Bangkok and Chiang Mai Itinerary: 5, 7 or 10 Days

Featured image: Stefan Fussan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a Glance

Our default is 7 days: 3 in Bangkok, 1 transfer day and 3 in Chiang Mai. In our editorial assessment, 5 days works but feels rushed. A flight of about 1 hour is our transfer pick for short trips. November to February is the cool, dry window, and it is also the priciest. Entry rules and fares change, so check each official source before you book.

• Short on time (5 days): 2 Bangkok days, 2 Chiang Mai days, fly north on day 3.
• First trip (7 days): temples and river in Bangkok, then Old City and Doi Suthep.
• Slow traveler (10 days): add Ayutthaya and Doi Inthanon as swap-ins.
• Beach add-on: see our Bangkok and Phuket route.

How Many Days: Bangkok and Chiang Mai Split

Pick the day count first, because it decides what you drop. Seven to nine days is a comfortable pace for two cities, in our view. A Bangkok and Chiang Mai trip of 5 days is possible but leaves no slack for the transfer. If Bangkok is your priority, our 5-day Bangkok plan shows what that time buys on its own. Treat Chiang Mai as an overnight stop, never a day trip.

Bangkok to Chiang Mai: Flight, Train or Bus

Treat the transfer as a decision, not a footnote. One published estimate puts the flight at about 1 hour and around ฿2,600, but fares move with season, so check airlines before booking. Buses take at least 10 hours. Trains take longer than buses on this route and cost less, according to the same traveler report. For sleeper times and fares, check the State Railway of Thailand. Bangkok has two airports, BKK and DMK, while Chiang Mai has CNX. Confirm which Bangkok airport your flight uses before you pick a hotel.

Best Time to Go and How It Changes Your Route

November to February is the cool, dry window for Chiang Mai. Expect higher prices and festivals such as Loy Krathong and New Year, so book rooms early. March to July is hot, and smoke and haze can reach the north. July to October is the rainy season, and northern floods hit in October 2024. We'd avoid a tight schedule in those months. Check the Thai Meteorological Department or TAT before you commit. If you fly into Bangkok first, you shake off jet lag in a city with plenty of late food.

Day-by-Day Bangkok and Chiang Mai Itinerary (7 Days)

This 7-day route keeps the heavy sightseeing on days 2 and 5. To shorten it, drop day 3. To stretch it, add a swap-in listed in the next section.

1. Day 1, Bangkok: arrive, check in and keep the evening light.
2. Day 2, Bangkok: Wat Pho, Grand Palace and Wat Arun as one river-side cluster. Check hours on the Grand Palace official site. Our Bangkok Temple Tour: Self-Guided Route and Costs gives the full order.
3. Day 3, Bangkok: Chinatown (Yaowarat) or a canal ride. Read our canal tour guide for the boat option.
4. Day 4, transfer: fly to Chiang Mai in the morning, then walk the Old City.
5. Day 5, Chiang Mai: Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh and a night market.
6. Day 6, Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep, or a cooking class.
7. Day 7, Chiang Mai: slow morning, then fly out.

Optional Add-Ons and What They Cost You

Treat these as swap-ins, not defaults. Each one eats a day and displaces something. Ayutthaya costs one Bangkok day, so we'd drop Chinatown. Maeklong Railway Market sits about 80 km from Bangkok, and its train comes several times daily. Pair it with Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, but expect a full day. From Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon is Thailand's tallest peak and takes a full day. Chiang Rai and Kanchanaburi each need extra nights. For an ethical elephant day, pick an observation-only sanctuary with no riding, and check its practices before booking. For a longer city stay, see our Bangkok Itinerary: 3, 4 or 5 Days, Day by Day.

Mistakes to Avoid on a Two-City Trip

These four errors cost the most time.

• Overpacking Bangkok with Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi and floating markets in one stay.
• Booking a night transfer, then arriving too tired to do anything on day 4.
• Ignoring temple dress codes: shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Treating Chiang Mai as a day trip instead of a 2 to 3 night stop.

Where to Stay

In Bangkok, pick by priority. Stay near the river for temples, along Sukhumvit or Silom for BTS and MRT access, or in Silom for nightlife. In Chiang Mai, stay inside or beside the Old City. The Old City is compact and walkable, and crossing it takes under 30 minutes on foot. Nimman suits cafes and a quieter evening. Compare area and price before you pick a hotel.

Getting Around Each City

In Bangkok, use the BTS and MRT for long hops. River boats suit the temple cluster, and you can check routes on the Chao Phraya Express Boat site. Use a taxi or ride-hailing late at night. In Chiang Mai, walk the Old City. A songthaew starts around ฿30 per person, so agree the fare before boarding. A Grab from the airport was about ฿200 in one report. Songthaews also go to Doi Suthep.

Budget and Booking Tips

Flights are the biggest single cost on a short trip, with about ฿2,600 as one indicative fare. Book rooms early for November to February. Cash is common at markets in Chiang Mai. One report puts Thai ATM limits at ฿20,000 with a ฿200 fee per withdrawal, so withdraw less often. Fees apply, so check your bank. Use relative levels for hotels: low for hostels, mid for riverside or Old City, high for river-view stays.

Practical Notes: Entry, Dress Code and Connectivity

Visa-exempt stay length and the electronic travel authorization have both changed recently, so check the official Thai e-visa or immigration site before you fly. Cover shoulders and knees at all temples. An eSIM is easiest on arrival. Carry some cash for market stalls.

Bangkok First or Chiang Mai First?

For a first 7-day trip, start in Bangkok and finish in Chiang Mai. Spend 3 nights in Bangkok, fly north, then allow 3 nights in Chiang Mai. Bangkok has more late-night food and transport options, which makes it easier after a long-haul arrival.

Book an open-jaw ticket when possible: arrive in Bangkok and depart from Chiang Mai. This avoids repeating the roughly 1-hour flight south at the end. Check whether your Bangkok flight uses BKK or DMK, then confirm your Chiang Mai departure is from CNX.

Reverse the route if a festival, weather pattern, or an onward international flight makes Chiang Mai the more practical arrival point. Avoid building a tight connection around a night transfer. A 5-day route has little recovery time if a delay affects the move between cities.