4 Days in Chiang Mai: Ultimate Guide

Perfect 4 Day Chiang Mai Thailand Guide

Tucked into lush jungle mountains, Chiang Mai, Thailand is a spiritual hub you don’t want to miss! Chiang Mai, the second-largest city in Thailand, is a digital nomad hub, full of culture and trendy food spots! You can see a ton of Chiang Mai in 4 Days. In this Chiang Mai itinerary, I have put together an extensive list that covers great food, activities and more that can all be done with just 4 days in Chiang Mai, Thailand!

First time in Thailand? Check out these things to know before visiting Thailand!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Disclosure

How to Get to Chiang Mai, Thailand

First, the easiest way to get to Chiang Mai is by starting off in Bangkok. We planned a couple of days in Bangkok before going to Chiang Mai.

Airplane: You will find Air Asia is relatively inexpensive! We used them all throughout our travels in Asia. The trip takes about 1hr 20 mins. To find the best flight, I always use Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights.

By Sleeper Train: From Bangkok, you can catch a sleeper train to Chiang Mai. This is the option we went with. You can book your tickets on 12 Go Asia and try to book train #9, which is the newer train. We got second-class tickets, but I’ve heard 1st class is worth the extra money! The train takes a little over 13 hours. We had a pleasant experience overall.

Location: Bangkok Train Station (Hua Lamphong Station) รองเมือง Khwaeng Rong Muang, แขวง รองเมือง เขต ปทุมวัน Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand

Sleeper bus: I have never done this option, but I know a lot of people who have! It is perfectly safe, takes a little over 10 hours, and can also be booked on 12 Go Asia!

Where to Stay in Chiang Mai

Now that you made it to Chiang Mai, Thailand, time to look for accommodation! I tend to pick accommodations in between budget and luxury.

We wanted to stay in the trendier part of Chiang Mai called Nimmanhemin. We stayed at the cutest Boutique Hotel called the Nimman Hotel. The hotel is within walking distance to trendy food spots and cafes with high-speed wi-fi! This hotel cost us about $40 USD a night and included breakfast. This could change since they are doing renovations, but we had a pleasant stay here! 

Address: 29 SOI17 Nimmanahaeminda Road, Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Getting Around Chiang Mai

Next, getting around! Chiang Mai, Thailand is really safe, so you can walk everywhere. However, if you have a far destination in mind, you can get a Grab (just like Uber), a Tuk Tuk (a 3-wheeled taxi), or Songthaew (pickup truck with seats in the truck bed. If you don’t know what it is, look it up!).

Additionally, with Tuk Tuks or Songthaew make sure to bargain and if it’s a regular taxi, make sure they run the meter! If you feel safe renting a scooter/ bike, this can be another option to get around.

Best Things to do in Chiang Mai in 4 Days

Now that you know how to navigate your way to Chiang Mai, let’s go over all the amazing things you can do within 4 days! You might be wondering if 4 days in Chiang Mai is enough time? With 4 days in Chiang Mai, you will be able to get a taste of the Northern Thailand Culture and see some of the top tourist attractions. Therefore, I believe 4 days in Chiang Mai is the minimum and we spent almost a month!

If you plan on spending around 10 days in Thailand to 2 weeks, you will definitely want to add Chiang Mai to it! Chiang Mai is also known as one of the best Asia honeymoon destinations!

Chiang Mai Temples

Did you know Chiang Mai has over 300 hundred temples? They don’t say Chiang Mai is the spiritual hub for nothing! With 4 days in Chiang Mai, it’s easy to get “templed out”.

Out of all the temples we saw (which you can find just walking around the Old City), our favorite two were Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)! They are both very unique temples which makes them stand out!

Please be advised women are not allowed inside the Silver Temple. We paid and only my husband could go in. Please make sure to have shoulders and knees covered when visiting temples!

Wat Chedi Luang Address: 103 Prapokkloa Rd, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Silver Temple Address: 100 Wua Lai Rd, Tambon Hai Ya, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

Volunteer With Elephants

Have you ever wanted to see an Asian Elephant up close? How about feeding them? Chiang Mai, Thailand is the perfect place to volunteer with Asian Elephants at one of their Elephant Sanctuaries!

When choosing a company, please make sure to choose a NO RIDING company and one that makes sure to put the elephants’ safety and health, before tourism! This experience will take just about a full day. If you do have any daylight left, you will likely be exhausted. I wrote a whole post that goes more into depth about volunteering with elephants in Thailand, here!

Thai Massage

When in Thailand, it would be a sin to not indulge in a Thai massage during your Chiang Mai trip. Better yet, Thai massages usually cost less than half the price in your home country! We tried several places and were never disappointed.

Get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Chiang Mai

Looking for something a little more permanent? A Sak Yant Tattoo might be perfect for you! A Sak Yant tattoo is a spiritual and cultural experience done by a Monk or Ajarn. They use a long pole, with a steel needle that stipples your spiritual tattoo! They are perfectly safe when done at a reputable facility and a fun way to remember your trip.

My husband went to Sak Yant Chiang Mai in the Old City to get his tattoo.  He loved it so much, we went back the next day for a second one!

The experience of getting a Sak Yant in Chiang Mai, the cultural hub in Thailand was really special! I was able to watch the whole process, about 25 minutes and he was able to choose which Sak Yant he wanted!

A Sak Yant heals much quicker than regular tattoos and in his experience, hurt less than regular tattoos as well!  Make sure to book your appointment online to get the best rate. For my husband, it was 2,000 baht with a 1,000 baht donation and to bring a pack of cigarettes and matches. Pricing might be more for women.

Location: 27 11 Arak Rd, Tambon Si Phum, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Shopping in Chiang Mai

Did you even go to Thailand without doing a little shopping? With 4 days, make sure to check out some of Chiang Mai shopping!

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

In Thailand, Chiang Mai is known for its Night Bazaar. Full of shopping and food, it’s a place you will not want to miss! The shops go down about a mile long, so make sure to give yourself some time to shop.

You will find awesome Thai-made goods, souvenirs, and more, but make sure you are ready to bargain. You should be able to squeeze this in any night of the 4 days since the Chiang Mai Bazaar is open every day!

Location: Chang Moi, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand

Maya Lifestyle Shopping Mall

Looking for bigger brand shopping? The Maya Lifestyle Mall has over 4 floors, a co-working space, a great food court (kind of expensive), and even a movie theater! Find big brands and more all in one spot!

Location: 55 Huaykaew Rd, ตำบล ช้างเผือก อำเภอ เมืองเชียงใหม่ Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand

Chiang Mai Bars

We found a lot of bars in the Old City area, although they are much different from bars back in New York. The bars in Chiang Mai and other spots of Thailand consisted of chains of open area bars with women playing pool, cards and connect four.

They are definitely fun, but don’t be surprised when they literally try to all pull you into their bars! At first, we felt really taken back, but by the end of our trip, we found ourselves at the bars in Krabi almost every night!

Take a Cooking Class

Cooking classes are extremely popular in all of Thailand. Whether you are in a group or solo learning how to cook traditional Thai food is always fun! With 4 days in Chiang Mai, you should be able to squeeze one in. Find cooking classes here!

Eat your way through Chiang Mai, Thailand

Now to my favorite, eating! Since we stayed in Nimmanhemin, we were surrounded by the most delicious trendy food spots Chiang Mai, Thailand had to offer! Here were some of our favorites! Mind you, I am a pescatarian, so I was able to find good meals at all except Beast Burger.

Smoothie Blues

Smoothie Blues downright has the best smoothies in Chiang Mai! Their breakfast is also really good. My Favorite is their eggs Benedict and overall, they are decently priced.

Location: 17 Soi Hua Min Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

The Salad Concept

The Salad Concept is our favorite spot to eat in Chiang Mai and also where we got the most bang for our buck. Their breakfast, lunch, and dinner are amazing and since I’m a huge breakfast person, I was in love with their pancakes! Additionally, they have nice fresh salads and really good fried rice in a pineapple!

Location: 49/9-10 ถนน นิมมานเหมินทร์ Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Beast Burger

Known as one of the best burgers in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Beast Burger is to not be missed, says my husband (I don’t eat meat). The burgers are quality and the fries are really tasty. Make sure to add this one to your list!

Location: Nimmanhemin Soi 17 Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Why Not? Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar

In the mood for some Italian? Let me tell you that, Why Not? Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar has really good food, and that’s coming from a New Yorker! They have a wide arrange of options and if you’re on a budget personal pies are really tasty and affordable. The main dinners can be a little more expensive. If the weather is nice, I would recommend sitting outside!

Location: 14 ถนน นิมมานเหมินทร์ ซอย 11 Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand

Coco Corner

This spot has the cutest cafe vibes with yummy/only coconut ice cream treats, but a little on the expensive side for the amount of ice cream.

4 Days in Chiang Mai, Thailand Wrap up

In Conclusion, this covers 4 days in Chiang Mai, Thailand! With this guide, you should be able to plan an epic trip that will highlight your time in Thailand.

Other Thailand posts you should also check out: Best Bangkok Temples | 4 Days in Kabi Itinerary | Thailand Packing Guide

Did you enjoy this Chiang Mai Guide? I would appreciate it if you could share it below!