Getting Around Chiang Mai, Thailand

Globetrotter

02 Feb 2023 - 7 min read

The well-loved highland city of Chiang Mai boasts a long cultural, religious, natural, and historical heritage as Northern Thailand’s center of civilization since the old times. Most tourists visit here for the breathtaking mountain peaks, temples in the distinct architectural style of Lanna, and local cuisine in different flavors than those of Central Thailand.

Despite being one of the biggest and busiest cities in Thailand, the mountainous and hilly city does not have a public transportation system that connects all areas of the province yet. Therefore, to get around in Chiang Mai, your choices are limited somewhat to car rentals, songthaew buses (a type of small city bus converted from your good ol’ pickup truck), familiar tuk tuks that are the same as in Bangkok, motorbike rentals, and bike rentals. You can explore the city via many means and each one gives you a unique experience like a true local. Let’s check out these methods of transportation for your trip to Chiang Mai.

Transportation in Chiang Mai

As mentioned above, Chiang Mai currently does not have a skytrain system or underground subway like Bangkok. Taxis are not as common either due to the lower number of drivers. Locals usually get around by personal vehicles (most popular being the swift and agile motorbikes) and other forms of public cars, most notably the red car (songthaew) which operates more or less like a shared transfer between popular spots and landmarks.

Car Rental

Rent a car at Traveloka: With no trains to get you from point A to point B like in Bangkok and local small buses that have no obvious timetable and price, the best option out there is to get a rental car. With Traveloka, you can get a rental car with set time for your journey, you can choose the right model for your group, and you can even see the prices beforehand! Check out Traveloka to see the prices for your dates and see what cars are available.

Advantages of renting a car at Traveloka: Chiang Mai is not a complicated city with most of the landmarks more or less in the city, but without a car it is tricky to get around and plan a trip, let alone set a schedule. With a car, you can just drive around whenever you want using a navigation app and visit the attractions and historical sites without having to wait for the shared taxi (songthaew) that you need to ask personally for prices and routes. Not only can the communication be difficult if you don’t speak Thai, but it’s also easy to get lost if you’re not sure where the stops are.

Rent a Car in Chiang Mai

Songthaew

What makes it unique/advantages: While songthaew has its downsides such as no clear timetable meaning possible long wait time, drivers who might want to haggle you to rent the whole car, and difficult communication. If you don’t know directions, songthaew can be navigated and even be fun to ride on due to the semi-al fresco feeling. Good thing about this cars is that they almost always stop at major malls, markets, and hotels. When you go to a landmark, look for these buses and ask them where they go. You can also get some information from your hotel whether songthaew stops there and how to get back from the attractions.

What does it look like: Songthaew mini buses or “red vehicles” are generally pickup trucks with roofs and two long benches at the back for passengers to sit in a long row. When you want to get off or get on, just call out or pull the buzzer (or push a button, you get the idea). Waving to them when they pass also generally does the trick.

Fares: While the drivers might ask you to rent the whole car or pay 30 THB flat fee, the fares are usually lower for short trips. A 30 THB (0.8 USD) is the “maximum” price for traveling the entire length of the route within the city, and a bit more for outer areas. Be careful so you don’t pay more than you have to. Keep in mind that the fares are per person, and that you should make it clear what price you will pay before you hop onto the truck. Don’t forget to carry cash, especially small banknotes and coins.

Route: There are songthaew that circulate in their fixed routes and songthaew that can be hired by anyone. White ones (Northeast) go to the Sankampaeng area. Yellow ones (North) go to Mae Rim and the upper north. Blue ones (South) go to Sapapee and Lamphun areas. Green ones go to the Mae Jo University area. You don’t exactly need to know which direction you’re going. Just ask the driver whether they go where you want or if possible ask the staff at your hotel beforehand. The cars from your hotel might go to all the places you want. At Warorot Market, though, all songthaew gather and you can change the car to the areas you want. If you’re walking on the street and see one, you can always just wave to them and ask if they pass where you’re going.

Tuk tuk

The difference between tuk tuk and songthaew: Get on tuk tuk if your group has 3 people or less and have a private ride straight to where you want. Tuk tuks are basically taxis, just without air-conditioning, so if you’re planning to get somewhere quick without wanting to worry about knowing the routes, they’re a good choice. While Songthaew will stop at many popular places along the way and you have to figure out if you’ve arrived yet (there’s unlikely to be clear announcements at every point), like any taxi, tuk tuks will just give a door-to-door transfer. They are more expensive than songthaew, though, since the price varies based on pick-up and drop-off point.

Fares: Ask the driver beforehand how much for your destination. It’s hard to predict the price, but the fares for short-distance rides are unlikely to go up above 100 THB. Lower than that is still quite acceptable. Use your discretion based on the distance or ask some locals such as your hotel staff for the normal price.

Motorbike Rental

How to rent a motorbike in Chiang Mai: In Chiang Mai, since motorbikes are the most convenient and adept mode of transportation, you can rent one from shops all around the city. Drive independently to explore the city without the hassle of communicating with drivers or haggling for prices that you aren’t sure of. Side note though: This is only available for tourists who have an international driver’s license, and even if some shops might not ask to see it, you should have it with you at all times in case you encounter a stop point by the police. It’s not difficult to rent a motorbike at all, just search for a rental shop near your accommodation and walk right in with your passport, cash, and an international driver’s license. We recommend that you have travel insurance as well if you want to use this option, since these rental services do not come with insurances other than theft of the bike itself.

Rental cost: Monthly and weekly rentals will be cheaper than daily. Usually, rental fees for one day cost 300 THB (8.25 USD) and more. But this depends on the model of the bike, during what time of year you’re in Thailand, whether the bike is new or old, and so on.

What do you usually get when renting a motorbike?: You will usually get the bike, a helmet, and a chain to protect your bike when you park somewhere (motorbike theft is quite common in Thailand!). Some fuel is of course included, but they will probably not give you a full tank, so be prepared to pay for gas. Insurance may also be included, but keep in mind that this is not an accident coverage, just insurance in case of loss and theft. Always wear your helmet for safety reasons, but also because policemen might stop you and fine you if you drive without one.

What are the requirements: In order to rent, you’re going to need your passport, an international driver’s license, a cash deposit, and clear dates of usage since it will affect the pricing. When making a rent, keep your passport with you and only allow photocopy or digital scans by the shop.

Bicycle Rental

How to rent a bicycle: Bicycles are popular in Chiang Mai especially within the old wall areas since the province promotes tourism by bicycles for those exploring the city. You can just search for a rental shop near your accommodation and walk right in. Don’t forget to prepare some cash for the deposit, which may be up to 5000 THB (54.75 USD)

Rental cost: Depending on the area, bike rentals may be as low as50 THB (1.37 USD) depending on how you rent them (by the hour, by the day, or longer).

Hopefully the explanation above provided some insight for your holiday plans! To conclude: choose songthaew if you plan to visit popular landmarks or malls since they’re the main stops for these red buses, choose tuk tuks for short-distance private open-air rides. Rent a car or a motorcycle bike if you don’t want to negotiate prices with locals. Choose bicycles if you can afford to travel slowly and see the sights along the way, especially in the old city walls. While the city relies heavily on traveling by car, songthaew (red bus), and tuk tuks, you might find that a combination of these modes of transportation give you a fun experience like a true local.