# Getting around Chiang Mai: songthaews, Grab & scooters

> How to get around Chiang Mai — red songthaews, Grab and Bolt, scooters (with the honest safety talk), tuk-tuks and walking. Fares and simple tips.

Good news: getting around Chiang Mai is cheap, easy, and refreshingly low-stress after somewhere like Bangkok. Here's the honest rundown of your options, what they cost, and the one safety talk worth reading before you rent anything.

## Red songthaews

The **red shared trucks** are the city's unofficial buses, and they're everywhere. Flag one heading your way, tell the driver where you're going, and hop in the back if they nod. Press the buzzer when you're close, and **pay cash** as you get off. It's about **30 THB** for most hops around the Old City, a little more out to Nimman. For longer or private trips you negotiate up front. Cheap, characterful, and very Chiang Mai.

![Getting around Chiang Mai: songthaews, Grab & scooters](/blog/getting-around-chiang-mai/visual.webp)

## Grab & Bolt

For door-to-door with no haggling, the **Grab** and **Bolt** apps are your friends: set your destination, see the **fare upfront**, pay cashless, enjoy the air-con. Most central rides land around **60–120 THB** — usually cheaper than a tuk-tuk, and zero language barrier. This is what we'd reach for at night or in the heat.

## Scooters — read this bit

A scooter is the most freeing way to explore (around **150–300 THB a day**, less by the month). But here's the honest part: **scooter accidents are the single biggest risk** for visitors here, so please take it seriously.

- You legally need a **motorcycle licence plus an International Driving Permit** with a motorbike endorsement. A car licence isn't enough.
- **Always wear a helmet** — it's the law, police run regular checkpoints, and it's just sensible.
- Critically: most **travel insurance won't cover** a motorbike crash if you lacked the right licence or weren't wearing a helmet.

If you're already a confident rider, it's wonderful. If you're not, don't learn on Chiang Mai's roads — the songthaew-and-Grab combo will get you everywhere happily.

## Tuk-tuks, walking & cycling

**Tuk-tuks** are fun for a short hop (negotiate first, ~80–150 THB) but often cost more than a comfier Grab. Honestly, though, the **Old City is tiny** — a 1.5 km square you can cross on foot in 20 minutes — so for temples, cafés and coworking you'll mostly **walk**. A **bicycle** (~50 THB/day) is lovely for the quiet backstreets.

## From the airport

The airport is only **3–5 km out**, so it's a quick hop: **Grab/Bolt 80–180 THB**, a metered taxi **150–200 THB**, or a shared songthaew from **40–60 THB**. With luggage and jet lag, we'd just grab a Grab.

For a relaxed long stay, the easy formula is: **walk the Old City, songthaews for cheap trips, Grab for comfort** — and a songthaew up to [Doi Suthep](/blog/doi-suthep-weekend) when you want the mountain. If you're settling in for a month and tempted by your own scooter, our [settling-in guide](/blog/settling-in-chiang-mai) has the monthly-rental rundown.

Heading further afield — Pai, Chiang Rai, Bangkok? Our [guide to Chiang Mai's bus stations](/blog/bus-station-chiang-mai) covers which terminal you need, where it is and how the ticket desks work.