Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai | Things you must know visiting Northern Thailand
During our backpacking trip in South East Asia, we had the opportunity to visit many places in Thailand. We spent almost a month in Chiang Mai and a week in Chiang Rai. We saw so many differences between these two cities, and it’s time to clarify a couple of things. In this guide, we highlighted all the things you must know about Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai.
The Ancient Capital of Lan na Kingdom in Northern Thailand, Chiang Rai, usually is confused with Chiang Mai. Still, in this article, you will find all the differences between the two cities. Getting to know the two places is the key to understanding which is better between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
Chiang Mai is today the perfect city for digital nomads; thanks to its incredibly developed cafes and coworking, expats love to stay longer in Chiang Mai. Instead, Chiang Rai, is more local and traditional, where people love spending a couple of days away from the crowded cities.
Although both of them are worth visiting. Let’s have a proper look between Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai and all the things you should know before travelling.
Is Chiang Mai the Same as Chiang Rai?
Absolutely NO! Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are two different places located 3 hours apart. Chiang Mai is a digital nomad paradise city; instead, Chiang Rai is known for its beautiful temples.
If you have heard about the Blue Temple and White Temple, you know that we are talking about Chiang Rai.
Which is better, Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai?
Both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai have their own unique charm and offer different experiences. The differences between the two merely depend on your travelling style. So it ultimately depends on what you are looking for in a destination. Backpacking in Chiang Rai will give you the feeling of a smaller, more laid-back city.
With a few day trips, a short distance from the Mekong River and fantastic temples, Chiang Rai is the perfect destination to unwind, have work done and delve into Northern Thailand traditions. On the other hand, Chiang Mai is the larger and more developed city of the two, with a wide variety of things to see and do. It also has a large expat community and is a popular destination for digital nomads and backpackers in Thailand.
Both cities are worth visiting, but it depends on what you’re looking for in your trip. If you’re interested in culture, history, temples, and street food, Chiang Mai is the best choice, while if you’re looking for natural beauty and a more relaxed atmosphere, Chiang Rai is the better option. Also, if you are considered a city to easily make a Thailand Visa Run, Chiang Mai is closer to the border with Laos.
How to go from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?
There are several ways to travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:
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Is it possible to do a day trip from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?
Yes, it is possible to make a day trip from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, but it depends on what you want to see and do in Chiang Rai. The two cities are about 3-4 hours apart, or just a one-hour flight away.
If you want to visit the famous White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) and the nearby Golden Triangle, it can be done on a day trip from Chiang Mai. Still, you will have to leave the walled city early in the morning and return late in the evening, leaving you with limited time to explore the other sights in Chiang Rai.
Alternatively, you can also consider taking a tour (We suggest this with Get Your Guide for just £40 | $50 | €45) that covers the main attractions of Chiang Rai and includes transportation, guide, and entrance fees. This can be a good option if you want to make the most of your time and have a more comfortable and organised experience. Check this tour!
Note that a day trip will give you little time to explore the region and take in the city’s atmosphere. Therefore, spending at least one night in Chiang Rai is advised if you have the extra time because it will offer you more opportunities to experience the local culture and take back home lovely memories.
What Are the Differences between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai?
There are so many differences between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Below, we have highlighted a few:
| Chiang Mai | Chiang Rai | |
| How long you should stay | A week or more | 2-3 days |
| Best time to visit | During dry seasons, from October to April | October to February |
| Things to do | Elephant Sanctuary Doi Suthep Wat Chedi Luang Sunday night market Thai cooking class | Blue Temple White Temple Wat Huay Pla Kang Temple |
Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai: Food
Both cities are in northern Thailand, which means that both carry a food identity, with local traditions handed down by generations. A must-try dish is for sure, Khao Soi. A coconut curry noodle soup, a little spicy, depending on where you’re going but so delicious that it will be your favourite alternative to Pad Thai. We found a fantastic restaurant in Chiang Mai called Grazie, which makes the best food ever.
Instead, we found it difficult in Chiang Rai to find alternative food. Yes, we visited the Chiang Rai night market, but the prices were higher compared to Chiang Mai. Still cheap compared to western prices but still above the average of what we usually spend in Thailand.
To give you a practical example, in Chiang Mai, we would pay a Pad Thai around 50 baht (£1.20 | $1.50 | €1.40), and in Chiang Rai, the cheapest that we found was 80 baht (£2 | $2.50 | €2.20). So as you can see, it’s still cheap but compared to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai is about 50% higher.
Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai: Value for Money
During our entire trip to Thailand, we tracked our expenses on an internal spreadsheet. In this way, we could see how much we spent in each location on average. For example, we spent almost 20 days in Chiang Mai and between all the activities we did, we spent around £700.
The amount includes everything, accommodation, meals, night out, scooter rentals and any additional expenses. Instead, in Chiang Rai, for a total of 4 days, we spent £120, which also includes meals, accommodations etc.
If it’s your first time travelling to Thailand, we suggest visiting both locations. In our Chiang Mai travel guide, you will find additional information about travelling to these incredible locations. Chiang Rai is a perfect 2-day trip from Chiang Mai and offers incredible and stunning temples worth visiting.
Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai: Things to Do
In our Chiang Mai travel guide, you will find more details about all the things to do in Chiang Mai. We tried to highlight the most famous one:
Things to do in Chiang Mai
- Go temples hopping
- Take a cooking class
- Visit Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon National Park
- Visit the Elephant Sanctuary
- Grab a beer at Zoe in Yellow
- Visit the night markets
- Cool down at Chiang Mai Sticky Waterfalls
- Explore the jungle in search of Waterfalls
Things to do in Chiang Rai
- Visit the Blue temple
- Check out the famous White Temple
- Enjoy the sunset from Wat Huay Pla Kang Temple
- Grab some food at Night Bazaar market
Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai: Weather
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are both located in Northern Thailand; however, Chiang Rai is located further north, and you might feel 2-4 degrees cooler than Chiang Mai. Also, worth mentioning that Chiang Rai might be cooler at night compared to Chiang Mai due to its position.
Weather in Chiang Mai
The best time to visit Chiang Mai is from October to April during the dry seasons. The average temperature is around 25/27 degrees. It is, for sure, cooler than Bangkok.
Avoid travelling to Chiang Mai from July to early October as it’s the rainy season. Although during our month in Chiang Mai, we had 2 heavy rainy days, so you never know!
Weather in Chiang Rai
Compared to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai is cooler with the temperature fluctuating between 21 and 23 degrees.
During the night it can drop around 15 degrees so, make sure you bring a jumper in case you might be cold.
Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai: Travel Costs
Let’s start by saying that Thailand is cheap, so overall, you won’t spend a lot. In a month, we managed to spend around £700 in Chiang Mai. This includes all the accommodation, meals, activities, scooter rental, and other experiences. Yes, overall, Chiang Mai will cost more than Chiang Rai. The only reason is that there are more things to do and see in Chiang Mai.
Instead, Chiang Rai is cheaper as most of the main attractions are free. The only entrance fee you will need to pay is the White Temple (200 Baht), as the Blue Temple and Wat Huay Pla Kang are free to visit.
Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai: Length of Stay
We love travelling slowly and staying longer when we find the right place. We originally planned only 10 days in Chiang Mai, but we ended up staying a month. If you have a short time and wish to visit both, we recommend spending at least 4-5 days in Chiang Mai and 3 days in Chiang Rai. If you plan your itinerary in advance, you can combine all the activities.
Otherwise, if you wish to spend more time in Chiang Mai, you can plan a day trip to Chiang Rai and pick the right tour for you. Check this tour!
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Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai: Nightlife
The best nightlife we experienced was in Chiang Mai. Every night there was always something to do or a market to explore. Many people might say that if you’re bored of Chiang Mai, you’re bored of life (pretty much like London Sayings). It’s true because there are so many open places, markets, bars and clubs to experience the best nightlife in Thailand.
We loved hanging out at Zoe; it was our meeting point for a great evening every night.
Chiang Rai had a nice nightlife as well, nothing compared to Chiang Mai, though. It happened to be a festival while we visited Chiang Rai, and locals were dancing, with live music and fantastic food stands.
There are flights between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
If your question is, are there flights from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai? The answer is easy. YES. You can fly from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and vice versa quite easily. The flight takes just about 1 hour and is operated by multiple companies. In addition, you can fly between the two northern cities with AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, Vietjet and also Bangkok Airways for more comfort.
There are multiple flights a day between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, which costs about 20$ one way for the cheapest option. Booking your flight in advance might save you some bucks.
Chiang Rai vs Chiang Mai: Day Trips
Day trip from Chiang Mai
From Chiang Mai you have more flexibility to plan a day trip, here are some ideas:
- Chiang Rai
- Doi Suthep
- Huay Tung Tao Lake
- Doi Inthanon National Park
- Elephant Nature Park – BOOK IT HERE!
- Chiang Dao Cave
Day Trip from Chiang Rai
- Chiang Mai
- Doi Luang National Park
- Akha Village – CHECK THE AVAILABILITY!
- Doi Tung and Doi Mea Salong
Best experiences in Chiang Mai
Best Experiences in Chiang Rai
Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai: Accommodation
Depending on which area you’re staying, you can find great deals in terms of accommodation. Chiang Mai is wide, and you can decide to stay in the Old Town or in the “Digital Nomad” area of Needham.
As it was our first time in Chiang Mai, we stayed the first 10 days within the Old Town walls and the remaining days outside. In Chiang Rai instead, as it was a short trip, we stayed central, about 15 minutes walk from the Night Bazaar.
Below you will find our personal recommendation of the best places to stay in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
Stay in style in this 3-star hotel. With its swimming pool, comfy rooms and incredible vie
Where to stay in Chiang Rai
Q&A Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai
How close are Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai?
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are located in northern Thailand and are relatively close to each other. The distance between the two cities is approximately 186 kilometres (about 116 miles).
The quickest and most convenient way to travel between the two cities is by car or bus, which takes around 3 to 4 hours depending on the traffic and route taken. There are also flights available between the two cities that take about 1 hour, operated by multiple carriers for a very competitive price. As a last resource, you can also take a train from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, but this is a long journey, taking around 8-9 hours.
Is Chiang Rai worth visiting?
Yes! Thanks to its stunning temples, Chiang Rai is worth visiting. From the moment that we stepped inside the Blue Temple in Chiang Mai, we were speechless. That was only our first temple. While we were roaming around, we discovered Wat Huay Pla Kang Temple, the temple of Mercy, and so far, it’s one of our favourite temples in Thailand.
Which is bigger Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai?
Chiang Mai! The population is over 150K, and it’s almost twice as much as Chiang Rai.
What is Chiang Rai known for?
Chiang Rai is known for being a popular destination of the Golden Triangle. This region, where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet, is known for its history of opium production and trade. Chiang Rai also features incredible scenery and stunning temples; the most famous is the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun). Chang Rai hills are home to many tribes, such as Akha, Lahu, and Yao.
You can take a tour to visit these tribes and learn about their traditional ways of life. Expect to see something new in Chiang Rai, visit the traditional markets, and sell all sorts of goods, unique textiles, and handicrafts.
Chiang Rai is an excellent destination for those interested in culture, art, history, and nature.
How many days do you need in Chiang Rai?
We suggest staying in Chiang Rai for three Days. Between 3 and 4 days in Chiang Rai are enough to explore the surroundings and the city itself.
You can visit the two main temples in a day, the Blue and White Temples, chill at a local market at night, and then explore the Lady Buddha Temple the day after, still having time for activities the other days.
How many days does it take to visit Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai?
If you wish to combine both and have enough time to explore all the essential sights, we suggest you reserve at least a week. You can spend 4 days in Chiang Mai and 3 days in Chiang Rai.
Otherwise, if you wish to take it slow and don’t rush from one place to another, 10 days would be perfect.
What is the best way to reach Chiang Rai?
By bus. For us, it was super easy to reach Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai. After spending a few days in Pai, we arrived at the bus station and grabbed the bus for Chiang Rai.
We booked the tickets at the bus station directly (It’s terminal 3 for Chiang Rai), and within 4 hours (on a bumpy road), we arrived at Chiang Rai bus station. For a little extra comfort, you can book the VIP bus, which will allow you to totally recline your seat and sleep for the duration of the journey.
Book the back seats to have the best comfort ever.
How big is Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is the largest city in Northern Thailand and the second most populous city in Thailand after Bangkok, with around 1.7 million people in its province. Chiang Mai Province includes the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, a mix of urban and rural areas.
The city centre of Chiang Mai is relatively compact and easy to navigate on foot. Mountains surround Chiang Mai, and the old town is home to many temples, museums and other cultural attractions.
Chiang Mai is a popular destination for tourists and digital nomads because of its mix of old and new, with traditional temples and markets existing alongside modern amenities such as cafes, restaurants, and coworking spaces.
WHERE TO GO NEXT?
Every time is good to travel and make new experiences. Travelling around Asia and discovering awesome places is a must at least once in your life.
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