If the Saturday and Sunday Walking Streets feel overly touristy, check out this local water-buffalo market. For more than 60 years, farmers have been buying and selling beasts of burden here as part of an auction; you'll also see roosters, which will unfortunately be subjected to cockfights. Other hawked wares include agricultural tools, used motorbikes, herbal remedies, clothing and food items.
Talat Sanpatong
Chiang Mai Province
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
14.09 MILES
Overlooking the city from its mountain throne, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of northern Thailand's most sacred temples, and its founding legend is…
14.23 MILES
Wat Chedi Luang isn't as grand as Wat Phra Singh, but its towering, ruined Lanna-style chedi (built in 1441) is much taller and the sprawling compound…
14.2 MILES
Chiang Mai's most revered temple, Wat Phra Singh is dominated by an enormous, mosaic-inlaid wí·hăhn (sanctuary). Its prosperity is plain to see from the…
14.88 MILES
Chiang Mai's oldest public market, Warorot (also spelt Waroros) is a great place to connect with the city's Thai soul. Alongside souvenir vendors you'll…
14.31 MILES
Without doubt the most atmospheric wát in the old city, this teak marvel sits in the shadow of Wat Chedi Luang. Set in a compound full of fluttering…
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13.9 MILES
A hidden jungle temple tucked into the mountain along the way to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Old stone structures, intricate carvings, naga-flanked…
14.47 MILES
Set inside the former Provincial Court, dating from 1935, this imaginative museum re-creates Lanna village life in a series of life-size dioramas that…
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26.34 MILES
Thailand’s highest peak is Doi Inthanon (often abbreviated to Doi In), 2565m above sea level, which is impressive for the kingdom, but a tad diminutive…
Nearby Chiang Mai Province attractions
7.18 MILES
An unusual Hariphunchai chedi (stupa) can be seen at Wat Chama Thewi. The structure dates to around the 13th century, although two chedi (stupas) go back…
2. Hariphunchai National Museum
7.93 MILES
Across the street from Wat Phra That Hariphunchai is the informative Hariphunchai National Museum. Inside is a collection of Mon and Lanna artefacts and…
8 MILES
This temple, Lamphun’s most famous, spans back to the Mon period, having originally been built on the site of Queen Chama Thewi’s palace in 1044 (or 1108…
10.17 MILES
This expansive animal park is open day and night, but the real action happens after dark, when you can view all sorts of critters from the back of an open…
10.31 MILES
This sprawling formal park has 23 themed gardens donated by international governments, along with nine Thai gardens and six 'corporate' gardens. It sounds…
10.8 MILES
Head about 20 minutes south of Chiang Mai proper to visit Ginger Farm's verdant rice paddies, vegetable gardens, farm animals and rustic cafe. Catering to…
10.99 MILES
Reached via a steep naga stairway through the forest, this handsome wát looms above the city from the hillside above Royal Park Rajapruek. With its gilded…
12.49 MILES
The first attempt at founding a city on the banks of Mae Ping, Wiang Kum Kam served as the Lanna capital for 10 years from 1286, but the city was…