Chiang Mai Shopping and Districts

(Chiang Mai, Thailand)

When visiting Chiang Mai you can be sure that all of your shopping needs will be more than met. With plenty of local handicrafts and traditional Thai silk, those shopping for gifts and souvenirs in Chiang Mai will find plenty to fill their suitcases with.

Whilst the quality of the goods within the city can be a little variable at times, there is no denying that things here are cheap, especially when compared to other cities around Thailand. Whether you are looking for ceramics, oriental antiques, Buddhist ornaments or jewellery, you can be sure of a memorable shopping experience in Chiang Mai, especially when visiting the legendary Night Bazaar.

Where to Shop

Much of the best shopping to be found in Chiang Mai is centred around the lively Night Bazaar area, which encompasses a vast space along the entire length of Chang Klan Road, between both Tha Phae Road and also Si Donchai Road. Arguable, the Night Bazaar is Chiang Mai's premier attraction and the ultimate shopping trip, where the Yunnanest trading caravans once stopped, many years ago.

A mixture of typical glass-fronted shops and crowds of street traders, when shopping at the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar you can expect to find an array of affordable designer goods at rock bottom prices, both fake and original. The Night Bazaar building itself contains a permanent selection of shops, selling a mixture of antiquities, handicrafts, fabrics, clothing, ceramics, furniture and silverware. Tasty local snacks and specialities can always be found around the market, with a good selection of food stalls selling refreshments.

Further Chiang Mai markets, known locally in Thailand as 'talat', include the following:

• Talat Dawk Mai (Chiang Mai Flower Market) - Th Praisani
• Talat Lamyai - Th Chang Moi
• Talat Pratu (Chiang Mai Night Market) - Th Bamrungburi
• Talat San Pa Khoi - Th Charoen Muang
• Talat Somphet - Th Moon Muang
• Talat Thanin - Th Chotana
• Talat Thiphanet - Th Thiphanet
• Talat Ton Phayon - Th Suthep
• Talat Warorot - Corner of Th Praisani and Th Chang Moi

Literally hundreds of different shops can be found all over Chiang Mai, selling Thai craftworks, often produced by neighbouring hill tribes. It is always acceptable to bargain hard and in general, the non-profit shopping outlets tend to offer the best quality, although it may be slightly more expensive. The main shopping centres, districts, malls and stores in Chiang Mai are shown below.

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar - 104 - 1 Chang Klan Road, Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand, TH
Tel: +66 053 23 5575
Open daily - 18:00 to midnight

Kalare Food and Shopping Centre - Chang Khlan Road, Night Bazaar, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand, TH
Tel: +66 053 27 2067
Open daily - 11:00 to midnight

Central Airport Plaza Shopping Mall - 2 Mahidol, Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand, TH
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 11:00 to 22:00, Saturday and Sunday - 09:30 to 22:00

Chiang Mai Plaza Shopping - Loi Khro Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand, TH
Open daily - 11:00 to midnight

Galare Plus 2 Shopping Centre - Changklan Road, Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand, TH
Tel: +66 053 81 8968
Open daily - 11:00 to 02:00

Tesco Lotus Supercentre - 132 Moi 1, Chiang Mai-Hang Dong Road, Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand, TH
Tel: +66 053 80 7478
Open daily - 08:00 to midnight

Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Mall - 99 / 4 Moo 2, Huay Kaew Road, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand, TH
Tel: +66 053 22 4444
Open daily - 10:00 to 21:00

Rimping Superstore - 171 / 1 Chang-Pheak Road, Chiang Mai, 50000, Thailand, TH
Open daily - 10:00 to 21:00