For a family with older children or teenagers you may consider motorbikes for your Chiang Mai adventures! Motorbikes and scooters hold 2 people safely and they make it very easy to navigate within the city and provide for that open road experience outside the city.
Find out the best companies to rent a car from and where to get the best deal in Chiang Mai. Also learn which care rental companies offer pick up and drop off services and even car seats!
Taking a tuk tuk even just once is a memorable experience. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play Mario Kart in real life?! Well here’s your chance! With the loud engine and the wind blowing through your hair it will feel like you’re racing through the streets of Chiang Mai just like Mario or Princess Peach.
If ride sharing, tuk tuks, or songtaews aren’t your thing, you can still rely on a taxi. You may have seen the bright yellow and blue cars around town. Those are the taxis, but you don’t typically flag one down. So how do you get a taxi in Chiang Mai?
What are those enclosed red pickup trucks you see on every street? These are known as songtaews (song-tows), aka red buses or red trucks. The name translates to two benches, which is exactly what you’ll find when you hop in the back. Songtaews are actually a great way to get around because you can throw your entire family in the truck, including cousin Sheryl, Uncle Jim and their screaming kids hanging out the back.
People always ask, ‘is it safe to drive in Thailand?’ Well, the truth is that it is a ways behind in safety measures. Your family is going to see some crazy things! Fitting four generations and the family dog on a motorbike seems perfectly acceptable. So does travelling with your entire house contents strapped to your bike. Helmets? You may see many people not wearing them*. As for seat belts, wear them whenever they’re available.
Chiang Mai’s old city is absolutely incredible and full of hidden treasures. Luckily for you, if you choose to walk, you will be able to fit down those impossibly small sois (alleyways), and discover amazing hangouts or coffee shops where you least expect them.
Riding a bicycle through Chiang Mai, especially the old city, is a fantastic way to get around. With the impossibly tiny streets called ‘sois,’ cycling or walking is truly the best way to explore Chiang Mai. It’s easy to get lost in the maze within the moat, but isn’t that the best way to find hidden gems?!
Flying is by far the most convenient way to get around Thailand and South East Asia. The deals are also pretty incredible too and if you book in advance are sure to fit any family travel budget. Sometimes one way flights are as low as $20!
Taking the bus to or from Chiang Mai is always an adventure! Buses range from top of the line, to rickety, to how in the is this thing still on the road?! You’ll want to read our article to help you get exactly what you want so your bus ride doesn’t ruin part of your trip!
