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Chiang Mai is famous for many things including its incredible food scene, serene temples and beautiful old town. Part of the city’s unique charm is also the number of incredible Chiang Mai night markets there are to choose from, all over the city, selling all manner of crafts, arts, fashion and street-food (plus massages galore!).
There are many night markets in Chiang Mai to choose from, but the biggest and best are held once a week whilst some are on nightly. Also, whilst some night markets in Chiang Mai are squarely aimed at tourists (with prices to match), some are loved and well attended by locals.
So here is a guide to the best night markets in Chiang Mai and all the things to do (and eat!) whilst visiting them:
11 best Chiang Mai night markets map
TOP TIP: Five of these night markets are within walking distance of each other on Chang Klan Road so can all be done in one evening: Anusarn Night Market, Pavillion Night Market, Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Kalare Night Bazaar and Ploen Ruedee Night Market.
11 Best Chiang Mai Night Markets
1. Sunday Walking Market (Tha Phae Walking Street) – our favourite Chiang Mai Night Market
Opening times: Every Sunday from 5pm – 10.30pm
Location address: Ratchadamnoen Road
Likely the most iconic and well-known night market in Chiang Mai, if you plan to visit just one market on this list, the Sunday Night Walking Market is a must-do.
Spanning the full length of Rachadamnoen Road plus several side streets and temple grounds, the Sunday Night Walking Market is huge, comprising hundreds of stalls.
Expect to see both the usual tourist stalls selling souvenirs plus artisan crafts. To do the Sunday Night Walking market justice, allow at least two to three hours if you want to see all of it – it does get very busy, particularly where the stalls are three deep, so it takes time to walk along it.
There are several temporary food courts dotted along the Sunday Night Walking Market strip, with most of them located in the grounds of temples making eating in them quite a satisfying yet surreal experience.
If you only have time to visit one food court, we’d recommend the one in Wat Muen Lan temple as it has the most stalls with the biggest variety of food plus loads of seating.
Note that is illegal to drink alcohol anywhere along the Sunday night walking market route unless you are in a licensed bar – alcohol is not available in the food courts as they are in temple grounds.
The Sunday Night Walking Market in Chiang Mai takes place along Rachadamnoen Road every Sunday from 5pm until around 10.30pm.
Read more about the Sunday Walking Market in our Sunday Walking Market guide >
2. Saturday Walking Street Market (Wualai Walking Street)
Opening times: Every Saturday from 5pm – 10pm
Location address: Wualai Street
Second only to the Sunday Night Walking Market in size, Chiang Mai’s famous Saturday night market takes place along Wualai Street, from 4pm onwards every Saturday evening until around 10pm (although some stalls start to wind down earlier). This is definitely one of the best night markets in Chiang Mai, with several hundred stalls.
The market is named after Wualai Road (joining Thipanet Road), a short walk from the south side of the old city walls (and also the south gate night market, meaning you could combine the two).
There are lots of craft and food stalls along the way – both handmade and artisan crafts as well as the usual tourist tat. Some stalls at the Saturday Night Walking Market are fixed whilst others allow bartering.
It takes around 1 hour to walk the length of the market. Along the Saturday night market route in Chiang Mai, you’ll also see lots of street performers and local musicians, many of whom have disabilities.
Along Wualai Walking Street, there are several temporary food courts set up on Saturday night. Unlike the Sunday Night Market, alcohol is available to drink in the food courts (as they are not temple sites) but alcohol on the street is banned with large fines in place for anyone caught drinking alcohol or smoking.
Whilst there, also make sure you check out the beautiful Wat Sri Suphan ‘silver’ silver temple, which stays open late on Saturday to coincide with the market and is free to visit.
The Wat Sri Suphan temple is lit up so the silver colours stand out – but please remember to dress respectively and cover your knees and shoulders.
3. Anusarn Night Market, Chiang Mai
Opening times: Everyday from 5pm – 12am
Location address: Chang Klan Road
An undercover night market open seven days a week, Anusarn Night Market can be found near the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, generally springing to life from around 5pm until midnight (although some of the permanent shops around the edges of Anusarn Market are open all day).
Anusarn Night Market is one of the better night markets in Chiang Mai, with lots of stalls selling crafts, souvenirs and clothing. It is quite spread out with lots of room to explore and shop, and much less crowded than the Saturday and Sunday walking markets.
Combine your Anusarn Night Market shopping with a trip to Chill Square, a well lit and clean food court with multiple food outlets (all pretty reasonable in price) and a couple of bars to buy beer (80 baht for a large bottle of Chang beer as at November 2022).
4. Kalare Night Bazaar, Chiang Mai
Opening times: Everyday from 5pm – 12am
Location address: Chang Klan Road
Situated along Chang Klan Road and located around Chiang Mai’s night bazaar neighbourhood, Kalare Night Market is open daily from 5pm until midnight (although things don’t start to get busy until 6pm onwards).
A large arcade style night market all undercover with stalls spread-out across a large area, Kalare has a wide range of clothing, jewellery and souvenir stalls as well as one of the best street food centres of any Chiang Mai night market.
Everything is very cheap compared to the nearby tourist restaurants (lots of dishes are around the 50 to 100 THB as at November 2022).
All types of food are available at Kalare Night Market, including scorpions on a stick (100 Baht). On our last visit, the rolled ice-cream roll stall seemed one of the most popular vendors, with a large queue.
Kalare Night Market also has a Muay Thai / Thai kickboxing arena with fights several nights a week, prices start from 600 Baht for the cheapest tickets.
5. Ploen Ruedee Night Market, Chiang Mai
Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 6pm – 12am
Location address: Chang Klan Road
One of the more modern and fun Chiang Mai night markets, Ploen Ruedee Night Market is purpose built and mainly in the open, with a huge stage and seating area with many food stalls on the outer edges.
Popular with backpackers and families, Ploen Ruedee Night Market is food orientated and whilst smaller than some of the other Chiang Mai night markets, is one of the more fun things to do in Chiang Mai.
Live entertainment at Ploen Ruedee Night Market is all part of the package with a huge dancing area (when we visited last, there were lots of people dancing and a queue at the bar – we think these two might be linked!).
Most of the food vendors here operate out of permanent carts or containers and the site seems very clean. There is also a small seating area on top of one the shipping containers meaning you can get a bird’s eye view of the market.
Ploen Ruedee Night Market is free entry but you must not take any of your own food and drink in with you.
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6. Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
Opening times: Everyday from 5pm – 12am
Location address: Chang Klan Road
Chiang Mai night bazaar comprises of many stalls dotted along Chang Klan Road, plus a more permanent shopping plaza / hall experience. The latter has sadly fallen on hard times since the COVID-19 pandemic with the vast majority of stalls closed when we visited one Friday night (around ¾ were closed) – so best to concentrate on the stalls outside along street.
The Chiang Mai night bazaar vendors are friendly and enthusiastic with lots of clothing, jewellery and souvenir stalls to choose from. Bartering seemed to be acceptable at most stalls here.
Chiang Mai night bazaar is a good night market to combine with others in the neighbourhood, plus is surrounded by many bars and restaurants meaning you could easily make a night of it.
7. Chang Puak Gate Food Night Market (North Gate Market)
Opening times: Everyday from 5pm – 12am
Location address: Manee Nopparat Road near the Chang Phuak Gate
Home to the famous Cowboy Hat Lady who has featured on numerous food documentaries (including Anthony Bourdain – RIP) and her legendary Khao moo dish (pork leg). The sukiyaki stall seemed to be the most popular one there with long queues and a ticket system in place.
Chang Puak / Phuak is located at the north date of Chiang Mai’s old town and is a roadside affair, with lots of seating areas and street food vendors who encourage you to take a seat.
With oodles of Northern Thai dishes on offer plus fruit stalls, it is easy to eat on the cheap in Chiang Mai here with prices starting from 50 Baht for hot food (for a noodle dish) and fruit from 20 THB.
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8. Friday Night Walking Market, Chiang Mai
Opening times: Every Friday from 5pm – 10pm
Location address: Ratvithi Road Lane 1
You’ll have most likely heard of both the famous Saturday night and Sunday night walking markets but possibly not the Friday night market in Chiang Mai.
The newest Chiang Mai night market on this list, it is also known as the Kad Kongkao Walking Street market or the Lamchang Community night market.
One of the smaller night markets in Chiang Mai and located along a small, arty alleyway called Ratvithi Road Lane 1, the Friday Night Walking Market has approx 40 stalls, predominantly selling arts, crafts, fashion and souvenirs, with a small smattering of food stalls (although lots of bars and restaurants are also nearby).
Chiang Mai’s Kad Konghao Friday night walking market is held every Friday night between 5pm and 10pm
Read more about the Friday Walking Market in our Friday Walking Market guide >
9. Pavilion Night Bazaar, Chiang Mai
Opening times: Every Friday from 6pm – 10pm
Location address: Chang Klan Road
Pavilion Night Bazaar is probably the smallest night market in Chiang Mai on this list, with a small indoor food court plus a small town square and alley outside with several more stalls (likely around 20 to 30 in total).
Pavilion Night Bazaar also has a Muay Thai boxing ring that opens several nights a week, with lots of people flyering outside and this seems to be the main draw card here. It is also not as busy as other night markets making it a bit more peaceful than others. Food is the focus here although there are a few clothing and craft stalls in the square outside Pavilion Night Bazaar.
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10. Chiang Mai Gate Market (south gate)
Opening times: Everyday from 5pm – 12am
Location address: Bumrung Buri Road near the Chiang Mai Gate
Open daily from 5pm until around 12am, this is one of the best night markets to get a late night fix of food. The South Gate market is food focused and has lots of good looking (and sweet smelling stalls) all closely packed in together, with the historic south gate as a stunning back-drop.
Popular with locals and tourists alike, the South Gate food market has a wide variety of food with lots of budget and cheap eats.
11. Rincome Night Market in Nimman
Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 6pm – 12am
Location address: Huay Kaew Road next to the Maya Lifestyle Shopping Mall
Located in the Nimmen district, Rincome night market is situated right next door to the Maya shopping centre mall (you can even peer over from the roof terrace on Maya’s 6th floor to get a bird’s eye view of the market).
We visited Rimcome night market early one Tuesday evening (perhaps too early) and stayed until approx 6.30pm. Many of the stalls hadn’t opened and the food court was quite spartan (although we think it is the cheapest place in Chiang Mai for beers – 60 Baht for a large Chang Leo).
There were around 10 food stalls open at Rincome market when we visited with dishes like Northern Thai sausage, and the crowd was a mix of both locals and tourists. We personally wouldn’t recommend making a special journey here to visit, but maybe pop along if you are already in the Nimmen area. Rincome night market is open daily (except Sunday) from 5pm till midnight.
Check out our guide to Nimman, Chiang Mai >
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