Chiang Mai, Thailand Weather and Climate
Geographical location
According to abbreviationfinder, Chiang Mai is the capital of the Muean Chiang Mai district and also the capital of the province of the same name. With over 135,000 inhabitants, it is the most important tourist and cultural city in the northern region of Thailand.
Because of its beautiful landscapes, it is also called the “Rose of the North”. More than 200 Buddhist temples are spread across the city, making Chiang Mai a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. Usually the city is combined with a visit to the white temple in Chiang Rai.
Chiang Mai lies at the foot of Doi Pui Mountain, which is 1,685 meters above sea level. Due to its location in a valley of the Mae Nam Ping River, the city center is particularly sheltered from the wind.
In the past, old houses made of very moisture-resistant teak dominated the city’s architecture. Nowadays many of these old historical buildings have given way to concrete houses. Overall, Chiang Mai offers a very interesting mix of tradition and modernity.
Climate in Chiang Mai
The maximum temperatures in Chiang Mai range all year round between 28 degrees in December and 36 ° C in April. At night it cools down pleasantly, especially in the winter months. As a rough rule of thumb, one can say: in winter there is a difference of about 15 degrees between day and night temperatures, in summer it is only about half.
This is mainly due to the high humidity, which during the rainy season from May to around mid- October ensures very humid and warm air in northern Thailand. Most rain falls in Chiang Mai in the months of August and September, while the hottest months are March to May. From November it gets drier and the temperatures cool down to more pleasant regions.
When is the best time to visit Chiang Mai?
The north of Thailand with Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and the golden triangle is worth a trip all year round. Nevertheless, excursions and tours in the rainy season can sometimes be subject to noticeable restrictions, which is why we particularly recommend the dry months as the best travel time for the region.
November to April is generally considered the best time to visit Chiang Mai, although the enormous heat from mid-March is not suitable for every traveler. We therefore recommend November to mid- February in particular, if you want to avoid the hot and humid months completely. During the dry season, the number of hours of sunshine is 9 to 10 hours per day.
Optimal travel time for the regions
In the following overview you can see the best travel time depending on the region (Chiang Mai).
| Place | Best travel time |
| Chiang Mai | January, February, March, November and December |
| Chiang Rai | January, February, March, November and December |
Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Chiang Mai
| Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daytime temperature | 29 ° C | 32 ° C | 35 ° C | 36 ° C | 34 ° C | 32 ° C | 32 ° C | 31 ° C | 31 ° C | 31 ° C | 30 ° C | 28 ° C |
| Night temperature | 14 ° C | 15 ° C | 18 ° C | 22 ° C | 23 ° C | 24 ° C | 24 ° C | 23 ° C | 23 ° C | 22 ° C | 19 ° C | 15 ° C |
| Precipitation in mm | 7 | 5 | 13 | 50 | 158 | 132 | 161 | 236 | 228 | 122 | 53 | 20 |
| Rainy days | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| Hours of sunshine | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Sunrise | 7:00 | 6:50 | 6:35 | 6:05 | 5:50 | 5:45 | 5:55 | 6:05 | 6:10 | 6:20 | 6:30 | 6:50 |
| Sunset | 18:05 | 18:25 | 18:35 | 18:40 | 18:50 | 19:00 | 19:05 | 18:50 | 18:25 | 18:00 | 17:45 | 17:50 |
Temperatures
The average annual temperature in Chiang Mai is 26 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is April (29 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 21.3 ° C.
Precipitation
Annual precipitation is 1185 mm on 91 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. The months of August and September are considered the rainy season, as more than 175 mm of precipitation can be expected per month. Overall, about 464 mm of precipitation can be expected in the rainy season. You cannot expect snow in any month in Chiang Mai.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, February is the sunniest month with an average of 9.8 hours of sunshine per day. On average over the year, the sun shines 7.5 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.
Sights and attractions
The must-see sights include some of the city’s more than 200 Buddhist temples, the majority of which are located in the beautiful old town. A particularly attractive destination is the gold-plated temple Wat Phra That Doi with white elephants. Another temple worth seeing is Wat Phrat toi Sutep, which was built in the 14th century. For shopping enthusiasts, Sankampaeng Road is the ideal destination, the street is lined with stalls and shops in which local manufacturers and handicrafts offer their products.
In the Ping Valley, visitors are fascinated by the strong colors of the submerged rice fields with their reflective surfaces and the breathtaking, winding river landscape that runs through meadows.
For the more adventurous, the southern foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, which the city is directly adjacent to, are a special highlight that leads across an impassable mountain landscape to one or the other mountain village, where very special differences compared to the rest of Thailand can be experienced.
Chiang Mai weather in March, April and May
Average daily temperatures between 33 ° C and 36 ° C can be expected over the next three months. It gets warmest in April in Chiang Mai, a little cooler in May in Chiang Rai.
In March it rains depending on the region of 1 (Chiang Mai) to 2 days (Chiang Rai), in April to 5 (Chiang Mai) to 8 days (Chiang Rai) and in May of 12 (Chiang Mai) to 15 days (Chiang Rai).
In the period from March to May, the sun shines an average of 9 hours a day.
