Getting around Chiang Mai
Red songthaews, Grab, rented scooters, tuk-tuks and bicycles, and getting in from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) explained.
Read our in-depth guides
Chiang Mai airport to city: transport options and pricing
How to get from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) into town: taxi counter, Grab, hotel transfers, real fares and timing for the 3 km trip
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai transport: bus, minivan or private transfer
How to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai: VIP bus, minivan and private car compared, with real journey times and why there is no train
Chiang Mai to Pai transport: minivan, private car or motorbike
How to get from Chiang Mai to Pai: minivan from Arcade station, private car, and the honest truth about riding the 762-curve mountain road yourself
Getting around Chiang Mai: songthaews, Grab, tuk-tuks and walking
How to get around Chiang Mai without a metro — red songthaews, Grab, tuk-tuks, scooter rental and walking, with real fares and honest scam warnings
Grab app in Chiang Mai: how to use ride-hailing in the city
How to set up and use the Grab app in Chiang Mai: GrabCar vs GrabBike, real fares, payment methods and when it beats a songthaew or tuk-tuk
Renting a car or scooter in Chiang Mai: licensing, insurance, reality
What you actually need to legally rent a scooter or car in Chiang Mai: license requirements, insurance gaps, checkpoints and the passport-deposit scam
Songthaew guide: how Chiang Mai's red trucks actually work
How to flag, ride and pay for a Chiang Mai songthaew (red truck taxi): shared fares, chartering, hailing etiquette and when to use Grab instead