Night Bazaar Chiang Mai: Visitor Guide (2026)

Why Visit Night Bazaar?

This is Chiang Mai’s main tourist market. Not the most authentic (locals prefer Sunday Walking Street), but it’s convenient if you need souvenirs in one spot. You’ll find clothing stalls (those ubiquitous elephant pants), silver jewelry vendors, wood carvings, and a central food court with live music.

Worth an hour if you’re staying nearby. Don’t expect hidden gems. Prices start high, haggle down to 50% or walk away. The food court on the main square has 20+ stalls and decent pad thai, mango sticky rice, grilled skewers.

Visitor Rules & Etiquette

No dress code here. It’s a secular market, not a temple. Tank tops, shorts, flip-flops all fine. Wear comfortable shoes because you’ll walk a lot on uneven pavement.

Photography: Snap away. No restrictions like at temples. Vendors might pose for photos if you’re buying something.

Banned items: No open alcohol (10,000 THB fine if caught). No smoking in crowded areas. No pets allowed.

What to See & Buy

1. Food Court (Main Square): Central area with tables, live music most nights. Try khao soi (curry noodles), grilled satay, fresh fruit shakes. Prices 40-80 THB per dish.

2. Clothing Stalls (Chang Khlan Road): Elephant pants (150-200 THB after haggling), sarongs, knock-off band T-shirts. Quality varies wildly. Check stitching before buying.

3. Handicrafts (Central Alleys): Silver jewelry, wooden elephants, lacquerware. Some vendors sell actual hill tribe crafts (Hmong embroidery), but most is factory-made. Ask where it’s from if you care.

Skip the “designer” bags and watches. Obvious fakes. Border patrol will confiscate them if you fly home through strict customs.

Getting There

Night Bazaar sits on Chang Khlan Road, east side of Old City. Walking distance from most central hotels (15-20 minutes from Tha Phae Gate).

From Airport: Grab a metered taxi (150-200 THB, 20 minutes) or use this route guide from Chiang Mai Airport. Songthaews (red trucks) cost 30-50 THB per person but take longer.

From Old City: Walk east through Tha Phae Gate, continue straight 10 minutes. Or flag any red songthaew, say “Night Bazaar” (20-30 THB).

Parking: Street parking along side sois (alleys). Free after 6 PM but fills up fast. Paid lot behind Kalare Night Bazaar building (50 THB flat rate).

Nearby connections: Airport to Nimmanhaemin, Old City to Doi Suthep, Bus Terminal 2 to Pai.

Visitor Info

Hours: Daily 5-6 PM until 11 PM (some food stalls stay open past midnight). No last entry time. Stalls start setting up around 4:30 PM.

Entrance Fee: Free for everyone. No foreigner vs. local pricing.

Best Time: Arrive 6-7 PM to browse before peak crowds. After 10 PM, vendors get desperate and drop prices (but selection thins out). Weekdays slightly less packed than weekends.

What to Bring: Cash (most stalls don’t take cards). Small bills for haggling. Water bottle (humid evenings). Crossbody bag you can watch.

Avoid: Unmarked taxis outside the market (they’ll quote 300 THB for a 100 THB ride). Use Grab or Bolt apps instead. If you want a more authentic market experience, hit up Sunday Walking Street in Old City instead.

Want to understand the market’s history and haggling culture better? A local guide from Viator can show you which stalls have actual quality and which are tourist traps.