15 Fun Markets in Chiang Mai, Thailand

What are some of the things you enjoy most when visiting Thailand?

For an overwhelming majority of people (us included), it’s the food. For culture-goers, it’s the temples. People who enjoy sun and surf love its beautiful beaches while younger travelers relish the nightlife, especially in Bangkok.

For me personally, I can’t get enough of Thai street food which is why I enjoy exploring its many markets no matter where I am in Thailand. Leave me at a night market with a couple hundred baht on an empty stomach and I’m a happy man!

We spent a month in the capital last year where I wrote this article on the best markets in Bangkok. We had so much fun we couldn’t wait to do it again this year, this time in Chiang Mai.

If you’re like me and love the energy and promise of cheap street food and t-shirts at Thai night markets, then this guide will give you lots to look forward to on your next trip to northern Thailand.

THE BEST MARKETS IN CHIANG MAI

Compared to Chiang Mai, Bangkok is a much larger city with a greater diversity of markets. Being a city of canals and waterways, it’s famous for its unique floating markets. Unfortunately, there are no floating markets in Chiang Mai but you will find a good number of night markets and weekend markets.

Tap on a link to jump to either section of the guide. You can also refer to our location map to help you navigate to any of the markets featured here.

NIGHT MARKETS

1. Phaploen Market

Among all of Chiang Mai’s night markets, Phaploen is easily our favorite. It’s located east of the Old City walls and used to be called Ploen Ruedee Night Market.

We first visited and fell in love with this night market in 2017. Despite the name change, it’s nice to see that Phaploen retains the same vibe and tempting array of street food stalls as its predecessor. If you’re looking for good Thai food served with a dose of (slightly kitschy) entertainment, then Phaploen is a great market to visit in Chiang Mai.

Catering to tourists, Phaploen isn’t the most authentic night market you’ll find in Chiang Mai but it’s one of the most fun and well-organized. It’s clean, visually appealing, and offers nightly entertainment in the form of traditional folk dancers and live music bands.

You’ll find a handful of cute souvenir stands at Phaploen but this isn’t the night market to visit if you’re interested in shopping. Phaploen is all about the food (and drink).

Phaploen Market is situated in a parking lot or open plaza with street food stands set up along its entire perimeter. From northern Thai cuisine to international comfort food and plant-based dishes, it shouldn’t take you long to find something good to eat here.

Phaploen Market

Address: Q2P2+M73, Chang Moi Sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Operating Hours: 5:30-11:30PM, daily

2. Kalare Night Bazaar

Since you’re already in the area, Kalare Night Bazaar is another market you should probably check out. It’s just a couple of minutes down the street from Phaploen but it couldn’t feel further away in terms of feel and ambiance.

Kalare is located in what appears to be a covered gymnasium or basketball court. Filled with both retail and food stalls, it’s busy, chaotic, and buzzing with that electric Thai night market energy. It isn’t as clean and organized as Phaploen but it feels much more authentic. Judging from the crowd, this is probably where locals in the area go to grab a quick bite to eat.

Unlike Phaploen Market that’s mostly about food, you’ll find a decent number of stalls at Kalare selling bags, clothing, souvenirs, and what many foreigners buy to blend in in Thailand – elephant pants.

Kalare Night Bazaar

Address: 89 โครงการกาแลไนท์บาซาร์ 2 Changklan Rd, Tambon Chang Moi, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Operating Hours: 4-11:30PM, daily

3. Think Park Night Market

I love this little night market in the trendy Nimman area. Consisting of no more than 15-20 stalls, it’s one of the smallest night markets on this list but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in bright lights and big energy.

Think Park is a small cluster of restaurants and boutiques located across the street from Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center. Every night, starting at around 8PM, they set up a row of colorful food stalls that never fail to attract a crowd of hungry shoppers and passers-by.

Spend enough time in Thailand and you’ll find pretty much the same types of food sold at every night market. For me, what makes it worth visiting is the atmosphere, and Think Park Night Market, in spite of its small size, is one of the most energetic and fun night markets you can visit in Chiang Mai.

You’ll find music, bright lights, bold colors, and enough food stalls to make it interesting. Plus, they offer ample seating as well. I visited a few times and even though I didn’t always eat something, I enjoyed just sitting here people watching and soaking up the energy.

Delicious street food is never far from reach at night markets in Chiang Mai.

Think Park Night Market consists mostly of food stalls but on some nights, you’ll find a few clothing stalls as well, even lounge chairs where you can get a foot and/or hand massage.

Think Park Night Market

Address: RX28+FXQ, Nimmanahaeminda Road, Tambon Su Thep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Operating Hours: 8-10PM, daily

4. NGFM

If vintage finds are your thing, then you need to check out NGFM. Open only on Monday and Tuesday nights, NGFM stands for “Night Ground Flea Market” and features around 20-30 stalls selling t-shirts, jeans, vintage clothing, and accessories. Be sure to grab a bite before you go because you won’t find any food here.

I go to night markets mainly for the food but I enjoyed the vibe at NGFM. Plus, it’s always fun going through tables of knick-knacks and trinkets to see what vintage treasures you can find.

The vendors at NGFM offer a good mix of new and pre-loved items.

NGFM

Address: RX29+6W6, Huay Kaew Rd, Chang Phueak, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
Operating Hours: 4-10PM, Mon-Tue

5. Share Market @morespace

We were in a Grab on our way to a vegan restaurant in Chiang Mai when I spotted this night market. Called Share Market @morespace, it’s similar to NGFM in that it focuses more on fashion and vintage clothing.

Like NGFM, Share Market was buzzing with an energy that made it fun to be there, even if you weren’t necessarily looking to buy anything. Open daily, it’s bigger than NGFM and consists mainly of vendors selling t-shirts, jeans, vintage clothing, accessories, and old toys.

Share Market is located a few blocks south of the central Nimman area so you won’t find as many tourists here.

Unlike NGFM, there are a handful of food stalls at Share Market, though this area did feel like more of an afterthought. The focus here is clearly on the clothing so I suggest eating somewhere else before visiting.

Share Market @morespace

Address: 2 Chiang Rai Rd, Tambon Su Thep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Operating Hours: 4-10PM, daily

6. Chiang Mai Gate Market

Chiang Mai Gate Market is located just outside the south gate of the Old City so it’s one of the older and more well-known night markets on this list. You’ll find a few souvenir stalls here – nothing really worth visiting – but the real draw is its cluster of street food vendors.

Like Kalare Night Bazaar or Chang Puak Gate Market (#7) in the north of the Old City, this is a grittier and more traditional night market that gives you a taste of what authentic night markets are like in Chiang Mai.

I’m such a sucker for these traditional night markets in Thailand. No matter how full I am, I can’t help but inspect what every vendor has to offer.

Unlike the more touristy night markets like Phaploen or Think Park, there’s no music or anything bright and shiny to catch your attention here. It’s all about good street food sold for super cheap.

Chiang Mai Gate Market

Address: Bumrung Buri Rd, Tambon Phra Sing, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Operating Hours: 4PM-2AM, daily

7. Chang Puak Gate Market

On the opposite side of the Old City is Chang Puak Gate Market, a traditional night market that’s similar in feel to Chiang Mai Gate Market. It consists of a cluster of around 20-30 street food stalls (no clothing or souvenir vendors) featuring arguably the most famous street food vendor in Chiang Mai – Cowboy Hat Lady. More on her in a bit.

Though not quite as well-known, another great food stall to try at Chang Puak Gate Market is Suki Koka (pictured below). They specialize in Thai suki which is like a Thai version of shabu shabu or Chinese hot pot. I included them in the list of our favorite restaurants in Chiang Mai.

Here’s Cowboy Hat Lady chopping up pork trotters in her signature 10-gallon hat. She’s known for her khao kha moo or braised pork leg over rice, which some have praised as the best in Chiang Mai. Don’t miss it.

Chang Puak Gate Market

Address: 248/70 Manee Nopparat Rd, Tambon Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Operating Hours: 5PM-12MN, daily

8. Chiang Mai University Night Market

When it comes to eating Thai food for cheap, nothing beats traditional night markets in Chiang Mai. Your baht goes a long way but perhaps none further than at this market located directly across from Chiang Mai University. Because it caters to students, people rave about how much lower prices are for food and clothing at this night market.

You’ll find a good selection of t-shirts, jeans, dresses, accessories, bags, trinkets, and souvenirs at this night market. I don’t usually buy clothing at Thai markets but I went home with a few pieces of Uniqlo overruns from here.

There are a few street food vendors at Chiang Mai University Night Market but not too many piqued our interest. According to reviews, the food is cheap here but just average.

These pieces of sun-dried beef however, were awesome. They fry them up and sell each chunk for just THB 10.

This restaurant called Steak Bar is pretty popular and gets good reviews. For a humble-looking restaurant located in a night market, it was surprising to see how beautifully they plate their dishes!

We sat down to try their salmon steak but they were all out that night so we moved to a forgettable kaitzen-zushi restaurant next door. Oh well, next time.

Chiang Mai University Night Market

Address: ซอย สุเทพ Tambon Chang Phueak, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
Operating Hours: 5-11PM, daily

9. Malin Plaza Market

We left Chiang Mai University Night Market and started walking home when we passed this much livelier market located just a few minutes away. Packed with people, mostly students, this market was buzzing with energy and boasted row upon row of food stalls and food-court-type restaurants. This market felt like a club compared to the much mellower Chiang Mai University Night Market!

After seeing the wealth and diversity of offerings here, we regretted filling our bellies with mediocre food at Chiang Mai University Night Market.

When you visit both of these markets, I suggest eating here and doing your shopping at Chiang Mai University Night Market. Malin Plaza has many clothing and accessories vendors as well but the prices aren’t as enticing.

Chiang Mai University Night Market

Address: ซอย สุเทพ Tambon Chang Phueak, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
Operating Hours: 5-11PM, daily

10. Lang Mor Night Market

Lang Mor is another busy night market offering plenty of street food choices. It consists of around 50 or so food stalls lined up in a row along Suthep Road, about a 15-minute Grab ride away from the central Nimman area.

Like Chiang Mai University Night Market, it looks like Lang Mor caters mostly to students. The choices are plentiful and the prices cheap.

The only downside is the lack of seating. It looks like most customers get food to go because only a handful of the stalls have tables and chairs for dine-in customers. We didn’t really have a comfortable place to sit so we wound up having dinner at a proper restaurant across the street.

We loved the energy and offerings at Lang Mor Night Market but unless you’re keen on visiting every night market on this list, there’s little reason to come all the way here. You’ll find similar offerings at markets closer to the Old City or the central Nimman area.

Lang Mor Night Market

Address: ใหม่หลังมอ ซอย 7 บ้าน Tambon Su Thep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Operating Hours: 5-9PM, daily

WEEKEND MARKETS

11. White Market

As cheap as they are, the clothes you find at many night markets in Thailand are souvenir quality – generic, often cheesy, and not always made from the best materials. If you’re looking for something that’s more fashionable and well-made, then you need to check out White Market. It sets up just outside the One Nimman Lifestyle Mall and happens every Friday to Sunday.

At White Market, you’ll find clothing and accessories that wouldn’t look out of place at higher-end retail shops and boutiques. The prices are noticeably higher than the generic stuff you’d find at traditional night markets but you do get what you pay for.

The vendors here carry a lot of items that look like they were influenced by Japanese patterns or designs. I was wondering why that was so I looked it up. Apparently, Chiang Mai is home to the second-largest Japanese migrant population in Thailand, after Bangkok. Interesting!

If you’re looking for unique items, either for yourself or to give as gifts, then White Market is one of the best markets you can visit in Chiang Mai.

White Market

Address: 1/4-1/5,1/7-1 10 Nimmanahaeminda Road, เมือง Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Operating Hours: 3-10PM, Fri-Sun

12. One Nimman Food Market

After you’ve done your shopping at White Market, why not tuck into One Nimman to grab a bite to eat? Inside the square at the foot of the clocktower is the One Nimman Food Market, a cluster of around 20-30 stalls offering different types of street food. Like Think Park, this is a more polished night market that caters more to tourists.

Anyone fancy grilled pork jowl? Aside from the usual northern Thai street food, you’ll find more international fare here as well like gelato, Western-style barbecued chicken, and baby back ribs.

If you like the concept of street food markets but shy away from the grittiness of traditional markets like Chang Puak or Kalare, then this weekend food market at One Nimman is a great alternative.

One Nimman Food Market

Address: Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Operating Hours: 3-9PM, Fri-Sun

13. Jing Jai Market

Jing Jai Market is one of the biggest and coolest markets we visited in Chiang Mai. It’s open everyday but it’s best to go on a Saturday or Sunday for its weekend market. The grounds become covered by dozens and dozens of vendors selling higher-end fashion, accessories, Japanese Lanna handicrafts, trinkets, sculptures, art pieces, and other artisanal products.

On a weekday, you won’t find these pop-up tents at Jing Jai. The grounds are home to brick-and-mortar shops and restaurants but sellers like these only set up during the weekend.

Like White Market, you’ll find a lot of these cute boutique-like items at Jing Jai Weekend Market. Many vendors offer Japanese Lanna items so the place does feel like a bigger version of White Market. There are probably close to 200 stalls here so you can easily spend a couple of hours going through everything.

If you get hungry after shopping, then make your way to Jing Jai’s food market. We came later in the afternoon when most of the vendors had already packed up, but it looks like they sell fresh produce here as well.

The vendors at the weekend market are fantastic but the shops, restaurants, and cafes at Jing Jai – which are open during the week – are pretty awesome as well. It’s even home to a great supermarket called Tops Green where we did some unexpected grocery shopping.

We enjoyed everything about Jing Jai but our favorite part was this fun cafe/handicraft store called good goods.

We didn’t try the coffee but we loved the fun and unique items they had on sale here. From t-shirts to bucket hats to tote bags and colorful brooms, we were tempted to buy so many things at good goods. What held us back? The price.

The stuff for sale at good goods is pretty pricey, which isn’t surprising considering how well-made and unique they are. We didn’t see any of these items anywhere else in Chiang Mai.

Jing Jai Market

Address: 46 Atsadathon Rd, Pa Tan Sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
Operating Hours: 8:30AM-9PM, Mon-Fri / 6:30AM-10PM, Sat-Sun

14. Wua Lai Walking Street

The last two markets on this list are among the biggest and most popular in Chiang Mai. They’re different from the others because they take place just one day a week on streets that become closed off to vehicular traffic.

The first of these two weekend markets is the Wua Lai Walking Street Market. Also known as the Saturday night market, it happens every Saturday from around 6-11PM and goes on for several blocks along Wua Lai Road just south of the Old City.

You’ll find vendors on either side of the road selling anything and everything from clothing to bags to accessories and souvenirs. The items for sale aren’t as interesting or as high-quality as the goods you’ll find at White Market or Jing Jai but it’s a fun experience just walking down the street and taking in everything around you.

We tried walking the entire length of the market but we probably didn’t even make it halfway. The market is long with so much to see, buy, and eat!

There are a few food vendors along Wua Lai Road but it’s best to save your appetite for one of these clusters of food stalls just off the main street. You’ll find several along Wua Lai Road.

Here’s something you don’t see everyday in Chiang Mai – a street vendor selling kebabs made with crocodile meat.

We were here shortly after the market started at 6PM and the place was already buzzing with that fun night market energy. I imagine it gets even livelier later at night!

No self-respecting night market in Chiang Mai would ever leave diners without some evening entertainment! Northern Thai cowboys strumming, humming, and doing their thing at Wua Lai.

We feasted at this market, starting with one of our favorite dishes in northern Thailand – sai oua or northern Thai sausages. These are absolutely delicious, especially the sour variety. Give me a skewer of sai oua and some sticky rice and I’m in night market heaven.

Like you, we love mango sticky rice. But how about trying something a little more daring like these squid eggs? This is just one of the many interesting dishes you’ll find at food markets in Thailand.

Wua Lai Walking Street

Address: 69 Wua Lai Rd, Haiya Sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Operating Hours: 6-11PM, Sat

15. Tha Phae Walking Street

The Tha Phae Walking Street Market is another famous market in Chiang Mai. Also referred to as the Sunday Night Market or the Sunday Walking Street Market, it takes place along Rachadamnoen Road in the Old City, starting from Tha Phae Gate.

This street market feels a lot like the Saturday Market along Wua Lai Road, but even busier.

If your trip to Chiang Mai falls over the weekend, then you need to visit these two walking street markets. Both are great but I personally found the Saturday Night Market along Wua Lai Road to be more enjoyable. This one felt too crowded at times.

As always, the food section is our favorite part of any Thai night market. This one was particularly busy with dozens of stalls tempting you at every turn.

PRO TIP: If you’re unsure what to eat, then navigate to the busiest stall. At this food market, it was a pad kra pao stall. We had already eaten so we didn’t try it, but the pad kra pao those cooks were whipping up looked and smelled amazing!

Tha Phae Walking Street

Address: Rachadamnoen Rd, Tambon Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Operating Hours: 5-10:30PM, Sun

LOCATION MAP

To help you navigate to these markets in Chiang Mai, I’ve pinned them all on the map below. Click on the link for a live version of the map.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE BEST CHIANG MAI MARKETS

If you’re familiar with Chiang Mai, then you may notice one glaring omission from this list – Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. Based on the reviews, it’s supposed to be the largest night market in Chiang Mai but that’s not what I found.

Located directly across the street from Kalare Night Bazaar, Chiang Mai Night Bazaar appears to be on its last legs. There isn’t much within the structure itself with most of the vendors spilled out onto the street. I didn’t enjoy the experience so I’ve left it off this list, especially since there are other markets more worthy of your time and attention.

This list focuses on night and weekend markets but if you’d like to visit a traditional Southeast Asian wet market in Chiang Mai, then Muang Mai Market may be worth checking out as well.

In any case, this list has gone on long enough so I’ll end it here. If you have any questions, then do let us know in the comment section below.

Thanks for reading and have an amazing time exploring the colorful markets of Chiang Mai!

Disclosure

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