Chiang Mai vs Phuket: 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.
Chiang MaiPhoto: Peter Borter / Unsplash
PhuketPhoto: Mike Swigunski / UnsplashThat month: November
Chiang Mai
Best timePhuket
Goodrain easingWeather
Chiang Mai
29° / 20° · 65 mm rainPhuket
29° / 25° · 249 mm rainHolidays & festivals
Chiang Mai
NonePhuket
NoneGetting there
Chiang Mai
Pick where you fly fromPhuket
Pick where you fly fromRough daily cost
Chiang Mai
$25 budget · $60 mid-rangePhuket
$30 budget · $70 mid-rangeOur homestays
Chiang Mai
None here yetPhuket
None here yetBest time to visit
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.Phuket
November to February offers cooler, dry weather ideal for beach activities. March to May gets hotter, while June to October brings heavy monsoon rains and rough seas, best avoided for outdoor plans.Top things to do
Chiang Mai
Doi Suthep Temple · Old City Temples · Night BazaarPhuket
Patong Beach · Big Buddha · Phang Nga BayFood to try
Chiang Mai
Khao Soi · Chang Phuak Night Market · Sai OuaPhuket
Mee Hokkien Noodle · Raya Restaurant · Chillva MarketRough 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