🇹🇭 Bangkok
🇹🇭 Chiang MaiBangkok vs Chiang Mai: Which Should You Visit?
Thailand's capital and its northern hub are very different. Bangkok is a huge, hot and exciting megacity of temples, malls, markets and street food. Chiang Mai is smaller and greener, with temples inside old city walls, mountains nearby and a slower pace.
Chiang Mai can suffer from smoke haze in the burning season, roughly February to April. November to February is the most pleasant time for both.
Choose Bangkok if…
- You want the Grand Palace and big temples
- You love street food and nightlife
- You are travelling on to the islands
Choose Chiang Mai if…
- You want mountains, nature and cooking classes
- You prefer a relaxed pace
- You are staying longer or working remotely
At a glance
| Bangkok | Chiang Mai | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
| Population | 10.5 million | 130,000 |
| Climate | Tropical monsoon | Tropical savanna |
| Best time to visit | November–February | November–February |
| Budget | € Budget | € Budget |
| Safety (our rating) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Known for | Buddhist temples, Street food, Night markets | Lanna culture, Temples, Mountains |
📅 Best months for both:January, February, November, December
Where to go in Bangkok
A hot, intense, endlessly energetic capital of temples, markets and street food.
- The Grand Palace. Wat Phra Kaew and the Emerald Buddha. A strict dress code applies.
- Wat Pho. The giant reclining Buddha.
- Wat Arun. The riverside temple, a short ferry ride across the Chao Phraya.
- Chatuchak Weekend Market. Thousands of stalls, open at weekends.
- Chinatown (Yaowarat). The best street food in the city, especially after dark.
🛏️ Where to stay
- Riverside: Close to the temples, with river boats as transport.
- Sukhumvit: Modern, on the BTS Skytrain, with endless restaurants.
🍽️ What to eat
Pad kra pao, boat noodles, som tam and mango sticky rice.
Where to go in Chiang Mai
A relaxed northern city of temples within old walls, with mountains on the doorstep.
- Old City temples. Wat Phra Singh and the ruined great chedi of Wat Chedi Luang.
- Doi Suthep. The mountain temple overlooking the city.
- Night markets. The Night Bazaar every evening and the Sunday Walking Street.
- A cooking class. Chiang Mai is known for its Thai cooking schools, many with market visits.
- Elephant sanctuaries. Choose places that do not offer riding or performances.
🛏️ Where to stay
- Old City: Walk to temples, cafés and the Sunday market.
- Nimmanhaemin: Modern cafés, coworking spaces and nightlife.
🍽️ What to eat
Khao soi curry noodles, sai ua sausage and northern Thai dips. Note that smoke haze from agricultural burning can be bad from about February to April.
Can you visit both?
Many daily flights connect the two. The overnight train is slower but a classic experience.
Journey times are approximate and vary by service. Check the operator before you book. Work out flying times with the flight calculator.
How we compare cities
The table uses the same data as our city guides: our budget and safety ratings, the climate and the months we recommend. The advice on what to see, where to stay and which city to choose is written by our editors. Prices, opening arrangements and timetables change, so check official sources for anything important. To compare any two cities of your choice side by side, use City vs City.