Lucie Grace

Whether you're in the mood to bare your soul at an open mic, lose yourself in a warehouse techno rave or spend a lazy Sunday wandering a neighbourhood market, Chiang Mai has something lined up for every kind of weekend.  This week's highlights include free Hollywood classics on the big screen, live music from local favourites and international acts, two very different dance parties and a wholesome morning celebrating family recipes at Sanpakoi Street Market.

Thailand is one of the best places for second-hand thrift shopping in Asia, with vintage shop owners from around the world coming to the Kingdom to buy suitcase loads of stock for their stores back in Europe, Australia and beyond. Which is savvy in a way – high-end vintage pieces by big names your grandparents would have fawned over are significantly more affordable here than overseas, especially if you’re an experienced collector and know what you’re looking for. On the cheap and cheerful side, container loads of secondhand essentials are shipped into Thailand on the daily, so we are undoubtedly a prime destination to hit up when in need of a wardrobe overhaul.  Bangkok’s huge scene gets a lot of footfall but do not sleep on Chiang Mai’s vintage micro industry. Over the years it’s blossomed into a hub that rivals the capital, thanks to the creative community that calls CNX home and a growing appetite for more sustainability minded secondhand buys over icky fast fashion.  It’s as if wherever you look, there’s vintage shops in every corner of the city. Places where you can find anything from carefully curated designer bits and old-west leather pieces to Y2K havens. The treasure hunt is real and the prices tasty…most of the time. Here’s our favourite spots in the city to give you just a flavour; we’d need a directory to list them all.

One of the great perks of spending any amount of time in Thailand’s northern capital is its close proximity to natural wonder. There are reams of great day trips to plot from Chiang Mai, many of which are less than an hour’s drive away from the city centre. With Songkran around the corner and burning season soon to be over (oh please, may the burning soon be over) – now is a great time to get planning cooler getaways. There’s even rumour that on the hills, the air quality is a little better – but either way planning for now or for once the smog has cleared has never been better timed.  From scenic mountain top cafes, valleys of waterfalls to rolling rice paddies – we’ve got some of Thailand’s favourite destinations on our doorstep – all great places to reconnect with nature in ways that aren’t ostentatiously over done. So get on your bike, catch a bus or hire a driver and work your way through our list of the best day trips from Chiang Mai right now, or for when the smoke clears. 

Burning season is upon us and with rainy season to soon follow, there’s no time like the present to prioritise indoor self care and float around the spas of the city. With spas, saunas, onsen and wellness centres on just about every street of our moderately-sized zen metropolis, narrowing it down was tough – especially when we take into account the cheaper spots. So we’ve done you a favour and gone for a range that spans all budgets. From the homely, local vibes at places like Heart N Soul to the most lux experiences in town at The Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, here’s a list of eight of our faves. We also singled out the spas that offer something special or prioritise traditional Lanna practices – given that Chiang Mai was the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, there’s a legacy of healing particular to the north, so why not make the most of it? You can get your oil massages anywhere. Tok Sen? That’s a niche to get into up here. Your limbs will thank you.  Pair your planning with seven of the best onsen in Chiang Mai

Hat Yai – the buzzing southern city recently hit by record-breaking floods – is back on its feet. And thanks to a new wave of young creatives determined to rebuild and reimagine it from the ground up, it’s quickly becoming one of Thailand’s most intriguing comeback stories. Thailand kicked off 2026 with record-breaking tourist numbers in the first two weeks of 2026, with Malaysians making the second largest source market for visitors after the Chinese, many crossing the southern border in search of a weekend escape. And instead of flying north to Phuket or Bangkok, more are pulling up in Hat Yai. So, on a recent trip organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, I headed south to see what’s new – and arrived just in time for Chinese New Year, a festival that runs surprisingly deep here. Dazzled by orange, red and electric-blue fireworks, I arrived straight into the action – firecrackers popping at my feet and a huge dancing dragon, powered by 20-odd impossibly nimble teenagers. The show is on a main thoroughfare in downtown Hat Yai, where a lot of links to China can be found, with gorgeous shrines and temples dotted at regular intervals. Photograph: Tourism Authority of Thailand For context: on November 22, the city and surrounding area – including the UNESCO listed, historic city Songkhla – received the highest rainfall it’s ever seen in 300 years of recorded history, driven by La Nina conditions and increasingly volatile climate patterns. But as dragon dancers swirl thr

New Year’s Eve in Chiang Mai doesn’t stick to just one script – and that’s why we’re sharing a bit of everything to get you in the mood.    You can do the full movie-style moment under fireworks, lanterns and stage lights, dance your way into 2026 in a sweaty club corner, clink glasses over a long dinner or head for the hills to chant your way into a calmer, more enlightened version of yourself. Either way, Chiang Mai delivers every option for an end-of-year send-off that’s as varied as it is memorable – second only to the Thai New Year just a few months down the line.   From big-ticket countdowns and neighbourhood festivals to lantern-lit rituals and rooftop celebrations, here’s how Chiang Mai is welcoming 2026. Choose wisely. Or don’t. It’s only New Year’s Eve. 

Christmas in Chiang Mai might lack snowflakes and woolly jumpers, but it makes up for the lack of frost with sunshine, cocktails and a calendar bursting with events. Sure, the midday heat is real and Santa has likely swapped his red suit for a Hawaiian shirt, but the city is firmly in festive mode. Get ready for a packed few days of feasting, drinking, dancing and zero excuses to stay home.   You can absolutely do Christmas the classic way – piling plates high at indulgent spreads at Skugga Estate, Anantara or Melia – but that’s just the starting point. Elsewhere, Christmas Eve spills onto rooftops, into tiki bars and across dancefloors, with DJ-led blowouts, jungle parties, fire shows, markets and Chiang Mai-style celebrations that are far more exciting than sitting through another rerun on the sofa.   We say skip the stay-at-home movie marathon and lean into the tropics. Whether it’s refreshing rooftop cocktails, basslines till late, Christmas dinners with a twist or playing bar games into the night, this is December in Thailand – and Chiang Mai is doing it its own way. 

The mighty triangle of Thailand’s front row Muay Thai destinations – Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket – are busier than ever and for women in the sport, it all points north. Long established as a Muay Thai epicentre, Chiang Mai has been racing ahead of late as the frontrunner for female fighters. The north is making waves thanks to its women-led training gyms and vast numbers of local and international girls competing with more regular ‘lady fights’ than anywhere else in the country. We’ve even got the first female commentator of the ONE Championships in town – commuting down to BKK for her suited and booted, mic-wielding role. But how did Chiang Mai come to take centre stage?   Photograph: AKA Two-time World Muay Thai Council champion Teresa Wintermyr remembers visiting the north in 2007 and training in Pai for a month before having her first Chiang Mai fight. ‘Back then it was not common for women to fight at all. There were fight events almost every day and there'd be maybe one female fight every two weeks,’ she recollects, beaming. ‘I didn't mean for it to become a career, I just kept doing it.’ After gaining an impressive collection of belts and trophies she opened Sedthee Fight Club with her partner Sedthee Erawan (also a champion fighter). In the midst of a dwindling pandemic, they opened Chiang Mai’s first gym with an English-speaking female trainer. Word got around town that world champion Teresa, who’d been a regular on the fight circuit for over 15 years, was now a

Every mighty metropolis needs an artistic enclave, where for one reason or another, creatives elect to live, work and play. Think Paris’ Southbank, or New York’s Brooklyn in its heyday. Chiang Mai is no different and while we could argue that the whole city is a creative hub, one neighbourhood certainly stands out. Enter: Pong Noi, the leafy green village that stretches between Wat Umong and Wat Pong Noi, winding around the roads (pong noi meaning little curve or bend) in the foothills of our majestic Doi Suthep. It’s an easy going little hamlet that’s generally off the tourist trail, and is inherently calming while having a lot going on – so if you’re looking to spend some time in a part of the city that’s a little more calm and rustic, then explore our Chiang Mai neighbourhood guide to Pong Noi below. What’s Pong Noi known for? These days, when you first hear of Pong Noi, it’s either an invite to a creative workshop, an art event or because pizza is calling. Adirak Pizza has undoubtedly put the ‘hood on the map in the past couple of years and for good reason.  Why do the locals love it? Pong Noi folks will happily spend all week in their neighbourhood as it has everything they could possibly need – great coffee, great food, loads of entertainment and nature in extremely close proximity, if not their back garden. How do I get to the area? Pong Noi is the furthest west point of Suthep, wedged between Canal Road and the mountain. It’s just a 10-minute motorbike ride west of th

Is there anything better than Halloween on a Friday? Things might be a bit more muted this year, but the ghouls are still ghouling. From live music to murder mysteries, free ice cream (yes, you heard us) to pumpkin carving and soulful Day of the Dead celebrations to boot – Chiang Mai’s got Halloween on lock this year. The only truly scary part is deciding where to go. 

Given the mountains of Chiang Mai are simply bubbling with geothermal hot springs, you’d think that the city would have been bathing mad since the year dot. But it seems that a local love of all things Japanese, coupled with the global boom of the wellness industry post-2020 are to thank for the recent explosion of onsens appearing in and around the city – traditional Japanese spas known for hot baths, saunas and the odd ice plunge. Never ones to miss a new trend, we’re fully embracing the city’s pash for bathing culture, but out of respect for Japan, must note the term ‘onsen’ is sometimes used a little liberally here. In Japan, onsen are baths full of natural hot spring water, however our shortlist includes a few that are better described as onsen-adjacent – with all the hallmarks and experience of an onsen, but without the natural spring water on tap. And unlike the bath houses of our East Asian neighbour, tattoos are allowed in all the spots here – we’re visiting Japan in spirit and that’s good enough for us.

Last week we featured the people behind Chiang Mai’s burgeoning vinyl revival - but now we have you excited about the scene, how can you lock in and build your very own collection? Very easily in fact.  The city is awash with vinyl listening bars, cafes and restaurants awaiting you - some that let you select an LP, some that curate the experience and kindly ask you to keep your mitts to yourselves. Then of course there are the record stores holding the market together with boxes upon boxes of wax discs, many of which come with sound systems in situ and buckets of experienced enthusiasm. Here are our favourite vinyl spots in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai's much-loved Sanpakoi Street Market returns this month with a heartwarming theme all about your favourite person at home. Stalls and vendors are celebrating family recipes and home-cooked dishes that hold a special place in their memories, and now sharing them with us hungry visitors. Share the tastes of treasured recipes and the stories behind them, whether they come from a parent, grandparent, friend or someone else close to their heart. Alongside the culinary storytelling, there’s also a lively mix of local food, coffee and bakeries, craft stalls, handmade design goods, workshops and live music, with plenty of space to sit back and enjoy a leisurely Sunday morning. Aug 2. Free. Anusarn Building, San Pa Koi. 8am-1pm

The intimate Up-Close & Personal series by 828 Alleyway returns with a rare face-to-face set from two of the city's most respected selectors. This month's edition pairs US-born DJ J-yen with French underground favourite Swill'O, each taking control of their own decks in a dual-booth setup that promises seamless back-and-forth mixing all night. There’s everything from groove-driven house to deep, rolling techno in a stage-free setting where the DJs are right in the middle of the crowd. Space is limited, so arrive early if you want to secure a spot on the dancefloor. July 31. B200, includes one drink. 828 Alleyway. 6pm-late

Chiang Mai's underground techno scene gets a new home this Friday as TEKNO CNX launches Nimman Rave at Space Time, a brand-new venue tucked away in the heart of Nimman. With over seven hours of rolling, groove-heavy techno powered by local selectors NAKARA, SWILL'O and KEV NEVADO, there’s no better place to go for a proper dance floor workout. With a focus on deep low-end sound, this is one of those more distractionless nights out that’s all about the music. But, with capacity capped at just 100 people, this one's designed for those who prefer sweat-soaked warehouse vibes over packed clubs. July 31. B200 via ticketmelon (B300 on the door). Space Time CNX. 7pm-2am

To celebrate 250 years of American independence the US consulate has programmed a two day movie marathon, screening six classic Hollywood films completely free of charge. Saturday morning kicks off with the Incredibles followed by Independence Day in the afternoon and Lincoln to close, while Sunday sees Back to the Future, Saving Private Ryan and Grease, shown basically back to back. All you need to concern yourself with is the popcorn. August 1-2. Free entry. A3 Building, Far Eastern University. 11am-late

The music loving team at Paapu have moved their regular live music shindig from Thursday to Friday this weekend and, oh boy, have they got a mega line up in store. Fresh from their show at Pai Jazz & Blues Festival, Chiangmai Blues are swinging by to play their infectious numbers; one of our all time favourite local songstresses Nantawan promises a set of her sassy, soulful electronic tunes; while Fuyuco comes all the way from Kyoto to the Old City to play her seductive melodies. One not to miss, get there early for a good spot. July 31. Free entry. Paapu House, Old City. 7pm-late

Kindred Studio’s monthly sharing of poetry, spoken word, music and song is back this Thursday. As always the evening kicks off with two featured readers – this month’s are folk singer Chantelle Grace and local poet Nim – before the floor is opened up to anyone who wants a bash on the mic. The community of regulars are a welcoming, creative bunch so don’t hold back, everyone gets five minutes to share their work, first time perfomers or not. July 30. Free entry. Kindred Art Studio & Cafe, Lansieow Freeative Art Space. 7pm-10pm  

Roll up your sleeves for a farm-to-table experience that goes far beyond lunch. This hands-on workshop takes you behind the scenes of a sustainable closed-loop farm, where you'll pick fresh vegetables, meet Jersey cows and learn how every part of the farming process is put to good use. The day begins at Ing Asai Community & Farm, where you'll harvest seasonal pizza toppings before heading to Imm Farm to see how cow manure and urine are transformed into useful products. Then it's time to get cooking: make your own banana flour pizza and fresh mozzarella using Jersey milk, with biogas generated on the farm powering the process (peg your nose!). You'll also get to sample fresh Jersey milk and homemade gelato before heading home. Limited spaces available so book ahead!  July 25. B1,100 for adults, kids B550. Ing Asai Community & Farm. 8.30am-1pm

Hosted inside Borneo House, the hotel's beautifully restored 137-year-old teak residence, this new monthly soirée brings together free-flow drinks, cooking stations and live jazz in one of the city's most beautiful hotels. For two hours, the 137 Pillars Trading Club lets you enjoy unlimited beer, wine, cocktails and mocktails while chefs prepare dishes at interactive culinary stations that keep stocked all night long. Embrace the evening's Colonial Elegance dress code with a touch of 1920s glamour and prepare a night on the ritz.  July 25. B1,370 (includes free flow drinks and food). 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai. 7pm-9pm

From mountain-grown coffee to local crafts and regional delicacies, Lanna Expo 2026 brings together the best of northern Thailand under one roof for a week-long celebration of culture, innovation and sustainable development. This year's buzzword-themed event ‘The Lanna Synergy for Sustainability’ showcases community enterprises, agricultural products and local innovations from across the region. Coffee lovers can explore a dedicated Northern Thai Coffee Showcase spotlighting premium single-origin beans, while foodies can browse Halal food pavilions and tourism displays promoting Muslim-friendly travel across the North. All this alongside your usual fare of shopping, cultural performances and exhibitions makes for a solid day out with the fam. July 24-30. Free. Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre (CMECC). 9am-5pm 

If you're looking to discover the next generation of Thai filmmakers, the fourth Chiang Mai Film Festival is back this weekend with three days of free screenings, filmmaker talks and special programmes at TCDC Chiang Mai. Among this year's highlights is Night Drift (คืนเคว้ง), the latest short film by Jeff Jirayus Phumchat. Following a journey from Bangkok to Lanna, the film is one of the festival's official selections and will later be released online through Free-time Pictures after completing its festival run. Visit Content Chiangmai for all screening times. July 24-26. Free. TCDC Chiang Mai. 10am-7pm 

This painfully cool cafe and restaurant hit the zeitgeist on the head last year when they first launched their daytime coffee-fueled dance off. Now a monthly affair (or thereabouts), the team push the mismatched mid-century furniture to one side and a dancefloor awaits, with local DJs spinning the best urban, R’n’B, hip-hop and the occasional pop banger while you smash back a Mocha. It’s not all sobriety, beers are on sale, but with a coffee menu as good as theirs, why would you do that?  July 26. Free entry. Fringe, Wat Ket. 1pm-6pm

Get ready for an afternoon and evening of fine art, performance and dancefloor antics. Lollipop is back, Nimman’s monthly queer event at its new permanent home on the ground floor of 94 Gallery. The team are transforming the art space into a retro-futuristic, high-energy, glam-loving disco, with two hours of performance art from 4pm and a proper dance off to follow. All identities are welcome, don your shiniest garms. July 25. Free entry. 94 Gallery in Studios 94, Nimman. 4pm-late

This week the chaps and chapesses at the local municipality turned their sights to an old favourite corner of the city, Chang Moi, turning out en force to announce a new scheme to revive one of the city’s few remaining canals. Following the successful regeneration of the southeastern stretch of Mae Kha Canal – cementing its spot on the tourist trail a few years ago, seeing cafes and bars opening along the (now) flowerbed lined stretch – similar hopes are pinned on the quiet back alleys and paths of the waterway’s Chang Moi hood, but using an altogether different approach: street art. Sure, the idea’s not a new one. Bangkok’s Ong Ang canal makes use of street art in drawing a crowd, so why not try it here as well.  Lucie Grace - Time OutPhotograph: Lucie Grace - Time Out To get the project underway, Chiang Mai’s most established street artists, designers and art students are all invited to apply to paint their work on the walls that run alongside the canal. And in case you were wondering, yes, the area has been designated an ‘official street art zone.’  The goal is to regenerate the Chang Moi Road while giving a fab opportunity for local artists to showcase their work, making space for exchange and learning between artists, the community and tourists.  The local government says ‘this collaboration will help propel Chang Moi Road back into a Chiang Mai art landmark – a unique street art hub reflecting the city's charm and a key destination for both Thai and international tour

Rolling nine years strong, Pai Jazz & Blues Festival is back with an absolutely packed line up this weekend, June 3-5.  A major highlight of green season in the north, the musical fest takes over the stages and mixing desks across Pai’s town centre – changing the soundtrack from sleepy hippy hangout to an international, multi-venue jazz affair.  Jazz of all shapes and sizes is humming from street corners, for three full days and nights packed with talent from Thailand and beyond. But fear not, it’s still the same small scale, intimate event it ever was – and that’s just how Pai likes it.  And perhaps most excitingly, drum roll please, this year admission to the Official Main Venue, Jazz Up (formerly known as the Jazz House) is completely free with no tickets required, making it easier than ever for us to enjoy top-drawer live music in the heart of Pai. Pai Jazz & Blues FestivalPhotograph: Pai Jazz & Blues Festival Pai Jazz & Blues Festival 2026 From July 3-5, Jazz Up – handily located just minutes from Pai Walking Street – will host five live shows a day, with jazz, blues and more performed from 4.15pm to 10.30pm every evening. Beyond the main shows, the festival continues its signature bar hopping experience with a solid network of partner venues across town, including Pai Coffee Studio, Cafecito, Janym Pai, The Bottle & Cat's Whiskers, Limoncello Pai, The Blue Ox, Silhouette by Reverie Siam, Vinyl Sky Lounge and Supermoon Pai. With so much going on, we’re wondering where

Earlier this month, an Etihad Airways flight glided onto the runway at Chiang Mai International Airport for the very first time – marking a massive moment for the city’s global connectivity. And, as you’d expect, they did it with a bang.  From November 4 2025, the Abu Dhabi-based airline has officially become the first and only carrier linking Chiang Mai directly with the Middle East. This means that for anyone heading west to Europe and beyond, gone are the days of the arduous Bangkok stopover – as long as you can afford the privilege.  To celebrate the news, Etihad Airways sent their best delegates to Chiang Mai where they launched the inaugural flight. The event was one of the biggest I’ve ever seen in Chiang Mai. Every hotel manager, dignitary, politician and influencer were there – and since then the news has been the talk of the town.  Bosang umbrella painting, cocktails and canapes aside, the event spotlighted the new route that aims to bring global tourists to Chiang Mai, and more importantly, give Chiang Mai folks a direct link to the Middle East, and beyond.  As part of the launch, Etihad Airways are offering a special two-day stopover in Abu Dhabi before jetsetters fly onwards to Europe or Africa. The Etihad Stopover Programme, booked directly through the Etihad website, includes a complimentary hotel stay for up to two nights for travellers transiting through Abu Dhabi’s sparkly new Zayed International Airport. Did we mention they’re flying Airbuses too?  Photogr

Arriving in a very sleepy Chiang Mai one bright November day in 2021, it was clear to this newcomer that I’d rocked up in a creative city, but perhaps one that was slowly stretching its limbs and coming out of hibernation.  Only a few live music venues had survived 2020, and any thoughts I had of record shopping or spinning were a distant, pre-pandemic memory. DJing and record collecting was something I’d left behind in Europe, surely not on the cards again in the near future. Oh how wrong I was.  Chiang Mai’s vinyl revival is now in full swing with seemingly unstoppable momentum. A vibrant community of devoted wax lovers have launched stores, listening bars, festivals and record labels – each one determined to put the city on the global map as a music destination. Through collaboration and commitment, it seems to be working.  Photograph: Deaf Shop Centrifugal to the scene, Deaf Shop is now a local institution for vinyl lovers. Opening their doors in May 2022, owner Mum Pimolpud came with years of working in Bangkok’s music industry and her partner Laurens Brouwer, DJ and founder of independent label Liquorish Records, came with a colossal record collection. Inspired by a trip to Japan, they decided to open their own listening bar, where customers now pour in for a drink, a dance and the chance to select an LP they want to hear, from the rows of racks that line one side of their venue. It was a brave move in a city that was still finding its feet. ‘No one was waiting for th