Guide to the best night markets in Chiang Mai, including what to expect, opening hours, and other helpful tips.
What better way to experience a destination than through its cuisine? Luckily, Chiang Mai features a wide selection of night markets where you can find lots of delicious and cheap food as well as local handicrafts, clothing, accessories, souvenirs, and pretty much anything you can think of.
I’ve been to several night markets all over Thailand but the Chiang Mai night markets are no doubt the best in the whole country!
So if you’re visiting Northern Thailand soon, here’s a list of the 8 best night markets Chiang Mai has to offer.
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Best Night Markets in Chiang Mai
Sunday Night Market Chiang Mai (Tha Phae Walking Street)
- Opening hours: 5-10.30 p.m on Sundays
- Location on Google Maps
By far the biggest and most popular Chiang Mai night market, Tha Phae Walking Street, also known as the Sunday Night Market is a must-visit.
The market is set along the whole length of Rachadamnoen Road starting from Tha Phae Gate all the way to Wat Phra Singh Temple.
I highly recommend wearing comfy shoes as you’ll most probably be walking up and down the market multiple times as there’s so much to see.
Here you’ll find hundreds of stalls selling cheap clothes and local handicrafts from fridge magnets to more unique souvenirs.
There’s even a section where you can get a massage starting at 100 baht only!
The most interesting part of the Sunday Night Market in Chiang Mai is that the food courts are found within the temple grounds.
They have tables and chairs set up but be sure to come early as it might be hard to find an empty spot later on.
Note that you’re not allowed to drink alcohol or smoke at the Sunday Night Market.
As its name suggests, the Sunday Night Market is open on Sundays only from 5 p.m to 10.30 p.m.
Saturday Night Market Chiang Mai (Wua Lai Walking Street)
- Opening hours: 5-10 p.m on Saturdays
- Location on Google Maps
The second most popular night market in Chiang Mai is Wua Lai Walking Street, commonly referred to as the Saturday Night Market.
The night market begins on the other side of Chiang Mai Gate Market (mentioned below) and continues along a good portion of Wua Lai Road.
It’s slightly smaller than the Sunday Night Market but has similar goods on sale. There’s also a section where you can get a massage and I even saw several street performers during my visit.
While you’re there, I also recommend visiting the Silver Temple which exceptionally stays open until 11 p.m on Saturdays. Bathe in blue lights, the temple is a sight to behold at night and a must-visit while in the city.
Similar to the Sunday Night Market, smoking and drinking alcohol aren’t allowed.
The Saturday Night Market is open from 5 p.m to 10 p.m on Saturdays only.
Chiang Mai Gate Market (South Gate)
- Opening hours: 4 p.m to 2 a.m, daily
- Location on Google Maps
If you don’t happen to visit Chiang Mai on a weekend, I recommend visiting the Chiang Mai Gate Market which takes place at the south gate on both sides of Bumrung Buri Road.
Open daily from 4 p.m until late, this is the perfect place to go if you’re craving a midnight snack.
The Chiang Mai Gate Market sells mainly food but if you’re visiting on a Saturday, you can find a few clothing and souvenir stalls as well.
There’s one Khao Soi stall here that’s absolutely delicious and cheap, starting at 50 baht only. It’s located near the crosswalk so you can’t miss it.
I also bought two fresh mangoes for 25 baht, a huge crepe for 50 baht, and lots of sweet treats for 10 baht each.
As you can see, it’s definitely the best place to go if you’re looking for some cheap and delicious food in Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
- Opening hours: 5 p.m to 12 a.m, daily
- Location on Google Maps
Every day from 5 p.m to midnight, Changklan Road is closed off to traffic to host the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar where local vendors sell all types of goods from souvenirs, clothes, accessories, and local handicrafts.
I recommend visiting around 6-7 p.m when most stalls are open and it’s not too crowded yet.
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar consists of an indoor market with a couple of stalls selling food and souvenirs but the action is found outside where rows of stalls line both sides of Changklan Road.
As opposed to the Chiang Mai weekend markets, alcohol is allowed here and you’ll find plenty of bars offering happy hour deals.
Klare Night Market
- Opening hours: 5-11.30 p.m, daily
- Location on Google Maps
If you’re already visiting Chiang Mai Night Bazaar and looking for a place to eat, then head over to Klare Night Market.
It’s mainly a food court with about 20 stalls or so with a seating area in the middle. You can also find a few vendors selling art pieces, souvenirs, and clothes at the back and near the entrance.
I found the food here to be slightly more expensive than at the weekend night markets but on the bright side, you’ll have more space to sit and eat, plus they sometimes have live music too.
There’s even a section where you can get massages starting at 100 baht.
Anusarn Night Market
- Opening hours: 5-11 p.m, daily
- Location on Google Maps
Also located near Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, this huge covered market is open daily and features a wide selection of clothing, accessories, and souvenir stalls.
There’s lots of space to walk around and they even have ceiling fans so it doesn’t feel overly crowded and hot.
In the middle of the market is the Chill Square, a food court where you can buy cheap Thai food and beer. You’ll also find a couple of bars and food stalls toward the very end of the night market.
Pavilion Night Bazaar
- Opening hours: 5-11 p.m, daily
- Location on Google Maps
Pavilion Night Bazaar is one of the smallest Chiang Mai night markets on this list with only about a dozen stalls.
Since it’s very small, there are only a couple of tables and chairs available so come early if you want to grab an empty spot to eat.
While there isn’t a lot going on here, it’s worth a quick stop if you’re already visiting Anusarn Night Market or Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.
Chiang Mai University Night Market
- Opening hours: 5-11 p.m, daily
- Location on Google Maps
Chiang Mai University Night Market is located outside the Old Town, about a 20-minute drive away, meaning it’s not visited by many tourists, so great for those looking for more of a local experience.
It features several clothing stores and a covered section with stalls selling more clothes and souvenirs as well as a food court section.
The clothes here are super cheap and of decent quality with tops starting at 80 baht and dresses at 250 baht.
Tips for visiting the Chiang Mai Night Markets
- The Chiang Mai night markets are livelier and more fun to explore about 1-2 hours after their official opening times.
- Klare Night Market, Anusarn Night Market, and Pavilion Night Bazaar are all found along the same road hosting the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, so you can visit all of them within the same night.
- Most of the night markets are pedestrian-only. If you need transportation to get back to your hotel, you’ll find songthaews (red bus) and tuk tuks waiting at the entry and exit. Alternatively, you can hire a Grab taxi or Bolt (cheaper than Grab).
I hope you found this guide to the best night markets in Chiang Mai helpful. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below.
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