Chiang Mai
On a Backpacker's Budget
The beautiful town in northern Thailand is renowned for it's nomad culture, Buddhist temples and hundreds of adorable cafes, where expats can sit and work online whilst sipping great coffee or fresh mango smoothies for less than $2. But although it is Thailand and you can feed yourself a nice big meal for around THB40, the most popular things to do are crazily overpriced and only available with local tour groups or expensive taxis and ubers (or Grab, which they use in Asia).
Being a backpacker in Southeast Asia, we were surprised by the prices of the famous tourist attractions, so I've compiled a list of ways to see the beauty of this gorgeous city for little to no cost at all.
1. Street Food Markets
Pae Walking Street, Sunday night
Absolutely free to walk around and admire all the local (and Western) cuisine being cooked right infront of your eyes, and ever so cheap to taste it all!! Our favourite street food markets included the Anusarn Market (opening at 4pm), Night Bazaar, Pae Walking Street on Sundays and the Saturday night market on Saturdays (obviously). We ate the most delicious and fresh thai dishes and deserts for under $1, and you know the food is safe when the vendors are super busy.
2. Buddhist Temples, or "Wats"
Walking around the Old City of Chiang Mai is the most authentic way to see what it has to offer, with beautiful gold and white Buddhist temples scattering the streets, they'e impossible to miss. A couple of our favourites included Wat Ghedi Luang and Wat Phantao.
3. Stay in Budget Accommodation
Finding a cheap place to stay is the easiest and most convenient thing you can do as a budget traveller in Thailand. We found an adorable guesthouse and hostel, where we got a private room with wifi, aircon, a private bathroom, a TV, Fridge and even free water bottles for $9 each a night. Oh and we even got free toast and tea and coffee in the morning by the stunning pool!
4. Art and Souvenir Markets
A temple we found in a side street of Pae Market
Did you really go to Thailand if you didn't get a pair of elephant hippie pants for $3 at the markets? Our favourites included Warorot Market, where you can find locally produced textiles and garments, and Pae Walking Street Market on Sundays, for the bustling street full of cheap clothes and souvenirs.
5. Walk along Ping River
There's a cruise you can do for THB500, or you can just walk along the river and stop at some of the stunning restaurants along the way, like The Good View, where the view is as described, and the food even better!
Lunch at The Good View
6. Get a massage
This is one thing that is much cheaper than you'll find at home! I got an amazing traditional Thai massage for THB300 (around $13 AUD) where they picked me up from my accommodation, gave me tea and biscuits and the most amazing massage or more like stretching experience.
7. Watch some free live music
After 8:30, the streets around the city centre often open up their restuarants to local musicians where you can watch for free or just buy a drink. We watched some jazz at the Northgate Jazz Co-op where they were really talented and the vibe was great!
Northgate Jazz Co