Chiang Mai is Thailand's cultural capital in the north, a city of ancient temples, night markets, and misty mountains. Once the heart of the Lanna Kingdom, it blends centuries of history with a thriving modern scene of cafes, art galleries, and wellness retreats.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Hand-painted paper umbrellas
Chiang Mai's most iconic craft, made in the Bo Sang Umbrella Village 9km east of the city. Delicate mulberry paper or silk stretched over bamboo ribs, hand-painted with traditional motifs.
Price: $3-30 (100-950 THB) depending on size
Where: Bo Sang Umbrella Village (best prices and selection), Sunday Night Market, Night Bazaar
Chiang Mai silver jewelry
Wua Lai Road (Silver Street) is the historic silversmiths' district with workshops producing handmade silver rings, bracelets, and pendants in Lanna and hill-tribe designs. Sterling silver at fixed prices.
Price: $5-150 (150-4,700 THB)
Where: Wua Lai Road workshops, Saturday Night Market, Warorot Market upper floors
Northern Thai silk and cotton textiles
Hand-woven fabrics from hill-tribe communities including Hmong, Karen, and Lahu. Patterns in indigo-dyed cotton or vibrant silk are made into table runners, cushion covers, and clothing.
Price: $5-60 (150-1,900 THB)
Where: Warorot Market, Sunday Night Market, OTOP shops on Night Bazaar Road
Teak wood carvings and furniture
Intricate carved teak elephants, ceremonial objects, and home decor are a northern Thailand specialty. Small pieces make excellent portable souvenirs; custom furniture pieces can be shipped internationally.
Price: $2-500+ depending on size and intricacy
Where: Night Bazaar, Sankampaeng Road crafts village, San Kamphaeng district workshops
Celadon and Krog pottery
Chiang Mai's celadon tradition dates back to the Lanna Kingdom. The distinctive jade-green glaze on bowls, vases, and decorative pieces comes from a high-iron clay formula. Doi Din Dang and Celadon House are leading producers.
Price: $5-100 (150-3,100 THB)
Where: Celadon House (Sankampaeng Road), Night Bazaar ceramic stalls, Warorot Market
Handmade sa paper products
Beautiful mulberry paper (sa paper) journals, cards, photo albums, and wall hangings made from the bark of the Thai mulberry tree. Notebooks start from 80 THB.
Price: $2.50-25 (80-800 THB)
Where: Sunday Night Market, Night Bazaar, Baan Kang Wat artists village
Hmong and Karen embroidery
Intricate hand-embroidered bags, clothing, and wall hangings made by hill-tribe artisans from the mountain villages of Chiang Mai province. Authentic pieces from the Warorot Market are sourced directly from communities.
Price: $5-80 (150-2,500 THB)
Where: Warorot Market, Sunday Night Market, direct from hill-tribe village cooperatives
Northern Thai food products
Vacuum-packed Northern Thai sausages (sai ua), local coffee from hill-tribe farms, dried chilies, curry pastes, and the famous Chiang Mai black garlic make excellent edible souvenirs.
Price: $2-15 (60-500 THB)
Where: Warorot Market, Rimping Supermarket, specialty food shops on Nimmanhaemin Road
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Sunday Walking Street Market
Chiang Mai's biggest and most famous market transforms the Old City streets into a sprawling bazaar. The best selection of handmade crafts, artisan jewelry, textiles, and Lanna food in the city.
Where: Wualai Road, Si Phum, Old City
Hours: 4:30 PM - 12:00 AM (Sundays only)
Saturday Walking Street Market (Wua Lai)
A more authentic and less crowded alternative to Sunday market, located in the historic silversmithing district. Great for silver jewelry directly from craftspeople and locally made goods.
Where: Wua Lai Road, Hai Ya
Hours: 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM (Saturdays only)
Warorot Market (Kad Luang)
Chiang Mai's oldest market and the best place for authentic purchases at local prices. Multi-story building with fresh produce, textiles, hill-tribe goods, and traditional sweets.
Where: Wichayanon Road, Chang Moi
Hours: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM daily
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
The daily tourist shopping destination with hundreds of stalls selling clothing, crafts, antiques, and souvenirs across several interconnected zones and indoor malls.
Where: Chang Klan Road, Chang Klan
Hours: 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM daily
JJ Market (Chiang Mai Weekend Market)
A large daytime weekend market popular with locals for secondhand goods, vintage clothing, plants, antiques, and street food. Less touristy than other major markets.
Where: Kaewnawarat Road, Watgate
Hours: 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Saturday and Sunday)
Ton Payom Market
A local market near Chiang Mai University serving the student population with affordable food, household goods, and fresh produce. Excellent and cheap street food.
Where: Suthep Road near Chiang Mai University
Hours: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM daily
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Night Bazaar District (Chang Klan Road)
The main tourist shopping corridor with the Night Bazaar complex, Anusarn Market, Kalare Night Bazaar, and dozens of streetfront stalls extending several blocks
Best for: Tourists seeking variety, evening shopping, souvenirs
Nimmanhaemin Road (Nimman)
Chiang Mai's most fashionable shopping street with independent Thai fashion boutiques, design stores, bookshops, and concept stores. Best for unique locally designed items.
Best for: Thai fashion, unique design items, gifts, bookshops
Sankampaeng Road (Handicraft Highway)
A 15km road east of the city lined with craft factories and showrooms for umbrella painting, silk weaving, celadon pottery, lacquerware, and wood carving. Best for seeing production and buying direct.
Best for: Quality craft purchases, seeing production, wholesale
Wua Lai Road
Chiang Mai's historic silversmithing street with traditional workshops producing and selling sterling silver jewelry, tableware, and decorative items at competitive prices.
Best for: Silver jewelry, traditional Lanna metalwork
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center
Chiang Mai's trendiest mall in the heart of Nimman with international brands, a good food court, cinema, and CAMP Cafe (24h WiFi cafe). The hub of the Nimman shopping scene.
Hours: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Central Festival Chiang Mai
The largest and most comprehensive mall in Chiang Mai with an extensive selection of international and Thai brands, a supermarket, food hall, and restaurants. Located near the Night Bazaar area.
Hours: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Central Airport Plaza Chiang Mai
A large multi-floor mall adjacent to Chiang Mai Airport featuring Thai and international fashion, electronics, a large supermarket, and restaurants. Convenient for last-minute shopping before departure.
Hours: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
THINK Park
An outdoor shopping park on Nimmanhaemin Road with boutique fashion stores, trendy cafes, and regular weekend markets in a garden-like setting.
Hours: 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected and welcomed at markets, including the Sunday Night Market and Night Bazaar - never at malls or fixed-price shops
A good starting point is 40-50% of the asking price; expect to settle around 60-70% of the original price
Always smile and be friendly during negotiations - aggressive bargaining is considered rude
Walking away often results in a better final offer being called after you
Never bargain for items you don't genuinely intend to buy
Prices at Warorot Market are already lower than tourist markets and less negotiable as they serve locals
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Restrictions: Antiques and Buddha images older than 100 years require a Fine Arts Department export permit. Many items are restricted or prohibited for export.
Tax Refund: VAT refund (7%) available for purchases of 2,000 THB+ at shops displaying 'VAT Refund for Tourists' signs. Claim at the airport departure hall.
Duty Free: Duty-free allowances: 1 liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes or 250g tobacco, and 10,000 THB worth of goods
Shipping: International shipping available at DHL, FedEx, and Thailand Post offices in the city. Many handicraft shops offer shipping services for larger furniture and crafts.