Getting from Chiang Mai airport
into town in about 15 minutes

The simplest, most reliable option for a first visit. The taxi desk is in the arrivals hall — you'll see it, clearly signed, as you walk out from baggage claim. Fares are fixed by zone, with the Old City and the Nimman area at around ฿150–200. You pay at the counter, then take a ticket to the taxi queue outside. The advantage is that you know the price upfront, with no metre to second-guess and no negotiating with the driver. It's the easiest choice if you land late, have a lot of luggage, or haven't got your data set up to book an app.

Grab works well in Chiang Mai, with both cars and motorbikes. From the airport to the Old City the fare is around ฿120–180, depending on the time and demand. You see the price before you book and pin your destination in the app, so there's no explaining the route to a driver, and you can pay by card in the app or with cash. The pickup point is usually a designated ride-hailing zone, so follow the signs or check the in-app map after booking. One tip: have your data sorted first — you can buy a SIM at a counter in the terminal.

Plenty of hotels and guesthouses in Chiang Mai run an airport pickup. Some offer it free, particularly mid-range properties and up; others charge a flat rate of a few hundred baht. The appeal is that someone is waiting at the arrivals gate with a name board, so there's no queue and no app to book. It's ideal if you're travelling as a group, landing late, or simply want everything to be as easy as possible on a first visit. All you need to do is give the hotel your flight number and arrival time in advance.

The red songthaew is a converted pickup truck with bench seats in the back, and it functions as Chiang Mai's shared local transport, running set-ish routes and picking up passengers along the way. To save the most money, walk out of the terminal to the road in front of the airport and flag one down. Tell the driver where you're going, and if it fits the direction they're already heading, you hop in. Agree the price before you get in: into town it's usually around ฿40–60 per person (chartering the whole truck costs more). The downsides are that there's no official airport queue like the taxi desk, so you may need to wait or walk a little. It suits solo travellers or pairs with light luggage who aren't in a rush.

The easiest way back is to book a Grab from your accommodation — you see the fare before you confirm and pin the airport as your destination. The price is similar to the inbound trip, around ฿120–180, and in normal traffic the drive is only about 10–15 minutes.

If you'd rather not book an app, the hotel desk can call a taxi or arrange a shuttle for you, with the price agreed before you set off. It's handy if you have a lot of luggage or need to leave very early for a morning flight.