Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai With Kids: What We Loved and What We'd Skip Next Time

Chiang Mai is often recommended as one of the best places to visit in Thailand with kids, but with so many temples, markets, day trips and activities available, it can be difficult to work out what is actually worth your time.

Quick Answer: What Are the Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai With Kids?

The best things to do in Chiang Mai with kids include:

• Exploring Chiang Mai's temples and Old Town

• Visiting Doi Inthanon National Park

• Taking a trip to Doi Suthep for panoramic city views

• Visiting an ethical elephant sanctuary and bamboo rafting

• Exploring Chiang Mai's night markets and local food scene

• Cooling off at the Grand Canyon Water Park or Sticky Waterfall

• Taking a Thai cooking class

• Visiting cafés, parks and family-friendly attractions around the city

For our family, the standout experiences were Doi Inthanon National Park, wandering through Chiang Mai's temples and markets, and discovering smaller local experiences that weren't necessarily on every tourist itinerary. However, the beauty of Chiang Mai is that there are enough family-friendly activities to tailor the trip to your children's ages and interests.

This guide is based on our experience visiting Chiang Mai with our 8-year-old son, Joshua. I'll share what we genuinely enjoyed, what I'd prioritise if time is limited and a few popular attractions I'd think carefully about before booking.

If you're planning a visit to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai together, see Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai With Kids: A 3-Day Northern Thailand Itinerary.

Just a quick note: some links throughout this guide are affiliate links. This doesn't affect the price you pay, and we only recommend hotels, tours and travel products we've personally used or would happily book again.

Why Chiang Mai Works So Well for Families

What makes Chiang Mai different from many family destinations in Thailand is the variety. Unlike Chiang Rai, which revolves around a handful of standout attractions, Chiang Mai gives families almost endless options. You can spend one day exploring ancient temples, the next hiking through a national park and the next wandering around markets trying mango smoothies and street food.

That flexibility is what impressed me most. If the weather changes, there are alternatives. If the kids are tired, you can slow things down. If everyone still has energy, there are more activities than you'll realistically fit into a single trip.

Doi Suthep: Worth the Visit?

If you're spending several days in Chiang Mai, I'd definitely consider Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The temple sits on a mountain overlooking the city and is one of Chiang Mai's most famous landmarks.

What most families enjoy is not necessarily the temple itself, but the views. The journey up the mountain, the atmosphere and the panoramic views over Chiang Mai make it feel different from the temples within the Old Town.

What Joshua loved most was joining everyone else in trying to land small coins in the narrow gaps on top of the pillars. It quickly became clear that it was much harder than it looked, with far more failed attempts than successful ones.

There's also a cable car available if you don't fancy tackling the stairs. For a first-time visit to Chiang Mai, I think it's one of the easier temples to recommend.

Doi Inthanon National Park: Our Favourite Day Trip

If your family enjoys waterfalls, nature and being outdoors, Doi Inthanon National Park is one of the best day trips from Chiang Mai.

Located around 90km south-west of Chiang Mai, it takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours to reach by car, making it an easy day trip even with children. The park is home to Thailand's highest mountain, spectacular waterfalls, the famous Twin Royal Pagodas, short walking trails and some of the best viewpoints in northern Thailand.

What makes Doi Inthanon work so well for families is the variety. Instead of spending hours at a single attraction, you're constantly moving between different stops. One minute you're standing beside a powerful waterfall, the next you're walking through cloud forest or exploring the beautifully maintained gardens around the pagodas. That constant change of scenery kept Joshua interested far longer than I expected.

The waterfalls were probably his favourite part. They felt much more adventurous than a temple visit and gave him the chance to stretch his legs, explore and burn off some energy. As parents, we also appreciated the cooler temperatures compared to Chiang Mai city.

The only thing I'd say is that the weather can have a huge impact on the experience. We visited when a storm system moved through northern Thailand and spent much of the day in rain and low cloud. We still enjoyed it, but on a clear day I think it would be one of the best family days out in the region.

If you're driving, the route is very straightforward and one of the reasons I think hiring a car works so well in northern Thailand.

Not hiring a car? There are plenty of organised tours that include hotel pickup, transport and visits to the park's main attractions, making it one of the easiest Chiang Mai day trips to book. Explore Doi Inthanon day tour options here

For the full breakdown of what we saw, costs, timings and whether I'd recommend it for families, read Doi Inthanon National Park With Kids

Exploring Chiang Mai's Temples

It's impossible to visit Chiang Mai without seeing at least a few temples. Fortunately, they're easy to incorporate into a family day because they're scattered throughout the city rather than concentrated in one area.

Some of the most popular temples include:

• Wat Phra Singh – one of Chiang Mai's most important temples, known for its golden buildings and impressive Buddha statues.

• Wat Chedi Luang – famous for its huge partially ruined chedi that dominates the Old Town skyline.

• Wat Chiang Man – Chiang Mai's oldest temple and often quieter than the more famous sites.

• Wat Phra That Doi Suthep – located on a mountain above the city with panoramic views over Chiang Mai.

We visited several of the Old Town temples while exploring the city, and I think this is the best approach for families. Rather than dedicating an entire day to temple hopping, we simply stopped at temples while wandering between cafés, markets and other attractions.

For families, I think that's a much more manageable way to do it. Joshua enjoyed seeing the giant Buddhas, monks and colourful temple buildings, but like most children, his attention span for temples has limits. Mixing temple visits with food stops, smoothie breaks and a bit of exploring kept the day fun rather than feeling like a history lesson.

If you're visiting Chiang Mai with kids, I'd focus on seeing a handful of temples as part of a wider day exploring the Old Town rather than trying to visit every famous temple in the city. In our experience, that's the balance that works best for families.

Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries

Many families visit Chiang Mai specifically for an ethical elephant experience. If you choose this option, I'd recommend researching carefully and selecting a sanctuary that focuses on feeding, observing and caring for elephants rather than riding or performances. For many families, this becomes one of the highlights of a Thailand trip.

Explore ethical elephant sanctuary tours here.

Many elephant tours can also be combined with bamboo rafting, which is another popular family activity in northern Thailand. We did this elsewhere during our Thailand trip and found it was a great way to experience the countryside at a slower pace, while adding a little adventure without being too demanding for children.

Explore elephant sanctuary and bamboo rafting combo tours here.

Chiang Mai Grand Canyon Water Park

For children who enjoy water-based activities, Chiang Mai Grand Canyon Water Park is one of the city's most popular family attractions.

With inflatable obstacle courses, swimming lagoons, giant slides and plenty of opportunities to cool off, it's easy to see why many families spend an entire day here, particularly during the hotter months.

Explore Grand Canyon Water Park tickets and family day trips here.

If your children are anything like Joshua, there's a good chance a day climbing inflatable obstacles and jumping into the water will be remembered far longer than another temple visit. It can also be a great option for breaking up a sightseeing-heavy itinerary with a day that's focused purely on fun.

Sticky Waterfall (Bua Tong Waterfall)

One attraction I'd definitely recommend for active families is Sticky Waterfall (Bua Tong Waterfall). Unlike most waterfalls, the mineral-rich limestone rocks provide enough grip that you can actually walk and climb directly up the waterfall without slipping.

For children, it's less of a sightseeing stop and more of an adventure. Climbing up the cascading water, exploring different sections of the falls and getting completely soaked is often far more memorable than another temple visit.

Explore Sticky Waterfall tours and day trip options here.

If your kids enjoy being outdoors and burning off energy, this is one of the most unique family-friendly activities near Chiang Mai and a great alternative to a more traditional sightseeing day.

Thai Cooking Classes

Older children who enjoy food may love a family-friendly Thai cooking class. Many include a local market visit before teaching you how to prepare classic dishes such as pad thai, spring rolls and Thai curries, making it a fun way to experience Thai culture beyond the usual sightseeing.

Explore family-friendly Thai cooking classes in Chiang Mai here.

What I like about cooking classes is that they give families something interactive to do together. Instead of simply looking at attractions, children get involved, learn new skills and, hopefully, leave with a few dishes they'll want to recreate at home. For families with older children, it can be a nice change of pace from temples, markets and day trips.

Day Trip to Chiang Rai: Is It Worth It?

If you're staying in Chiang Mai and don't want to change hotels, a day trip to Chiang Rai is one of the most popular excursions in northern Thailand.

Most visitors come to see the city's famous temples, particularly the White Temple, Blue Temple and Wat Huay Pla Kang, which are unlike anything you'll find in Chiang Mai. The White Temple alone is enough to make many people consider the journey.

The downside is that Chiang Rai is around 3 to 3.5 hours from Chiang Mai, so a day trip can feel long, especially with younger children. You'll spend more time in the car and have less flexibility than if you stay overnight.

That said, if you're short on time and only want to experience Chiang Rai's highlights, a day tour can be an easy and stress-free option.

Explore Chiang Rai day trip tours from Chiang Mai here.

Personally, I think Chiang Rai is best enjoyed as an overnight stop, as it gives you time to enjoy attractions such as the temples and Lalitta Café without rushing. However, if you only have a few days in northern Thailand, a day trip still offers a great introduction to the area.

For a full breakdown of the temples, suggested route, costs and what we thought was actually worth visiting as a family, read Chiang Rai Temples With Kids: Which Ones Are Actually Worth Visiting?.

Chiang Mai's Markets: An Unexpected Highlight

Before visiting, I assumed the temples and national park would be the highlights. In reality, some of our best family memories came from Chiang Mai's markets.

One evening we stumbled across a local night market close to our accommodation and ended up spending far longer there than expected.

The combination of:

• Smoothie stands

• Fresh fruit

• Grilled meats

• Curries

• Fried chicken

• Local desserts

meant everyone could find something they wanted.

Joshua was particularly happy whenever he discovered a new Oreo shake or fruit smoothie stall. Markets also provided something that many attractions couldn't: flexibility. You can spend twenty minutes there or three hours there. There's no schedule, no pressure and very little planning required. For families, I think that's part of the appeal.

What We'd Probably Skip Next Time

This isn't about attractions being bad. It's more about understanding what works for your family. If we returned, I think I'd be more selective about temple visits. After seeing several, they naturally start to blend together for children.

I'd also spend less time trying to tick attractions off a list and more time enjoying Chiang Mai itself. Some of our favourite memories weren't the big-ticket sights at all. They were the random cafés, local markets, smoothie stands and neighbourhood experiences we discovered along the way.

Those moments often ended up being more memorable than the attractions we spent hours researching beforehand.

Looking for More Adventure?

The activities above are my top recommendations for families with school-age children around Joshua's age (7–10 years old), as they offer a good balance of sightseeing, outdoor activities and relaxation.

However, Chiang Mai has far more to offer if your children are older or enjoy more adventurous experiences. Popular options include zip lining through the jungle canopy, ATV tours, white water rafting and Muay Thai (Thai boxing) experiences.

One of the things I love about Chiang Mai is that no two family itineraries need to look the same. Whether your children prefer nature, adventure, wildlife or culture, there are enough activities available to tailor the trip to their interests. We found GetYourGuide particularly useful for browsing what's available, checking reviews and comparing family-friendly tour options before booking. What I also loved is pretty much everything is free cancellation if plans (or the weather!) change.

Where We Stayed

We based ourselves at Grand Napat Serviced Apartments, which worked really well as a family base. The extra space, separate bedroom and quieter location made a noticeable difference after busy sightseeing days. Joshua appreciated having room to spread out, while we appreciated not feeling squeezed into a standard hotel room.

If you're deciding where to stay, read:

• Grand Napat Serviced Apartments Chiang Mai Review

• Where to Stay in Chiang Mai With Kids: Best Areas for First-Time Visitors

Final Verdict: What Are the Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai With Kids?

If you're visiting Chiang Mai with children, I wouldn't try to see everything.

Instead, I'd build your trip around a few key experiences:

• A day trip to Doi Inthanon National Park

• Exploring the Old Town and temples

• Visiting Doi Suthep

• Spending evenings in the night markets

• Leaving plenty of time for spontaneous discoveries

That's ultimately what made Chiang Mai so enjoyable for us. The city offers enough attractions to fill a week, but the best parts weren't always the headline sights. Sometimes they were the unexpected moments in local cafés, markets and neighbourhoods that reminded us why family travel can be so rewarding.

FAQs About Things to Do in Chiang Mai With Kids

What are the best things to do in Chiang Mai with kids?

The most popular family-friendly activities in Chiang Mai include visiting Doi Inthanon National Park, exploring the Old Town temples, visiting Doi Suthep, spending an evening at the night markets, visiting an ethical elephant sanctuary and cooling off at attractions such as Sticky Waterfall or Chiang Mai Grand Canyon Water Park. A mix of culture, outdoor activities and downtime tends to work better than trying to pack every day with sightseeing.

How many days do you need in Chiang Mai with kids?

I'd recommend 3–5 days. This gives you enough time to explore the city, enjoy a day trip to Doi Inthanon National Park, visit a few temples, experience the night markets and still leave room for activities such as an ethical elephant sanctuary, Sticky Waterfall or Chiang Mai Grand Canyon Water Park.

If you're combining Chiang Mai with other parts of Thailand, three days is usually enough to see the main highlights, with travel time on top. In fact, that's exactly how we incorporated it into our northern Thailand trip. See Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai With Kids: A 3-Day Northern Thailand Itinerary for the route we followed, where we stayed and how we balanced sightseeing with downtime.

Is Chiang Mai suitable for younger children?

Yes. While many visitors think of Chiang Mai as a cultural destination, there are plenty of attractions that work well for younger children, including waterfalls, water parks, markets, and elephant sanctuaries. The city is also relatively compact and easy to navigate compared to Bangkok.

What is the best family day trip from Chiang Mai?

For our family, it was Doi Inthanon National Park. The combination of waterfalls, mountain scenery, short walks and the Twin Royal Pagodas offered far more variety than a typical sightseeing day, which helped keep Joshua engaged throughout. If you're considering visiting, see Doi Inthanon National Park With Kids, where I share what we did, how to get there and whether I'd recommend it for families.

Families looking for wildlife experiences may prefer an ethical elephant sanctuary, while active families often enjoy Sticky Waterfall, where you can actually climb up the waterfall itself.

Are Chiang Mai's night markets worth visiting with kids?

Definitely. In fact, they were one of our favourite parts of Chiang Mai. The mix of street food, smoothies, snacks, shopping and entertainment makes them enjoyable for both adults and children. They're also a great way to experience local culture without committing to a structured tour or attraction.

plan your TRIP TO chiang mai

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About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.