6 Popular Transportations in Chiang Mai

          Depending on your budget and the places you would like to go, this article provides the latest information and guides to get around Chiang Mai so that your visit to this beautiful city will be hassle free and without any trouble.
          1. For the first way is Songthaew (Road-Daeng, Red Taxi or Red Truck) it is the most common and preferred mode of local transportation in Chiang Mai. Riding a songthaew is the perfect way to meet local Thais. The red-coloured songthaew is most commonly found in Chiang Mai city. Besides red, there is also yellow, white, green and blue songthaew. Different coloured songthaew indicates different routes (normally to the other towns nearby Chiang Mai city).

It is very easy to find songthaew in Chiang Mai either day or night all over the city. Simply wave one down the street (or approach a waiting driver) and tell the driver where you want to go. For only 30 baht during day time (after dark you may need to negotiate a little) you can get a songthaew going to anywhere and everywhere in the city, so long as you don’t mind sharing your ride with the other passengers and pick up & drop off as they go.


          2. Grab (ride-sharing app) is a mobile ride-sharing app GRAB is probably the most convenient way (for public transport) to travel around Chiang Mai.

In fact, the fare is often cheaper than a regular taxi service if you follow the latest COUPON code (which is so frequently available). In fact, GRAB gives you the options to choose between a private car (GrabCar), a regular taxi cab (GrabTaxi), or even a Songthaew (Grab RodDaeng). If you book a taxi ride via GrabTaxi, there will be a small booking fee on top of the regular metered taxi fare.

GRAB is a popular Southeast Asia’s own version of UBER. If you are planning a long vacation in Southeast Asia, please install this app on your mobile phone as it will be extremely useful for your travelling experience in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and The Philippines.

          3. Bus is The public bus service is not prevalent in Chiang Mai. There is shuttle bus covering 2 routes connecting the airport to the city. The fare is 40 baht per person.

There is also local white colour minibus running 2 routes in the city. The fare is only 15 baht.

Route B1 – From Arcade Bus Terminal to Chiang Mai Zoo

Route B2 – From Arcade Bus Terminal to the airport

Latest 2018: There is a new public bus service launched in Chiang Mai since June 2018. It’s called the RTC Chiang Mai Smart City Bus, and it has become one of the best modes of transportation in Chiang Mai. And it charges a flat fare of only 20 Baht per ride, it’s really that cheap.

          4. Tuk Tuk is after songthaew, the second most common mode of transport in Chiang Mai. Compare to songthaew, tuk-tuk is more expensive. Rate starts at 60 baht for a short trip and 100 to 150 baht for longer distance. Everyone knows about Thailand’s tuk-tuk – they are quick, noisy, they go everywhere, and depending on your bargaining skill, they are inexpensive.

If you are going somewhere far and not in a hurry, it is better to take songthaew instead of a tuk-tuk, as tuk-tuk driver tends to charge more (and some drivers are likely to rip you off). Some drivers can be pushy and may try to steer you towards attractions that pay commissions.

          5. Bicycle Riding a bicycle in Chiang Mai is a very good way to explore the ancient capital especially within the old city moat, as the historical attractions, temples, cafes, hotels, shops, restaurant etc are located not far from each other. You can rent a bicycle in Chiang Mai, normally for 50 baht a day (24 hours). It’s very easy to find a bicycle shop or a guesthouse which have bicycles for rent. There is also bicycle hire stations (insert coin) around the city. Some hotels/guesthouses even offer free use of bicycles for their guest.

Riding a bicycle gives you the freedom to make a short stop for a sip of coffee, pause for a snapshot of a beautiful temple, make a u-turn anywhere you like etc. You can park the bicycle at a roadside, in front of restaurant, temple, under a tree etc.

          6. Rent a Motorbike (Scooter) If you know how to ride a small and speedy motorbike (scooter), this could be the BEST (and cheap) way to get around Chiang Mai and to the towns nearby. It’s a fun way to explore Chiang Mai and it also brings you closer to the community.

Renting a motorbike is very cheap in Chiang Mai. With 99 baht per day (24 hours), you can get a 100cc motorbike plus 2 helmets. A more common 110cc – 125cc motorbike costs around 150 to 200 baht per day. (automatic transmissions capable of carrying 2 people). Rental & charges are pretty standard at a different shop, and they will request to keep your original passport as collateral. But if you don’t feel comfortable leaving your passport there, you can pay a cash deposit, which is around 2000 baht to 3000 baht per bike.

The policeman frequently fine drivers (200 baht) without a valid driving license and for not wearing a helmet. Normally there will be a small payment counter whenever a roadblock is conducted and a receipt (fine ticket) will be given upon payment. Remember to keep the ticket and show it in case you encounter another roadblock on the same day (you won’t be punished twice for the same offence).