21 Things To Do In Chiang Mai For Female Solo Travellers

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When I first arrived in Chiang Mai a few months ago, I didn’t get a good first impression. For some reason, I thought there would be more nature, so I felt nearly disappointed, until I seriously explored the city and asked for recommendations around.

After more than 2 months of living there, I completely fell in love with the city, and I honestly felt upset when it was time to leave.

It’s also really safe for women to explore alone. I walked almost everywhere day and night, never had an issue.

Chiang Mai is a really magical place, but you need to know where to go or you just end up walking around the Old Town until it’s time to fly back home.

Chiang Mai has so many green spaces to enjoy and a huge artistic vibe too.

You will find silver studios, craft workshops and even small chocolate makers around town. And when you want a change of scene, you can head out of the city for some AMAZING day trips.

And the temples? So many and beautiful. You can walk around the town and hear monks’ chants during sunset.

The most beautiful surprise for me was the Ang Kaeo Reservoir located inside Chiang Mai University (more on this later).

I ended up going there every week. I would sit on a bench and paint with my watercolours or go for an evening walk during sunset.

If you’re a female solo traveller wondering what to do in Chiang Mai, here are 21 of the best experiences I personally loved, from creative workshops to cultural activities and relaxing places where you’ll feel safe and inspired.

How To Get From Chiang Mai Airport To The City?

The airport is super close to the city, in fact, it was just a 30-minute drive from my apartment, which was in the centre.

➡️ I recommend booking your driver in advance through Klook.com, especially if you arrive at night. It’s easy to book, affordable and reliable. I use it all the time!

The alternative would be to just get a Grab car. That being said, there are only a limited number of drivers considering it’s a small city, so booking your driver in advance is definitely a better option.

If you are coming from Bangkok and love slow travel, you can take a bus to Chiang Mai. The journey takes between 10 and 11 hours. There are day or night buses available. ➡️ Check bus schedule here

If you’re short on time, I would suggest taking a flight; the price difference is not that much after all, and you save a lot of time!

What about moving around Chiang Mai?

I have to say I walked to most places, but that’s because I don’t mind walking all day and I stayed in Chiang Mai for more than 2 months, so I wasn’t rushing!

However, the best way to get around the city is by renting a scooter. ➡️ BikeAgo is the best scooter rental, it’s also used a lot in Bali and I always recommend it to everyone!

If you go for a scooter, remember you need to have an international driving license (the same goes for car rental).

Alternatively, you can hop on a Grab scooter or “songthaews” (red trucks). The latter is probably the cheapest way to get around Chiang Mai but unless it’s a 10-minute ride, you might get car sick!

That’s because there are 2 benches facing each other on the truck, so you are not sitting in the same direction as the road.

But if you don’t have that issue, go for it! They can take you anywhere you like, plus the main shopping areas and malls have free songthaews running from the old town.

Now that you have the basics sorted, let me tell you exactly what to do to make the most of your time in Chiang Mai.

#1 Check Out The Temples In The Old City

A gleaming silver Buddha statue sits in front of an intricately detailed silver temple, decorated with dragon motifs and elaborate carvings. Visitors are seen admiring the temple under a clear afternoon sky.

When walking around the Old City, it’s nearly impossible not to see how many temples there are.

And let me tell you, they are beautiful. Some of them are free to visit and others you will need to pay a small entrance fee.

These were my favourites:

That being said, I have to say that these big ones can feel overwhelming, especially if you visit them on the same day.

My advice would be to visit one per day for the first few days of your trip.

If you want to visit a smaller and less crowded temple, check out Wat Jedyod Royal. I fell in love it!

I went to this temple every day; it felt intimate and beautiful. Not a person visiting, it was only me, the monks and a couple of cats. There is a garden too here, you can sit at any bench and relax.

➡️ Check this guided tour around the temples! It’s held by an ex-monk and it even includes a small meditation. He is lovely and super knowledgeable, highly recommended!

Pro tip: If you are lucky enough to be in a temple during the daily monk chants, stay. Sit on the floor and listen even if you don’t know a word. It’s a fantastic experience!

#2 Go To A Monk Chat

Yesterday I was in Bangkok and I read this big banner saying “Buddha is not just an ornamental statue”. This sentence hit home immediately.

If you want to go beyond taking pictures of Buddha, join one of the many monk chats happening in Chiang Mai. It happens in different temples as well as at Monk Chat office.

During the monk chat, you spend half or a full day with the monks and get to know more about Buddhism or their way of living. It’s free to attend with an optional donation.

I live in Bali and I regularly join several Buddhist meditations and chants with the monks. They are completely different from the other ones mainstream!

#3 Go For A Walk In The Ang Kaeo Reservoir

This is probably the most beautiful place in Chiang Mai and once I found it, I went there constantly for months!

The Ang Kaeo Reservoir is within Chiang Mai University and it’s a huge park including a few lakes too.

You can come for a run here or simply get a drink from the cafes and go for a walk. I personally spent hours with watercolours trying to paint a lake!

If you want to see more about this park, watch my YouTube video here below:

There is also another park I recommend visiting in Chiang Mai. It’s called Chiang Mai Chaloem Phrakiat Park. It’s not touristy at all!

There is a beautiful lake there, food markets and sometimes they host flower festivals too. I watched one of the best sunsets from this park.

#4 Sign Up For An Inhaler Workshop

A woman sits on a wooden bench in front of a colorful mural that reads "Nature provides, you create". She smiles while holding a turquoise shopping bag, with a bamboo basket of dried leaves beside her. — **Picture taken from Uri Herbs workshop team**

During my long stay in Chiang Mai, I went overboard with workshops; I tried so many and loved every single one.

If it’s your first time to Thailand, you should know that locals go crazy for inhalers, for different reasons. Mainly because of the pollution that causes nasal congestion.

However, you can easily use it if you have a cold or just a congested nose for any reason.

If you’re intrigued, make sure to sign up to the workshop. I absolutely loved the teachers. The location is perfect too, very central and walkable! ➡️ Secure your slot here, they have plenty of options!

Thailand is very famous for using natural products for pretty much anything. Some traditional remedies and recipes are super useful to know and can be easily applied back home.

So, your girl went for tea blend, natural skincare and aromatherapy workshops (I told you I went wild with the workshops!). It’s been a lot of fun and I’ve learnt a lot!

➡️ Aromatherapy was probably my favourite workshop because I got to make my own lip balm and face oil, which can be particularly expensive for people like me who have allergies! So I’m proud I now know how to make them myself 🙂

#5 Explore The Student Night Market

An open-air clothing market at dusk with racks of second-hand clothes arranged in rows. Multicolored lanterns hang overhead, and the silhouettes of nearby mountains are visible against the evening sky.

You can’t skip the student night market, it’s the best place to be and I don’t even know why there are no tourists at all.

It’s located near the entrance of Chiang Mai University and it’s a big market including beautiful/affordable shops and occasional market stands too. There is a food market, so you can grab dinner and it’s very cheap.

It’s the perfect place if you like vintage shopping and accessories like hair props and small jewellery.

#6 Get A Massage From Female Ex-Prisoners

I’m a sucker for relaxing Balinese massages but I cannot enjoy Thai massages because I find them painful.

That being said, a lot of people recommended ➡️ this Thai massage place where the masseuses are ex-prisoners. It’s truly sensational!

This is a nice way to bring them back to work and make them earn a living. Make sure to book it a lot in advance to secure your spot.

#7 Visit The Kalm Village For Free Exhibitions And Relax

An open-air courtyard surrounded by leafy trees and wooden structures in traditional Thai architecture. Black benches and hanging egg chairs provide a cozy seating area beneath patterned tile flooring.

The Kalm Village is a relaxing place where you can attend free exhibitions, go to a cafe or rest on the nice benches upstairs with a book.

It’s definitely worth visiting. When I went, there were 2 beautiful exhibitions, one about the local village’s craftsmanship and one about how we feel while we meditate.

I saw there were yoga classes offered too and they also arranged some artsy activities.

#8 Check Out The Coconut Market For Boho Vibes And Amazing Food!

A woman smiles beneath tall palm trees in a sun-drenched coconut grove, shading her eyes with one hand. Sunlight filters through the fronds, casting a golden glow across the green grass.

Yes, Chiang Mai is not only about temples but it’s also covered in markets. There are so many it’s insane, BUT the Coconut market is pretty unique.

First of all, it’s a little outside the centre and it’s located in a huge palm trees field, for a moment I felt like I was in Ubud (Bali) again!

The market itself is stunning; there are food stands making anything you can possibly eat or drink with coconut in it.

You will also find very cute clothes stands and local musicians. It’s free to attend and only open on weekends. It closes around 3PM so it’s mainly a day activity.

But let me tell you a little secret, if you liked some clothes there but missed the opportunity to get them, 90% of the clothes stands are also located later in the day at the Sunday Night Market.

Food-wise, I highly recommend the coconut pancakes because they are delicious and super affordable.

#9 Stroll Through Baan Kang Wat Art Market & Workshops

A narrow, shaded alley lined with rustic wooden shops and lush greenery, bustling with people browsing handmade crafts and snacks. Warm lighting and hanging vines give the market a cozy, jungle-like feel.

If you’re an artistic/crafty type, you might enjoy Baan Kang Wat. You can join pottery classes as well as painting, candle making and similar workshops.

The environment is kind of hipster at time instagra-my but with a lovely vibe. There is live music, food and handmade products sold in small stands here and there.

#10 Go On A Day Trip To These Places!

You have quite a few options here but let me tell you the ones I enjoyed the most:

Doi Inthanon for unforgettable hikes

A woman stands on a wooden viewing platform high in the mountains, with panoramic views of green valleys and distant hills under a cloudless blue sky. She smiles as wind sweeps her hair across her face, surrounded by nature.

This was probably one of my favourite day trips from Chiang Mai. It was about 2 hours drive and I absolutely loved it.

It’s quite high up in the mountains so it’s a bit colder than Chiang Mai but you would be fully immersed in nature and it feels amazing!

In Doi Inthanon, I went to the Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail and Wachirathan Waterfall.

The trail was incredible and really not difficult to hike, but it does take about 1 hour, so allow enough time!

➡️ Book your tour on Get Your Guide. This includes other stops too and it would be fully organised.

While I love tours, in my case, I had plenty of time and I wanted to dedicate more time to each stop so I only booked a seat on a local bus!

If you want to explore for longer, choose the local bus company. They will drop you to 1 or 2 places, no guide included. ➡️ Check prices here

It worked out really well for me. As for the hike on the trail, I hired a local guide with a girl I met on the bus and we had the best time!

Mae Kampong to visit local villages

This is a tiny village in the mountains. While it’s so small you can see it in 15 minutes, I highly recommend staying the night because the village looks amazing with the lanterns switched on and you get watch an unforgettable sunrise too (read more about this village here).

Mae Kampong is only 1 hour away from Chiang Mai and I went there with a local bus again. It was very affordable and easy!

If you want to go on a day trip including hot springs and different stops ➡️book this tour. It’s perfect if you don’t want to drive but still make the most out of Mae Kampong!

Chiang Rai for more and bigger temples

If you didn’t get enough of temples, Chiang Rai has 2 massive ones and they are gorgeous. You can visit the white and blue temples in a day and come back.

It takes about 2 hours to get there and you can just ➡️ join a day tour so you make the most out of different spots in Chiang Rai, all in 1 day.

Lamphun to explore a traditional town

If you like not-touristy places, head to Lamphun! It’s wonderful and under 1 hour away.

Visit the Wat Chammathewi temple, and walk around the town without expectations but don’t forget to stop at The Terracotta Garden. This cafe is insanely beautiful and delicious!

Plus, if you head to Lamphun on Fridays, you will find a local market too! The best way to get there is to head to this station to find bus or red trucks going there.

There is no advanced schedule so you can’t tell what time the buses will run tomorrow, only for today! But go to the station early and ask questions about the schedule for the day (and get your Google Translate ready as the staff doesn’t speak English).

Going to Lamphun from Chiang Mai is not easy ➡️ I recommend this tour so you don’t have to worry about transport, guide or where to get lunch.

#11 Hike The Monks Trail (it’s an easy and stunning path!)

An old, moss-covered stone structure with arched doorways stands hidden in a lush forest near a small creek. Dense tropical greenery surrounds the weathered building, creating a serene, overgrown atmosphere.

I kid you not, I was scared about this hike because I’m clumsy. Little I knew, this hike is incredibly easy and short. So don’t overthink it, just go!

Here is where it starts. You will need to pay a small fee to access the trail but it’s quite affordable.

There is a beautiful temple towards the end of the trail with a waterfall too.

From there, you could ideally walk all the way to Suthep temple but it would be on a normal road so you might as well take Grab 🙂

This trail used to be the one used by monks to reach the temple every day. But surprise surprise… You might not see a single monk going up on the trail today.

That’s because they are sick of us tourists going up and down, so they are now taking another route!

#12 Book Your Chocolate Workshop Here

If you go crazy for chocolate as much as I do, you will love this workshop.

We went through everything we needed to know about how to make chocolate from the very start (the fruit) all the way to the chocolate bar.

We made four chocolate bars. I’d love to say I paced myself, but I ate them all by the next morning. ➡️ Read more about the workshop here

#13 Head To Nimman Square For Markets, Live Music, Food And Nice Shops

A covered shopping arcade with a high glass ceiling and brick walls features small wooden stalls selling handmade goods. Shoppers walk through the cobblestone path lined with warm lights and boutique storefronts.

This is a lovely place to hang out in Chiang Mai.

There are lovely shops and there is always something going on. I really enjoyed live music in the evenings.

There are many healthy and clean places to eat in this area, as well as lovely cafes (such as fimue and Groon).

This is also one of the best neighbourhoods to stay in Chiang Mai, so if you’re looking for your accommodation, look at this area for sure!

#14 Stroll Through The Evening Market By Mae Kha Canal

This market by the canal is lovely, the lighting is super romantic too!

There are cute stands, local singers (sometimes children with a microphone) and a lot of cats hanging about!

#15 Explore Chinatown And Warorot Market

A red and gold Chinese-style gate marks the entrance to a market area in an urban Thai street, with motorbikes and cars passing underneath. Thai and Chinese signage and a billboard are visible around the intersection.

I don’t know how many people I met there who had no idea there was a Chinatown in Chiang Mai.

Well, there is one and you should visit for sure. I would go there first and then walk 20 minutes to the canal market. So you get to do both in one day 🙂

This neighbourhood has a famous market called Warorot and some interesting shops.

If you love chocolate, there is a place very close to Chinatown called Chocolate Club Cafe and they make a mean hot chocolate.

They also grow their own cacao in Chiang Rai. The owner is amazing and I ended up talking to him for over an hour!

#16 Hang Out With Other Solo Travellers Through These Apps

If you are travelling alone and want to meet other travellers, there is a very easy way to find them and go on adventures together.

Download the free apps “Nomad Table” and “Nomad Her” (the latter is only for women). You can join pre-organised activities or come up with your own ones.

I met some lovely people through these apps in both Thailand and Bali!

#17 Get Some Delish Local Food In Lanna Square

A meal tray with a bowl of soup garnished with cilantro and a plate of steamed white rice, sliced cucumber, and lettuce. The tray is on a rustic wooden table with signage for “Lanna Square Market” in the background.

There are endless places to have local food but Lanna Square was a lovely surprise.

Here I got a delicious soup and enjoyed live music too!

#18 Try A Yoga Class Or Kirtan Here

Did you know Chiang Mai has amazing yoga studios? Urban Ashram and Layla Yoga studios are lovely but there are many others too!

If you’re into Kirtans, Layla Yoga organises some from time to time. Check their website or IG account to see what events they have coming up!

#19 Check Out These Sourdough Bakeries

A bright and cozy bakery named "GROON" with neatly arranged pastries and breads behind a glass display. The space features warm wood accents and a hanging light above, with yellow takeaway boxes on the top shelf.

While traditional Thai food is delicious, if you like baked goods like a dreamy sourdough bread, great pastries and so on… well, Chiang Mai has insanely good bakeries!

Let me tell you something. The day I arrived, I went to the supermarket and 100% of the bread sold had sugar in its ingredients list. So, what did I do?

Like every good digital nomad, I went to the expats Facebook group for Chiang Mai and asked if there was any bakery selling sourdough bread so I can make some eggs on toast in the morning.

Starting from literally 2 minutes after asking the question in the group, passionate sourdough people replied with the same energy as football team fans. And by 30 minutes after posting the question, I had 55 replies.

So this is to say there are many really good bakeries but these are my top 3 bakeries I’m obsessed with (please don’t share this on any expact FB group, I would get roasted for sure ahaha):

#20 Get Some Work Done Here

If you’re a digital nomad like me, at some point, you will have to look for a place to get your work done.

I visited a few coworking spaces but I have to say that RealSpace was the best one. They organise a lot of events too including board game nights.

If you’re not a board games person like me, it’s still ok because the most important thing there is the creator’s community.

In fact, there are quite a lot of content creators and you can easily meet them and talk about your experiences. I also went to a YouTube workshop, which I really enjoyed.

#21 Make Your Own Ring At This Silver Workshop

As mentioned before, there is a fantastic temple made out of silver and its neighbourhood has always been inhabited by silver craftsmen.

On your way to the temple, you will see long tables of tourists making their own rings, and they look amazing!

You can either join the class there and then or ➡️ book one in advance here so you don’t have to wait

What About The Elephant Sanctuaries?

I’ll be honest, an ethical elephant sanctuary is very rare. Although many don’t allow riding elephants anymore that doesn’t mean that elephants are not mistreated.

So, I don’t recommend engaging in any activities involving animals and the same goes for the Tiger Kingdom.

FAQs On Visiting Chiang Mai

When is the best time to visit Chiang Mai?

The best time is from November to January. The weather is cooler, drier and walking around is actually enjoyable.

Try to avoid February to April if you can because of burning season. The air quality can get pretty bad and it really affects the experience.

Is it easy to shop for clothes in Chiang Mai?

Short answer, no.
At markets and most local shops, clothes usually come in one single size and that size is tiny.

If you really need clothes that fit properly, head to places like H&M or other Western brands in shopping malls.

Best souvenirs from Chiang Mai?

Tiny candles are always a good idea and easy to pack. They are small, round and in a cute box. I found those at the Sunday Market and got 3, my mum loved them!

I also saw really nice personalised passport holders, which make a cute gift and feel special (because they are custom-made!)

Thai snacks are great too, especially nuts and dried fruits if you want something practical and easy to bring home.

Is WiFi reliable in Chiang Mai?

Yes, in most places. Cafés, hotels and apartments usually have fast and stable WiFi. It is very normal to see people working from cafés around the city.

➡️ I still recommend using Ubigi eSIM as backup, especially if you plan to move around a lot during the day. I used it during my stay in Thailand and it worked perfectly! Use my code “OBSERVER10” for 10% off!

Have You Booked Your Hotel Yet?

Chiang Mai turned out to be one of the most peaceful, creative and empowering places I’ve travelled to as a solo female traveller. I hope this list helps you experience the best of it too.

If you’re still planning your trip, make sure to read my guide on the best areas stay and hotels to book in Chiang Mai.

I share the safest and most convenient areas I lived in and loved 🙂

Ciao for now,

Silvia x