If you prefer artisanal handicrafts, funky clothes and quirky artwork to big glitzy shopping malls and international brand names, Chiang Mai has some of the best shopping in all of Thailand. The city is known for its small shops and boutiques, but most of the city’s shopping takes place in Chiang Mai’s markets. Because shopping is such a popular event here for both tourists and locals, there are quite a few markets to choose from. Day markets tend to carry more traditional items, while night markets are a combination of shopping, eating and entertainment.

•The Night Bazaar

The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is the city’s most popular and typical market. There are plenty of stalls selling stuff aimed at tourist (knock off tee shirts, handbags, watches, small home décor items, post cards, textiles, etc.) that’s a little over priced and probably not hand crafted in the mountains of Thailand, but the atmosphere is bustling, festive and laid back and it’s a fun place to wander around in the evening to window shop and people watch even if you’re not looking for anything to buy. If you are doing some serious shopping, there is a small indoor shopping area called the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar Arcade that sells mostly furniture and antiques and has more high quality goods. Be prepared for some bargaining, as asking prices can often be negotiated down by at least 10% and sometimes a lot more.

Since the night bazaar is in an already popular and populated area just outside of the old city walls on the east side, there are also plenty of food and drink vendors around selling everything from Chiang Mai sausage to cold cans of Thai beer, and even some international fast and drink chains, including a Burger King, a McDonalds and a Starbucks, too.

Just outside of the Chang Mai Night Bazaar are two adjacent markets, the Kalara Night Bazaar and the Anusarn Market. The covered Kalare Night Bazaar tends to have more artsy, hand crafted items, and also has an inexpensive canteen style food court. The Anusarn Market is more of a permanent market with many tourist items, plus inexpensive food and Thai massage stalls.

The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is located on Chang Khlan Road, just outside the city gate on the east side.

Hours are nightly from sunset to about midnight, with some shops and stalls closing earlier.

•Sunday Market/Chiang Mai Walking Street

If you came to Chiang Mai for the artsy vibe, cool handicrafts and laid back residents and visitors, you’ll probably consider the Sunday Market the best in the city. The streets in the center of the old city are closed to traffic and instead fill up with vendors selling lots of hand made goods, fun and funky clothing, housewares and art, so you can actually saunter past some of Chiang Mai’s amazing temples, including Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Pan Tao. Most of the stalls and vendors are selling regional handicrafts including bedspreads, clothing, folk art and other cool items but you’ll also find some more mainstream, mass produced items.

Since the market is in the center of the old city, it’s convenient for eating and drinking and many of Chiang Mai's best restaurants are within walking distance of the market, but there are plenty of food and beverage options within the market as well. There are also even stalls that spring up during the market to get quick foot massages outside while your friends shop! What’s so nice about the Sunday Market is that it feels distinctly less commercial than the city’s other markets (especially the Night Bazaar). There’s still plenty to buy here, but vendors aren’t aggressive, the items for sale are usually unique and sometimes the person selling the items is the actual artist or craftsman himself or herself.

The Sunday Market is open every Sunday from sunset to about 10 p.m.

•The Saturday Market/Wui Lai Road Market

The Saturday Market, on Wui Lai Road just south of the old city wall and Chiang Mai Gate, is open every Saturday from mid-afternoon to around midnight. Wui Lai Road closes to street traffic and becomes a walking street filled with a combination of touristy souvenirs and some local handicrafts. Though this market isn’t as funky as the Sunday Market, there are scores and scores of vendors who come out to sell their wares, and it’s definitely a fun place for people watching and wandering around. There aren’t many restaurants right in that area but there are lots of food vendors selling snacks and drinks.

•Warowat Market

This multi-level market outside of the old city is one of the Chiang Mai area’s traditional daily markets and is an interesting place to visit if you’re trying to get a taste of what normal life is like here in Thailand. Though there are a handful of touristy items for sale, most of what you’ll find here is more “normal” stuff -- produce and other grocery items, household items (cleaning products, small tools, etc.), local clothing, shoes, makeup and other health and beauty products, and flowers. The market is very colorful and lively and if you’re looking for creative gifts to bring back home, such as herbs and spices, or traditional medicines, this is a good choice. The market also carries some handicrafts, mostly textiles, from local and regional artisans.