee spots.

Simple, central rooms in the Old City, and right next door to Old City Spa for effortless sauna and ice bath days. Great if you want a no‑frills base with wellness just outside your door.

A peaceful jungle hike just outside the city. The Monk’s Trail winds uphill from Chiang Mai University through lush forest to Wat Pha Lat, a hidden temple complex with waterfalls, shrines, and stone walkways draped in moss. Great for panoramic city views. Read our post.

One of Chiang Mai’s most beloved cooking schools, May Kaidee offers fully vegan classes that are fun and hands-on. You’ll start with a learn to make classics like Thai curries, pad thai, and mango sticky rice. It’s both a great meal and a skill you can take with you. Read our post.

Chiang Mai is known as the “city of temples,” with more than 300 scattered across town. The Old City alone has some of the most famous, each with their own distinct history and style. Take an afternoon to wander slowly. Read our post.

Unique to northern Thailand, Tok Sen is a traditional massage technique that uses a wooden hammer and chisel to rhythmically tap along energy lines in the body. The result is a deep, vibrating release unlike any other massage style.

A wellness garden south of town with herbal steam, sauna, a salt‑water pool, and an ice ice bath, plus low‑key weekend events. Open most afternoons; bring swimwear and rotate hot–cold for a proper reset. Read our post.

Right in the Old City, this spot is about a thermal circuit: Thai herbal steam, infrared & Finnish saunas, ice bath/cold plunge, and a magnesium hot bath. Open daily 10:00–22:00, it’s an easy go‑to for post‑temple recovery. Read our post.

A creative village west of the Old City, Baan Kang Wat brings together artists and makers in a leafy courtyard setting. You’ll find ceramics, textiles, prints, and handmade goods, alongside coffee shops and weekend workshops. It’s a calm, community-focused spot. Read our post.

Northwest of the Old City, this local market runs from around 7–11am. Stalls sell fresh vegetables, herbs, flowers, and everyday goods, alongside hot breakfasts and street food. We especially love the cacao stall. It's calmer and smaller-scale than most other markets in Chiang Mai. Read our post.

Jing Jai is a weekend farmers’ market in a shaded outdoor space north of the Old City. Local growers, artisans, and food vendors set up here, with a strong emphasis on organic and sustainable produce. It’s a great spot for fresh fruit and plant-based snacks. Read our post.

This wholesale market near the Ping River is where many restaurants source their produce. It’s sprawling and busy, with stalls piled high with fruit, vegetables, herbs, and spices. It’s less curated than Jing Jai, but more atmospheric if you want to see the everyday rhythm of local trade.

Just 45 minutes northwest of Chiang Mai, Mae Rim is a popular countryside escape with waterfalls, botanical gardens, and cafés. You can spend a weekend here visiting places like Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, or simply relaxing in the cooler mountain air. Read our post.

Set in the hills of Mae Rim, this sprawling garden features forest trails, orchid collections, and Southeast Asia’s longest canopy walkway. It’s a peaceful place to spend a half day, with both landscaped sections and wilder forest to explore. The lotuses were our favorite part. Read our post.

Mon Jam is one of Chiang Mai’s most photogenic spots, with seasonal flower gardens overlooking rolling mountains. Small bamboo huts dot the hillside, and food stalls sell local snacks. Go in the morning for cooler air and clearer views, or late afternoon for softer light. Read our post.

A Japanese-style hot spring resort tucked in the mountains near Mon Jam. Day passes give you access to mineral baths, saunas, and cold plunges, with mountain views all around. It’s pricier than most Chiang Mai spas, but a unique experience if you’re after quiet, restorative time. Read our post.

One of Chiang Mai’s best-known music venues, North Gate Jazz Co-Op is a lively spot on the edge of the Old City moat. The atmosphere is casual and packed most nights, with local and international musicians playing jazz that often spills out into the street. Go early to grab a seat.

About three hours north of Chiang Mai, Pai is a small town surrounded by mountains, hot springs, and waterfalls. The drive there, famous for its 762 curves, is as memorable as the destination. Many nomads head up for a weekend of relaxed cafés. Photo credit.

Officially called Bua Tong Waterfall, this site about an hour and a half from Chiang Mai is unique because mineral deposits make the rocks grippy instead of slippery. That means you can actually climb up the cascades barefoot. It's a fun nature activity. Photo credit.

A few hours north of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai is best known for its striking temples. The White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) is a surreal mix of Buddhist symbolism and contemporary art, while the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten) glows with deep cobalt interiors. Photo credit.

Home to Thailand’s highest peak, Doi Inthanon is about two hours from Chiang Mai. The park offers waterfalls, forest trails, and viewpoints above the clouds. Highlights include the King and Queen pagodas near the summit and the short, scenic Ang Ka nature trail. Photo credit.

Chiang Mai is surrounded by elephant camps, but only a few sanctuaries operate with real care. The most respected is Elephant Nature Park, a rescue center where you can observe elephants in a natural setting without rides or performances. Photo credit.

We ate here almost daily. Their menu is packed with fresh, healthy vegan options including vegetable wraps, tom kha, curries, and pumpkin soup. Smoothies are also a highlight. The black sesame banana smoothie and the mango coconut smoothie are favorites. Read our post.

A fully vegan classic in Chiang Mai, and home to one of the city’s best vegan cooking classes. The food is fresh and flavorful. We especially loved their banana blossom salad, pad thai, and mango sticky rice with pink coconut milk. A great spot to eat and learn. Read our post.

Another fully vegan favorite, Goodsouls is where we’d go for vegan comfort food. Their mushroom burger, pizzas, and lasagna are standout dishes, and the big menu makes it easy to keep coming back. They also have many vegan cakes.

Build-your-own-bowls are the focus at Healthy Junk, making it easy to craft a fresh vegan meal. Our go-to combo was chickpeas, sweet potato, and kale, but the toppings list is long enough to mix it up every time.

A cozy spot and a must-visit for plant-based travelers. Everything we tried was good, but the spring rolls and coconut kefir are what we’d come back for.

A 100% vegan café with a social mission. Profits support education projects for Burmese refugees. Their vegan khao soi, a Chiang Mai classic, is the dish to order here.

Tikky has a separate vegan menu, which makes ordering easy. We enjoyed their pineapple fried rice, curries, pad see ew, and papaya salad. Portions are generous, and the atmosphere is lively.

If you’re craving Mexican food, Salsa Kitchen is a solid pick in Chiang Mai. They have several vegan options. We liked their tacos, which come with tofu or black beans and a generous portion of guacamole.

This Kindle's glare-free display is perfect for settling into Chiang Mai’s café culture, whether you’re tucked into a Nimman coffee shop or lingering in a leafy Old City garden café.

A compact crossbody bag designed for city movement. It’s just the right size for your phone, wallet, and keys. Ideal for hopping on the back of a Grab motorbike.

Chiang Mai can be lively at night, especially if you’re staying near markets or music venues. The Manta Sleep Mask offers complete blackout comfort with adjustable eye cups, making it easier to rest deeply no matter where you’re based.

Mosquitoes are part of life in Chiang Mai, especially around dusk. A DEET-free organic spray made with essential oils keeps them at bay without harsh chemicals. Lightweight and easy to carry for evenings out or day trips into the hills.

We use Wise to spend in local currency without the painfully high foreign transaction fees. It’s one of the simplest ways we’ve found to access our money abroad, in any currency needed, without feeling like we’re losing some of it to massive fees every time we tap.

We use SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance to protect ourselves in case we face an unexpected medical emergency. In addition to covering medical treatment and hospitalization, their policy also covers lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency evacuations.

It can be a hassle to buy a new eSIM every time you enter a different country. That's why we use Saily's Global eSIM, which provides coverage in all the countries we regularly travel to. It's great to land in a new destination and already have data.

Using a VPN is essential to protecting your digital life when moving through unfamiliar networks. We use NordVPN to encrypt our connection on public wifi—whether in airports, cafés, or coworking spaces.