7 Best Night Markets in Chiang Mai 2026

A Chiang Mai night market is easy to find, but knowing which one is open tonight takes a little planning. Two of the best night markets in Chiang Mai are weekend walking streets; three sit along Chang Khlan Road, and two are local markets with cheaper food. This guide covers all seven with typical hours, prices in baht and how to get there. Times change, so check on the day before you go.

Which Chiang Mai Night Market Is on Tonight?

Five of the seven markets open every night, while two open only on weekends. Use this planner to pick the right one for your day.

On weekends, the Night Bazaar is quieter because most visitors move to the walking streets. Some markets also close for public holidays and royal occasions, so treat these Chiang Mai night market hours as typical rather than guaranteed.

7 Best Night Markets in Chiang Mai

Each profile lists the same six points, so you can compare quickly.

1. Sunday Walking Street on Ratchadamnoen Road

The Chiang Mai Sunday Walking Street is the biggest market in the city and best for handmade goods.

• Days and hours: Sunday only, typically 4 pm to 11 pm. The busiest period is about 7pm to 10pm.

• Where: Ratchadamnoen Road in the Old City, from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Phra Singh, about 1.1 km.

• Buy: Handmade crafts, silver jewellery, hill-tribe textiles and paintings.

• Eat: Khao soi, sai oua and mango sticky rice. The temple-courtyard food courts, such as Wat Phan On, often have shorter queues than the roadside carts.

• Budget: About 300 to 500 baht for dinner, snacks, and a foot massage. Khao soi costs roughly 50 to 70 baht.

• Getting there: Walk from Tha Phae Gate if you stay in the Old City. Otherwise, take Grab and get out near the gate, as the route is closed to cars.

Alcohol is banned on Ratchadamnoen Road itself, with fines reported up to 10,000 baht, so drink at the bars on the side streets instead.

2. Saturday Walking Street on Wualai Road

A smaller and calmer version of the Sunday market, and the best place in the city for silver.

• Days and hours: Saturday only, typically 4 pm to 10:30 pm.

• Where: Wualai Road, south of the Old City, running from Chiang Mai Gate toward Wat Sri Suphan, the Silver Temple.

• Buy: Silver bowls, bangles, and earrings from the silversmith shops, plus lacquerware and northern Thai textiles.

• Eat: Grilled sai oua, satay, som tam and fresh fruit smoothies.

• Budget: About 300 to 500 baht for dinner and snacks. Quality silver and crafts range from about 500 to 3,000 baht or more.

• Getting there: A 10 to 20 minute walk from the Old City, or a short Grab ride.

3. Chiang Mai Night Bazaar on Chang Khlan Road

The most reliable choice because it opens every night, although it is tourist-focused and prices start high. The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists it among the city's shopping attractions. Parts of the district are being redeveloped under the Lannatique project, so the layout can change.

• Days and hours: Every night, typically 6 pm to midnight. Vendors start setting up around 5 pm.

• Where: Chang Khlan Road, between Tha Phae Road and Sridonchai Road, east of the Old City.

• Buy: Souvenirs, clothing, silk scarves, wood carvings, and hill-tribe-style bags.

• Eat: Khao soi, pad thai, grilled skewers and fruit shakes.

• Budget: Street food costs about 30 to 80 baht per dish. T-shirts and elephant pants often settle at 99 to 199 baht after bargaining.

• Getting there: About a 10 to 15-minute walk from Tha Phae Gate, or a shared songthaew for around 30 baht.

4. Kalare Night Bazaar

A covered food court and craft complex, which makes it a safe choice when it rains.

• Days and hours: Every night, typically 5 pm to midnight. Some stalls close after 10:30 pm.

• Where: Chang Khlan Road, inside the Night Bazaar district.

• Buy: Silver, clothing, and crafts from fixed-price shops.

• Eat: The food court uses a coupon system. Buy a card at the entrance, pay at each stall, and get unused credit refunded. Choices include Thai, Japanese, Indian, vegetarian, and seafood.

• Budget: A rice dish costs roughly 100 to 120 baht inside, a little more than the street carts outside.

• Getting there: Walk from the Night Bazaar street stalls, or take Grab or a Songthaew from the Old City.

5. Anusarn Market

The seafood and sit-down dinner stop, and quieter than the main strip.

• Days and hours: Every night, typically 5 pm to 11 pm or midnight.

• Where: 149 Chang Khlan Road, at the southern end of the Night Bazaar district.

• Buy: Clothing, handicrafts, and souvenirs.

• Eat: Grilled seafood, khao soi, pad thai, and mango sticky rice at open-air restaurants.

• Budget: Most dishes cost 40 to 80 baht. A seafood dinner for two is roughly 400 to 900 baht.

• Getting there: About 15 to 20 minutes on foot from Tha Phae Gate, or a Grab ride of roughly 40 to 70 baht from the Old City.

6. Chang Phueak Gate Night Market

The local favourite for a cheap, food-first evening. There are almost no souvenir stalls.

• Days and hours: Every night, typically from about 6 pm until late. Popular stalls sell out after 8 pm.

• Where: Chang Phueak Gate, on the northern side of the Old City moat.

• Buy: Very little, as this is a food market.

• Eat: Khao kha moo (braised pork leg on rice) from the well-known Cowboy Hat Lady stall, plus khao soi, sai oua, and Thai suki.

• Budget: About 50 to 70 baht per dish, so a filling dinner for one can stay near 100 to 150 baht.

• Getting there: A short Grab or Songthaew ride from the Old City or Nimman.

7. Warorot Market and Ton Lamyai Flower Market

Warorot Market is Chiang Mai's oldest local market. It is mainly a day market, so visit in the early evening when the food stalls open.

• Days and hours: Every day. The indoor market closes around 6 pm, then street-food stalls beside it run from about 5 pm to 11 pm. Ton Lamyai flower market stays open around the clock.

• Where: Wichayanon Road, in Chinatown beside the Ping River.

• Buy: Dried longan, northern Thai snacks, fabric and fresh flowers.

• Eat: Sai oua, khao soi, chilli dips and fried pork.

• Budget: A cooked dish costs about 40 to 80 baht.

• Getting there: A 10 to 20 minute walk from Tha Phae Gate along Chang Moi Road, or a short Grab ride from the Night Bazaar.

How to Get to the Night Markets in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai has no metro, so you have three practical options.

• Walking: The Old City walking streets, Chang Khlan Road, and Warorot are all within about 10 to 20 minutes of Tha Phae Gate.

• Songthaew: Red shared trucks cost around 30 baht per person in the city. Agree on the fare before you get in.

• Grab or Bolt: The price shows in the app, which is easiest at night and from Nimman.

Avoid tuk-tuks at market exits, as fares quoted to visitors tend to be inflated. For the exact entrance, search the market name on Google Maps.

Chang Khlan Road in One Evening

Chang Khlan Road holds three of the seven markets: the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Kalare and Anusarn. They sit within about 15 minutes' walk of each other, so you can cover them all without a Grab. Start with an early dinner at Anusarn or Kalare, then browse the Night Bazaar street stalls and the covered building. For a final drink, PhaPloen Market is a bonus stop next door. It is a food-truck market with live music, and most listings show it closed on Sundays.

What to Eat at a Chiang Mai Night Market

Chiang Mai night market food is cheap and easy to graze. These Chiang Mai night market street food dishes are worth trying first:

• Khao soi: Curry noodle soup topped with crispy noodles, about 50 to 70 baht.

• Sai oua: Northern Thai herb sausage grilled over charcoal, from about 40 baht a link.

• Khao kha moo: Braised pork leg over rice, about 50 to 70 baht at Chang Phueak Gate.

• Mango sticky rice: A reliable dessert at almost every market.

Choose stalls with a queue and cooking in front of you, since high turnover keeps the food fresh.

Night Market Etiquette, Bargaining and Cash

• Cash: Carry small notes. Some larger vendors accept QR payments, but most stalls prefer cash.

• Bargaining: Expect it at craft and souvenir stalls, not for food or massage. Ask the price, counter at about 60 to 70 percent, and settle somewhere in the middle. Fixed-price shops inside Kalare do not bargain.

• Temples: Cover your shoulders and knees if you enter a temple along the walking streets.

Best Areas to Stay Near the Night Markets

If you plan to stay for months, choose your area around your favourite market. Our guide to the best neighborhoods in Chiang Mai covers each area in more detail.

• Old City: You can walk to both weekend walking streets and the Chiang Mai Gate area. Browse properties for rent in Chiang Mai to compare the options.

• Chang Khlan and the riverside: The Night Bazaar, Kalare, Anusarn and PhaPloen are on your doorstep. See condos for rent in Chiang Mai near the Ping River.

• Nimman: The main expat area for cafes and coworking. The markets are a Grab ride away, roughly 15 to 20 minutes to Anusarn.

For a full monthly budget, read our monthly cost of living in Chiang Mai 2026 guide. If your trip overlaps with Yi Peng or Loy Krathong, our Chiang Mai Lantern Festival guide is a useful companion.

Make Chiang Mai Night Markets Part of Your Everyday Life

The best Chiang Mai night market depends on the day: Sunday Walking Street for crafts, Wualai on Saturday for silver, Chang Khlan Road on weeknights, and Chang Phueak Gate for a cheap local dinner. If you enjoy these evenings enough to stay longer, start your search on Nestopa. Browse condos for sale in Chiang Mai, where foreign buyers can hold a unit freehold within a building's 49% foreign quota, or check current rental listings before you sign a lease.