Have you ever walked around Chiang Mai and noticed the compelling street art on walls, shophouses, and abandoned buildings? You most probably have because it is all over the city now. Perhaps it’s an afterthought during your travels in Chiang Mai. People usually go for the mountains, some adventure, and cultural exposure but if you want to do something different in the city, a day spent discovering the street art scene could be a great option. Now, this isn’t a comprehensive guide to Chiang Mai’s Street Art but I will try my best to give you some sort of an idea of where to start, not-to-miss locations and tips.

On my recent trip to Chiang Mai, I decided to grab a bicycle and check out some of the paintings. I had heard a lot about it and also did some research. I plotted a route to follow but little did I know that there was a lot more than I expected.

Old City

You will find the most graffiti, murals and other forms of street art within the walls of the old city. Start from any gate entrance and zigzag your way through the maze of backroads.

While there are some on the main roads, it’s in the tiny, narrow backroads where you will find the most interesting stuff. The old city may be small in area but there are so many hidden alleys, it’s easy to miss if you don’t know where to look. Lucky for you, I’ve attached a map at the end so feel free to scroll to the bottom at any point.

Look for abandoned buildings, shophouses and broken-down walls as these are prime canvases for the artists.

In some cases, it is part of a neighborhood or community. I’m sure the artists work with them or ask permission from the homeowners.

One of the coolest spot, one that you really should not miss is the abandoned Women’s Correctional Institution. There is amazing work done here.

I’m sure there is a lot of deep meaning and messages behind the art. Mostly, I notice paintings of animals and nature, which is most likely a way for the artists to bring attention to animal abuse or humans killing biodiversities of the earth.

Nimman Road

Another road where you will come across a lot of murals in a dense area. Just walk (or ride) up and down each soi and you won’t miss it. The streets here have a different vibe than in the old city. Similarly, the artwork is also unique to the area. Dare I say, it’s more hipster here than in old town.

In particular, sois 5, 7, 11, and 13 have some good ones. I don’t remember which art was in which soi (it was hard to keep track) but I think the more I give away, the less fun it will be for you to find them.

Also, ThinkPark at the end of Nimman Road has a few interesting ones as well. They not only tell a story but are also a bit more engaging and interactive.

Central Kad Suan Kaew

In between the old city and Nimman Road lies an old central shopping mall. It’s quite possibly the first one in Chiang Mai. I think. Anyways, in the outdoor parking lot area, there’s a lot of cool artwork. Great place for a photoshoot.

Rest of Chiang Mai

I didn’t have time to explore all of Chiang Mai. After all, I was on a bike. There is a lot more art spread around the city and it is probably worth a look if you are super interested in this stuff. There’s some at Chiang Mai university near Nimman Road. There are some at Wua Lai Road near old town. Keep checking around the gates and walls of the old town as well because new ones pop out of nowhere. The U.S. embassy walls also have some artwork of flags done by children – that is probably worth a look.

Here’s a map to help you find them. It’s like a treasure hunt!

If you have more spots, let us know in the comments below and we’ll surely add them to the map. Enjoy and good luck exploring Chiang Mai’s street art scene!