Situated about 720 kilometers from Bangkok, Chiang Mai can be reached by bus, train, and plane.

By bus
Buses depart daily from the Northern Bus Terminal or Mo Chit 2 on Paholyothin Road. The journey by bus takes about 10-12 hours. Buses terminate at the Arcade Bus Terminal in Chiang Mai, located in the northeast section of town near superhighway; here you can find local transports fro transferring to hotel and guesthouses in town.

By train
Trains are recommended to reach Chiang Mai, especially an overnight second class train with berths. Trains to Chiang Mai leave daily from Hualampong Train Station in Bangkok; the journey takes about 13 hours.

By air
Flights of Bangkok Airways leave daily Bangkok International Airport, taking about 55 minutes. There are currently direct international flights from Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Kunming, Vientiane, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Düsseldorf via Abu Dhabi and Mandalay via Yangon. Chiang Mai airport is about 10 minutes from town. There are taxis and rented cars available for transferring from the airport to hotels and guest houses at the front of the airport.

There are both private and also public transportation to go around Chiang Mai.

Vehicles rentals
Car, motorbikes, and bikes are plentifully available for rent.
For cars, they can be rented at several locations. Rates begin at 1,000 baht per day, and car insurance is also provided. To rent motorcycles, passport or its copy is required. Motorcycle is good when you need to climb Doi Suthep.

Minibuses
Local minibuses locally called songtaew or seelor are categorized to commute in six different routes around Chiang Mai town. There are two distinct colors of the local minibuses; red and yellow. Yellow bus 1 runs east and west from Arcade Bus Terminal to the base of Doi Suthep, starting at Ta Pae Gate. Yellow bus number 2 runs north and south from Chang Puak Bus station to the western bank of the Ping River. Yellow bus 3 connects the railway station near Ta Pae Gate. Red bus 5 commutes along the city walls. And red bus 6 encircles the city along the super highway and connects the airport with the Arcade Terminal. They cost 2-5 Baht depending on the distance.

Three wheelers
Pedal trishaw is locally known as samlor, costing around 5-10 Baht for short trip. There are also the motorized three-wheel taxis called tuk tuks which charge according to the distance, starting at 10 Baht for short journeys; bargain should be done before hiring.

From Chiang Mai, you can go to the other districts within the province together with neighboring provinces and also the major cities in the other parts of Thailand by different approaches.

By bus
To go to the other districts in Chiang Mai such as Fang, Thaton and so on, buses leave from The Chang Puak Bus Terminal north of the city. To get to districts in the south of the province such as Chom Thong and Hot, take the buses at Chiang Mai Gate on the southern edge of the old city's wall.

The neighboring provinces such as Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun, Sukhothai and Lampang can be reached by bus also. You can take the bus at Arcade Bus Terminal northeast of the city.

By air
Thai Airways flies from Chiang Mai to the neighboring provinces and major cities throughout Thailand, including Mae Hong son (30 minutes), Chiang Rai (40 minutes), Nan (45 minutes), Tak (50 minutes), Pitsanulok (35 minutes), Khon Kaen (1 hour 25 minutes), and Phuket (2 hours).