Arrival. Check in at your hotel, then visit the night market in the evening. Two days in Bangkok. Three days in Chiang Mai… Stop, wait a minute.
Many Thailand itineraries look like this and continue to list places as if teleportation were as common as walking. But what’s in between? Is there anything worthwhile in this great expanse of land from Bangkok to Chiang Mai?
Yes, of course – plenty to see and do, and if you have the time – a very enriching experience. A journey through the places that shaped the Siam of the 11th century into the Thailand of the 21st and a peek into a side of it unperturbed by tourism.
So here’s how to travel between Bangkok and Chiang Mai and how to break the trip like a pro.
Key stops to consider adding to your Thailand overland journey — if you’re not flying over!
Bangkok to Chiang Mai – Travelling Directly
Bus, train, or plane? Being Thailand’s two largest cities, Bangkok and Chiang Mai are well-connected, but which form of transport is the best?
Several transportation options exist from Bangkok to Chiang Mai without stopping anywhere. If you’re on a short trip, pressed for time, or want the condensed Thailand version, perhaps this makes sense.
But if you have the time, I highly recommend taking an overland journey with several amazing stops along the way — which I’ll explain in the next section.
Flights
Even with transport to and from the airports and security screening, flying remains the quickest way between the two cities.
Various airlines, such as Nok Air, Bangkok Airways, Thai Air Asia, and Thai Lion Air, offer over 50 flights daily. Ticket prices are as low as 1000 THB – 31 USD before luggage fees.
Flights depart from both of Bangkok’s airports – Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang – and take just over an hour.
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Buses
Buses travel between Mo Chit Station in Bangkok (also called the Northern Bus Terminal or just Chatuchak) and Arcade Bus Station in Chiang Mai (somewhat confusingly also called the Bangkok Bus Station) almost every hour.
You can buy a ticket directly at the station, through your hotel in either city, or online at 12Go.asia.
Prices range between 500 and 900 THB (or 15–28 USD), depending on the bus company, class, and the departure time. Travel time is around 10-12 hours.
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Sleeper Trains
Sleeper trains in Thailand are lovely – comfortable, clean, affordable, and air-conditioned.
Getting a good night’s sleep on the train is much easier than on the bus and it’s no wonder trains are the preferred form of transport for most travelers.
But there is a major downside!
The Special Express Trains (that have sleeper cabins and fewer stops) are often fully booked. Seat reservations open 180 days before the travel date. You may find it hard to believe, but getting a berth within three months of travel is close to impossible, especially in high season (although seats are usually available up to the last few days. But who wants to be seated the whole night?)
If you’d like to check or book for yourself, use State Railways of Thailand’s official website, also called dTicket. Prices for 1st class are 1446/1646 THB (or 45/51 USD) and 938/1038 THB (or 29/32 USD) for 2nd class (upper/lower berth).
Onboard the Bangkok to Chiang Mai overnight sleeper train (DepositPhotos/Stripped_Pixel)
You need to commit to a certain date a few months in advance to guarantee a spot inside the Special Express. Often, before you even get to Thailand! Not many have this level of foresight.
Travelling directly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by using a sleeper train may be possible but it can’t be done spontaneously at all. For most tourists it’s too impractical to plan so far ahead, so you’ll have to find another way.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai – Splitting the Journey
So if you don’t mind having regular seating, and if ideally you can split up the journey, then going by train between Bangkok to Chiang Mai is actually a very practical (and amazingly scenic) option.
Bangkok’s skyline softened by its canopy of trees
More importantly, many more Ordinary and Commuter trains run segments of the Northern Railway Line. It is these frequent trains that you can use to hop between interesting cities along the line.
If you are willing to take it slow, train travel in Thailand is enjoyable, cheap, and easy. Furthermore, you can stop a few times to see some amazing sights in central Thailand.
Pro Tip: You won’t find Ordinary and Commuter trains on the official Thai Railways booking platform, but if you click on the Google Maps pin for a particular train station, all stopping trains are listed there.
You can buy tickets for these at the station in cash. Or, you can pre-book your tickets online via 12GO, which is especially handy during peak travel times or on popular routes.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai Itinerary – By Train
This itinerary will take you south-to-north mostly by train (and optionally one bus), taking in some of the best stops between Bangkok and Chiang Mai along the way.
Depending on which stops you include, your journey can take anywhere from 3 to 9 days.
Ayutthaya
- Train ride from Bangkok: 1:30 to 2 hours
- Why: Temples & preserved architecture, cyclable town, many cute guesthouses
- Stay: 2-3 days
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Ayutthaya is a popular day trip destination from Bangkok. Many opt for a guided tour, which is enough to see the main sites, chiefly the ancient temples dating back to the 14th century, when the city was Siam’s capital. Most of these are concentrated in the central Bueng Phra Ram Park, accessible to anyone for free.
Wat Yai Chai Mongkon temple (DepositPhotos.com/urf) 
Wat Na Phra Men temple (DepositPhotos.com/urf) 
Biking around Wat Chaiwatthanaram temple ruins
I would argue that you need to stay at least one night (thus two days) to fully immerse yourself. For a convenient base, consider Momento House or Ayothaya Riverside Hotel — both within walking distance of the train station and just a 10-minute drive from the temple ruins.
Even if ruinous temples aren’t your thing, Ayutthaya has a charming small-town vibe, especially on the central island, which is surrounded by rivers on all sides.
Moreover, it’s as flat as a pancake, and traffic is a fraction of that in Bangkok, so hire a bicycle (50 THB/2 USD per day is the going rate) and move around with the breeze.
Stay longer and sail on a traditional longboat around the island, visiting many outlying temples like Wat Phutthaisawan and Wat Chaiwatthanaram.
Lop Buri
- Train ride from Ayutthaya: 1 to 1:15 hours
- Why: Monkeys, temples, a historical riverside community, and shophouses
- Stay: 1 day
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Now here’s a place that fewer talk about. Lop Buri is a little like Ayutthaya but with monkeys.
The whole town is a playground for the mischievous macaques who roam scavenging for food and fooling around. You will find a huge colony of them at Phra Prang Sam Yot – a very majestic former Buddhist temple.
Before the Pandemic, it was standard practice to feed them, so they stuck around the city. Today, this is discouraged and forbidden (except for the annual Monkey Buffet Festival, which is exactly what it sounds like and yes, very bizarre) but that’s easier said than done, so the monkeys stay.
Monkey Buffet Festival (DepositPhotos/topten22photo)
They can be either cute or scary and are dexterous, petty thieves, so mind your valuables.
Lop Buri was the Kingdom’s capital for a while and Ayutthayan King Narai built himself a residence there – the King Narai’s Palace,which you can visit for a fee of 150 THB/5 USD.
One more place I liked in Lop Buri is the Talat Lang Community near the river. A row of shophouses, some dating to the 19th century, will show you a glimpse of the “Real Thailand”.
Phitsanulok
- Train ride from Lop Buri: 4:30 to 5:30 hours
- Why: Unfiltered Thai life, ancient ruins, lesser-known history
- Stay: 1-2 days
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Phitsanulok is a quiet regional capital city full of history and lore. If you’re used to the popular tourist destinations in Thailand, you may find it boring, though it’s a lovely place to see how the locals live without an unending supply of tourists.
One of the oldest buildings in the city is the magnificent temple Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, built in 1357 during the Sukhothai era. It has remained open despite multiple invasions, abandonments, and destructions of the city. It houses what some consider the most beautiful Buddha statue in Thailand—the gold-plated Phra Phuttha Chinnarat.
The gold-plated Phra Phuttha Chinnarat (iStock/keanu2) 
Chedi of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, a historic Buddhist temple (DepositPhotos.com/urf)
Cross the Nan River behind the temple and check out the Chan Royal Palace Historical Center – a replica of the palace that King Naresuan of Ayutthaya built in the 15th century. The museum has a ton of information in English about the events that led to the rise and fall of Phitsanulok. Entrance is free. It’s open every day except Monday, from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Ancient ruins in varying degrees of deterioration surround the museum. They are not as spectacular as what remains in Ayutthaya, but with a keen eye, the city’s former glory is not hard to imagine.
While there, check out the bizarre arrangement of over 1000 statuettes of horses and roosters. Truly weird. Presumably, they are the locals’ way to pay their respects to King Naresuan the Great, who was very much into cock fighting and horse riding.
While in the area, stop to eat Sukhothai-style noodles at Hoi Kha Rim Nan Noodle Restaurant. Not only is the food outstanding, but the setting is charming, and dangling your feet in the air as if sitting on a swing while slurping noodles is an experience on its own.
Detour to Sukhothai
- Bus ride from Phitsanulok: 1:30 hours
- Why: An even older Thai capital with ancient ruins
- Stay: 1 day
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Comparisons are often made between Sukhothai and Ayutthaya, the two most prominent ancient cities of Siam. Sukhothai is about 100 years old and is considered the first capital of Thailand. But Ayutthaya was greater and its kingdom was way more prosperous.
Wat Mahathat temple
As people in Southeast Asia say, ” Same, same, but different.” Which is better?
It’s hard to tell.
The countless comparisons on the web are superficial at best. For me, Ayutthaya edges the victory, but I realize it’s all highly personal. Visit both and decide for yourself!
If you do head to Sukhothai, I’d recommend staying near the Historical Park rather than in New Sukhothai town so you can wake up early to see the temples bathed in soft morning light. Sriwilai Sukhothai Resort & Spa is an excellent luxury stay, with views over rice fields and easy access to the ancient temples. Or check out Sano House if you’re on a budget.
Book your stay here 
Sukhothai historical park 
Behind the scenes of a scenic countryside ride tour (Image: Getyourguide)
Sukhothai is not on the Northern Railway Line, so a bus journey is required, and Phitsanulok is the closest big city, though you can take a direct transfer from many other places in Central and Northern Thailand. Note that the new city of Sukhothai (with most of the hotels) and the historical park are about 12 km apart.
The ancient ruins area is not compact enough to walk, which is why many go for a bicycle tour around the Sukhothai temples.
Lampang
- Phitsanulok → Lampang: 5 to 6 hours (by train) – Tickets on 12go
- Lampang → Chiang Mai 2 hours (by train) – Tickets on 12go
- Why: Preserved architecture, weekend markets, horse-drawn carriages
- Stay: 1-2 days
Lampang is another one of those Thai cities that used to be an important hub of trade and culture, but over time was relegated to just a regional capital steeped in history.
This history is conspicuous in the traditional Lanna architecture in the old parts of town. Walk through Talad Gao Road to see the beautiful wooden 2-story shophouses and teahouses. The Chaosua Tea Room is an absolute marvel on the outside and serves aromatic oolong tea inside.
The Ban Pong Nak Museum is another historic building you cannot miss – a residence built for King Rama VII with over 450 windows. Now that’s a sight to behold. And while we’re talking about history and museums, Museum Lampang is free to enter, has many interactive elements, and will teach you a lot about the history of the Lanna Kingdom.
You can use your two feet or taxis to travel between all these places, but Lampang also offers a unique transportation option: horse-drawn carriages. Once common throughout the country, only Lampang Province retains them today—yes, mostly as a tourist attraction, but it’s cultural immersion anyway.
(DepositPhotos.com/urf)
If you can choose when to visit Lampang, do it on the weekend. The Kad Kongta Night Market, located on Talad Gao, is a much more pleasant alternative to the overcrowded Chiang Mai Sunday and Saturday night markets.
Arrival in Chiang Mai
You have arrived in the Northern Capital, the Rose of the North, the Golden City – Chiang Mai. Now what? Check out this detailed guide to Chiang Mai for an in-depth take on what to see, how to do it, and where not to waste your time.
Want to research Chiang Mai more deeply? Then check out our 21 recommended things to do as well as our guide to Chiang Mai for expats and remote workers (publishing soon). Need ideas for where to continue beyond Chiang Mai? Then check out our guides to the mountain towns of Pai and Chiang Dao.
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