Is Chiang Mai Safe? The Ultimate Safety Guide for Authentic Travel
Chiang Mai, Thailand is one of my favorite places I’ve ever traveled. But many of you may be wondering: is Chiang Mai safe? As travelers (especially for those of us women travelers!) we have to look at the whole experience of a place, including safety.
Well, I am happy to report that Chiang Mai is not only one of the most beautiful and authentic places I’ve traveled to, but also one of the safest. Below you can find my guide to safe travel in Chiang Mai, including safety tips, places to stay, recommendations for getting around, and some of the best experiences to have while you’re there.
Is Chiang Mai Safe: Safety Guide
I have basically never felt safer traveling than when I was in Thailand, and perhaps this was the most true in Chiang Mai. A little less accustomed to tourists than Bangkok, people here were incredibly kind. Chiang Mai is ranked THE SAFEST city in Southeast Asia and one of the safest cities to travel to in the world with very low risk levels, especially for women travelers! As with all travel destinations, you should still practice regular precautions to avoid pickpocketing or scams, and don’t put yourself in dangerous situations.
Is it safe to travel to Chiang Mai now?
In a world that is being increasingly considered post-pandemic, it follows that traveling to Chiang Mai, Thailand no longer requires any COVID-19 testing or vaccination records to enter the country, regardless of where you are traveling from. That does not mean that COVID-19 is no longer a risk to travelers, however, and I’d urge you to take the level of precaution that makes you most comfortable, including masking on the plane over, in airports, and in crowded public places. I also travel with COVID-19 rapid tests to be safe.
If you are traveling to a country that requires COVID-19 testing AFTER your trip to Thailand (whether that’s back home or elsewhere), Thailand does require travelers to have COVID-19 travel insurance, in case you have to stay in-country longer than planned. The insurance must cover a minimum of a 7-day stay overage due to testing positive for COVID-19.
Is Chiang Mai safe for tourists?
In short: yes! Chiang Mai is ranked one of the safest cities to travel to in Thailand with very low risk levels, especially for women travelers!
Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind as a tourist is Chiang Mai:
Air Quality:
Like many Asian cities, Chiang Mai does not have the cleanest air. The city does have a consistent smog, though certainly not worse than any other large city in the region. Burning season is a time to avoid visiting Chiang Mai, however, as in February and March the fields around the city are burned to reset for fresh plantings, and the smoke makes the smog in the city significantly worse.
Tuk Tuk Scams:
Riding in a tuk tuk is a popular way to get around most cities in Thailand, but beware of tuk tuk drivers not using their meters or overpricing their rides. It’s common to negotiate the ride price, and quite frankly these are best for short rides. For more tips on how to deal with tuk tuk rides, check out this World Nomads article.
Gem Scams:
Chiang Mai is absolutely covered in gorgeous gemstones, particularly at the Buddist temples. If you’re looking to buy some form of gemstone jewelry for yourself, however, don’t always trust it’s real. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is, even in Thailand.
Traffic Safety:
Chiang Mai traffic is congested! Take care when driving, or especially when walking around. Not all areas of the city have sidewalks, and tuk tuks and motorbikes zip and weave through traffic. Be very careful walking along and crossing the roads!
Government & Police:
One rule to never break in Chiang Mai: do not speak poorly of the royal family. This is true all over Thailand and locals are VERY aware of it themselves. You could get yourself in a lot of trouble if you are overheard by the wrong people. Additionally, try not to do anything to attract the attention of the police (seems to go without saying, yeah?). The police are known for being corrupt (problem corruption and bribery are the only crime index rated as “high” in Chiang Mai), and if the police catch you doing something wrong, like driving a rented motorbike without an international license, they’ll expect you to pay to be let go.
Is Chiang Mai safe for females?
Once again, overall, yes! Solo and group female travelers can expect to feel quite safe in Chiang Mai. Overall crime is very low in Chiang Mai, as are the types of crimes that we worry about most as female travelers, including being mugged or robbed and being subject to a physical attack because of gender.
Chiang Mai also has very high safety ratings for walking around alone, including at night. Female travelers, especially solo female travelers, should of course take all of their regular safety precautions, such as avoiding dark alleys, never say you’re traveling alone, and watching your drinks if you’re out at a bar.
Is it safe to explore at night?
Insofar as any large city is safe to explore at night, Chiang Mai is! And you’ll definitely want to for the Sunday Night Market! It has high safety ratings for walking around alone at night. In general, it is good to stick to more populated and well lit areas when you’re out at night, and as always be aware of your surroundings.
Is Chiang Mai safe to live in?
For our slow travelers, nomads, and expats, Chiang Mai is a fantastic destination for long-term travel or living. As a big city filled with cultural institutions, you’ll enjoy having many months to explore it. According to International Citizens “there is a huge international community with more than 40,000 international citizens calling Chiang Mai home. The city has excellent healthcare facilities, community resources, and a low rate of violent crime.”
The one thing you will want to keep in mind if you are living in Chiang Mai long-term is the above mentioned “burning season” from February to April, which greatly increases the smog in the city.
Is the water safe to drink?
Officially, the tap water is safe to drink in Chiang Mai and not only meets, but exceeds, World Health Organization standards. Unofficially, many of the locals choose bottled water, and just to be safe, I would, too.
Another water thing to look out for: the Songkran Thai New Years festival. The festival takes place from April 13 to the 15 and is celebrated by having a giant water fight (which is fantastically fun). If you step outside, you should be prepared to get splashed with water from a water gun, which is most likely from the river. Be careful not to consume it if you can, and keep your valuables like your cell phone and cameras stored in dry places.
Safety Tips for Chiang Mai
The following safety tips are good to follow any place you travel, but will be especially helpful in a city as big as Chiang Mai is.
✅ Know Where You Are and Where You’re Going
No matter how safe a place is, tourists are targets. A tell-tale sign of a tourist anywhere is constantly having your phone out and following a map to get around. Chiang Mai is a big city, and you’ll need guidance to navigate it, but try to familiarize yourself with the map ahead of time. Especially if you’re taking a cab or ride-share, have an idea of how long it’s supposed to take to get to your destination and the general direction you need to go.
Download offline maps so you have access to it without wifi or cellular data. If you’re walking around, have the map up on your phone, but only check it every few minutes so it looks like you’re checking text messages. Note key landmarks to orient yourself and remember where you’ve been. If you know where you are, you’re less likely to wander somewhere you shouldn’t be.
And when in doubt, ask! Before you head out, your hotel clerks will be more than happy to provide directions and recommendations. Out and about, don’t be afraid to pop into a restaurant or market to ask for directions. The people in Chiang Mai are incredibly kind, and many of them speak at least some English!
✅ Keep Valuables Secure and Hidden
In the same vein as not staring at your phone maps constantly, don’t make yourself a target by having valuables visible and easy to grab. A travel safety tip that’s consistent across destinations is to keep your money and cards (it may be worth leaving your passport in your hotel room safe) in a wallet/bag folded onto your belt and/or beneath your clothing, instead of in a bag that’s easy to grab off your shoulder.
As a travel content creator, I often have a camera with me while I’m traveling, but unless I’m at the site I’m photographing I do not wear it around my neck or have it out. I keep it stored and hidden in a cross-body bag or backpack that are securely attached to me.
✅ Hire a Guide
If you’re really nervous about exploring Chiang Mai on your own, don’t hesitate to hire a guide! Local tour guides are great for bringing you around the city, many who grew up and live there themselves. They speak the language and will make sure you never get lost, plus you might get to see some cool local sites that you wouldn’t have found on your own!
Safe Places to Stay in Chiang Mai
Luxury: akyra Manor Chiang Mai
This luxury 5-star hotel is quite possibly the most amazing place to stay in Chiang Mai. The staff are fantastic, the rooms are luxurious (can you say hot tub sized bathtub?), the food is absolutely delicious, and the rooftop pool deck provides a gorgeous view out over the city. I was absolutely in love with this property when we stayed here.
It’s location is pristine, close to the night market, temples, and all kinds of shops and restaurants. And if you’re worried about safety during COVID, the hotel is certified by SHA or the “Thailand Safety and Health Administration which is Thailand’s New Standards of Hygiene, Sanitation, and Safety for Businesses and Tourism.”
Mid-Range: Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort
Na Nirand is also incredibly high on traveler’s recommendation lists. This 4-star property has a central location in the city, but manages to still feel peaceful and reserved. Guests can’t say enough about how amazing and helpful the staff are or about how delicious the food is!
Budget Friendly: Villa Sanpakoi
For a little lower priced option, you simply cannot go wrong with Villa Sanpakoi. Nestled just a bit outside the main hustle and bustle of the city, this 3-star hotel is still incredibly close to major landmarks and amazing restaurants. Guests have found this property to be super clean and quiet with friendly staff and great for families.
Getting to Chiang Mai Safely
Fastest: The fastest way to get to Chiang Mai is to fly. Most international flights into Thailand will go into Bangkok, and then you can grab a domestic flight to Chiang Mai. Flights take about 2 hours. Domestic flights in Thailand are also not too expensive, so this is a very viable option.
Cheapest: The most affordable way to get to Chiang Mai is to take a bus or drive yourself if you’ve already rented a car! The trip is about 10-11 hours by road from Bangkok, but the scenery is nice and there are all kinds of roadside markets to stop at along the way.
Easiest (and most beautiful): The easiest (most hassle-free) way to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is to take the train! In the middle in terms of cost, the train route between Bangkok and Chiang Mai is the most well-traveled in Thailand. The trains are completely safe and decked out with comforts and amenities for your approximately 11 hour trip, and the scenery along the way is simply beautiful.
Getting Around Chiang Mai Safely
Chiang Mai is a massive city. If you are staying at a hotel located centrally, you can walk to a lot of different restaurants and attractions. Additionally, if you’ve booked tours for any of the temples, rice fields, or elephant sanctuaries, your tour guide will likely pick you up and drop you back off where you’re staying. However, these options will likely not be enough to get everywhere you want to go.
There is not much public bus service in Chiang Mai. The city does have ride-share available through Grabcar, however to use them you will need a local sim card for your phone. There are plenty of tuk tuk or rickshaw bike rentals for shorter trips. You can also rent a car or a motorbike/scooter for your stay, just make sure you have an international license!
Is It Safe To Drive In Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is generally safe to drive in, but it is congested. You want to be comfortable driving in heavy traffic and with driving on the left side of the road. And I’ll say it again, make sure you have an international driver’s license! Your car rental company won’t ask, but you’ll want to have it in case you get pulled over.
Travel Recommendations for Thailand & Chiang Mai
Is Thailand travel safe?
Overall, Thailand is ranked as one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia. Of course there are concerns, such as human and drug trafficking and corruption, but these are very low-risk for tourists. As noted above, it’s important to not speak ill of the Royal Family, and you can expect police to ask for bribes if they pull you over. But generally, the biggest (most common) safety issue for tourists in Thailand is pickpocketing.
It’s also important to note that the healthcare and medical system in Thailand is really great, especially in big cities. While it may be more difficult to get to healthcare from remote or rural areas, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and other popular areas have fantastic health facilities and doctors should you need them.
Which part of Thailand is the safest?
Many of the safest places in Thailand are in the northern region and the island. The safest cities/areas are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Samui, Hua Hin, Krabi, Kanchanaburi, Phang Nga, and Kuala Lumpur.
Is Chiang Mai worth visiting?
Chiang Mai was my favorite stop on my trip to Thailand. From street food to local markets, Buddhist temples to fun-loving elephants, Chiang Mai is a beautiful and safe local cultural experience in Thailand.
Chiang Mai is the largest city in the mountains of Northern Thailand in the Province of Chiang Mai. It’s filled with gorgeous Buddhist temples, outstanding food, and tons of outdoor experiences from hikes to mountain peaks to touring the rice fields. An incredibly old city, Chiang Mai is full of Thai history, and a place you won’t want to miss.
When is the best time to travel to Chiang Mai?
The best time to visit Chiang Mai is during its cooler and dry season, from November to February. You’ll want to avoid going from late February through April because of the burning season. I was there during May, which was quite warm but also quite pleasant and beautiful. Being located in the mountains does help keep Chiang Mai cooler than the southern parts of Thailand.
Fun Things to do in Chiang Mai
Wake up for a Sunrise Temple Tour
Yes, I said it, and I mean it! Get ready for a 5am hotel pickup and watch the sunrise over an immaculate golden temple. It’s so worth it!
This was potentially my favorite part of my entire trip to Thailand, even though I’m nothing close to a morning person. We booked this tour for Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the temple that sits atop a mountain in the city of Chiang Mai. We got there so early that hardly anyone else was at the temple. It was all quiet aside from the transfixing sound of the monks doing their morning chanting and prayers. Our tour guide was amazing – we learned so much about Buddhism and the history of Thailand, all while taking in the stunning gold and jewels that cover the temple. We couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful or enchanting way to explore this beauty.
For more details on this amazing tour, check out my in-depth post on it here!
Chiang Mai Guide: Tip on Tipping!
A few of the activities listed here are tours, so you might be wondering: do I tip my tour guide in Thailand? If so, how much? Tipping is far less common on mainland Thailand than in the U.S. You do not have to tip your guide! Service charges are usually included in the tour price. But if you really loved your tour, you should absolutely give your guide a couple hundred Baht (which is still less than $10). It doesn’t just show your appreciation, they will also be incredibly surprised and grateful for it!
Play with Elephants at Kanta Elephant Sanctuary
It’s a pretty common must-do to visit an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, and Chiang Mai is really the place to do it. We booked a half-day session at Kanta Elephant Sanctuary, just outside of the city. A van picked us up at our hotel at 8am and off we went to feed, play with, and feed again the happy and hungry elephants. While a little intimidating at first (even the youngest, at the age of 5, was really large), the elephants were all very sweet and playful!
If you do visit an elephant sanctuary, PLEASE make sure you are going to an ethical one. There are so many “sanctuaries” set up just for tourists where they treat the elephants terribly. For more info on Kanta and our experience, and how to do your research on ethical elephant sanctuaries, see my post here.
Shop at the Sunday Market
Get ready to shop! We flew into Chiang Mai on a Sunday specifically to make it there for this market. The Sunday Market in HUGE. There are tents set up everywhere with sellers and artisans of homemade goods from paintings and bags and elephant pants, to traditional Thai cloth clothing and wood carved elephants and jewelry, all at incredibly affordable prices. Basically anything you could ever want to purchase as gifts for family and friends AND for yourself is there. So seriously, come to Chiang Mai with room in your bags. You will shop more than you anticipate to.
We spent a few hours walking through the market, shopping at the tents and little shops behind them, grabbing dinner from the street vendors, and stopping to see a traditional Thai dance performance happening in a park. We still didn’t get close to seeing the whole thing, so definitely budget at least a few hours for exploring!
Taste your way through a Street Food Tour
Another thing Thailand is well known for: Street Food! And oh my goodness is it delicious. But it can be a little tough to navigate the street food scene if you aren’t familiar with Thai food or the Thai language. While most of the time you can just look and point at the item you want in the stall without fail, if you’re interested in learning more about what different dishes are and exactly what is in them, I highly recommend doing a street food tour!
We booked this one. What I loved about this tour was our guide didn’t just bring us around to try different dishes, but actually taught us how to order them and how to say common Thai phrases to indicate spice levels and other flavor preferences. We visited two different markets and ate at 7 or 8 different food stalls (maybe more?). Make sure you come hungry! Even with eating family style (sharing the dishes between the whole group), we were getting full before we even made it to the second market. All of the dishes, dinner and dessert, were absolutely delicious!
Chiang Mai Guide: Must-Try Dish
Kao Soi! This curry noodle dish is famous in Chiang Mai! You can get it in other areas of Thailand, but it’s really just not the same. We had it twice while we were there: once at a little local restaurant nearish our hotel, and once on the street food tour.
Is Chiang Rai safe?
A smaller city than Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai boasts many of the same benefits of the Northern Thailand region as Chiang Mai with a calmer, smaller community environment. As it is a much smaller tourist destination, Chiang Rai has very low levels of petty crime and pickpocketing and is very safe to both travel to and live in.
Conclusion
Is Chiang Mai safe to travel? Yes, absolutely, one of the safest places in the region. Not only that, but it’s beautiful, surrounded by mountains and forests, and full of amazing temples, food, and cultural experiences. However, if you’re still feeling overwhelmed by planning a trip to Chiang Mai, I can help! Check out my travel planning services and we can get started on your dream Thai vacation.
And as I tell all of my travelers: get travel insurance! No matter how safe a destination is, you want travel insurance for the unforeseen things, like medical emergencies, baggage losses, or trip delays. I recommend this one for an individual trip and this one for long-term travelers.