Bangkok vs Chiang Mai: which to choose?
Side by side for the month you pick: real weather, how good a time it is, holidays and festivals, rough costs and getting there.
BangkokPhoto: Steven Wilcox / Unsplash
Chiang MaiPhoto: Peter Borter / UnsplashThat month: November
Bangkok
GoodChiang Mai
Best timeWeather
Bangkok
31° / 24° · 83 mm rainChiang Mai
29° / 20° · 65 mm rainHolidays & festivals
Bangkok
NoneChiang Mai
NoneGetting there
Bangkok
Pick where you fly fromChiang Mai
Pick where you fly fromRough daily cost
Bangkok
$30 budget · $70 mid-rangeChiang Mai
$25 budget · $60 mid-rangeOur homestays
Bangkok
None here yetChiang Mai
None here yetBest time to visit
Bangkok
November to February offers cooler, drier weather ideal for sightseeing. Hot and rainy seasons from March to October bring heat and monsoon showers, with fewer crowds and lush landscapes.Chiang Mai
November to February offers cool, dry weather ideal for exploring. The hot season (March to May) can be intense, while the rainy season (June to October) brings heavy showers but fewer tourists and lush scenery.Top things to do
Bangkok
Grand Palace · Wat Pho · Chatuchak MarketChiang Mai
Doi Suthep Temple · Old City Temples · Night BazaarFood to try
Bangkok
Pad Thai · Som Tum · Yaowarat Street FoodChiang Mai
Khao Soi · Chang Phuak Night Market · Sai OuaRough daily costs are AI estimates per person, in US dollars, for a place to stay, food and getting around. Flight times are rough: worked out from the straight-line distance, for a non-stop flight. Average daily high and monthly rain over the last ten years, from weather records by Open-Meteo