Editor's note: This guest post was originally published in 2013. Prices and transport options have been updated to reflect 2024–2025 conditions, including the arrival of ride-hailing apps and the expansion of bicycle and electric tuk-tuk options across the city.
When coming to Chiang Mai, the best way to get around town and the surrounding area is to simply hire a car and driver to take you wherever you need to go. It can also be the smartest way to go money-wise.
Some first-time travellers to Chiang Mai think about getting their own rental car to travel around independently. For most visitors, this is not the best idea — and here is why.
Why Self-Drive Is Rarely the Right Choice
First, car rentals are not cheap. By checking online, you will see that a rental car for an economy vehicle typically runs somewhere between 1,000 THB and 1,500 THB per day based on a multi-week hire. Second, the streets of Chiang Mai are confusing for someone who cannot read Thai and is unfamiliar with the area. If you drive your own car, getting lost is almost guaranteed — even expats who have lived here for years get turned around regularly. And thirdly, driving in northern Thailand, especially near the centre of Chiang Mai, is challenging because the informal rules of the road are not immediately legible to a visitor. For someone accustomed to orderly traffic flows, the experience can be genuinely unsettling. And if you are involved in an accident, it is often the party best able to pay who is deemed responsible — and if a foreigner is involved, they are frequently singled out to settle matters on the spot. A passport is sometimes held until the situation is resolved.
Getting Around: Your Options in 2024–2025
Metered Taxis
There are very few metered taxis in all of Chiang Mai. Those that do exist often prefer to negotiate a rate rather than run the meter. If you are arriving at Chiang Mai International Airport looking for a traditional taxi, you may wait a long time. This is very different from Bangkok, where millions of cheap, comfortable metered taxis circulate at all times.
Grab and Bolt
The single biggest change to getting around Chiang Mai since 2013 has been the arrival of ride-hailing apps. Grab is now fully operational in Chiang Mai and is by far the most reliable and convenient option for point-to-point travel within the city. You book through the app, receive a fixed price before you confirm, track your driver in real time, and pay cashlessly. Bolt has also entered the Chiang Mai market and often offers competitive rates. For the vast majority of within-city journeys, Grab is the simplest, most transparent, and most hassle-free option available. Prices are typically 60–150 THB for most urban journeys, making it genuinely affordable.
Tuk-Tuks
Tuk-tuks (pronounced "took-took") remain plentiful in Chiang Mai. They have no meter, so the fare is negotiated before you get on. For a single tourist journey, you might pay 80–150 THB depending on distance. Some visitors enjoy the experience; others prefer the certainty of Grab pricing. Worth trying at least once — but always agree the price before you board.
Songthaew
The Songthaew — small pickup trucks with a covered passenger area in the back — serve as the closest thing to a local bus in Chiang Mai. They tend to run on the main roads, are somewhat inflexible about small soi destinations, and very few drivers speak English. Fares are low, with short trips typically costing 20–30 THB, but they will sometimes wait for additional passengers before departing. Great for budget travel; less suited to visitors with specific itineraries or time constraints.
Motor Scooters
Renting an automatic motor scooter remains one of the most popular options for both short-stay visitors and longer-term residents. Prices have risen from the 2013 figures — current rates are typically 250–400 THB per day for a reasonable automatic scooter. You must be comfortable handling traffic on two wheels, and a valid licence for motorcycle riding is legally required. The scooter network connects the central city, the Night Bazaar, Nimman Road, and the old city easily, and gives you genuine flexibility for the day.
Bicycles
Bicycle rental is readily available in central Chiang Mai, particularly around the old city moat area. Rates are typically 60–120 THB per day. The flat terrain of the central city makes cycling genuinely pleasant for a few hours' exploration. Since 2020, the network of bicycle lanes has expanded in some areas, and purpose-built cycling paths run alongside sections of the moat. For those who want to combine light exercise with sightseeing, a bicycle is an excellent choice for the inner city — though in the heat of the day, it requires some resilience.
Electric Tuk-Tuks
One of the more pleasant additions to Chiang Mai's transport landscape in recent years has been the introduction of electric tuk-tuks. These operate primarily in the old city and Nimman Road areas, offering short-hop rides in a more environmentally friendly and quieter format than the traditional petrol tuk-tuk. Several operators run these as both regular rides and informal tour circuits around the old city temples. Fares are comparable to traditional tuk-tuks. They are well suited to elderly visitors or those who want the tuk-tuk experience without the noise and exhaust.
Car and Driver: Still the Best Option for Day Trips
In most places in the world, a private car and driver would be a significant luxury. In Chiang Mai, it is a remarkably accessible and cost-effective option for anyone wanting to explore beyond the city — the temples and crafts villages south of the city, the mountain roads to Doi Inthanon, the elephant sanctuaries to the north, or the border markets toward Mae Sai.
Any hotel concierge or travel agency in town can arrange a car and driver for you. The current (2024–2025) cost for a car and driver is approximately 1,500–2,500 THB per day, depending on the vehicle type, the distance covered, and the driver's experience as a guide. This is inclusive of the driver's time but exclusive of petrol — you will be expected to pay for fuel at the pump throughout the day. For most day trips, the total petrol cost is minimal.
The car used by these small car-and-driver operators is usually the driver's own vehicle — almost always a clean, fairly new car with air conditioning. You will be picked up at your hotel at the agreed time, taken directly to each destination, and the driver will wait patiently while you explore before moving on. This level of flexibility and comfort, for a group of up to four people, is difficult to match at this price.
For groups of five or more, many drivers have vans. These are typically comfortable minivans with airline-style seating, strong air conditioning, and good luggage space. A van with driver currently costs approximately 2,500–3,500 THB per day, making it extraordinarily good value when shared across a group.
Drivers are almost universally friendly and can assist as informal guides to a limited degree. Most speak conversational English at minimum. If you have a general idea of where you want to go — "the craft villages south of the city" or "a good viewpoint on Doi Suthep" — your driver will know exactly where to take you. If you want a more structured tour with historical context and commentary, consider booking a certified guide separately and having them accompany you in the vehicle. Many drivers can arrange this as part of a package.
Payment and Practical Tips
Payment for car-and-driver services is typically settled at the end of the hire period, in cash. If the driver is working with you for multiple days, full payment is expected at the conclusion of the engagement. Tips are appreciated and not automatically included — a reasonable tip for a good driver is 100–200 THB per day.
When using Grab or Bolt, payment can be cashless via the app or in cash at the driver's preference. Both apps quote fares in Thai Baht and provide English-language interfaces, making them accessible to first-time visitors.
Hiring your own personal car and driver takes most of the logistical stress out of your stay in Chiang Mai, and for day trips beyond the city centre, it remains genuinely the best value option available — more comfortable than scooters, more flexible than tours, and surprisingly affordable when the cost is divided across a small group.