Yes you’ve made it to Chiang Mai, but know you need to know the best way to get from the airport to the city center. Worry not, because in this article we tell you exactly what to do.
Many savvy travelers will tell you to ditch the airport taxis in favor of ride share apps and with good reason. In many places around the world airport taxis aren’t necessarily trustworthy when it comes to calculating the correct fares and taking the shortest routes. Luckily in Chiang Mai, things work a little different.
Arrival at Chiang Mai Airport
In Chiang Mai the best way to get from the airport to the city center is by one of the official taxis that are waiting directly outside the terminal. At the airport arrivals they devised a handy system so you don’t have to look for one yourself.
When you exit arrivals one of the attendants give you a ticket for the next available taxi driver with your destination written on it. The price? A flat fare of 150 Baht for all destinations within the old city.
Reading Tip: Best Areas to Stay in Chiang Mai
Airport Taxi to Chiang Mai Step-by-Step:
Taking the airport taxi is super easy and straightforward and this is what you need to do:
- Gather your belongings and head towards the arrival hall. Then as you exit the building on your left, there will be taxi attendants waiting for you outside. Normally you would kindly ignore anyone who offers a taxi, but in this case they’re legit.
- You tell the attendant the name or address of your hotel and they’ll alert the next waiting taxi. In the meantime you’ll be given a paper with the number of your taxi, the address of the hotel and the fare. The fare from Chiang Mai airport to any location downtown is a flat rate of 150 Thai Baht.
- The taxi arrives, you put your luggage in the car, hand over the paper with the hotel’s address on it and enjoy the 10 to 15 minute ride.
- Arrive at your hotel, leave the taxi and pay the fare. Voilà you’ve made it and area ready to enjoy Chiang Mai! Don’t forget to go out and find yourself a delicious Khao Soi curry, stroll around downtown and enjoy one of the many cafes in Chiang Mai.
- Gather your belongings and head towards the arrival hall. Then as you exit the building on your left, there will be taxi attendants waiting for you outside. Normally you would kindly ignore anyone who offers a taxi, but in this case they’re legit.
Getting Around in Chiang Mai
For getting around in Chiang Mai we recommend to download the Grab and/or Bolt app for any further taxi rides you need. This is by far the easiest way to get around the city and it doesn’t cost a lot. Alternatively you can opt to use the red pick-up trucks (songthaews) that sometimes function as a bus service or if you pay enough will act as a taxi service If you’re more in the mood for a TukTuk you can do that too, but keep in mind that you’ll need to negotiate your fare beforehand and be prepared to walk away.
Make sure sure to check-out our Chiang Mai guide on Best Areas and Hotels to Stay.
Enjoy your travels! – Laurens & Laura
Laura is the co-founder of Yes and Explore and a travel professional with over 10 years of experience in the tourism industry. She loves sharing her insider knowledge and practical tips to help you make the most of every trip.
