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ByPetra Udomprasert Updated on

The Best Chiang Mai Markets & Malls for Souvenir Shopping

Why would you buy someone a Red-Bull-printed T-shirt as a souvenir from Chiang Mai, when you can get those right off the streets in the worst neighborhoods of Bangkok, too? No, right?

If you’re anything like me, your souvenirs should be meaningful, unique, and memorable.

As a Thai person who’s spent weeks perusing the north, I know a handful of Chiang Mai markets and malls that offer just those. Hint: Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is NOT the place!

For Lanna-style trinkets you made with your own hands, the workshops at Baan Kang Wat (my favorite hangout) got you. Go to One Nimman’s air-conditioned flea market for unique souvenirs like notebooks made with elephant poop (Yup).

Keep reading for my top picks of markets and malls that offer unique souvenirs you can buy. All of these places, your money goes straight to the local community!

Why I’m Also Including Malls for Unique Souvenirs

When you think of malls, it’s stores like H&M, Giordano, and chain restaurants.

But I’m also talking about malls because they offer different types of products. Many Thai snacks you can get from mall supermarkets are quite yummy. And as I found out, foreigners get excited about products in our Boots Pharmacy…? 😅

Let’s take a closer look at each of them, and you’ll see what I mean. You need both experiences!

⏳ Planning Chiang Mai last minute? Here’s everything you need! 💡

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🗓️ Pre-Designed Itinerary: Follow my 3-day plan for Chiang Mai

Recommended Activities in Chiang Mai:

Art prints and botanical-themed illustrations displayed in a lush, open-air studio at Baan Kang Wat Craft Market in Chiang Mai. Surrounded by greenery and handmade decor, the market stall offers a tranquil, artistic vibe that reflects the charm of Chiang Mai markets.

Chiang Mai’s Best Markets for Souvenirs

You haven’t arrived in Chiang Mai until you’ve been on the streets shopping for artisan crafts.

Even if you don’t end up buying anything (you probably will), the markets in Chiang Mai are a vibe you don’t wanna miss.

Baan Kang Wat: The All-Day Craft Market

This is my absolute favorite place in Chiang Mai. If other markets are a vibe, this one is THE vibe and some more!

Its name, Baan Kang Wat, translates to “the house by the temple” or “the village by the temple.” This is because the complex is only a few hundred meters from Wat Umong.

The whole complex follows an eco-friendly concept, recycling construction waste, old furniture, and water bottles for decoration. And it’s done well because man, it looks hella chic.

A gravel walkway lined with wooden storefronts and lush greenery at Baan Kang Wat, including Roamer Burger and small artisan shops. This inviting path captures the serene vibe of Chiang Mai’s craft markets.
A weathered sign with Thai script hanging beneath a pergola, decorated with flower-like art made from recycled plastic bottles. This eco-conscious detail reflects Baan Kang Wat’s sustainable design.
Hanging decorations made of colorful spirals and clay ornaments alongside large faux flowers and a rustic picture frame at Baan Kang Wat. This floral and whimsical decor sets a playful tone for the Chiang Mai market.

You might think it’s some kind of magic, but while it doesn’t look that big on the outside, you’ll be in there for a few hours.

\The shops and streets are so endless that the place has its own layout map to help you find the shops you’re looking for more easily.

Workshop and DIY map of Baan Kang Wat showing store locations, activity types like painting and ceramics, and key amenities. Helps visitors navigate Chiang Mai’s most artistic and interactive market.

As you can see on the map above, this “market” is a DIY studio first and market second.

While you’ll find lovely cafes and homely restaurants to enjoy, most stores inside are workshops for pottery, painting, and more.

This also means that you can make something cool from Chiang Mai and bring it home for your friends and family!

Baan Kang Wat: Visitors’ Information

Entrance to Note a Book, a cozy bookstore and workshop at Baan Kang Wat in Chiang Mai, with wooden walls and shelves full of books visible inside. A popular creative stop for visitors exploring Chiang Mai markets.
Exterior of Dochoei Original Homemade café at Baan Kang Wat, with rustic wooden decor, woven basket displays, and vintage-style signage. This craft market corner reflects Chiang Mai’s handmade charm.
A narrow alley at Baan Kang Wat craft market leading to a pottery and jar shop filled with handmade goods and natural decor under a canopy of trees. The space invites hands-on souvenir-making in Chiang Mai.

Wua Lai Walking Street: The Saturday Night Market

Among the Chiang Mai Markets, the Saturday and Sunday walking streets are probably the most talked about among foreigners visiting the city.

Both markets occupy entire streets closed to traffic on their respective opening night, with local products and food vendors setting up tents.

The busy Wua Lai Night market lit by soft yellow lights, with rows of white canopies lining the road. People walk down the center lane, shopping for clothes, crafts, and snacks as the sky darkens overhead.
Shoppers explore the Wua Lai Night Market at dusk, surrounded by stalls selling dresses, accessories, and local products. A mother and child walk hand-in-hand under the blue sky and glowing streetlights.

Between the two, the Wua Lai Walking Street, or the Saturday Night Market, is the less-frequented option. It feels more laid-back, local-oriented, with unique artisan crafts like silverwork and wood carvings.

It looks like just another street market at first glance, but when you pay attention to what’s on display, you’ll recognize the Wua Lai Market in a heartbeat.

Intricately embossed silver panels and framed artworks featuring dragons, tigers, and deities are displayed on a red velvet backdrop at the Wua Lai Night Market. The handcrafted metalwork is detailed and arranged in layers for browsing.

If you prefer more traditional souvenirs tied to the deeply artistic Lanna roots, Wua Lai is your market!

Wua Lai Market: Visitors’ Information

Tha Phae Walking Street: The Sunday Night Market

Find the crowd at Tha Phae on Sunday nights for the liveliest and diverse side of Chiang Mai!

This world-famous Sunday Night Market is where visitors and digital nomads join the locals for a good night of street food and shopping.

Portrait artists draw customers live at the Tha Phae Walking Street in Chiang Mai. Easels and sample portraits are set up along the road, with shoppers walking through and browsing.

Unlike Wua Lai, the Tha Phae market doesn’t just occupy one street, but two main ones that cut through the center of Old Town Chiang Mai.

\Your legs may feel a bit like jelly if you’re determined to cover it all.

I recommend starting right at the Tha Phae gate, then make whichever turns you feel like at intersections.

A market stall at Chiang Mai's Tha Phae Walking Street, decorated with hanging rainbow and pom-pom mobiles. The booth is filled with handmade goods like incense fans, framed gold artwork, and intricate crafts.
Marketgoers browse stalls under a row of colorful tents at the Tha Phae Sunday Night Market in Chiang Mai. Vendors sell hats, jewelry, and trinkets, while people stroll casually down the lit street.

With this market, we’re moving a step closer to “typical” souvenirs, with handmade jewelry, hats, clothing, hand fans, and so on.

But I will say this: The food options are Tha Phae are better than at Wua Lai.

Tha Phae Market: Visitors’ Information

Most Famous, But Not the Best: Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Don’t shop here if you have limited time. I’m including it just to tell you exactly that.

Yes, yes. I know that the Night Bazaar has been the hype word for Chiang Mai for decades, but that’s kind of the hint, right? That hype has died down.

It sells the usual: elephant pants, elephant shirts, Red Bull printed t-shirts, stuff you can get off the streets in any neighborhood of Bangkok.

Covered dining section of Kalare Night Market across from the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, with food stalls in the background and scattered diners under a large metal roof.
Empty food court area at Chiang Mai Night Bazaar with rows of multi-colored plastic stools and vendor tents under tall city buildings. Captures the early evening lull at this tourist-frequented shopping area.

I wasn’t stoked about the food, either. There’s food in the Night Bazaar, and also across the street at the Kalare Market. They all have this highly touristy vibe, and tasted average.

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar: Visitors’ Information

Chiang Mai Malls: Escapes from the Heat

When in a country as hot as Thailand, you can never discount the importance of escaping into malls. That’s why our mall culture is so strong. 😂

Yes, you can find nice souvenirs in these malls. I’m leaving Central Chiang Mai out because everybody goes to the Central malls. You can, too, if that’s what’s closest to you.

One Nimman: The Chic Shopping Complex

I freakin’ love One Nimman! It’s not a mall in the most traditional sense, more like a complex of quirky, unique local shops, with cafes and food vendors included.

Grand hallway at One Nimman in Chiang Mai with arched windows, vintage lamps, and a central vendor cart selling Thai gifts. A stylish and atmospheric shopping venue for souvenirs.

Along the main hallway on the first floor, you’ll find local cafes, locally made beauty products, and clothing. In the middle of the path are vendor carts selling handmade gifts and more beauty products.

I’m still obsessed with a ginger soap bar that I bought from here.

Entrance to a Thai-style cosmetics shop at One Nimman, displaying natural body care products in woven baskets. A favorite for herbal souvenirs and skincare gifts in Chiang Mai.
Close-up of a salted butter roll, known as Shio Bread, from BaiWaan bakery held in front of a display of vegan-friendly breads. A tasty treat available at One Nimman’s artisan food stalls in Chiang Mai.

Go up the escalator in the front courtyard to the second floor, and you’ll find the best section of One Nimman. They call it the “Air-Conditioned Flea Market,” and totally delivered on that concept.

While the first room is all beauty products and perfume (local brands, of course) and looks a bit fancier, the rest of the second floor is basically a flea market.

Display of glass perfume bottles and essential oils at a DIY fragrance booth inside One Nimman. Visitors can blend custom scents for personalized Chiang Mai souvenirs.
Colorful hallway inside One Nimman’s air-conditioned flea market, with indie clothing stalls and handmade accessories. A creative, indoor market experience unique to Chiang Mai.

Local vendors line the floor and the one-way walking path, selling handmade items, design clothing, and eco-friendly products. (Ever heard of a notebook made entirely from elephant poop? Yeah.)

They even have Tom-Yum-flavored rice crackers in the snacks section. I’ve never seen those anywhere before going to One Nimman.

Miniature handmade keychains shaped like colorful Thai drinks, complete with fake ice and straws, are displayed in clear bags. Next to them, miniature food replicas like mango sticky rice and pad Thai are packaged as magnets or ornaments.
Handmade notebooks decorated with dried flowers and twine, made from elephant poo paper. A sustainable and memorable souvenir found at One Nimman in Chiang Mai.
Mini rice crackers in Tom Yum, Wasabi, and Sour Cream flavors displayed in clear packaging. A quirky edible souvenir option sold at One Nimman in Chiang Mai.

One Nimman: Visitors’ Information

Maya Lifestyle Mall

Is it just a mall? Yes. Can I find unique souvenirs here? Also, a yes.

Maya Mall is strange. While it looks exactly like just another mall, you can do some solid souvenir shopping here. Granted, things will be pricier than at One Nimman. Gotta pay that mall space rent somehow.

Exterior of Maya Lifestyle Mall in Chiang Mai with a sleek, patterned facade and busy traffic in front. A major mall combining global brands with local souvenir options.
Interior of Maya Lifestyle Mall, showing Oriental Princess skincare store and colorful sandal displays. A modern shopping destination for beauty products and fashion souvenirs.
Interior of Maya Lifestyle Mall, featuring luxury fashion stores, a curved ceiling, and glossy black-and-white tiled floors. A modern mall offering air-conditioned escape and upscale souvenir options.

You can shop for things you’d usually go to malls for, like universal-branded clothing, branded beauty products, and such.

Go up to the 4th floor and you’ll find more traditional Lanna stores, selling sarongs and Lanna-inspired fashion pieces.

Fourth-floor section of Maya Mall showcasing Lanna-style fashion boutiques and traditional handmade crafts. A quieter floor ideal for finding cultural souvenirs in Chiang Mai.

There’s also a massive store selling nothing but souvenirs. They’re all typical souvenirs, of course. Nothing compared to One Nimman, but it works if you’re doing a literal last-minute souvenir run.

Maya Mall: Visitors’ Information

Chiang Mai Shopping Itinerary Ideas

Only in Chiang Mai for a few days? Pack your souvenir hunt into a weekend, and use what you have left to explore the city.

Here are some sample shopping-forward routes, with other attractions sprinkled in.

  • Saturday: Coffee and lunch in Nimman, One Nimman in the afternoon, Wua Lai at night
  • Sunday: Wat Umong in the morning, lunch and souvenir workshop at Baan Kang Wat in the afternoon, Tha Phae Market at night

But assuming you want more than just to shop, here’s an itinerary I made for 3 days in Chiang Mai, complete with temple visits, foodie moments, and a visit to the famous Sticky Waterfalls!

For cultural guides to other regions and provinces, check my Thailand Cultural Travel page.

Helpful Travel Tips for Thailand

All visitors need to fill out a Digital Arrival Card no longer than 3 days before their trip to Thailand. And if applicable, a visa.

Learn the dos and don’ts in Thai culture and some local phrases before arriving.

Don’t forget to always have cash on hand. The smaller the notes, the better!

Grab My Thailand E-Checklist

To make sure you don’t leave anything important out of your preparations, I’ve made a digital checklist to help you get ready. I leave 2 pages blank for you to customize your own checklist, too!

Find a Place to Stay in Chiang Mai

Looking for somewhere to stay? Use the map below to browse for the best option for you! Keep in mind that as long as you stay inside the city walls or around the outside of it, most places will be walkable.

FAQs About Shopping in Chiang Mai

  • What’s the best day to visit the markets?

    The Tha Phae Market is only open on Sundays, and the Wua Lai Market, Saturdays. Baan Kang Wat is closed on Monday, but otherwise is lovely to visit any day of the week!

  • Are Chiang Mai markets safe for solo female travelers?

    As far as I’ve seen and felt, yes. Everybody goes there to have a chill time looking at products and artworks. Alcohol is also prohibited at the weekend night markets, so you’ll never run into crazy drunks there.

  • Can I use credit cards at the markets?

    The streetside flea markets, no. The air-conditioned flea market at One Nimman does accept credit cards. As for the Baan Kang Wat artisan market, some vendors do and some don’t. It’s always best to have cash or QR code payment.

  • How do I get to these markets without a car?

    For budget travelers, Grab bikes are your best friends! One ride on the bike costs only 9-11 THB. Grab cars and red Songthaew trucks are also pretty economical, as long as you’re not always using them.

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Petra Udomprasert is a career immersive travel blogger and the founder of Polyglot Petra. Believing in travel as a force that inspires empathy and respect in our world, she writes travel guides that deeply explore the history and culture of every destination she visits, leveraging her fluency in five different languages to access the local perspective. Through her immersive guides and localized language tips, she has helped tens of thousands of travelers enjoy trips that leave lasting positive impacts on their lives.