THA PHAE GATE - SUNDAY WALKING STREET

Tha Phae Gate Sunday Walking Street Market is one of Chiang Mai’s most popular and very crowded tourist attractions. The street is packed full of visitors, street performers and market stalls. If you ever go to Chiang Mai, then ensure your visit covers a weekend so you don't miss out on the Saturday and Sunday markets. The other popular attraction is the Night Bazaar which is open every night.

This old brick gateway is on the eastern side of the Old City walls. The Tha Phae Gate Square is a large forecourt in front of the gateway which is also used for other activities such as a starting point for the Songkran festival or meeting point for tours. At night, you will find many tuk-tuk drivers near the gate that are lined up ready to provide rides to and from other attractions such as the Night Bazaar and any other location wihin the city. The entire street is closed off to traffic at about 4pm in the afternoon when the street vendors start setting up their stalls. Best time to visit is from around 5:30 pm until about 10pm, although some vendors are still there until midnight.

Start at the historic Tha Phae Gate forecourt and walk your way thorough the gate and into the old city past rows of small market stalls on both sides of the street and down side alleys.

You will find more of an authentic locally made range of gifts and souvenirs at this market compared to generic tourist shops. There are hand-painted artwork, fabric bags, cotton clothing, silver-style jewellery, wooden ornaments, ceramics, woven baskets, leather goods and small decorative items of Lanna design. There are also plenty of inexpensive souvenirs, including keyrings, candles, soaps, elephant-themed gifts, postcards, printed T-shirts and magnets. Some vendors may accept polite bargaining, but many handmade items are already fairly priced.

Food is one of the biggest reasons to visit the Sunday Walking Street. As you explore the market, you will find grilled meats, Thai sausages, dumplings, noodle dishes, mango sticky rice, coconut pancakes, fresh fruit shakes, fried snacks and sweet desserts. There are also plenty of vegetarian options, although it is always best to ask if a dish contains fish sauce, shrimp paste or meat stock.

Inside the temple courtyards of Wat Samphao, Wat Phan On and several others located just off the street, you will find some of the best places to enjoy an authentic Thai meal. There are casual seating areas where you can sit down alongside everyone else and eat.

If you are going to take photos, I suggest you turn on night mode so the flash is not used. This makes the image a more natural night scene and makes it less intrusive towards other people. Always politely ask before taking close-up photos of vendors, artists or their products.

See below for map and directions on how to get to the Tha Phae Gate Sunday Walking Street.

The Sunday Walking Street Market starts from Tha Phae Gate and along Ratchadamnoen Road up to Wat Phra Singh which is at the end of the street.

If you are staying in or near the Old City, you may be able to walk there. See the interactive map below for exact location.

From the Night Bazaar or riverside area, a shared songthaew, tuk-tuk, or using the Grab app to book a trip, can take you to Tha Phae Gate Square.

If you are staying around Nimman, the riverside, or outside the Old City, allow extra travel time on Sunday evenings because traffic around the moat will be slower than usual and they will probably not be able to stop next to the very busy Gate intersection, so you may need to walk a short distance.