Fruit Market
Come at seven and you'll see this place at its best: vendors stacking whatever's in season, neighbourhood shoppers filling bags, no one trying to sell you an elephant tour. It's a working fruit market on Pra Pok Klao Soi 2 in Phra Sing, compact and functional, and it exists to feed the people who live nearby rather than to entertain anyone. If you want photogenic chaos and souvenir stalls, this isn't it.
What's worth your time here is the seasonal selection. Northern Thailand's fruit calendar shifts through the year, so the pile that's cheap and perfect one month won't be there the next. Ask, point, buy a small amount of two or three things and eat them on a bench somewhere. My advice is to treat it as a stop on a morning walk around the old city rather than a destination in itself, because you'll be through it in twenty minutes.
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Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Fruit Market, round out your day in Chiang Mai with contrasting stops nearby.
Also Popular in Chiang Mai
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai
No riding, no tricks: a day of feeding and mud with rescued elephants in the Mae Wang hills.
Doi Suthep Temple
Go at first light, before the tour vans arrive, and the golden chedi and the whole Chiang Mai valley are yours.
Tha Phae Gate
Free, open all hours, and best after dark when the brick gate is lit and the square fills up.
Wat Phra That Doi Kham
Free hilltop temple where the crowd is mostly Thai worshippers, and the giant white-and-gold Buddha is visible for miles.
Fruit Market: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fruit Market worth visiting?
Fruit Market holds a 4.4★ rating from 29 Google reviews — a strong rating for markets & shopping in Chiang Mai.
What are the opening hours of Fruit Market?
Fruit Market is typically open 06:00-11:00 — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.
When is the best time to visit Fruit Market?
The best months to visit Chiang Mai are November – February, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – January & Songkran (April) — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: March – May (smoke & heat).
Where is Fruit Market located?
Fruit Market is at QXJQ+R9W, Pra Pok Klao Rd Soi 2, Tambon Phra Sing, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, in Chiang Mai. Getting around Chiang Mai: Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks); Grab (available in city centre).
Location Info
QXJQ+R9W, Pra Pok Klao Rd Soi 2, Tambon Phra Sing, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandVisitor Information
Best time to visit
November – February
Avoid: March – May (smoke & heat)
Rainy season
June – October
Avg. temperature
15°C – 36°C(59°F – 97°F)
Crowds
Peak: December – January & Songkran (April)
Getting there
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) has direct flights from Bangkok (1 hr), Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok take ~12 hrs.
Getting around
- •Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks)
- •Grab (available in city centre)
- •Motorbike rental (฿150–250/day)
- •Tuk-tuks (negotiate price first)
Where to stay near Fruit Market
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Tips for Visiting Markets & Shopping
Haggle at Markets, Not Malls
Prices at market stalls are negotiable — start at 50–60% of the asking price and meet in the middle. Fixed-price shops and malls don't haggle. Smile and keep it friendly; aggressive bargaining is considered rude.
Arrive Early or Late
Vendors believe the first sale of the day is lucky — you'll often get a better deal if you arrive right when the market opens. Late in the evening, sellers may also discount to avoid packing unsold goods.
Be Cautious with Tailors
Bangkok has excellent tailors, but also many tourist traps. Avoid anyone offering suspiciously cheap suits or who approaches you on the street. Ask your hotel for recommendations, read reviews, and always get two fittings.
Nearby Places
Bumrung Buri Market
A local shopping centre in Chiang Mai's Hai Ya district, open daily from early morning until evening.
Chiang Mai Gate Market
Wet market by morning, cheap street food by night, and 40-baht khao soi that holds its own.
Wua Lai Walking Street Saturday Market
Come for the food, not the shopping, and get there before the crowd makes walking impossible.
Chiang Mai Night Market
Sundays only, 5pm, when the old city's main road shuts to traffic and disappears under stalls.
Similar Markets & Shopping Across Thailand
Chatuchak Weekend Market
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Vast, air-conditioned and genuinely easy to navigate, with a top-floor food scene worth the trip alone.
Asiatique The Riverfront
Go at dusk, arrive by the free shuttle boat, and treat it as an evening out rather than a shopping trip.
MBK CENTER
Eight floors of small stalls and haggling, closer to an indoor market than a mall, and all the better for it.
Where to stay near Fruit Market
Find hotels in Chiang Mai on the booking sites travellers trust most.
- Compare prices across sites
- Filter for free cancellation
- Secure checkout on the partner site
Compare rates on Booking.com
Largest selection
Compare rates on Expedia
Bundle & save
Compare rates on Hotels.com
Member prices
We may earn a commission from bookings made through these links — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Location Info
Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – February
Avoid: March – May (smoke & heat)
Rainy season
June – October
Avg. temperature
15°C – 36°C(59°F – 97°F)
Crowds
Peak: December – January & Songkran (April)
Getting there
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) has direct flights from Bangkok (1 hr), Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok take ~12 hrs.
Getting around
- •Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks)
- •Grab (available in city centre)
- •Motorbike rental (฿150–250/day)
- •Tuk-tuks (negotiate price first)