01Why visit Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is the calmer counterweight to Bangkok. The old walled city is compact enough to walk, the temples are quieter, and the surrounding mountains mean it is a few degrees cooler most of the year.
It is also the best base in Thailand for cooking classes, coffee culture and ethical elephant sanctuaries.
02Doi Inthanon and the mountains
Doi Inthanon is Thailand's highest peak and an easy day trip. The twin pagodas near the summit have some of the best views in the north, and the waterfalls on the way up are worth stopping for.
If you would rather stay close to town, Doi Suthep sits on the hillside above Chiang Mai and is about a 30-minute drive.
03Markets and food
Khao soi — a northern curry noodle soup — is the dish to try here, and it is better in Chiang Mai than anywhere else in the country.
The Sunday Walking Street market fills the old city with food and crafts. The nightly Chang Phueak gate market is smaller, cheaper and more local.
