Asia
Chiang Mai Markets: there is one for every day of the week (2024 update)
Apr
Looking for a guide to Chiang Mai Markets? You’re in the right place! I’ve been obsessed with markets for over a decade and have also visited Chiang Mai more times than I could count. I watched the city go from being famous for its night markets to now drawing in even more tourists and locals with their weekend markets.
There is a market for everyone in Chiang Mai and also every day of the week. I’m excited to share with you – I’ve separated them into Chiang Mai Night Markets, Chiang Mai weekend markets, and also Chiang Mai weekday markets.
Don’t forget my price guide so you won’t get scammed!
- See the rest of my Thailand series here or look at the Chiang Mai recommendations
Table of Contents
Chiang Mai Night Markets
Chiang Mai is home to several big night markets and they are the longest running Chiang Mai markets on the list. I have visited them many times whenever I’m in Chiang Mai (and that is since 2016) and there are always something new to buy and of course, amazing food to try.
A few tips for visiting night markets:
- Bring cash! There is payment by QR code now in Thailand but not every bank allows you to do that
- Watch out for your belongings. Generally, it’s safe in Thailand but always be vigilant
- Don’t go too early! While the opening times are often 4 or 5pm, most store owners are still setting up until after 6pm
For general Chiang Mai travel tips, see here.
Night Bazaar Market Chiang Mai
A few kilometers east of the city, the nightly Night Bazaar is mostly catered to tourists. However, that doesn’t really stop me from liking it. While the entire market stretch from the Th Tha Phae to Th Loi Kroh, many of the shops sell essentially the same thing. So before you buy something, unless you are in a particular hurry, you should browse all the stores and haggle your way through.
In fact, to help you avoid getting scammed, we have written up a price guide for you. If you keep your eyes peeled and haggle well, it’s a great place to buy souvenir and just enjoy the atmosphere.
Personally, I don’t find the shopping as good as the weekend markets, but it is still a good place take in the atmosphere and a reliable market to visit since it’s opened daily.
There are also many off-shoots from the Night Bazzar so do wander around especially if it’s your first time visiting Chiang Mai.
Night Bazaar: Address: 104-1 Chang Klan Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand Opening times: daily 19:00 – 0:00
Ploen Ruedee Night Market
My favourite night market along the Night Bazaar, it’s on the northern end of the stripe. It is more of a street food market that’s characterized by the mismatched seatings in front of a small stage. The set up in 2016 involved haystacks, while in 2018 there are airplane seats and hanging buckets, and in 2024 now it’s a mix of high and low table.
A live band plays there every night and there was a wide array of street food trucks and vans scattered around the rectangular courtyard vying for attention.
Ploen Ruedee Night Market: Address: Chang Klan Road, Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai Opening times: Mon – Sat 17:30 – 0:00
Saturday Walking Market Chiang Mai
The Saturday Walking Market, or the Saturday night market, starts across the south gate of the Chiang Mai Old City. As soon as we got to Chiang Mai Gate, the rows after rows of motorcycles and noise hit us in the face.
At the northernmost point of the market is the nightly food market and you might want to pick up a snack or two that would keep you going for the rest of the way. Because it’s hard to show you the vibe of the market with just photos! Here’s a video of the night:
The Market sprawl across the entire Wua Lai Rd, which extended from the Chiang Mai Gate in a southwest direction, going past the Silver Temple; if you are unsure of whether you reach the end, and believe me I was too, there will be a congregation of tuk tuk at the end so don’t worry.
There are plenty of offshoots where the food generally are, and it can get pretty crowded so be prepared for that and watch out for your belongings.
I personally prefer the Sunday Night Market because it’s inside the old city, but if you’re only here on a Saturday then it’s worth seeing.
Address: Wua Lai Road, Chiang Mai Opening times: unsure – around sundown to midnight
Sunday Night Market Chiang Mai
The Saturday Night Market might be situated out of town, but the Sunday Night one spreads out across the old city with the Three Kings Monument as its center point. While it sells chiefly the same thing as Saturday Night Market, it’s still fun to walk around and see how the old town transform into a lively night market. The street is also wider than Saturday Night Market but it’s equally as crowded.
One of the most bizarre yet strangely harmonic things to see is that many temples become part of the market with food stalls set up inside. The biggest one is Wat Phan On close to Tha Pae Gate, where I was able to buy a delicious Mac N Cheese. It would take the whole night if you are to walk through the whole market properly. If you are there for both weekends, I would say spend a little time in both or spend a lot of time in one of the weekend markets.
It has grown even larger in 2024 and here’s a map:
Address: Around Three Kings Monument
Opening times: set up starts around 16:00 but nothing really opens officially until after 18:00
Chiang Mai Weekend Markets
Chiang Mai’s weekend markets were not as popular when I first started visiting the city in 2016, and not even that much on my visit in 2022. They used to be more of a local’s thing but have now become popular with tourists.
I would say it’s a much better place to buy clothes and artist pieces, but the prices generally also run higher. A lot of them are also outside of the city center and it’s best to take a taxi or motorbike taxi to reach them as public transport is limited.
White Market
If you are looking for some chic and minimalist clothing and accessories, then the White Market is the place to go. This small market runs along Nimman One perpendicular to Nimman Road, making it one of the more central markets on the list!
There are a lot of linen pieces that are perfect for the hot weather and some say the price is better than JJ Market. You’ll definitely find similar brands and pieces here so it’s a great alternative if you don’t want to go too far out of the city center.
Opening times: Fri – Sun 15:00 – 22:00
Jing Jai Market (JJ Market)
One of the most creative and trendy markets in Chiang Mai is the Jing Jai Market, also known as JJ Market. This market is popular with locals and tourists alike, with many local brands and also a street food corner.
You can find everything from clothing and accessories to furniture and plants, all made with high quality and originality. The prices are on the higher side, but you get what you pay for.
It is a relatively big market with better facilities, and also live music and even a massage pavilion. There is also a free shuttle that can take you to Central Festival Mall.
There is also a farmers’ market on Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:00 to 9:00, where you can buy fresh and organic produce.
Note: you can also visit on the weekdays as Good Goods and some permanent stores will be open. See here for some of my favourite brands in Chiang Mai.
Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 – 13:00 (Individual stores opening times vary)
Chamcha Market
Chamcha Market is also known as the rainforest market, because of its lush and green setting. It’s more shopping oriented along a road with small market areas dotted around.
There are many photogenic places and a few cafes where you can relax and enjoy the scenery.
The market sells a variety of products, such as clothing, jewelry, handicrafts, and antiques. And I really enjoy the vibe here the most.
Opening times: Saturday – Sunday 9:00 – 14:30
Coconut Market
An Instagrammable market with towering coconut trees and small canals, the Coconut Market is a place to go for live music and food with less shopping involved.
The market has a laid-back and festive vibe, with a stage where local bands and singers perform. You can also find a variety of food stalls, selling everything from coconut ice cream and smoothies to grilled seafood and burgers.
It’s best to arrive before 9:00 to avoid the crowds and the heat – and it’ll give you more freedom to take as many photos as you want!
The Coconut Market is also the most kids friendly with some activities for them and also a goat petting corner!
Opening times Saturday – Sunday 8:00 – 15:00
Fleamarket
Located at the Tribal Village Museum, the Fleamarket is a flea market in its truest sense and more frequented by locals. Here you can find a lot of second-hand goods, such as clothes, shoes, bags, toys, and electronics, at bargain prices.
You can also sell your own stuff if you have something to get rid of. The market is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 to 14:00, and it’s a good place to hunt for some hidden gems and treasures.
Opening times: Saturday – Sunday 8:00 – 14:00
Bamboo Saturday Market (Nana Jungle)
Local products and more bakery and food focus, the Bamboo Saturday Market is a chill place to spend the morning.
It’s a small market popular with Korean and Japanese tourists, who come here for the famous Nana Bakery, which sells delicious bread, pastries, and cakes. You can also find some other food stalls, selling Thai and international dishes, as well as some handicrafts and souvenirs.
The market is open only on Saturday morning, and it’s a bit out of the way, so unless you’re an early bird with your own car or motorbike, it’s ok to give it a miss. But my favourite hot chocolate store is here so I do highly recommend it.
Saturday only 7:00 – 11:00
Chiang Mai Weekday (or all-week) Markets
If you’re only here during the week, don’t worry, there are still plenty of markets for you to visit!
Warorot Market Chiang Mai
North of the Night Bazaar, Warorot Market is the opposite of its neighbor. Mostly catered to the locals, it opens in the morning and sells dry goods that populate most Asian markets.
From fruits to fishing nets, it was a sight to behold as you wandered along the jam-packed streets and skywalks, meandering through the mazes. In fact, Warorot Market, an indoor covered area that’s the most touristy part of the whole affair, is surrounded by markets, and it was hard to tell where anything begins or ends.
The ground floor has a lot of souvenir food stuff that’s perfect to bring home, though definitely check out a few stores, as we find the prices fluctuate greatly. We stumbled across a fabric store in front of a Man Mo Temple. We found some lovely elephant print fabric as well as some others selling for only 40 Baht a meter. These are absolutely perfect for making an easy summer DIY outfit such as a kimono!
Address: between Thapae Road and Chang Moi Road |In the north of Nawarat Bridge and the west side of Ping River, Chiang Mai, Thailand Opening Times: Unsure, though we went at around 9am in the morning and it was open
Khlong Mae Kha Market
Khlong Mae Kha is one of the canals around Chiang Mai and it is a residential neighbourhood turned market. The water from the canal comes down from Doi Suthep Pui national park and it used to be one of the main waterways.
The 1 km stretch has been turned into a Japan-esque night market with locals setting up souvenir shops and small eateries every night.
The end of the market The start of the market
There isn’t much here that you can’t find in other night markets (or markets) but if you want to see a slice of local life and take some nice photos along a canal, then it is worth a visit.
Note that while most cafes open in the early afternoon, the market itself is still setting up around sunset and won’t be more lively until after sunset.
Note: I took a motorbike taxi there and was able to just type in Khlong Mae Ka to find the main entrance point.
Address: 9 Sridonchai Rd, Haiya Sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Opening times: 15:00 – 22:00
One Nimman Vintage Market
If you missed the weekend and can’t visit JJ market, then One Nimman Vintage Market is a great place to get some vintage pieces at a good price. If you can’t find it at first then you’re not alone. It is actually in the parking lot of One Nimman that’s across the road to the north side. So technically, it’s not in One Nimman (which is why I couldn’t find it at first).
It is a relatively small market that’s flea-market style with mostly vintage items. It’s worth a roam if you’re in the area and is a vintage lover.
Opening times: Monday – Tuesday 17:00 – 23:00
Friday Morning Yunan Market
As the name suggested, the Yunan market is all about Yunan and it’s more of a fresh produce market. This is a weekly market that opens every Friday near the Ban Ho mosque. It is a place to discover Yunnanese cuisine, which is influenced by the Chinese province of Yunnan. You can find a variety of dishes, snacks, and desserts, such as steamed buns, noodles, dumplings, fried rice, and sticky rice cake. You can also buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and spices from the local vendors
Friday 5:00 am to 12:00 pm
Chiang Mai Flower Market
This is a 24-hour market that sells a wide range of flowers, plants, and gardening supplies. It is located on Wichayanon Road, across the street from the Ping River and the Warorot Market. You can find orchids, roses, lilies, lotuses, and many other colorful flowers, as well as pots, vases, and baskets. The market is especially lively in the early morning, when the flower shops receive their deliveries and the air is filled with floral aromas.
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