While in Chiang Mai you should include a couple of museum visits in your itinerary.

Whether you are interested in art or in history, airplanes, insects or dolls, everybody will find something of interest in Chiang Mai. Here is an overview of the more popular museums:

• National Museum
• Faculty of Arts Museum
• Arts and Cultural Centre
• Insects Museum
• Tribal Museum
• Dara Phirom Museum
• Mon-Fai Museum
• Dolls Museum
• Air Museum

Chiang Mai National Museum

The Chiang Mai National museum is located at the superhighway near the Wat Jed Yod temple. It is the main regional museum for the North of Thailand, providing visitors a wealth of information about the history of Chiang Mai and displaying a rare collection of artifacts such as Buddhist icons and pottery. If you want to learn more about Lanna culture and society and the regions history, this museum is an excellent place to start your study.

Address:
451 Superhighway Rd., T. Changphuak
A. Muang, Chiangmai

Tel. (053) 221308
Fax. (053) 408568

Open: 9 AM to 4 PM Wednesday to Sunday. Closed on: Monday, Tuesday and National Holidays

Chiang Mai Faculty of Arts Museum

Located at the corner of Suthep road and Nimmanhemin road is the Chiang Mai Faculty of Arts Museum offering a variety of student (modern) art exhibitions and performances.

Tel: 053 944833

Chiang Mai Arts and Cultural Centre

This museum is located in the center of the old city on Prapokklao Road (between Rajdumnern Road and Rajwithee Road). The old city is a square area of 1.6 by 1.6 kilometers in the center of Chiang Mai, surrounded by a moat. In front of the building is the Three Kings Monument, which honors the three 13th century kings who chose this place as the location for the “new city” of Chiangmai. In the museum you will learn about culture and history of Chiang Mai and its people. You will also learn about the region surrounding Chiang Mai city, its agricultural history, its hill tribes, and its variety of cultures. Part of the museum is devoted to Buddhism and other regional beliefs.

Address:
Phra Pokklao Rd.
Muang, Chiang Mai

Tel: +66 (0)53-217793, +66 (0)53-219833

Open: Daily except Mondays from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders

Giant beetles, butterflies and walking sticks are the main attraction of this museum, together with a collection of rare fossils and dinosaur eggs.

The Insect museum is located at the bottom of Soi 13 Nimmanhaemin Road

Open: Daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Tribal Museum of Chiang Mai

The Tribal museum is located on the north side of Chiang Mai. It offers a collection of tribal handicrafts originating from the hill tribes of the Chiang Mai region, including traditional household items, tribal costumes and ornaments, historic weapons and musical instruments, and tribal jewellery and textiles.

Address:
Ratchamangkla Park, Chang Puak Road
Chiang Mai 50300
Thailand

Tel: +66 053 22 1933

Open: Daily from 08:30 to 16:00.

Dara Phirom Museum

A museum about the life of the late Princess Jao Dara Rasamee. Princess Jao Dara Rasamee who died in 1933 is still remembered for her good works and kindness and experimental farming techniques. The museum contains many furnishings, antiques, photographs and other personal items of the princess.

Address:
Dara Rasamee Military Camp, Mae Rim
Chiang Mai 50180
Thailand

Open: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.

Mon-Fai Museum

This is an antique wooden Lanna house that has been beautifully preserved. It gives a taste of old Lanna culture and several Lanna costumes are on display.

Address:
6 Moo 3, Soi 7, Patan Road
A. Muang, Chiangmai

Tel: +66 53 110145

Open: Daily from 8 AM to 7 PM.

Museum of Dolls

The Dolls museum offers an interesting collection of Asian dolls. The museum is associated with a centre that produces dolls as handicrafts.

Address:
187/2 Moo 9, T. Makamluang
A. Sanpatong, Chiangmai

Tel / Fax: +66 53 837 229
Mobile: +66 081 023 1594, 086 1981871,

Open: Daily from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Chiang Mai Air Museum

The Chiang Mai Air Museum is located near the Chiang Mai Airport. It contains a rare collection of World War 2 airplanes and related objects. Visitors are allowed to enter the planes and are provided with detailed information about the planes and their history.

Address:
Air Force Base 41
Chiang Mai
Thailand

Tel: +66 053 202 617

Open: Daily