Discover Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai offers a range of perspectives for a trip: the history of the Old City, exhibitions about the city and Lanna culture, a documented silversmithing tradition, and a national park nearby. If you are looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai, these topics can help you weigh your interests for your stay. These places represent different perspectives on the destination, rather than a particular location for accommodation.

The Old City and its historic gates

Within the walls of Chiang Mai’s Old City are 40 ancient temples. The number gives an idea of how many religious buildings form part of the historic city center. The five city gates also reflect the history of the inner fortifications: they were restored during various historical periods.

The most recent restoration of the five gates was carried out by the city administrations and the Fine Arts Department. Archaeological studies and old photographs served as the basis for the work. Two aspects therefore come together: the long sequence of restorations and the specific work that brought historical findings and photographic material into the latest restoration. For a stay focused on cultural history, the temples and gates offer different topics without needing to be grouped together as a single attraction.

Exhibitions about the city and Lanna culture

The Chiang Mai Cultural Centre traces the development of the region and the city from prehistoric times to the present across 15 permanent exhibition rooms. This broad time span makes the center a point of reference for travelers who want to explore Chiang Mai not only through individual buildings but also through its history.

The Lanna Folklife Centre has a different focus. It presents Lanna ways of life and Lanna art. Topics include ritual objects, architecture, traditions, murals and handicrafts. The focus of the two centers is therefore easy to distinguish: the Cultural Centre covers the development of the region and city over long periods, while the Lanna Folklife Centre focuses on Lanna ways of life and artistic expression. If you are interested in culture, these focuses offer a concrete guide to choosing the topics you want to explore.

Silversmithing and routes through the city

A description from 2012 locates a village of silversmiths in the Wualai Walking Street area, where silverware was made and sold. This links an aspect of Chiang Mai’s craftsmanship to a specific part of the city.

Chiang Mai’s Sunday Walking Street runs from Tha Phae Gate to Ratchadamnoen Road. Together with the Wualai Walking Street area, it points to two different connections: silversmithing at a named location and a described route between two points in the city.

Landscape nearby

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park lies northwest of Chiang Mai’s Old City and is known for its rich biodiversity. It adds a nearby landscape to the city’s history and culture. The national park should not be conflated with the places within the city: its location is described in relation to the Old City.

The result is a varied range of interests to consider when choosing your destination, including city history, exhibitions, craftsmanship and nature. You can decide which of these perspectives matters most for your stay, then look for hotels in Chiang Mai. These topics provide a basis for shaping your trip around your own priorities.

Discover more destinations: Mae Hia, Mae Faek, Mae Ai, Ping Khong, Mae Sun, Pa Lan, Tha Nuea, Kuet Chang.

For the main travel overview: Chiang Mai.