City, Thailand
Getting around Chiang Mai
How to get around Chiang Mai
Walk or cycle inside the Old City; use Grab, Bolt or red songthaews for everything else. A scooter helps for mountains and waterfalls.
Ways to get around Chiang Mai
| Option | Fare | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Red songthaew (rot daeng) | About 30–50 THB shared | Shared pickup trucks; say your stop before boarding |
| Grab / Bolt | About 70–150 THB in town | Cheapest reliable option, including to the airport |
| Bicycle | About 50–100 THB a day | Flat Old City lanes; traffic on the moat roads is fast |
Ride-hailing apps in Chiang Mai
A 5 km ride costs about ฿70–130 ($2.1–3.9).
- Red songthaews work as shared taxis; agree the fare first. Tuk-tuks cost more and need haggling.
Arriving in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai International (CNX)
Only 4 km from the Old City: Grab or Bolt about 100–200 THB, airport taxi about 150–250 THB, 10–20 min.
Driving and onward travel
- Scooters: Common for long stays at 150–250 THB a day; police checkpoints near the Old City fine riders without licence or helmet.
- Driving: on the left. Drive with your home licence plus a 1949-Convention IDP; scooters need the motorcycle category or police fine you.
- Onward travel in Thailand: Cheap domestic flights link main cities; overnight sleeper trains run Bangkok–Chiang Mai and south; VIP buses, minivans and ferries cover the rest.
Quick answers
Is there Uber in Chiang Mai?
No. Use Grab, Bolt instead.
What's the best way to get around Chiang Mai?
Walk or cycle inside the Old City; use Grab, Bolt or red songthaews for everything else. A scooter helps for mountains and waterfalls.
How do I get from the airport to Chiang Mai?
Only 4 km from the Old City: Grab or Bolt about 100–200 THB, airport taxi about 150–250 THB, 10–20 min.
Is Chiang Mai walkable?
Walkable center.
More about Chiang Mai
Going to Chiang Mai solo?
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Sources
- State Railway of Thailand e-ticketing
- Airports of Thailand
- Chiang Mai International Airport (Airports of Thailand)
- Bolt Chiang Mai
- Punspace
- Chiang Mai Ram Hospital
Fares are typical 2026 prices; check the operator for today's fares. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.