The fastest way from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is a 1 hour 15 minute flight (about 900-2,500 THB), while the most memorable is the overnight sleeper train (11-13 hours, about 800-2,000 THB) from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. VIP buses take 9-10 hours and are the cheapest option.
Chiang Mai lies roughly 690 km north of Bangkok by road and about 750 km by rail. It is the most travelled domestic route in Thailand, so you have four good options, each suited to a different kind of traveller. Here is how they compare.
| Option | Journey time | Typical price (one way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | 1h10-1h20 in the air, about 4-5 hours door to door | 900-2,500 THB | Short trips, families, saving time |
| Overnight sleeper train | 11-13 hours | 800-1,100 THB (2nd class berth), 1,500-2,000 THB (1st class) | Experience, saving a night's hotel |
| Day train | 10-11 hours | 600-900 THB | Scenery, rail fans |
| VIP bus | 9-10 hours | 550-950 THB | Lowest price, last-minute travel |
| Car or private driver | 8-10 hours driving | 12,000-16,000 THB for a private driver | Stopping in Ayutthaya and Sukhothai |
Fares above are 2025-2026 ranges and vary with season, how early you book and berth position. Prices rise around Songkran (mid-April), Christmas, New Year and Loy Krathong in November, when Chiang Mai is at its busiest. For the wider picture of trains, buses and ferries across the country, see our getting around Thailand guide.
The night train is a classic Thai journey and, for many travellers, a highlight in its own right. You board in the evening, the attendant converts your seats into curtained bunks with clean sheets, and you wake up to teak forests and mountains in the north.
Where it leaves from: since January 2023 all long-distance northern trains depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (formerly Bang Sue Grand Station), not the old Hua Lamphong station. It is on the MRT Blue Line (Bang Sue station) and the SRT Red Line. Allow 30-60 minutes by MRT or Grab from Sukhumvit or the old town, and arrive 30 minutes before departure.
Which trains: there are several daily departures. The most popular are the Special Express sleepers that leave in the early to mid evening and reach Chiang Mai between roughly 07:00 and 10:00 the next morning. The modern CNR carriages introduced in 2016 are the most comfortable, with clean bathrooms and power sockets. A daytime Special Express leaves in the morning and arrives in the evening; it is a good choice if you want to see the countryside.
Book on the State Railway of Thailand's official D-Ticket website or at any station. Sleeper berths go on sale up to around three months ahead and the lower berths on the best trains sell out weeks in advance in high season (November to February). Carry your passport, as it is needed to board.
Flying is quick and often cheaper than you might expect. Around 25-40 flights a day link Bangkok and Chiang Mai, with flight times of about 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes.
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) is only 3-4 km south-west of the Old City, so a Grab or airport taxi to your hotel costs roughly 150-250 THB and takes 15-20 minutes. Allowing for check-in, security and getting to the airport, a flight still takes 4-5 hours door to door, but it frees an entire day compared with the train or bus. For families with young children or travellers on a short itinerary, it is usually the right choice.
Buses are the cheapest option and there are departures throughout the day and night, which is useful when trains are full. Most leave from Mo Chit (Bangkok Bus Terminal Chatuchak) in the north of the city, a short taxi ride from BTS Mo Chit or MRT Chatuchak Park, and arrive at Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal, about 3 km north-east of the Old City.
Night buses save a hotel night, but you will arrive tired and often very early, sometimes before 06:00. Keep valuables in your day bag on the seat with you, not in the luggage hold or overhead rack. Avoid cheap "tourist buses" sold on Khao San Road, which pick up from the street and are more prone to theft and delays. Book directly with operators, at the terminal or via our transport tickets page.
Driving yourself or hiring a private driver turns a transfer into a mini road trip through Thailand's history. The main route follows Highway 1 north, then Highway 11 or Route 32 through the central plains before climbing into the northern hills around Lampang.
Rental cars cost roughly 1,000-1,800 THB a day, plus a one-way drop fee. Thais drive on the left, and you need a valid International Driving Permit alongside your national licence. A private car with driver for two days typically costs 12,000-16,000 THB including fuel and tolls, which is reasonable split between three or four people.
A popular combination is the train up and a flight back, or the other way round, so you get the experience once without spending two long days in transit. Chiang Mai also has direct flights to Krabi, Phuket and Koh Samui, so there is no need to return to Bangkok before heading to the beaches.
Chiang Mai railway station is about 3 km east of the Old City. Grab and Bolt cars wait outside, and a ride to the Old City or Nimmanhaemin costs about 80-150 THB. Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks) are the local alternative; agree the fare before getting in, usually 40-60 THB per person for a shared ride or more for a direct trip.
From the Arcade bus terminal, expect similar fares. If you arrive very early on a night bus or train, most guesthouses will store your bags; a bowl of khao soi or a coffee in one of the Old City's cafés helps fill the time until check-in.
For what to do once you arrive, read our things to do in Chiang Mai guide, and for neighbourhoods, see where to stay in Chiang Mai. The Chiang Mai destination guide covers how many nights to plan and onward trips to Pai and Chiang Rai.
Chiang Mai is the natural hub for the rest of the north, so it is worth planning your onward leg before you arrive. Minivans to Pai leave from the Arcade terminal and several central pick-up points throughout the day, cost about 150-250 THB and take around three hours on a road famous for its 700-plus curves; take a travel-sickness tablet and sit near the front. Green Bus coaches run to Chiang Rai in about three to four hours for roughly 200-350 THB, with the White Temple a short detour on arrival.
For the south, there is no need to go back to Bangkok by land. Direct flights connect Chiang Mai with Krabi, Phuket and Koh Samui in about two hours, often for less than 2,500 THB if booked a few weeks ahead. If you are building a longer route, a sensible pattern is Bangkok, north by train, then fly straight from Chiang Mai to the islands.
The overnight sleeper trains take about 11-13 hours and the daytime Special Express around 10-11 hours. Delays of 30-60 minutes are common on this single-track line.
Long-distance northern trains depart from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (formerly Bang Sue Grand), reached by the MRT Blue Line to Bang Sue, not from Hua Lamphong.
One-way fares usually cost 900-2,500 THB, with the cheapest seats on low-cost carriers from Don Mueang when booked a few weeks ahead. Checked baggage is often extra.
The train is more comfortable because you can lie flat in a proper bed, while the VIP bus is slightly cheaper and faster. For a night journey, most travellers prefer the sleeper train.
Yes. Ayutthaya is on the northern rail line, and Sukhothai is about an hour by bus from Phitsanulok station. By car, both fit neatly into a two-day drive.