Shopping and Food Walking Tour (Self Guided), Chiang Mai

One of the reasons tourists visit Chiang Mai is shopping. Indeed, this city is fit to captivate anyone with its shopping opportunities, especially when it comes to diverse and unique goods such as silk, silver, clothing, ceramics, antiques, Buddhist art, lacquer and neilloware, of consistently good value and quality and at affordable prices. Chiang Mai is one of the cheapest places to shop in Thailand.

The local shopping is also more handicraft-oriented than anywhere else in the country. It is quite different from that in Bangkok; Chiang Mai is relatively modest in terms of luxury malls, but offers an impressive choice of open-air day and night markets – busy and crowded affairs.

One such hotspot is Tha Pae Road in the eastern part of the Old City. It is recommended to start your spree at Tha Pae Gate and simply follow the crowds to enjoy some of the best night shopping in Chiang Mai.

Setting off from Tha Phae Road in the southward direction, the Night Bazaar takes place every night and is probably the most popular of all night markets in the city. The endless rows of beautifully lit street-side stalls here sell mostly clothing and handicrafts, plus some more unique crafts and jewelry found in a host of shopping plazas. Strolling through the streets of the bazaar, one also shouldn't miss out on the great – but more expensive – food market near Tha Pae Road.

If you are curious and adventurous enough to find something unique, to see how the Thai people do their everyday shopping and perhaps take some memorable photos, and then try the freshly prepared local food – do embark on this exiting, self-guided walking tour of Chiang Mai!