About Sunday Night Market
The Sunday Night Market on the Tha Pae Walking Street is one of the most popular Chiang Mai markets, owing to its diverse vendors, vibrant atmosphere with live music and street performers.
Thus, if you like exploring after sundown, visiting this Old City market is one of the best things to do in Chiang Mai at night.
Chiang Mai Travel Tips
First, let’s cover the essentials and tips to help you have a more fun, enjoyable, and safer trip to the north and the rest of Thailand.
Stay connected with an eSIM
Instantly connect to the internet on your arrival in Thailand by buying an eSIM package in advance.
- eSIM packages on Thailandesim (get 5% off your purchases with code SHIPPEDAWAY)
- eSIM packages on Airalo (get $3 off the first purchase with code MATEJ1033)
Book trusted tours
Chiang Mai has lots of amazing activities to choose from. Book top-rated Chiang Mai tours on Viator or GetYourGuide.
Get travel insurance
While Chiang Mai is a safe destination, we recommend getting travel insurance for any trip outside your country. We highly recommend an insurance package from Heymondo. And as our reader, you get 5% off the price.
ATM fees
Chiang Mai still relies heavily on cash. So we recommend taking out a good amount each time you visit an ATM. Note: There is an 8.5 USD fee for each withdrawal (most Thai ATMs).
Get a Wise card to save money on additional conversion fees and ATM transactions from your bank.
Hotels in Chiang Mai
The best area to stay in Chiang Mai is in the Old City. To secure the best deals, we recommend booking in advance.
Travel map
We have compiled a Chiang Mai Travel Map, which you can refer to when exploring.
What is the location of the Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market?
Set in the center of the old city, the Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market starts at the Tha Phae Gate and extends for a kilometer along Ratchadamnoen Road until Wat Phra Singh.
There are all sorts of stalls and local artists lining the street. Plus, You can find a lot of special areas designed for food vendors around the Buddhist temples and various side streets.
It’s easy to find the Sunday Market in Chiang Mai as it’s located in the Old City, which is also the best place for first-timers to stay in Chiang Mai.
Book your Chiang Mai hotel in advance to secure the best deal!
Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market Map
However, even with the immense size, this market gets easily crowded, considering it’s among the most visited Chiang Mai tourist attractions. The place gets full of people to the point that you can only go with the flow of the mob. So if you want to avoid big crowds, come at the opening or in the first hour.
Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market opening hours
The opening hours of the Sunday Night Market in Chiang Mai are every Sunday evening from 4:00 pm to midnight.
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Best time to visit Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market
The best time to visit the Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market would be as soon as it opens at 4:00 pm. That way, you will have time to get an overview of the market and negotiate with the vendors without forcing your way through a crowd.
If you’re uncomfortable in a swarm of people, we highly recommend visiting this Chiang Mai evening market right at opening since the place is the busiest from 7 pm to 10 pm. However, if you want to see the market with a livelier atmosphere, coming after 7 pm is your best option.
What to expect at the Sunday Night Market in Chiang Mai?
Some products may be a bit pricier than on standard stalls outside of night markets like these, but feel free to haggle (just be reasonable!).
You can expect to pay a lower price for food than in plenty of restaurants. So, if you’re in the Old City on a Sunday, it’s a great way to get a variety of delicious food for affordable prices.
- Love food markets? Check out Jonker Night Market in Melaka, Malaysia
What to eat at Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market?
The Sunday Night Market on Tha Pae Walking Street is one of the go-to Chiang Mai tourist attractions for trying mouth-watering Thai street food at the various street food vendors. There’s something for everyone, so nobody’s taste buds will be left out.
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Must-try street food dishes in Chiang Mai
- Khao Soi: This iconic Northern Thai dish features egg noodles in a rich curry broth, topped with crispy noodles, pickled mustard greens, and your choice of protein.
- Sai Oua (Northern Thai Sausage): These flavorful sausages are made with pork, herbs, and spices, giving them a unique taste that is both aromatic and slightly spicy.
- Khanom Krok (Coconut Pancakes): These bite-sized pancakes are made from coconut milk and rice flour, creating a soft and slightly sweet treat that is perfect for snacking.
- Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad): A popular Thai salad made with shredded green papaya, tomatoes, chili peppers, lime juice, fish sauce, and peanuts. It offers a refreshing combination of flavors.
- Moo Ping (Grilled Pork Skewers): These marinated pork skewers are perfectly grilled and often served with sticky rice. They make for a tasty and satisfying snack or meal.
- Roti: Similar to Indian flatbread, roti in Chiang Mai is typically filled with bananas or other fruits before being folded and cooked on a griddle. It can be enjoyed plain or topped with condensed milk or chocolate sauce.
- Mango Sticky Rice: a must-try dish that is not to be missed – It’s glutinous rice with coconut milk and fresh mango slices.
Your visit to the Sunday Night Market in Chiang Mai would not be complete without trying the local must-try noodle dishes like Pad Thai, a classic stir-fried rice noodle dish, and Khao Soi, an iconic egg noodle soup in a curry broth topped with crispy noodles.
Also read: Top Things To Do in Bangkok
If you want something to drink, treat yourself to fresh fruit smoothies or some delicious sugarcane juice. Don’t miss out on this while in Chiang Mai, as you will absolutely miss it once you leave!
Meat dishes
The Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market has plenty on offer for meat lovers, from burgers to different kinds of BBQ meats, as well as various seafood choices.
A crowd favorite on markets like this one is Satay, skewered and grilled meat with a peanut sauce. And since Chiang Mai is super vegetarian-friendly, tofu-based skewers are also available.
For the brave travelers looking to try something exotic, there are fried insects like crickets, tarantulas, grasshoppers, worms, and other creepy crawlies.
Vegetarian and vegan options
As a vegetarian or vegan, you won’t miss out on anything on a Sunday at Chiang Mai’s Night Market, as you can very easily find plenty of veggie dishes in either specialized stalls or as a veggie option in the regular ones.
What else is there to buy at Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market?
The Sunday Night Market, also known as the Sunday Walking Street, offers more than just a broad selection of delicious food, making it one of the best Chiang Mai markets for shopping.
Several stalls sell a range of clothes, from traditional Thai garments like sarongs and embroidered blouses to elephant pants and bohemian dresses. You can also see jewelry, such as necklaces, earrings, and macrame bracelets.
If you’re there to buy housewares, there’s an assortment of wooden carvings, fancy lanterns, ceramics, woven textiles, and tapestries. Love bags? You can find bamboo pouches, purses, and woven handbags.
This Chiang Mai evening market is also a showcase of artistic creations from talented Northern Thailand artisans and local artists. Traditional Thai artwork pieces, paintings, and sculptures are just some of what you can expect.
All in all, this is the perfect place to get some souvenirs that aren’t found in all other markets, as you will find that many are handmade items, so they’re quite unique.
Some of the things you maybe don’t expect to be available at a night market are foot massages or full body relaxing massages. Here, you can get one right on the main street or on the smaller side streets!
Other Chiang Mai night markets
Apart from the Chiang Mai Sunday Market, there are several other night markets that are worth visiting.
1. Chiang Mai South Gate Night Market
Open daily from 5 pm to midnight with food stalls on both sides of the Bumrung Buri Road, with some offering tables and chairs for dining.
2. Chiang Phuak North Gate Food Market
Open daily from 5 pm to midnight, this Chiang Mai evening market is also a great spot to sample Thai street food, featuring some stalls selling there for many generations.
3. Chiang Mai Saturday Night Market – Wua Lai Walking Street
Open every Saturday from 5 pm to 10:30 pm, it features a lot of vendors similar to the Sunday Night Market but is smaller and has a more relaxed vibe.
4. Kalare Night Bazaar
Open daily from 5 pm to midnight, it has a covered eating area and offers Thai and international dishes, including Italian, Chinese, and Japanese.
5. Anusarn Market
Open daily from 5 pm to midnight, it’s a night market in the city’s riverside area with live entertainment, numerous food stalls, and a seating area.
Frequently Asked Questions
The opening hours of the Sunday Night Market in Chiang Mai are every Sunday evening from 4:00 p.m. to midnight.
The Saturday Night Market features a lot of vendors similar to the Sunday Night Market but is smaller and has a more relaxed vibe.
Some of the must-try street food dishes in Chiang Mai are Pad Thai, Mango Sticky Rice, Banana Roti, Khao Soi, and Sai Oua (Northern Thai Sausage).
Our thoughts about the Sunday Night Market in Chiang Mai
We’ve been to countless night markets in Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia, and the Sunday Night Market in Chiang Mai is absolutely one of our favorites. We loved the vibe and the food courts set around the temples in the old town. It’s truly unique.
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