Museums and galleries in Chiang Mai

Museums and galleries in Chiang Mai

1. See

   Chiang Mai University Art Museum

   There are exhibitions by undergraduates from the Fine Arts Department at Chiang Mai University. These change often and the work on display is of high quality. Each month there is usually at least one art exhibition featuring the works of artists from Southeast Asia. The museum also hosts musical concerts, often free, in the adjoining theatre.

   Tue-Sun 09:00–17:00·Free

2. Eat

   Hong Tauw Inn

   Thai food. Inside you might think you are in a clock museum. The front part of the restaurant has a high ceiling with fans, giving it a colonial atmosphere.

   Closed · opens 11 am·80-120 baht for most main dishes

3. Eat

   La Fourchette

   Authentic French restaurant in the centre of the old city. Large selection of imported meats and wines at affordable prices. Romantic open-air seating area with upstairs art gallery.

   Mon-Sat 17:00-23:00

4. See

   Lanna Architecture Center

   Khum Museum

   Located in the Khum Chao Burirat Mahain Building, a two storey house as an example of the western influence on native architecture in early Chiang Mai times, there are videos, photos, and models about traditional Thai buildings. You can also buy postcards, pencils, and tees about Khum Chao Burirat there. There are several stamps of Thai building pictures to stamp on your booklet.

   120 baht (foreigner), 60 baht (Thailand resident)

5. See

   Lanna Traditional House Museum

   CMULHM

   traditional wooden houses of the northern Thai region and Lanna culture.

   Tue-Sun 08:30-16:30·100 baht

6. Eat

   Mr. Green

   All vegan, high quality Thai dishes offered such as stir-fried noodles and curries. Pumpkin curry is a favourite. Drinks and dessert available as well. Art gallery upstairs.

   Mon-Sat 10:00-22:00·Main dishes are all 68 baht (Jan 2020)

7. See

   Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders

   One of Asia's most unusual museums housing butterflies, beetles, etc. Also has a large selection of minerals. Some explanations in English, some in Thai.

   Daily 09:00–17:00·200 baht

8. See

   Northern Telecoms of Thailand Museum

   History and evolution of the telecommunications service technology.

   Mon-Fri 08:30–16:30

9. See

   The Highland People Discovery Museum

   Former name: Tribal Museum

   The museum is located on a little peninsula in a big pond. There is also an open air part to the museum at 300 m from the main building, where you find houses in the styles of the tribes. There is also a shop selling clothes, bags, and other high hill tribe products.

   Mon-Fri 08:30-12:00 and 13:00-16:00

10. See

    The Treasury Museum Chiang Mai

    พิพิธภัณฑ์ธนารักษ์ จังหวัดเชียงใหม่

    One of two money museums in Thailand, focused on northern Thailand, run by government treasury department, in a heritage building. It is small: plan 1 hr to see, need to take off shoes.

    Tue-Fri 09:00-12:00, 13:00-16:00; Sat Sun 10:00-12:00, 13:00-18:00·Free

11. See Not mapped

    Doi Suthep

    A ride for the temples and sunset to Doi Suthep is a rewarding trip with great views of the city. Most tourists will end up at Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, but there are several other attractions you may want to consider visiting, besides of course the mountain itself. 4½ km further along the road from Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep are the Bhubing Royal Palace Gardens (see before). Here you will also find a great sunset viewpoint, 500 m downhill on the other side of the road. Further along this road is Doi Pui Tribal Village, and although tourist-oriented, is really worth the trip. There are many shops for local handicrafts, etc. These are the people from the far north of the country, many originally from Myanmar. There are two areas in the village that require entrance fee: 10 baht to enter a flower garden (where women can take pictures using traditional clothes) and a hill tribe opium museum (the museum is in a very poor condition); and 10 baht to enter the hill tribe waterfall (man-made).

    As of December 2025 many places in the National Park have an entrance fee of 100 baht that used to have no entrance fee

12. See

    Chiang Mai National Museum

    The history of Chiang Mai.

    Wed-Sun 09:00–16:00·100 baht

13. See

    Chiang Mai Philatelic Museum

    Museum of stamps and postal related objects.

    Tue-Sun 08:30–16:30·Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Chiang Mai (CC BY-SA 4.0).