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

The shopping street between Chiang Mai's Narawat Bridge and Tha Pae Gate is filled with exciting and unique finds. You'll find rare antiques, gorgeous textiles, and traditional clothing. Orchids and flowers add to the vibrancy of this shopping street.

Tha Pae Road closes to street traffic at 4:00 pm every Sunday. The street transforms into a busy night market. You'll find hundreds of stalls offering street food, souvenirs, textiles, clothes, and trinkets. Search for your favorite handicraft; friendly bargaining is acceptable. You might find the perfect silk scarf, spice collection, wooden carving, or gold Buddha image.

The temples along the road become delectable food courts. Try everything from deep-fried crickets to pancakes on sticks, to mango sticky rice, to fresh juice.

Artists can draw a street portrait or caricature for a unique souvenir. Stages are set up, and locals partake in dance recitals and performance arts while musicians entertain along the way.

When you're feet get tired, it's time to take a break and refresh yourself with a fresh juice and a foot massage.

While the shopping is fantastic, you'll also love the immersive cultural experience as locals and tourists come together to enjoy shopping, haggling, and tasty treats.

A three-block stretch of shops along the Chang Klan Road, the Night Bazaar is Chiang Mai’s shopper’s paradise with shops selling a range of products at pocket-friendly prices and upmarket goods for the more discerning. The Chinese, mostly immigrants from the province of Yunnan, celebrate the New Year here. Lacquered duck, spring rolls, fried noodles, ice cream and surprise cakes are everywhere; this place has a variety that makes your mouth water and it's all very cheap.

This is the cheapest place for purchasing a range of products and tourist souvenirs in Thailand. One can buy antiques, Thai silk, (fake) Rolex watches, cheap luggage, video games and cheap CDs and DVDs in the small shops that are found everywhere. It is also popular with tourists for the many establishments that offer services like camera shops, mobile phone shops, travel agents, internet cafes and tailoring. One can choose and purchase Thai silk and get a custom-made suit stitched in one day. One can also get a portrait painted at the bazaar in traditional Thai attire. Most tourist souvenirs and handicrafts are mass-produced but one can spot a unique object among them.

Notable buildings along the market are the Ven Ping Night Bazaar with two floors of shops selling authentic antiques, clothing, and crafts. The Kalare Center building has a selection of restaurants serving traditional Thai and international cuisines. The Chang Klan Plaza is an indoor shopping center with high-end stores and the Anusarn Market has eateries serving a variety of seafood dishes.

Tip:
Be prepared to shop around and barter to get the best prices. If items are not priced, it's best to keep walking. If you go inside the large interior Anusarn area, prices are much more reasonable.

Ploen Ruedee Night Market opens at sunset. Taste your way through the night while enjoying various street food, Thai food, and international cuisine. The food stalls are all set up on the outside of the market; visitors can browse and wander before committing. The inside of the market is filled with different seating options, from hay bales to tables and chairs.

Food options include standard Western fares such as pizzas, burgers, and gyros. There are plenty of local Thai stalls. Try the satay or pad Thai. International fare includes Korean and Chinese options. You'll also find snacks such as pancakes and amazing desserts such as ice cream.

Order from the bar and enjoy the live music and entertainment. Enjoy traditional Lanna music and dance performances. Popular contemporary bands also play nightly.

While the focus is on the food, you can also shop for souvenirs, handicrafts, and jewelry.

Warorot Market is the oldest and largest market in northern Thailand. This market is located by the Mae Ping River. Traditionally, most produce was delivered by boats traversing the river.

Today, you can find all the northern spices and foods that are hard to find elsewhere. You can find northern Thai sausage, northern Thai green chili paste, and dried fruit. Shoppers will be delighted by the variety of clothes, souvenirs, and handicrafts. Find yards of colorful fabric, buy fresh flowers, candy, nuts, or stock up on ingredients for dinner.

While tourists love this vibrant market, it's an essential shopping destination for locals. Vendors sell household goods such as woks, tiny statues, pickled tea leaves, and rice steamers. Peruse local fruit vendors and take your pick of lychees, mangosteens, longans, and rambutans.

You'll find lots of street food stalls to keep you going. Try the mouth-watering Khao Soi soup or fried pork. If you're still in the shopping mood, you can wander over to the Talat Ton Lam Yai flower market.