Thailand
Chiang Mai in December
🌤️ Cool seasonWarm and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: sunglasses & hat
Why December scores 8.8What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.4
- ✓Warm (29°C highs / 17°C lows)
- ✓Slightly humid (dew point 16.2°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~14 mm rain)
- Air quality6.3
- !Elevated (PM2.5 ~30 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline8.0
- ·Normal precautions
| Dec | Jan | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.8 Excellent | 8.8 Excellent |
| Season | 🌤️ Cool season | 🌤️ Cool season |
| High / low | 29° / 17° | 30° / 16° |
| Rain | 14 mm | 11 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 16° | dew pt 14° |
| PM2.5 | 30 µg/m³ | 32 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Chiang Mai weather-station normals. Rainfall: Chiang Mai weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great's Birthday 5–7 Dec · 3 days off in a row
- New Year 31 Dec – 3 Jan · 4 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Constitution Day (10 Dec)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore Chiang MaiEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyNorthern Thailand's cultural hub, known for hundreds of temples, a walled old city, night markets, mountain scenery and northern Thai food.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Chiang Mai Flower FestivalDate variesUsually the first weekend of February
Flower displays and a parade of flower-covered floats.
Why go: Free to attend.
Where: Suan Buak Haad park and city streets
SongkranEvery year13–15 April every year
Thai New Year, celebrated with huge street water fights.
Why go: Expect to get soaked; protect phones and cameras.
Where: Citywide, especially around the moat
Yi Peng and Loy KrathongDate variesLunar calendar — full moon of the 12th Thai month, usually November
Lantern releases, floating krathongs and candlelit temples.
Why go: Hotels book up early; lantern release is restricted to designated events.
Where: Citywide, especially the Ping River and Tha Phae Gate
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
A golden mountaintop temple overlooking the city.
💡 Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered.
Old City temples
Temples within the moat, including Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh.
Sunday Walking Street
A large weekly market along Ratchadamnoen Road in the Old City.
Doi Inthanon National Park
Thailand's highest mountain, with waterfalls and twin royal pagodas.
💡 Smoke from agricultural burning often reduces visibility and air quality from around February to April.
Elephant sanctuaries
Places to observe elephants in the surrounding hills.
💡 Choose places that do not offer riding or performances.
Nimmanhaemin Road
A modern area of cafés, shops and restaurants.
Khao soi
Curry noodle soup with crispy noodles on top, a northern speciality.
Sai oua
Herby northern Thai grilled sausage.
Nam prik noom
Roasted green chilli dip served with vegetables and pork crackling.
Gaeng hang lay
A Burmese-influenced pork curry.
Bo Sang umbrellas
Hand-painted paper and cotton umbrellas.
💡 Bo Sang village near San Kamphaeng
Silverware
Handmade silver bowls and jewellery.
💡 Wualai Road
Textiles
Hand-woven cotton and hill-tribe embroidery.
💡 Night markets and craft shops
Northern Thai coffee
Coffee grown in the surrounding hills.
💡 Cafés and markets