Ultimate Guide to Central Festival Chiang Mai Mall (2024)

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Central Festival Chiang Mai Mall is a fantastic shopping complex located in Northern Thailand and the largest of its kind in the region. 

As a long-time traveler who lives out of a backpack, I really appreciate a big Western-style shopping mall for when I need to replenish my wardrobe. I once had to buy a new bathing suit in Thailand, and I would have been out of luck if a big shopping mall with curvy-girl sizes wasn’t nearby.

Chiang Mai’s Central Festival has 250 retail stores, a giant Central Department Store, two fantastic food courts, a Tops market,  Central Festival Cinema, and a Fitness Center.

Central Festival Chiang Mai Mall offers an unbeatable shopping experience. And most tourists don’t know about it!

Not only is it great for shopping but also for getting your visa extended – I had my visa extended at the immigration on the 2nd floor of this mall during one of my visits to Chiang Mai (and avoided the longer wait times at the other immigration office where most tourists go). 

It’s also super easy to get to – it’s slightly further than Maya Mall but still within a reasonable distance from downtown Chiang Mai.

Whether you’re looking for new clothes, cheap eats, electronics, or to catch a movie – Central Festival Chiang Mai Mall has got you covered! 

🤩 My favorite way to get to know a new city is by taking a food tour. This Northern Thai Food Tour will change your life. You’ll try hidden restaurants, street stalls, and local markets that most tourists never find and be transported in an iconic red rod daeng truck with a small group of hungry travelers. Come hungry because you’ll be trying more than 15 different dishes!

Central Festival Opening Hours and Location

Hours:

Monday – Friday 11AM – 9PM

Saturday – Sunday 10AM – 10PM

Address: 99, 99/1, 99/2 , Chiang Mai, Thailand 50000

How to Get to Central Festival Chiang Mai

Getting to Central Festival Mall is easy from the Chiang Mai Old Town or Nimman neighborhoods – it takes about 15-20 minutes to drive there from the old town, and a few minutes less from Nimman.

NO FREE SHUTTLE BUS – There used to be a free shuttle bus from different hotels in Chiang Mai, but it is no longer running. I just confirmed this with the mall’s Information Desk when I was there. Bummer.

🚗 Book a Chiang Mai rental car today!

By Motorbike or Car

The fastest way to get to Central Chiang Mai is via motorbike or renting a car. You’ll be on the highway for most of the way, and the mall sits on the highway. 

Parking: There is plenty of free parking – motorbike parking is across the road from the garage on your left when you’re driving in (I missed it the first time).

There’s even a car wash inside the parking garage if you need a wash!

The first hour of EV charging is free if you buy something for 800 baht in the mall.

👉 I use this travel insurance, which covers my medical coverage in the event of a motorbike accident, as long as I am appropriately licensed for the area I’m driving in (in Thailand, that’s an International Driver’s Permit validated for motorcycles) and am wearing proper safety gear such as a helmet. 

Grab Taxi

If you’re not comfortable renting a car or scooter, then use the Grab app to order a taxi – it’s super easy.

This will cost you about 140 baht ($4 USD) from the old town. They’ll likely drop you off outside the main entrance, which is just outside of Starbucks.

Songthaew

These red trucks are the closest you’ll get to public transportation in Chiang Mai, and you’ll see them everywhere. They’re easy to use, so give it a try! 

Just stand on a corner and wave it down, like how you’d hail a taxi in New York. Sometimes a full one will pass you and you’ll have to try to hail the next one. Tell the driver where you’re going and hop in. 

The price varies based on distance, from 30 baht to 100 baht. Like everything in Thailand, you can always try to negotiate. Knock on the window or ring the bell when you’re ready to get off. 

Not all Songthaews will want to drive to Central Festival, so it might be easier to use Grab. I saw a line of them waiting to take people home from the mall (outside the main entrance, by Starbucks), so getting back via Songthaew is easier than getting there.

Anywheel Chiang Mai Bikeshare

Anywheel is Chiang Mai’s bike-share service. You’ll find these green bikes parked around town, including in front of the Central Festival shopping center.

The ride from the Old City or Nimman is about 6 kilometers on busy roads with no bike path, so you have to be a confident biker to get there via bike.

👉 Check out this full-day Chiang Dao Kayaking, Caving, and Jungle Tour from Chiang Mai. You’ll get to kayak along the Mae Ping River, surrounded by a tranquil forest and a bamboo jungle, greeted by water buffalo and birds. After a local lunch, you’ll explore the Chiang Dao Cave System with headlamps and flashlights.

Central Festival Chiang Mai Stores List

The giant malls in Chiang Mai are just one example of the conveniences that make Chiang Mai a great place to visit – and one of the pros of living here!

The Central Chiang Mai Festival Mall has 6 floors, starting with the ground floor and going up to the fifth floor. If you need to get your steps in when it’s raining in Chiang Mai, this is a great option!

There are touchscreen kiosks located around the mall to help you find where you want to go, and there’s an Information Desk right by the main entrance (near Starbucks). 

Here’s the full Central Chiang Mai shop directory – it’s very searchable.
It’s worth checking in with the Information desk about their tourist rewards program and free wifi. 

👉 My pick for the best Chiang Mai temple tour is this City Tour of Viewpoints, Wat Doi Suthep, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Pha Lat with a near-perfect 5-Star Rating.

Here’s a floor-by-floor overview (see the directory for a full shop list):

• Ground Floor: Food court, Saint Etoile Bakery, multiple cafes and bakeries, pharmacies, Boots, Watsons, OfficeMate, Tops Market, and GNC

• 1st Floor: Starbucks, H&M, Zara, Marks & Spencer, Uniqlo, Lacoste, Mango, Jaspal, and a lot more clothing stores. There’s also a KFC.

• 2nd Floor: The Body Shop, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, Chiang Mai Immigration Office, Post Office, Luggage Storage, Power Buy electronics, office supply store, sports clothes, and other miscellaneous shopping.

• 3rd Floor: Electronics and banks. Samsung, AIS, DTAC, Vivo, DJI, and more. This is where you would be able to find a SIM card if you need one. There’s an ice skating rink, a small children’s play area, and other kid places like Gymboree, Kumon tutoring, and taekwondo. 

• 4th Floor: Food Park, another food court, is definitely worth checking out. The average cost for a plate is 60 baht, but there are some more and less expensive. Ironically, the fitness club (gym) is located right next to the food court. There’s also an arcade. And some clinics like a dentist and a skin and laser clinic.

• 5th Floor: Mostly restaurants like a hot pot buffet, ramen, pizza, etc. There’s even a Sizzler – I haven’t seen one of those in a very long time! And the top floor of Central Festival Chiang Mai is where you’ll find the Major Cineplex movie theater which also includes an IMAX theater and 8 other theaters.

👉 My top pick for a hotel in Chiang Mai is POR Thapae Gate because it’s in the perfect location and has a great breakfast! The staff here is amazing, and you’ll love having a relaxing place to come home to after a full day of exploring.

Central Department Store

The Central Department Store at Central Festival Mall in Chiang Mai is a great place to shop for anything you need – it’s a large, 5-story department store similar to Macy’s or Nordstrom, located on the side of the mall opposite the main entrance/Starbucks. 

• 1st Floor: Cosmetics, bags, shoes

• 2nd Floor: Women’s Clothing

• 3rd Floor: Men’s Clothing, shoes, briefcases

• 4th floor: Kids’ clothes, toys, baby supplies, women’s undergarments (bras and underwear), and lingerie

• 5th floor: Home goods like picture frames, kitchen stuff, luggage, bedding, Dyson hair care, furniture, mattresses

👩‍🍳 My pick for the best cooking class in Chiang Mai is Benny’s Home Cooking course with a small class size, robust menu, and a near-perfect 5-star rating!

Central Chiang Mai Festival Food

Tops Market

While not the cheapest place to do your grocery shopping, the Tops market in Central Festival Chiang Mai has a lot of options. It’s worth a browse!

Central Festival Chiang Mai Food Court

You’ll find two food courts in Central Chiang Mai: on the ground floor (underneath Starbucks/main entrance) and on the 4th floor, Food Park.

There are a lot of options here, and all are very affordable, so definitely aim to visit around meal times so you can enjoy the food! I wasn’t hungry, but had a delicious Yuzu-flavored iced tea because shopping makes you thirsty!

Restaurants in Central Festival

There are tons of restaurants to check out, like hot pot, ramen, sushi, pizza, and a Sizzler! 

🤩 My favorite way to get to know a new city is by taking a food tour. This Northern Thai Food Tour will change your life. You’ll try hidden restaurants, street stalls, and local markets that most tourists never find and be transported in an iconic red rod daeng truck with a small group of hungry travelers. Come hungry because you’ll be trying more than 15 different dishes!

Central Festival Entertainment

Central Festival Chiang Mai Cinema

Located on the 5th floor of the mall, the Major Cineplex (Central Festival Movie Theater) is one of the best movie theaters in Chiang Mai. The Major Cineplex in Central Festival has 9 different theaters, including one IMAX and one ultra screen. 

Movies play 10:30AM – 10:00PM every day. Check movie times here.

Fun Planet Arcade

Located on the 4th floor, kids (and some adults!) will have a blast at this arcade.

Central Festival Chiang Mai Massage

I didn’t see a massage parlor, but there are massage chairs located all around the mall. 100 baht gets you a 30-minute chair massage. 

Note: Other blogs mention bowling and karaoke, but I searched the whole mall for these (and the website directory) and didn’t find them. Seems like they have shut down.

👉 I took this 5-Star Doi Inthanon National Park, Waterfall & Royal Project day tour from Chiang Mai. See stunning views, visit the highest point in Thailand, and visit a local market. Sometimes, it’s nice to sit back in an air-conditioned vehicle and let a tour guide do all the work.

Central Festival Chiang Mai Immigration

Hours: Monday through Friday 9AM to 5PM

Location: 2nd Floor of Central Festival Chiang Mai Mall

If you need to extend your Thailand visa, I recommend going to the Central Festival Immigration Office, instead of the one closer to the city center. I’ve been to both and had a much faster visa extension process at this one. Most tourists go to the other one, which leaves this one with less waiting time. 

I arrived here at 8:30AM, 30 minutes before opening, and I was second in line. My friends just went to do their visa and said there was no line at around 10:30AM. 

There are two entrances to the Immigration Office: you can enter directly from the parking garage or from inside the mall, next to the post office, near Starbucks.

👉 Check out this highly-rated Chiang Mai Tubing and Trekking Tour, crafted for the most adventurous of travelers. Trek through the jungle to Trad Mok waterfall, before tubing down the river.

Central Festival Chiang Mai Gym

The Virgin Active gym located on the 4th floor of Central Festival (ironically, right next to the food court), is open Monday to Thursday from 7AM to 10PM, Fridays from 7AM to 10PM, and weekends from 8AM to 9:00PM. 

It’s a nice-sized gym with over a hundred weekly fitness classes, a steam room, and lots of machines.

Special Events at Chiang Mai Central Festival Mall

Central Chiang Mai has events throughout the year. When I was there last, there was a big mall-wide sale going on, and a food festival coming soon. 

Check the events page to see what’s coming up! 

Tips for Visiting Central Festival in Chiang Mai

• Try out the ground-floor and fourth-floor food courts for a cheap and delicious meal.

• Tops market is worth visiting, but it’s more expensive than other grocery stores.

• Take advantage of the free Wi-Fi provided by the information desk.

• Park your motorbike across from the car garage – you’ll see it on your left after turning into Central Chiang Mai, after the roundabout

• Take a Grab taxi if you don’t have your own ride.

• There used to be a free shuttle but it’s no longer running.

• Visit the Immigration Office in Central Festival for your visa extension instead of the more crowded office closer to town.

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Other Malls in Chiang Mai

While Central Festival Chiang Mai is the biggest shopping mall in Chiang Mai (not to be confused with the biggest local market called Warorot), it’s not necessarily the most convenient one if you’re staying in the Old Town or Nimman neighborhoods.

• Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center is another large, modern shopping mall, but is located much closer to town. You’ll find a lot of big brands here, as well as a movie theater, rooftop bar, Rimping market, and Camp coworking space. 

• One Nimman is a new – but small – mall located in the Nimman neighborhood of Chiang Mai. It’s really beautiful. The food court is small, but on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays One Nimman hosts a big White Market, with tons of vendors and live music. There’s also a fun Latin bar called Pura Vida, located upstairs.

• Central Chiang Mai Airport aka Central Plaza is a 5-floor shopping mall located near the Chiang Mai airport. It’s the oldest shopping mall in Chiang Mai, but you’ll find a lot of the same big brands here that you’ll find at the other centers.

• If you’re looking for cheap clothes and accessories, check out the night market near Chiang Mai University. This is where the university students shop for clothes and food.

👉 My pick for the best hostel in Chiang Mai is Hostel Lullaby. I stayed here multiple times when I was backpacking Thailand. It’s a quiet hostel that attracts more mature backpackers and is in a great location with super comfortable beds with curtains and rooms with A/C. I made so many friends who I traveled with all over Northern Thailand at the complimentary breakfast.

Central Chiang Mai FAQs

Conclusion: Chiang Mai Central Festival

Chiang Mai Central Festival is a massive shopping mall that boasts a variety of retail stores, a food court, a movie theater, an ice skating rink, and more. 

It’s the ideal destination for travelers looking for some fun shopping experiences in Chiang Mai. If you forgot to pack something or simply want a break from the outside heat, consider spending a few hours at Central Chiang Mai! 

The less-busy Chiang Mai immigration office is also located at Central Festival Chiang Mai – the best place to go when it’s time to renew your visa.

Though Central Festival is huge and has lots to offer, don’t forget about the other great malls in Chiang Mai like Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center. Maya is located close to the Old Town and Nimman neighborhoods, although is a bit smaller than Central Festival.