Getting Around Chiang Mai: Local Transport Guide

Chiang Mai moves at a different pace than Bangkok. The old city, inside its square moat, is compact enough to explore on foot, while the suburbs, mountain temples and night markets beyond the moat call for some form of wheels. There is no rail or metro system and no real public bus network. Instead, the city runs on red songthaews, tuk-tuks, ride-hailing apps and rented scooters. The system feels chaotic at first but quickly becomes second nature.

Spontaneity is easy here, but a little knowledge about how each mode works saves money and frustration. Here is what you need to know about getting around the Rose of the North.

Getting Around Chiang Mai by Songthaew (Red Truck)

The red songthaew is the unofficial public transport of Chiang Mai. These converted pickup trucks with two benches in the back run loosely along fixed routes and pick up and drop off passengers along the way. They are the closest thing the city has to a bus system.

How Songthaews Work

Flag one down, tell the driver your destination, and if it is roughly along the route, the driver will nod. Hop in the back, sit on a bench and press the buzzer when you want to get off. If the driver shakes their head, your destination is too far off their route, so wait for the next one. Fares are agreed with the driver, so ask the price before you get in. A ride within the central area is cheaper than a trip to a suburb or a mountain temple, and the driver may quote more if you are the only passenger.

Tips for Riding Songthaews

• Have your destination written in Thai on your phone, because many drivers speak limited English.
• Pay when you get off, not when you get on.
• Keep small bills and coins handy, as drivers rarely have change for large notes.
• At rush hour, songthaews fill up fast and may not stop for you.

Getting Around Chiang Mai by Tuk-Tuk

Chiang Mai tuk-tuks are small, enclosed vehicles that look more like motorized rickshaws than the open three-wheelers of Bangkok. They wait outside temples, markets and tourist spots. A tuk-tuk is a private hire, so you get the vehicle to yourself, and the price is negotiated before you get in. The first quote is often inflated, so ask a few drivers or compare with a ride-hailing fare.

Tuk-tuks suit short, direct trips when you do not want to wait for a songthaew or use an app. For longer distances, a Grab car is usually the more comfortable choice.

Getting Around Chiang Mai by Grab and Ride-Hailing Apps

Grab is available in Chiang Mai.^[1] It shows the price before you book, and you can pay in cash, by card or with GrabPay (the price excludes tolls and surcharges).^[1] Download the app before you arrive, which makes it the easiest way to get a car with air conditioning at a known price.

Grab drivers can be slow to accept rides in less central areas or off-peak. If your request goes unanswered for a few minutes, cancel and try again, or switch to a songthaew. A GrabBike (motorcycle taxi) is the quick budget option for solo travelers, but you are exposed to the weather and, in the dry season, to smoky air.

Getting Around Chiang Mai by Scooter or Motorbike Rental

Renting a scooter is popular with longer-term visitors and adventurous travelers. Rental shops are scattered across the old city and the Nimman area, and most guesthouses can arrange one. Prices and deposits vary by shop, so compare, and ask whether a passport copy is accepted instead of the original.

What You Need to Know

• Visitors who drive a car or ride a motorcycle in Thailand must by law hold an international driving licence, to be shown with their passport and national licence when asked.^[2]
• Riding without a valid licence can invalidate your travel insurance, so you cannot claim after an accident. Scooters for hire in tourist areas are often unregistered and cannot legally be used on a public road.^[3]
• Always wear a helmet. Traffic is calmer than in Bangkok but still has hazards, especially at uncontrolled intersections and on the moat road.
• Inspect the scooter before you ride off and photograph any existing scratches to avoid disputes when you return it.
• A scooter is the most flexible way to reach Doi Suthep, the Mae Rim area or the Samoeng Loop, where other transport is limited.

Getting Around Chiang Mai by Bicycle

The old city's flat terrain and quiet side streets make it pleasant for cycling. Several shops near the moat rent bicycles, and some guesthouses lend them. Cycling is ideal for temple-hopping inside the old city and for visiting Warorot Market, but less practical on the busy moat road, where traffic can be intimidating for inexperienced urban cyclists.

Getting Around Chiang Mai on Foot

Walking is enjoyable inside the old city, where temples, cafes and guesthouses are close together. Outside the moat, pavements are narrow, uneven or missing in many places, and the heat and the smoky air in the dry season make long walks less pleasant. For anything beyond the old city, combine walking with another mode.

Getting Around Chiang Mai by Private Car or Van

For day trips or group travel, a private car or van with a driver is practical. Hotels and tour agencies can arrange one, and you can compare options on GoAsia.cc. Vans for larger groups suit day trips to places such as Doi Inthanon, Elephant Nature Park or Chiang Rai. If you want to self-drive, car rentals are available near the airport and in the city centre, and Thailand drives on the left.

Comparing Your Options

Practical Tips for Getting Around Chiang Mai

• Download Grab before you arrive. Set up your payment method in advance. Google Maps also works well for directions.
• Carry small bills. Songthaew and tuk-tuk drivers rarely have change for large notes.
• Show the Thai name of your destination. The name on a map or written in Thai goes a long way.
• Avoid the moat road at rush hour. The one-way loop around the old city moat slows down in the morning and evening peaks, so plan trips around them.
• Watch out for smoky air. In the dry season, agricultural burning can cause heavy smog. If the air quality is poor, check an air-quality app and prefer an air-conditioned car over open-air transport such as tuk-tuks, GrabBikes and scooters.
• Be careful on scooters. Wear closed shoes, long trousers and a helmet, and avoid riding at night if you are not experienced.

Popular Routes and Destinations

Chiang Mai Airport to the City Centre

The airport is close to the old city. Airport shuttle buses run on three routes: route A1 via Nimmanhaemin Road and Huay Kaew Road to the city moat and route A2 via Mahidol Road and the Night Bazaar to hotels on Chang Klan Road each cost 40 baht, and route A3 via the Second Ring Road to the 700th Anniversary Stadium costs 60 baht.^[4] Flat-rate airport taxis leave from Entrance 1 on the ground floor of the main terminal,^[5] and you can also request a Grab ride.^[1] Red songthaews on the road outside the airport are cheaper but make several stops.

Chiang Mai to Pai

The mountain town of Pai is a popular side trip. Minivans and buses run from Chiang Mai, and the journey takes a few hours along a winding mountain road. Book a seat a day ahead in the busy season, check which station your vehicle leaves from, and if you are prone to motion sickness take medication beforehand and sit near the front.

Old City to Doi Suthep Temple

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is on the hill 11 kilometres from the centre of Chiang Mai. Small buses to the temple run from Chiang Mai University between 05:00 and 17:00.^[6] At the temple you can walk up the stairs lined with seven-headed serpent statues or take the electric tram, which runs from 06:00 to 18:00 and costs 50 baht for foreigners.^[6] A scooter, a Grab car or a private songthaew are more flexible ways up the mountain road.

Old City to Nimman (Nimmanhaemin Road)

Nimman is Chiang Mai's trendy cafe and shopping district, west of the old city. A red songthaew, a tuk-tuk or a Grab car all make the short trip, and walking through the university area is also possible if you enjoy it.