Choices are plenty when shopping in Chiang Mai. A night time shopping spree is more inviting, when myriads of alluring items dazzle under the neon lights and Thai lanterns. Night Bazaar at the intersection of Loi Kroh Road and Chang Klan Road is a perfect example for this. Viang Ping Night Bazaar near Tha Phae Road is a better option for an upscale shopping delight.

At Ratchadamnoen Road (Sunday Walking Street), some vendors appear in glamorous costumes adorned with their specialized ornaments. Thai creativity is richly embedded into their handmade goods such as silver items, Thai silk, painted mirrors and candle holders. Pancakes and meatballs among a variety of delectable treats are cooked on site, enveloping the ambience with irresistible aromas of Thai specialties. For a genuine Thai experience, visitors can drop in by the Warorot Market, to the north of Night Bazaar, where Ton Lamyai (Flower Market) as well as Wet Market selling fresh fruits, vegetables and meat are sited in its neighbourhood.

Modern malls add a homely ambience for shopping in Chiang Mai where Central Airport Plaza near Chiang Mai Airport houses a refreshing Central Aquarium, in addition to classy department stores and boutiques as well as the finest multi-screen cinema in Chiang Mai - Major Cineplex. 

At Baan Tawai, 20 kilometres off Chiang Mai, visitors can watch antique reproduction first hand and even purchase finest wood carvings and furniture on site. The craft district at San Kamphaeng, 13 kilometres from Chiang Mai, is the birthplace of exclusive Sa umbrellas, lacquerware and Thai silk among myriads of elegant crafts.

A hotel like Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai is an ideal place to start shopping in Chiang Mai, with a shopping list which might include antique statuary, Celadon ceramics, rattan handbags, video games, bestsellers, interior decor and jewellery as well.