They call it the Rose of the North, a city where orange-robed monks wander through early morning mist, teakwood temples anchor ancient alleyways, and handwoven textiles flutter outside hill tribe shops. Rooted in the centuries-old Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai has evolved into a cultural melting pot, where history, heritage, and art quietly converge.
While most itineraries highlight temples and trekking, this article explores Chiang Mai’s museums and art spaces: from folkloric treasures to avant-garde experiments, where tradition meets imagination.
“Give me a museum and I’ll fill it.” — Pablo Picasso
Museum and art spaces in Chiang Mai
| Jump to Museum/Art Space | Address (Click to find) | Open Hours | Entry Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lanna Folklife Museum | Prapokklao Road, opposite the Three Kings Monument, Chiang Mai Old City | 8:30am to 5pm (Closed Mondays) | 90 Thai baht adults / 40 Thai baht children | Explore northern Thai heritage with life-size dioramas, costumes, and handmade artefacts showcasing traditions and beliefs. |
| MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum | 122 Moo 7, Tonpao, San Kamphaeng District, Chiang Mai | 10am to 6pm (Closed Tuesdays) | 150 Thai baht adults / Free for children under 12 | A modern art destination with rotating exhibitions from Thai and Southeast Asian contemporary artists. |
| Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre | Prapokklao Road, near Three Kings Monument, Chiang Mai Old City | 8:30am to 5pm (Closed Mondays) | 90 Thai baht adults / 40 Thai baht children | An interactive museum with exhibits on Chiang Mai’s cultural history, perfect for a family outing. |
| Chiang Mai University Art Centre | Nimmanhaemin Road, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai | 9am to 5pm (Closed weekends) | Free | Featuring exhibitions from faculty and students, this centre offers a deep dive into Thai contemporary art. |
| Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders | 72 Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 13, Chiang Mai | 9am to 5pm (Closed Sundays) | 200 Thai baht adults / 100 Thai baht children | Home to over 10,000 species of insects and fossils, showcasing the work of passionate entomologists. |
| Baan Tuek Art Centre | Rachadamnoen Road, Chiang Mai Old City | Varies depending on exhibitions | Usually free | A dynamic space for emerging artists with exhibitions ranging from photography to performance art. |
| Studio Naenna Textile Gallery | 138/8 Soi Chang Khian, Chang Phueak, Chiang Mai | 10am to 4pm (Closed Sundays) | Free (tours/workshops may have fees) | Celebrating Thai and Lao weaving with insights into natural dyes, traditional motifs, and cultural stories. |
| Art in Paradise Chiang Mai | 199/9 Changklan Road, Chiang Mai | 9am to 7pm daily | 400 Thai baht adults / 200 Thai baht children | An interactive 3D art museum where you can step into and pose with illusionary paintings for fun photo ops. |
| Highland People Discovery Museum | Mani Nopparat Road, near Chiang Mai National Museum | 9am to 4pm (Closed weekends and public holidays) | Free | Dedicated to the diverse hill tribes of northern Thailand, offering insights into their clothing, tools, and customs. |
| Chiang Mai National Museum | Superhighway Road (near Wat Jed Yod), Chiang Mai | 9am to 4pm (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays) | 100 Thai baht adults / 50 Thai baht students | A comprehensive look at the Lanna Kingdom’s development, with rare Buddha statues and original city maps. |
| Lanna Traditional House Museum | Chiang Mai University Campus, Suthep Road | 8:30am to 4:30pm (Closed weekends) | Free | Explore traditional Lanna wooden houses and period furnishings in this open-air museum at Chiang Mai University. |
Lanna Folklife Museum
Located in a stately colonial-style building across from the Three Kings Monument, this museum is a treasure trove of northern Thai heritage. Life-size dioramas, intricate ceremonial costumes, and handmade artefacts guide visitors through the traditions, beliefs, and daily rhythms of Lanna life. These elements ring true in the exhibit on Phi Ta Khon, a spirited festival full of ghost masks and folklore.
Fun fact: The building once served as the Provincial Court and has been carefully restored to reflect its historical significance.
Address: Prapokklao Road, opposite the Three Kings Monument, Chiang Mai Old City
Open: 8.30am to 5pm (Closed Mondays)
Entry: 90 Thai baht adults / 40 Thai baht children
MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum
Chiang Mai’s most striking modern art destination, MAIIAM (pronounced “Mai-I-am”), is housed in a repurposed warehouse, revealing an intricate facade shimmering with thousands of small mirrored tiles. Inside, it champions Thai and Southeast Asian contemporary artists with rotating exhibitions that tackle identity, politics, and memory.
Jirapat Tatsanasomboon, local sculptor, believes in the movement of contemporary art and its effect on Chiang Mai in the near future.
“Art in Chiang Mai isn’t just decoration, it’s how we challenge, remember, and evolve.”
Fun fact: The museum was founded by the Bunnag-Beurdeley family, longtime collectors of Thai contemporary art.
Address: 122 Moo 7, Tonpao, San Kamphaeng District, Chiang Mai.
Open: 10am to 6pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Entry: 150 Thai baht adults / Free for children under 12
Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre
This interactive museum sits in the heart of the old city and serves as a great introduction to Chiang Mai’s layered past. Its pearl white walls hold various exhibits which highlight the essence of Thai traditional cultures dating back centuries. From ancient city planning to modern urban life, the centre uses multimedia displays and models to map the city’s transformation. Exhibits in both Thai and English offer the family an interactive way to reconnect with the roots of Chiang Mai’s history.
Fun fact: The museum hosts rotating cultural events and workshops for kids and families.
Address: Prapokklao Road, near Three Kings Monument, Chiang Mai Old City
Open: 8.30am to 5pm (Closed on Mondays)
Entry: 90 Thai baht adults / 40 Thai baht children
Chiang Mai University Art Centre
A quieter but deeply respected venue, this gallery features thought-provoking exhibitions by faculty, students, and regional artists. It offers a glimpse into the academic and experimental side of Thai contemporary art.
Curator Phadung Moolsunto notes the deeper philosophy behind the centre.
“Chiang Mai is a space of dialogue. Our artists respond to the world, not just reflect it.”
Address: Nimmanhaemin Road, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai
Open: 9am to 5pm (Closed on weekends)
Free admission
Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders
This unique museum houses over 10,000 species of insects, butterflies, fossils, and minerals collected by Dr Rampa and Manop Rattanarithikul, a passionate entomologist couple whose work contributed to mosquito research worldwide.
Fun fact: Some specimens are displayed with poetic musings and philosophical reflections from the collectors themselves.
Address: 72 Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 13, Chiang Mai
Open: 9am to 5pm (Closed on Sundays)
Entry: 200 Thai baht adults / 100 Thai baht children
Baan Tuek Art Centre
Baan Tuek is a dynamic space for emerging artists. Exhibits range from photography to performance art, and the centre regularly collaborates with local communities and schools.
Address: Rachadamnoen Road, Chiang Mai Old City
Open: Varies depending on exhibitions
Entry: Usually free admission
Studio Naenna Textile Gallery
Founded by textile expert Patricia Cheeseman, this studio gallery celebrates the intricate art of Thai and Lao weaving. Visitors can learn about natural dyes, traditional motifs, and the cultural stories woven into each piece.
“A woven cloth is like a book; it tells you where it comes from, who made it, and why.”
Address: 138/8 Soi Chang Khian, Chang Phueak, Chiang Mai
Open: 10am to 4pm (Closed Sundays)
Free admission (tours or workshops may have fees)
Art in Paradise Chiang Mai
A family favourite, this interactive 3D art museum lets visitors step into and pose with illusionary paintings. It’s light-hearted fun that makes for excellent photo ops, particularly for kids and the young-at-heart.
Fun fact: The museum spans over 130 illusion artworks across different themed zones like underwater worlds and ancient temples.
Address: 199/9 Changklan Road, Chiang Mai
Open: 9am to 7pm daily
Entry: 400 Thai baht adults / 200 Thai baht children
Highland People Discovery Museum
Located near the Chiang Mai National Museum, this museum is dedicated to the diverse hill tribes of northern Thailand. With detailed displays of clothing, tools, and customs, it offers a respectful insight into communities like the Karen, Hmong, Lahu, and Akha, as Somchai Virojtrairattana, an anthropologist, claims.
“These cultures are not frozen in time; they are living, adapting, and still deeply connected to their ancestral ways.”
Address: Mani Nopparat Road, near Chiang Mai National Museum.
Open: 9am to 4pm (Closed on weekends and public holidays)
Free admission
Chiang Mai National Museum
A must-visit for history buffs, this museum covers the political, religious, and artistic development of the Lanna Kingdom. While its exterior might seem modest, the collections inside are rich and informative.
Fun Fact: It includes rare Lanna-era Buddha statues and original city maps from the 13th century.
Address: Superhighway Road (near Wat Jed Yod), Chiang Mai
Open: 9am to 4pm (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Entry: 100 Thai baht adults / 50 Thai baht students
Lanna Traditional House Museum
Set within the grounds of Chiang Mai University, this open-air museum showcases traditional Lanna wooden houses, complete with period furnishings and architecture. It’s a quiet retreat that gives insight into the domestic lives of northern Thai families.
Fun Fact: The houses are real historical structures that were relocated and reconstructed to preserve their legacy.
Address: Chiang Mai University Campus, Suthep Road
Open: 8.30am to 4.30pm (Closed on weekends)
Free admission
How to explore the museums of Chiang Mai
Many Chiang Mai museums are best visited in the cooler morning or late afternoon hours. Start early to avoid the midday heat and enjoy quieter experiences.
Most cultural spots are located within or near the Old City and Nimmanhaemin area, and are easily accessible by red songthaews (shared taxis), tuk-tuks, or Grab.
While photography is allowed in many locations, some museums restrict flash or interior photography. Always check signage or ask at the front desk.
Several museums, including the Chiang Mai City Arts Centre, offer free audio guides or QR-based digital tours, making self-guided visits richer and more informative.
Traveller’s takeaway
Chiang Mai’s museums and art spaces offer a more reflective kind of travel, where you can pause, inspect, and listen to the stories beneath the surface. With so many cultural gems across the city, it’s best not to rush. Museum lovers may want to spread their visits over a few days, or choose one or two to savour each day.
A local painter, Apichai Bhaktibutr, says…
“Museums are the memory of a city. If you want to know Chiang Mai, start there.”
The story Museums and art spaces in Chiang Mai to discover its cultural soul as seen on Thaiger News.
