10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Chiang Rai

The Saturday Night Walking Street takes place in the centre of Chiang Rai, hosting hundreds of local vendors every week. This is a great place to visit when you’re hungry, as there’s a wide range of street food and drinks to enjoy – some are even prepared right in front of you.

Besides food, some vendors sell clothes, souvenirs, handicrafts, and similar items, many of which are at affordable prices. Experience the local way of life by grabbing a table near the market’s makeshift stage, where you can enjoy dinner with live music.

The Chiang Rai Night Bazaar is an open-air marketplace where you can find budget-friendly food, drinks and goods every night of the week. The bazaar also acts as a social hub, where locals and travellers can mix and mingle in a fun setting.

Most of the cuisine on offer is Thai, with hotpot being the meal of choice for many locals. You’ll also find fried foods, grilled meats and fish, as well as fresh produce. Some vendors offer a range of products, from typical souvenirs to housewares.

Central Chiangrai is one of Chiang Rai’s premier shopping malls. Located along Phahonyothin Road, the multi-storey complex offers a wide range of retailers, including fashion, beauty and tech brands. It’s around 10.5 km south of the Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai International Airport.

Globally recognised storefronts include Puma, Adidas and Crocs. You can find fresh produce, imported food items, and home essentials at Tops Market, located on the basement level. Food-wise, Central Chiangrai hosts international fast-food chains like KFC and McDonald’s, as well as local favourites like Sizzler and MK Restaurant.

Nah Thai Market is a must-visit if you’re looking for a local shopping experience in Chiang Rai. As it isn’t as widely publicised to travellers as some of the city’s other markets, the market is geared toward serving the surrounding neighbourhoods with daily necessities.

This casual marketplace is more or less always open, depending on the vendors. You can find a wide range of Thai-style street food, making Nah Thai Market a great lunch spot if you’re on a modest budget.

Sunday Happy Street, also known as Thanon Khon Muan Market, is a marketplace that blends culture and shopping into 1 immersive experience. While smaller than most of Chiang Rai’s night markets, it’s still worth a visit if you’re in the area on a Sunday.

Dozens of vendors offer delicious Thai cuisine, including fried and grilled meats, rice, noodles, as well as alcoholic drinks and fruit juices. Its open-air dining section has plenty of seats with views of a makeshift stage, where traditional music and dance take place throughout the evening.

Art Bridge Chiang Rai is located right next to – you guessed it – a bridge that crosses Nong Khua Kara Lake. Take in the gallery’s minimalistic, nature-inspired exterior, which is a work of art in itself. Inside, you can view a wealth of artwork in various mediums. Most of the displayed artwork is created by local artists.

Art Bridge Chiang Rai is a great place to shop for paintings, sculptures or carvings. If your travel budget doesn’t quite include a unique work of art, you can stop by the onsite souvenir shop to pick up something a little more affordable, but just as beautiful.

Robinson Department Store Chiang Rai is the anchor tenant of Central Chiangrai, the city’s main shopping centre. It’s also one of Thailand’s most prominent department stores, with more than 50 locations across the country.

It occupies 2 floors of the shopping mall, offering plenty of high-quality and mid-range brands. You can find perfumes, cosmetics, housewares, and bedding, as well as brand-name clothes and accessories. Robinson Department Store Chiang Rai is within a 20-minute drive south of the Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai International Airport.

The Kad Luang Chiang Rai Market offers 3 floors of fresh and cooked food, household goods, and affordable clothing. The indoor-outdoor market caters to mostly locals, but you will find that this marketplace still makes for a multiple-hour diversion if you truly want to slow down and take it all in.

There's certainly enough to keep your attention in this busy, bustling marketplace. While many marketplaces around Chiang Rai take place at night, vendors at the Kad Luang Chiang Rai Market roll out their wares with the sun.

Big C Chiangrai 2 is a great place to stock up on groceries, snacks, fresh produce, and household items in Chiang Rai. The large complex also hosts Major Cineplex, a modern cinema that airs the latest local and international films.

Food-wise, Big C Chiangmai 2 has fast-food options like KFC and The Pizza Company, along with Japanese dishes at Yayoi and Shabushi by Oishi. The supermarket also has a hot food section, offering affordable yet authentic Thai stir-fries, rice, and noodles.

The Hilltribe Museum souvenir shop is part of Chiang Rai's prominent ethnographic museum and cultural centre. The complex is a great place to learn about Northern Thailand’s hill tribes, thanks to its range of exhibits detailing their history and cultures.

The museum’s souvenir shop offers regionally made handcrafts that reflect the hill tribes' heritage, including embroidered ornaments, woven baskets, kitbags, and costumes. You get to contribute to the preservation of traditional crafts by buying these unique items.