Times, where to start, what to eat and what to buy at Chiang Mai's two famous night markets.
Every weekend Chiang Mai closes two roads to cars and fills them with hundreds of stalls: handmade crafts, Lanna clothes, street food, live music and foot massage. The Sunday Walking Street (Tha Phae Gate) and the Saturday Walking Street (Wua Lai Road) are the best free things to do in Chiang Mai.
| Sunday Walking Street | Saturday Walking Street | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Ratchadamnoen Road, from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Phra Singh (+ side streets) | Wua Lai Road, the silver street south of Chiang Mai Gate |
| When | Every Sunday, about 4-5 PM to 10-11 PM | Every Saturday, about 5 PM to 10-11 PM |
| Size | Very big - 1+ km, plan 2-3 hours | Smaller and calmer - plan 1.5-2 hours |
| Highlights | Temples on the way (Wat Phan Tao, Wat Chedi Luang area), food courts in temple grounds | Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple), silver workshops |
Start at Tha Phae Gate and walk west along Ratchadamnoen Road towards Wat Phra Singh. The market also spreads into Phra Pokklao Road near the Three Kings Monument. Temples along the road open their grounds as food courts - sit down, try a few dishes and listen to the local musicians. At 6 PM the national anthem plays and everyone stands still for a minute - please do the same.
Wua Lai is the old silver-smith village of Chiang Mai. Enter from Chiang Mai Gate (south moat). Don't miss Wat Sri Suphan, the temple covered in silver, which is beautifully lit at night (ladies may not enter the main silver hall - the grounds are open to all). The market is quieter than Sunday and great for silver jewellery and handmade gifts.
🕌 Halal: look for the few Muslim stalls (roti, satay, khao mok gai) with a halal sign. For a full halal dinner go to Ban Haw mosque area (Chang Klan Road) near the Night Bazaar. See our Halal Hub.
Prices are fair; polite bargaining is OK for souvenirs (try 10-20% less), not for food.
Both markets are in or next to the Old City. Take a Grab, a red songthaew (about 30-50 THB per person in the city) or a tuk-tuk. Roads close to cars from about 4 PM, so ask your driver to drop you at the gate.
Book a cooking class, Muay Thai or a dinner show before or after the market:
Every Sunday from about 4-5 PM until 10-11 PM on Ratchadamnoen Road, from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Phra Singh. It is busiest between 7 and 9 PM.
On Wua Lai Road, the old silver-smith street just south of Chiang Mai Gate. It runs every Saturday from about 5 PM to 10-11 PM.
The Sunday market is bigger and goes through the Old City with temples on the way. The Saturday market is a little smaller and calmer, with the Silver Temple (Wat Sri Suphan). If you can, visit both.
A few Muslim stalls sell roti, satay and khao mok gai, but most food is not halal. For a full halal dinner go to the Ban Haw mosque area near the Night Bazaar, 10 minutes away by tuk-tuk.
Yes. Most stalls only take cash (small notes are best). Some accept Thai QR payment. Gentle bargaining is fine for souvenirs, not for food.
Suwan Style Agency Co., Ltd · Licence 24/00892 · valid until 8 Nov 2028 · Open full page
