Three ways in: airport, railway, bus terminal
| Arrival point | Coming from | Next step into town |
|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai Airport (CNX) | Flights, including from both Bangkok airports | Airport shuttle A1–A3, metered taxi or Grab |
| Chiang Mai railway station | SRT trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat | Taxi, app ride or local transport |
| Arcade bus terminal (Terminal 3) | Coaches from Bangkok's Mo Chit 2 | Taxi, app ride or local transport |
| Nakhonchai Air terminal | Nakhonchai Air coaches only | Taxi or app ride |
From Bangkok, the overnight train 9 arrives at 07:15 and day train 7 at 17:50, according to SRT's timetable; coaches take about 10 hours. Bangkok to Chiang Mai compares all three with dated fares.
From the airport
AOT lists three airport shuttle routes from the international arrivals area, Floor 1:
| Route | Via | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Nimmanhaemin Road, Huay Kaew Road, City Moat | 40 THB |
| A2 | Mahidol Road, Night Bazaar, hotels on Chang Klan Road | 40 THB |
| A3 | Second Ring Road, 700th Anniversary Stadium | 60 THB |
For a door-to-door ride, the taxi meter counter is at Entrance 1 on the ground floor of the main terminal, with a 50 THB charge added to the meter, set by a Ministry of Transport announcement. Grab cars and taxis must use the designated pickup point in the car park, which AOT lists as open 24 hours. AOT asks passengers to confirm shuttle fares and routes at the counter, since they can change.
The bus terminals
The Transport Co. coaches from Bangkok and Greenbus coaches to Chiang Rai use the Arcade bus terminal, which booking sites list as Arcade 2 or Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3. Nakhonchai Air has its own separate terminal in Chiang Mai, so a Nakhonchai ticket does not end at Arcade.
Check the distance from Arcade to your hotel before deciding how to cover the last stretch.
Onward to Chiang Rai and Pai
Chiang Rai: Greenbus runs from Arcade Terminal 3, taking 3 to 4 hours, for 409 or 621 THB per adult online for November 2026. Some departures arrive at Chiang Rai's Terminal 2 instead of Terminal 1. See Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai.
Pai: Prem Pracha minivans were sold from Arcade at 10:30, 11:30 and 13:30 for 355 THB, about 4 hr 20 min, and other operators' vans from 280 THB. Check the luggage rule on your ticket.
For the Laos border at Chiang Khong, travel via Chiang Rai; the Chiang Rai guide and Thailand–Laos border guide explain the crossing.
Leaving Chiang Mai
Back to Bangkok, SRT lists day train 8 at 07:30 and sleeper train 10 at 18:20, and coaches leave Arcade from 07:30.
Questions before you go
How do I get from Chiang Mai Airport to the Old City?
AOT lists shuttle route A1, Airport to Nimmanhaemin, Huay Kaew Road and the City Moat, for 40 THB. A metered taxi from Entrance 1 adds a 50 THB charge to the meter, and Grab pickups use a designated point in the car park.
Where does the bus to Pai leave from?
Prem Pracha minivans sold online for November 2026 left from the Arcade bus terminal at 10:30, 11:30 and 13:30, taking about 4 hr 20 min for 355 THB. Other vans were sold from 280 THB.
Does the train go beyond Chiang Mai?
No. Chiang Mai is the end of SRT's Northern Line. For Chiang Rai, Pai or the Laos border, continue by road.
Thailand Transport Hub
Written and maintained from Bangkok. The people behind this site have lived in Thailand for two decades and cross these borders themselves. Routes and visa rules get rechecked whenever something changes, not on a fixed schedule that lets stale information sit for months.
