How to Experience Chiang Mai Like a Local: From Street Food to Hidden Temples

Chiang Mai has a reputation for being one of the most cultured places in Thailand. From charming temples to statues to street markets, a tourist is promised a wide variety of things to do and see. If you’re planning to visit and want to experience Chiang Mai like a local, this guide is for you.

Street Food and Dawn Markets

The tourist crowds usually fill up the city in the late morning, so if you want to feel like a local, start your day early at the food stalls. At places like Warorot Market, you’ll see locals grabbing breakfast – sticky rice bundles, sausage, spicy dips, and strong coffee.

Don’t just stop at the stalls – join in. Ask for a bowl of Khao Soi, a northern Thai curry noodle soup, at an unpretentious joint, sit on a plastic stool, and take your time.

Once you’ve had your fill, walk over to the quieter alleys around the old city. Sidewalks lead to hidden temples, little cafés with good internet, and old buildings that have been standing there for a long time.

Temples 

Of course, you’d want to visit all the well-known temples such as Wat Phra Singh Temple and Wat Chedi Luang Varavihara, but to truly feel like a local, visit the lesser-known ones – the kind of temples that only someone who’s been living there for years would know. Try temples like Wat Umong or Wat Suan Dok – they’re slightly off the main drag, more peaceful, and less hawker-crowded. 

Visit as early as possible to hear monks chanting, or just after lunch when the sunlight filters through the leaves and the crowds thin out. Show respect by covering your shoulders and knees, speaking softly, and removing your shoes.

You know what would be best? Staying at a hotel within close distance to most of these cultural and religious attractions. Chiang Mai, being one of the most popular places in Thailand, offers a range of accommodation options, including Anantara Chiang Mai Resort, a well-known five-star Chiang Mai hotel.

Markets, Local Hangouts, and Night Walks 

When the sun sets, Chiang Mai changes. Streetlights come on, food stalls open up, and the markets draw in a diversity of crowds. With food, a lively atmosphere, and local crafts, the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar on Chang Khlan Road is the big one. But you’ll also find local favourites away from the tourist trails – the Sunday Walking Street, Nimman Road’s cafés, or the lesser-known nightly markets in the side streets.

Eat, Learn, and Laugh 

Food is one of the quickest ways into local life. Join a market-to-kitchen cooking class – you’ll pick vegetables, haggle in the market, cook a Lanna dish, and sit down with your group to eat. Many locals run these cooking classes. Try dishes unique to the region – grilled sausage (sai ua), northern-style curry (gaeng hang lay), chilli dips, sticky rice – everything fresh and local.

Hidden Attractions 

Want something quieter? Head to places like Huay Tung Tao Lake just outside town – locals picnic in bamboo huts, you’ll find paddle-boats, chill spots, and fewer tourist buses.

Rent a scooter or grab a tuk-tuk and visit old villages or coffee plantations in the hills. The pace in these parts of Chiang Mai is slow, and they mark the delightful contrast between city life and village life. 

Local Etiquette

If you want to experience Chiang Mai like a local, you must blend in. Here’s how:

Learn a few Thai phrases. Smiling is sure to earn you points. 

Dress modestly where needed. 

Bargaining is a must, but do it gently and in a friendly tone. 

Want to take pictures of temples, monks, or locals? Always ask permission first. 

Slow down. You’re on holiday, so it won’t do to rush through your days, and it certainly isn’t the local way.