Chiang Mai Night Market Guide: Night Bazaar and Walking Streets
This is a short guide to the Chiang Mai night market scene. It is sorted by area and by day of the week, so you can plan each evening.
Pick the night you are free and start there. Days and hours shift, so check on the day.
Top 5 Chiang Mai Night Markets
These five cover the whole week. Each one has its own write up below.
| Place | Day | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Night Bazaar | Most nights | Souvenirs and a food court |
| Sunday Walking Street | Sunday | Crafts, snacks and temple courtyards |
| Saturday Walking Street | Saturday | Silver and local crafts |
| Anusarn Market | Most nights | Food and a relaxed stroll |
| Chang Phueak Night Market | Most nights | Cheap local food |
Night Bazaar and Chang Khlan Road
Chang Khlan Road is the classic place to start. The market runs along the road, and the food courts and quiet side streets sit just behind it.
Night Bazaar
The Night Bazaar is the long market on Chang Khlan Road. Stalls sell clothes, bags, prints, wood carvings and gifts to take home. It is open most evenings, and the stalls fill the road from the early evening. Walk the whole road first, then go back for what you liked. Start with a lower offer, and smile while you haggle. It sits in the middle of the city, so a short Grab or a red songthaew gets you there.
Kalare Night Bazaar
Kalare is a food court and night market next to the Night Bazaar area. It is a good place to sit down. You can order a few plates from different stands and eat at shared tables. Live music days change, so check before you go. Evening is the best time. Come hungry, and share dishes so you can try more.
Anusarn Market
Anusarn Market is part of the same night bazaar block. It feels calmer than the main road. There are food stalls, small shops and a few bars close by. It is a good pick if the main road feels too busy. Go in the early evening, when it is easy to find a seat. It is only a short walk from the Night Bazaar, so you can do both in one night.
After a long walk on Chang Khlan Road, your feet may be tired. A therapist can come to you. See outcall massage at the Night Bazaar.
Weekend Walking Streets
Chiang Mai has two walking streets, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Cars stop, and the road fills with stalls. Wear comfy shoes, because you will walk a lot.
Sunday Walking Street
The Sunday Walking Street runs down Ratchadamnoen Road in the Old City, starting at Tha Phae Gate. The road is closed to cars. It is open on Sunday only, and it usually starts in the late afternoon and runs into the night. Expect hand made crafts, painted bags, small gifts and many snack stalls. Temple courtyards on the side open up with more food and seats. Come early to beat the crowd, and go with the flow of the street.
Saturday Walking Street
The Saturday Walking Street is on Wualai Road, just south of the Old City. The street is known for its silver shops, and the stalls add local crafts, clothes and food. It is smaller than the Sunday street, so it feels easier to walk. It runs on Saturday only, so check the start time. Many people go to look at the silver work and watch the artists. It is a short ride from the south gate of the Old City.
Two walking streets can mean a lot of steps. Winding down at the hotel is a good end to the night. See outcall massage in the Old City.
Local Markets for Food
These markets are where locals shop and eat. They are less about gifts and more about what is on the plate.
Warorot Market
Warorot Market, also called Kad Luang, is the big local market near the Ping River. You can buy fruit, snacks, spices and Northern Thai food to take home. The flower market sits next to it. Many stalls close earlier than the night markets, so go in the afternoon and check before you go. Go for a snack walk, and bring small notes for the stalls.
Chang Phueak Night Market
Chang Phueak is a night food market at the north gate of the Old City. It is built around food: grilled meat, noodles, fruit shakes and sweet snacks. It runs most evenings, from late afternoon. The prices are local, and the crowd is mostly Thai. Pick a stall with a line, and point at what you want if you do not know the name.
Jing Jai Market (a morning market)
Jing Jai is a weekend morning market, so it is not a night market. We include it because it suits a slow start after a late night. It has fresh food, coffee, plants and small crafts. It runs on weekend mornings, and it is best before the heat builds. Check the address and the hours before you head over.
Markets can be a long day on your feet. A therapist can come to your hotel or villa. See outcall massage in Chiang Mai.
Bars and Live Music After the Markets
Chiang Mai nightlife is easygoing. After the markets close, the evening moves to cocktail bars, craft beer, live music and late night food. Most of it sits in the Nimman area or in the Old City. Closing times differ by bar, so check first. Walk if it is close, and take a Grab if it is not. Keep your phone and wallet in front pockets, and drink water between drinks.
Ploen Ruedee
Ploen Ruedee is a night market with a live music stage. It mixes food stalls, craft stands and a relaxed crowd on the grass. It sits outside the Old City, so plan a Grab both ways. Open days and music nights can change with the season, so check its page first.
One Nimman
One Nimman is a small shopping village in the Nimman area. The official site says it is open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM, and the night market zone closes at 10 PM. It has Northern Thai gifts, design shops, cafes and a courtyard with events. It is an easy stop before dinner or a drink on Nimman Road. The area is walkable at night.
Nimman nights end late. A therapist can meet you at your hotel or condo. See outcall massage in Nimman.
Late Night Massage After the Market
Feet sore after hours of walking? A therapist can come to your hotel. We are open 24/7, see late night massage in Chiang Mai for how to book.
Plan Your Market Night
- Day by day. Saturday is the Wualai walking street. Sunday is the Ratchadamnoen walking street. The Night Bazaar and the food markets usually run most other nights. Rain or a holiday can change a night, so check the day.
- Getting around. Use Grab, or a red songthaew and agree the price before you get in. Be careful with tuk tuk offers you did not ask for. Save your hotel name on your phone for the ride home.
- Cash. Many stalls take cash, so carry small notes. Use a bank ATM before you go.
- Heat and rain. Evenings are cooler than the day, but it can still be hot. In the rainy season, bring a light rain jacket, as showers can close stalls early.
- Staying safe. Crowds are where pickpockets work, so keep your bag in front. Check the price before you order, and agree it first if there is no menu. Take a Grab or a songthaew with an agreed price late at night.