A visit to the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center offers a historical overview to help contextualize the rest of your time in the city. A statue of the three kings who founded Chiang Mai stands in front of the museum, which comprises 15 rooms in a colonnaded palace, including a re-created Lanna village on the upper floor.
Several guided sightseeing tours include a visit to the museum, including half-day private tuk-tuk tours with stops at Warorot Market, Wat Chedi Luang Temple, and Wat Phan Tao. The museum also hosts special exhibits and cultural events, so it’s a good idea to check what might be going on ahead of your visit.
The Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center is a must-visit for history buffs and first-time visitors.
Tour the museum with a guide for added insight into what you’re seeing.
Remember to bring Thai currency to pay the admission fee.
The Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center is located in central Chiang Mai, on Prapokklao Road. The entrance is behind the Three Kings Monument. The easiest way to get there from outside the old city is by tuk-tuk.
The Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center is open Tuesdays through Sundays and closed on Mondays. The facilities are climate controlled, making this a good option for a hot afternoon or rainy day.
Chiang Mai’s collection of museums offer visitors an excellent crash course in the history, culture, and heritage of Northern Thailand. Visit the Tribal Museum to learn more about the area’s diverse hill tribe communities, head to the National Museum for a look at the assortment of pottery and Buddhist art, or learn about the region’s biodiversity (including its hundreds of species of mosquitoes) at the Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders.
