Chiang Mai events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Tha Phae Gate, Warorot Market, plus Wiang Kum Kam. December in Chiang Mai averages 29°C / 85°F highs, 16°C / 61°F nights, and about 2 rainy days.
Expect 29°C/85°F days and about 2 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Tha Phae Gate★ 4.4 · 28.9k reviewsTha Phae Gate marks the east side of the Old City moat and was rebuilt in the 1980s.
- Warorot Market★ 4.4 · 6.8k reviewsWarorot Market, also called Kad Luang, is the practical food and goods market near the Ping River.
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Chiang Mai in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
85°F / 61°F
29.3°C / 16.3°C
RainPrecipitation
2d
0.8in · 20mm
LightDaylight
10.9h
December is dry and cool at night, strong for night markets, temple walks, and mountain viewpoints.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 1 – Dec 31
A three day festival staged every year starting the first Friday in February (in 2026, due to elections one week later).
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: Month Signals
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 5King Bhumibol Adulyadej's BirthdayPublic holiday
- Dec 5King Bhumibol's BirthdayPublic holiday
- Dec 10Constitution DayPublic holiday
- Dec 31New Year's EvePublic holiday
- Dec 10-Dec 13Long weekend with bridge day
- Dec 31-Jan 3Long weekend with bridge day
About Chiang Mai
City overview
Chiang Mai began in 1296 as the walled Lanna capital in northern Thailand, with the Ping River, moat, Doi Suthep, and old gates still defining how visitors move through the city. The Old City and Tha Phae Gate hold temples and walking streets, Nimmanhaemin points toward Chiang Mai University and Doi Suthep, and the Riverside-Night Bazaar corridor follows the eastward expansion toward the Ping.
Food & drink
Chiang Mai food is northern Thai and market-led: khao soi serves curry noodles with coconut broth and crisp noodles on top, hang lay is a tamarind-ginger pork curry, sai ua is herb-heavy northern sausage, and nam prik ong or nam prik noom turns chile dips into meals with vegetables and sticky rice. Anusarn Market, Kalare Food Centre, Chiang Mai Gate food stalls, Warorot Market, Suthep Road carts, and Huen Muan Jai add khantoke meals and coffee from northern hills.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Wiang Kum Kam
- 2Night Bazaar and Anusarn Market
- 3Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
- 4Wat Chedi Luang
- 5Wat Phra Singh
- 6Wat Chiang Man
- 7Wat Si Suphan
- 8Chiang Mai Historical Centre
1Wiang Kum Kam
4.3★ · 1,697outdoorOpen dailyWiang Kum Kam is a 13th-century Lanna settlement south of Chiang Mai that flooded after the Ping River changed course. Brick ruins and temple remains show the pre-Chiang Mai capital site.
Wikipedia
2Night Bazaar and Anusarn Market
4.2★ · 4,443outdoorOpen dailyThe Changklan Road Night Bazaar district and Anusarn Market combine souvenir stalls, food vendors, Kalare Food Centre, and evening foot traffic east of the Old City. It is touristy but central for a first evening.
3Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
4.7★ · 11,731indoorOpen dailyThe mountain temple sits about 18km from the city at 1,073m elevation and is the signature Chiang Mai viewpoint. The Naga staircase has more than 200 steps, with a cable car alternative for the final climb.
Use a morning red songthaew from Chang Phuak Gate or Chiang Mai University; the winding road causes motion sickness for some travelers.
Show 3 more sights
- 4Wat Chedi Luang
- 5Wat Phra Singh
- 6Wat Chiang Man
Neighborhoods
1Old City
The Old City sits inside the moat with Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chiang Man, Tha Phae Gate, guesthouses, massage schools, and Sunday Walking Street.
2Tha Phae and Night Bazaar
Tha Phae and the Night Bazaar run east from the moat to Changklan Road, with Anusarn Market, Kalare Food Centre, Loi Kroh Road, tour desks, and hotels.
3Nimmanhaemin and Chiang Mai University
Nimmanhaemin and Chiang Mai University are west of the moat, with Maya mall, coffee shops, student streets, galleries, and the road toward Doi Suthep.
Day trips
60km / about 1.5-2h by car or tour van southwest of Chiang Mai
Doi Inthanon National Park
Thailand highest peak reaches 2,599m, with waterfalls, cloud forest, royal pagodas, and cooler air. A car or tour makes the scattered stops much easier than public transport.
26km / about 40min by blue songthaew or train southeast of Chiang Mai
Lamphun
Lamphun has Hariphunchai history, temples, quieter streets, and longan-season context. It is the easiest low-key town trip from the city.
75km / about 1.5h by car or bus north of Chiang Mai
Chiang Dao
Chiang Dao offers mountain scenery, caves, temples, and access to trekking routes. It makes sense for travelers wanting cooler mountain air beyond the city basin.
Getting around
Red songthaews are the default Chiang Mai transport inside and around the moat, with red trucks roaming central streets and colored route songthaews leaving for nearby towns. RTC buses, Grab, Bolt, tuk-tuks, walking inside the Old City, and arranged songthaews for Doi Suthep are the practical mix; agree songthaew and tuk-tuk prices before riding.
Planning a Chiang Mai trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Chiang Mai in December
- What to pack for Chiang Mai in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Chiang Mai checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 29°C / 85°F.
- A light evening layer because nights average 16°C / 61°F.
- Sun protection and comfortable walking shoes; rain is usually limited this month.
- How many days do you need in Chiang Mai
- 4 days covers the main Chiang Mai highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Chiang Mai worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Chiang Mai averages 29°C / 85°F highs, 16°C / 61°F nights, and about 2 rainy days.
Ready to plan Chiang Mai?
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