Chiang Mai’s night markets are legendary among travelers, and each one has a distinct personality. The undisputed star is the Sunday Walking Street (Thapae Walking Street), which stretches the entire length of Ratchadamnoen Road from Thapae Gate deep into the old city every Sunday from about 4:00 PM until midnight. The road is closed to traffic and filled with hundreds of vendors selling handmade crafts, clothing, artwork, hill-tribe textiles, carved soaps, and local street food. It is the largest and most vibrant market in the city, and many of the goods are produced by local artisans rather than factory-made, making it an excellent place to find one-of-a-kind souvenirs.
The Saturday Night Market on Wualai Road, south of the old city, is often described as the Sunday market’s slightly calmer sibling. It runs every Saturday evening along a single long road and features a similar mix of handmade goods, with a particular emphasis on silverwork — Wualai Road has historically been the center of Chiang Mai’s silver-smithing community. The food stalls here are excellent and less overwhelmed than on Sunday night, so if you are primarily interested in sampling northern Thai street food like khao soi, sai oua (Chiang Mai sausage), and mango sticky rice, Saturday may actually be the better evening to go.
For those who want a night market experience on any day of the week, the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road operates nightly starting around 6:00 PM. It is the most tourist-oriented of the major markets, with stalls selling mass-produced souvenirs, clothing, and accessories alongside a handful of more interesting craft vendors. Prices here tend to start higher than at the walking street markets, so be prepared to bargain. The surrounding area also has several permanent indoor market buildings, including the Kalare Night Bazaar and the Anusarn Market, which house food courts and small live-music stages.
A newer and increasingly popular option is Ploen Ruedee Night Market, a compact open-air market off Nimmanhaemin Road that caters to a younger, trendier crowd. Think craft cocktails, artisanal burgers, live acoustic music, and fairy-light-draped seating areas alongside traditional Thai street food stalls. It operates nightly and is a pleasant spot to spend an hour or two if you are staying in the Nimman area and want something more laid-back than the large walking street markets.
When it comes to prices, street food at any of these markets typically costs 30-80 THB per dish, fresh fruit shakes run 30-50 THB, and handmade goods like woven scarves or hand-painted fans range from 100-500 THB depending on quality. Bargaining is expected at most stalls — a good rule of thumb is to counter at about 60-70% of the asking price and settle somewhere in the middle. Be friendly about it; aggressive haggling is considered rude. At the Sunday and Saturday walking streets, many artisan vendors set fair fixed prices, so use your judgment on when to negotiate and when to simply pay.
