Is Chiang Mai Safe To Visit In 2025?

My answer to “Is Chiang Mai safe?” is yes. I have visited many places in Thailand, and after spending a lot of time in Chiang Mai, I never once felt unsafe.

For some reason, Asia and Thailand in particular have a reputation of being less safe than the Western world.

There are some aspects where I can understand this such as the traffic and food conditions, but in terms of crimes, it’s no worse than anywhere else in the world.

To help reassure you that your trip to Chiang Mai will be stress-free, I’ve put together a complete blog post on safety in Chiang Mai. Let’s jump into it.

Is Chiang Mai Safe?

The answer to “Is Chiang Mai Safe?” is yes, Chiang Mai is safe to visit.

Chiang Mai has a very low crime rate across the board and incidents involving tourists are very rare.

Honestly, Thailand is one of the safest countries I have ever visited. Theft is basically non-existent and from my experience, locals are very honest and helpful.

A traveler standing in front of the gilded stupa and intricate temples at a historical site in Thailand, with visitors milling about.

For example, one time I was walking alone up a street in Chiang Mai and I pulled my hands out of my pocket and I didn’t realise my Airpods had fallen out. About 20 seconds later someone tapped me on the shoulder and I turned around to a Thai man holding my Airpods. Not many countries where that would happen!

The only thing I would say that you have to be worried about in Chiang Mai is scams. But it’s more a case of being aware of them than being worried about them.

A few common scams in Thailand include the scam where locals claim temples are closed or it’s a Buddhist holiday to try and get you to follow them to a different temple where they will make money, or simply getting into a tuk-tuk without negotiating a price, meaning they can charge anything they want.

As annoying as they are, Thailand is a cheap country to visit, so the locals are just trying to make a quick buck where they can. And if you’re aware of them, you can avoid them, and that’s the main thing.

Aside from this, you’re unlikely to encounter any problems. I even felt safe walking through the streets in Chiang Mai at night. Don’t get me wrong, I won’t walk down a dark alleyway on my own, but I wouldn’t do that anywhere in the world.

The ancient brick structure of Chiang Mai's Wat Chedi Luang under a sky streaked with clouds, a testament to Lanna architecture.

But I’m not alone in my opinion of Chiang Mai being safe. It’s one of the most popular places for expats to move to in Thailand, and I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t move to a city if I felt unsafe there.

Of course, you should always take personal safety seriously and follow basic safety precautions such as not flashing your valuables and making sure your phone is charged.

But is Chiang Mai safe? Yes, it’s safe to visit for sure.

Is Chiang Mai Safe At Night?

Yes, Chiang Mai is safe at night.

You can explore Chiang Mai at night with no concerns or worries.

In fact, Chiang Mai was ranked the safest city in all of Southeast Asia which goes to show just how safe Chiang Mai really is.

A bustling Thai street market at dusk with vendors, tuk-tuks, and pedestrians, under a sky with hues of orange and blue. The only thing that makes Chiang Mai not safe is crossing the road.

To give you an idea of how safe Chiang Mai is at night, London has a rating of 38.2 (low) when it comes to safety walking alone at night, and Chiang Mai has a rating of 79.79 (high). So statistically, Chiang Mai is more than twice as safe as London at night.

This backs up my personal experience too as I walked alone in Chiang Mai at night many times, especially coming back from the South Gate Market and I never once felt unsafe.

Obviously, though, make sure you keep your wits about you and never get complacent. I never walk down a dark alley at night, for example. Always be aware of your surroundings and stay in touch with your loved ones if you begin to feel unsafe.

But yes, Chiang Mai is safe at night.

The illuminated entrance of Chiang Mai's old city gate at night, showcasing the vibrant street life and ancient walls. Chiang Mai is safe, even at night time.

Is Chiang Mai Safe For Solo Travel?

If you are backpacking Thailand, the chances are that you’re probably travelling solo. The good news is that Chiang Mai is safe whether you’re on your own or whether you’re in a group of 20.

I have visited about 20 countries or more on my own as a solo traveller and Thailand is one of the countries where I have felt the safest. The fact that it’s so popular for solo travellers means that even though you are travelling solo, you are very rarely actually alone.

But even the times I was by myself in Chiang Mai, I never felt unsafe. It’s also not intimidating at all to eat in a restaurant by yourself in Thailand whereas in other countries it can feel a bit off-putting.

A hiker standing on a trail in the Thai jungle with lush greenery and a waterfall in the background, embodying adventure and nature.

To make sure that you are always meeting people, I recommend staying in hostels as they are designed to help you make new friends with a social atmosphere and lots of common areas.

Strength in numbers is a real thing – even if it is just psychological. Walking down the street with friends is a lot more reassuring than on your own, even though Chiang Mai is still safe for solo travellers.

How To Stay Safe In Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is indeed safe to visit, but it never helps to take a few extra safety precautions to ensure you are as safe as possible. On top of basic personal safety rules like never getting drunk on your own and avoiding dark streets at night, here are some tips specific to Chiang Mai to help you stay safe.

Know how to cross the road: Crossing the road in Thailand is pretty hectic. The traffic doesn’t stop for you, even at crossings, but you just have to keep walking at a consistent speed while making eye contact with the drivers.
Be aware of local scams: Local scams in Chiang Mai are one of the only downsides of visiting. One of the most common scams is the claim that temples are closed for Buddhist holidays.
Stay in the Old City: The Old City is the safest part of Chiang Mai to stay in as it has the most tourists. It’s also very walkable and there are lots of tour centres where you can book day tours.
Learn the emergency phone numbers: Like when visiting any other destination, it’s good practice to learn the emergency services phone number. In Thailand, these are 191 for the police, 1669 for an ambulance and 199 for the fire brigade.
Have a Thai SIM: Continuing with the theme of phones, having a Thai SIM card allows you to stay connected to the internet at all times, which helps with using Google Maps and other things which keep you safe. Another option is to get a Thai eSIM.
Don’t use your phone while walking: The final point I have to make when it comes to phones is to be careful if you use your phone when walking along a road. This is because sometimes bikes will come from behind you and take the phone out of your hand before you even see them coming, and there’s no catching someone on a bike.
Visit at the right time of year: Unfortunately, Chiang Mai has a burning season which leads to the city having the worst air pollution in Asia. This can affect your health if you’re breathing it in for too long, so try to visit outside of the months of February to April.
Don’t forget about travel insurance: If you are unfortunate enough to have things stolen from you, or you are a victim of a crime, having good travel insurance can be really helpful in getting you the compensation you deserve.
Only rent a scooter if you know how to drive: One of the biggest mistakes I see amongst those backpacking Southeast Asia, particularly in Chiang Mai, is they ride bikes with no prior experience. It’s not safe and the amount of people I have seen covered in plasters, bandages and slings is unbelievable.
Wear mosquito repellent: While the people of Chiang Mai are lovely, the bugs are not. There are a lot of mosquitos up in the north of Thailand so make sure you wear lots of repellent to scare them off. I usually buy one from 7-Eleven and it does the job.
Use Grab for transport: Grab is Thailand’s version of Uber, so it’s safer than normal taxis, songthaews and tuk-tuks as your location is shared on the app and you can share it with friends and family to track where you are.

Visitors walking around the golden chedi of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, currently under restoration, with bamboo scaffolding surrounding the structure

Josh’s Things To Know Before Visiting Chiang Mai

Along with tips for your safety, I’ve put together a list of some things which are useful to know before visiting Chiang Mai. You could easily visit Chiang Mai without knowing these things, but they might help to make your trip go just that little bit smoother.

It’s cheaper to book in person: Most things to do in Chiang Mai are more expensive to book online. I stayed at Smile Robotist Hostel and I got tours 3x cheaper than online. It also means you don’t need to plan your trip as strictly.
You pay your tab when you leave: In bars in Chiang Mai, you usually don’t pay for drinks as you get them, you pay your tab at the end of the night. This is the same as some countries but it’s not how it is for me in the UK. Make sure you don’t leave without paying!
Don’t trust Google Maps 100%: Google Maps in Thailand is a lot better than in neighbouring countries like Vietnam, but it’s still not right 100% of the time. I would double check everything is right to ensure you have enough time to get there. I recommend looking on Street View to make sure that the address lines up with where it is on the map.
Give yourself enough time: I think 4 days is the minimum number of days you need in Chiang Mai. I stayed for a week and still felt like I missed out on things to do. Personally, I would stay in Chiang Mai for as long as you can justify.
Drive on the left of the road: If you choose to rent a car in Chiang Mai, you should drive on the left of the road. Although in all honesty, you’ll see locals drive on whichever side of the road has less cars on it!
7-Elevens have everything: No matter what you might need when you’re in Chiang Mai, you can probably find it in a 7-Eleven. They’re all around the city and have everything you could possibly need. If nothing else, definitely try their toasties!
Cash is king: Like everywhere in Thailand, cash is king. Not many places take card payments, and if they do, they sometimes add a fee. I recommend having a Revolut card and withdrawing cash from ATMs with no currency conversion fees.
Use Grab: I know I said to use Grab as one of the safety tips, but it’s also the best in terms of convenience and price. There are so many drivers you’re never waiting more than a few minutes, and all of the journeys are incredibly cheap.
Take day trips: Chiang Mai is the perfect place to use as a base camp for taking day trips to other places in the north of Thailand. I recommend checking out Chiang Rai and Doi Inthanon, they’re my two favourite day trips.
Learn some Thai: A little goes a long way in Thailand, and simply learning how to say hello and thank you is enough to put a smile on a local’s face. It’s a small gesture but they really appreciate the effort you make.

A trio of traditional Thai warrior statues standing tall with a historical plaque in the foreground, symbolizing Thai culture and history.

Conclusion

And there you have it, a complete guide to “Is Chiang Mai safe?”

The answer is yes, Chiang Mai is safe to visit. You won’t have any problems visiting Chiang Mai.

It’s an incredible city to visit, and there are so many reasons to visit the city and the added bonus is that it’s safe. Enjoy your trip there, you’ll have a blast!