How much time should travellers give Chiang Mai?
Give Chiang Mai enough time to slow the trip down. The point is not just temples; it is food, markets, short trips, cooler mornings and the north changing the rhythm after Bangkok.
Answer
Chiang Mai can be underwhelming if you arrive with a list of famous stops and leave the next day. It works better as a base: mornings with less urgency, food that feels different from Bangkok, temples that do not need to be consumed in a rush, and day trips that add texture without turning into a northern endurance test. Three nights is a useful floor for many first-timers; more makes sense if you want cooking classes, nearby nature, craft villages, slower cafés or time to decide whether Pai or Chiang Rai deserves a detour. The north is where the Thailand trip often exhales. Rush it and it becomes another pin on the map.