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In this article we are going to share 8 awesome things to do in Chiang Mai with a toddler in 2026. There is SO MUCH to do in Chiang Mai – it is one of our favorite cities in the world. It is packed with culture, cheap food and adventure. But if you’re visiting Chiang Mai with a tot you may be wondering what toddler friendly activities there are in Chiang Mai.
We have traveled around Chiang Mai with our two boys (5 and 2 years old) to find out the best activities. And we are excited to share these awesome places with you.
In this article we will review and recommend the 8 BEST things to do in Chiang Mai with a toddler. There are loads of things to do in Chiang Mai that we haven’t mentioned in this article, because we are focussing on THE BEST toddler friendly activities in Chiang Mai.
Looking for more inspiration – don’t miss our EPIC Chiang Mai itinerary
Quick summary of THE BEST things to do in Chiang mai with a toddler
1 Hidden Village dino park and play park
2 Buak Haad public park with playground
3 The ginger farm and herb gardens
4 Horse and cart temple tour of Wiang Kum Kam
5 Siam Insect Zoo
6 Astropark space centre
7 Grand Canyon Chiang Mai kids splash park
8 San Kamphaeng Hot Springs
How toddler friendly is Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai really does have a lot going for it. In some ways it is very toddler friendly. For a start the locals absolutely love children and they are super welcoming and friendly to families. This goes a long way. You can very easily pick up toddler supplies from the many Seven Eleven convenience stores around town. They tend to sell snacks, nappies, milks, wet wipes, soaps and much more. Also, there are plenty of food choices around Chiang Mai – so there are lots of great options to feed your family.
Chiang Mai does also have some great toddler friendly activities (more on these soon). The main challenges of traveling in Chiang Mai with a toddler come from the lack of facilities and amenities. For example, high chairs are quite rare. Baby changing facilities are also rare. So don’t expect lots of toddler facilities – but you can expect warm hospitality and lovely smiles.
Map of THE BEST things to do in Chiang Mai with a toddler
1 Hidden Village
The Hidden Village Chiang Mai is a toddler-tastic activity located in the north of Chiang Mai. This lovely little activity park has the quirky character and charm typical of north Thailand. They have imaginative sculpture park with mystical creatures. There is a small animal farm and a handful of small toddler friendly rides. There is also a fairly large playpark at Hidden Village.
To the back of the Hidden Village there is also a dinosaur park with life size dino models than move and make sounds. This one could potentially be too scary for a toddler. Each toddler has their own temperament. Some kids love it, other kids may need more time to adjust. And yet other toddlers may be better to stay away although. We recommend a few hours up to around half a day to enjoy the Hidden Village Chiang Mai. There is onsite parking and a small cafe.
How much does it cost to visit the Hidden Village? For foreigners the entrance fees are 200 baht for adults (roughly £4 or $5) and 100 baht for kids (around £2 or $2.50). Children under 100cm are allowed free entry.
What are the opening hours at the Hidden Village? Daily 9am – 6pm
2 Buak Haad Park
There aren’t many public parks in Chiang Mai. There are plenty of temples around the town. But there is only one main park in the old town – Buak Haad Public park. This park has ponds, fountains, grassy space, flower beds and a pretty good kids play area. The kids play section has several climbing frames and slides. This is a great place to take your toddler if they need some exercise and physical play. As you would hope Buak Haad park is FREE to enter. It also has a small cafe and some snack stalls.
How much does it cost to visit Buak Haad Park? FREE
What are the opening hours at Buak Haad Park? Daily
3 The Ginger Farm
One of the best things to do in Chiang Mai with a toddler is visit the Ginger Farm. You may not find loads of toddler friendly facilities but the place is very family friendly. Located to the south of Chiang Mai, the Ginger farm is a great place to visit with a toddler if you have a free morning or afternoon. The Ginger farm is a small beautiful attraction. At the Ginger farm there is a lovely cafe, a small play park with hay bails to climb. At the Ginger Farm there are also some animals such as water buffalo and there is a lovely little herb garden. A great place to learn about herbs, spices and local flora and fauna. We love the fresh juices at the Ginger Farm. They are very tasty, creative and super healthy.
How much does it cost to visit the Ginger Farm? The Ginger Farm is FREE to visit. However you can take tours for 290 baht.
What are the opening hours at the Ginger Farm? Daily 10am – 6pm
4 Horse and cart temple tour
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on Wiang Kum Kam
Chiang Mai is packed with beautiful temples. A horse and cart temple tour is probably one of the most unique and memorable things to do in Chiang Mai with a toddler. The horse and cart tour of the Wiang Kum Kam temple complex is fun, family friendly and unique. Jumping on a horse and cart and exploring the small streets around this ancient city really is magic for toddlers and adults alike. There are lots of short stops to get out and explore the temples.
Many of the temples are very pretty and have nice grassy areas for little ones to run around. Many of the temples are ancient ruins, but some of the temples are still in good condition. The tour takes around one hour. After the tour consider a visit to the Much Room cafe. This quaint little cafe serves a tempting selection of drinks, treats and food. It is also insta-tastic with its mushroom shaped buildings and artificial waterfall. This really was one of our favorite activities in Chiang Mai with a toddler.
How much does it cost to visit Wiang Kum Kam? You can visit the complex for free however if you wish to take a horse and cart it will cost 300 baht for the tour (up to 4-5 people per cart)
What are the opening hours at Wiang Kum Kam? Daily – visit 9am – 4pm for a tour
5 Siam Insect Zoo
Looking for educational things to do in Chiang Mai with a toddler? Why not take a visit to the Siam Insect Zoo? This lovely little Insect Zoo is a great way for toddlers to learn more about tropical bugs and see some super cool creepy crawlies up close. This Siam Insect Zoo prioritize education and conservation. There are also some great ways to increase the enjoyment and interaction. For example you could give your toddler a small camera to take pictures of the bugs. Or what about bringing a sketchbook for painting materials for some art. We recommend allowing a full morning or afternoon for this trip.
How much does it cost to visit the Siam Insect Zoo? Adult tickets cost 80 baht and children’s tickets cost 60 baht (3 – 12 years old)
What are the opening hours at the Siam Insect Zoo? Daily 9am – 5pm
6 Astro park space centre
Learn more – don’t miss our Full guide to the Astro Park in Chiang Mai
The Chiang Mai Astropark is a place for children to learn about space, science and physics. They have a planetarium that shows the stars in the sky and they provide experiments for kids to investigate. Kids will be able to explore space, stars, planets and our solar system through a variety of interactive exhibits. They will also get to do hands-on experiments that are designed to inspire awe and wonder. The astropark is divided into two areas: the planetarium and the investigations zone. The planetarium is a theatre which shows a simulated sky with different constellations in it. In this area, children can learn about astronomy with experiments and games. The investigations zone has activities that allow children to explore the nature of light, gravity and other physical phenomena.
How much does it cost to visit the Chiang Mai Astropark? It is FREE to visit the Chiang Mai astropark
What are the opening hours at the Astropark Chiang Mai? 9am – 5pm (closed mondays)
7 Grand Canyon Chiang Mai
The Grand Canyon Chiang Mai is an outdoor adventure water park located in a quarry to the south of Chiang Mai. The Grand Canyon Chiang Mai may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re looking for things to do in Chiang Mai with a toddler. BUT don’t overlook this awesome family day out. There is a wonderful kids splash park at the Grand Canyon Chiang Mai. The kids play park is suitable for toddlers – careful supervision needed. The kids park has inflatables, squirty toys, water slides, a small lazy river and a splash house for kids to explore.
We recommend considering good sun protection if you take your little one to the Grand Canyon waterpark. SPF50 rash guards and sun cream recommended. The facilities at the Grand Canyon are good. They have changing rooms, showers and lockers. The Grand Canyon Chiang Mai is one of our favorite things to do in Chiang Mai with a toddler.
How much does it cost to visit The Grand Canyon Chiang Mai? Adult tickets cost 650 Baht per person (£13 or $16). Adults tickets include access to the aqua park, kids play area, zip line, kayaking and water slide. It costs 500 baht (£10 or $13) for children between a height of 90 – 120cm. Children under 90cm get free entry. The children’s tickets only include the children’s water park. Recently the Grand Canyon waterpark has been offering discounted ticket rates. Adult tickets cost 300 baht (£6 or $8). Children’s tickets for 150 baht (£3 or $4).
What are the opening hours at The Grand Canyon Chiang Mai? Daily 9am – 6pm
Grand Canyon Chiang Mai top tips
The Grand Canyon Chiang Mai also has great activities for older kids and adults. Don’t miss the zipline, inflatable obstacle course. The slides are pretty intense and you would be forgiven for giving these a miss! Overall this is a great day of fun for the whole family.
They do have a no-outside water policy. Honestly we think this sucks! We were quite firm that we needed to bring water for our kids and they were ok with it. They would prefer guests to pay over the odds for small plastic bottles of water. This is really the only negative.
8 Hot Springs Chiang Mai
The San Kamphaeng Hot Spring is a short drive from Chiang Mai city and a great place to spend the day with your family. The drive takes an hour or two from Chiang Mai – a taxi or car rental is recommended for convenience – although you can also travel to the hot springs by bus too. The water here is geothermal at the top the water is scalding hot. Further down it is warm enough for kids to play in.
The most popular activity at San Kamphaeng Hot Springs is swimming in the natural pool. The water here is naturally heated by geothermal energy to about 37 degrees Celsius (98 degrees Fahrenheit). Kids love playing in the pool and you can even boil eggs in the water near the source! This day trip is perfect for families who want to spend time together. It’s also an ideal destination for those who want to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings.
How much does it cost to visit the hot springs? Admission to the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs is relatively cheap. Entry costs 100 baht for adults, 50 baht for children and then a small 10 baht fee to access the swimming pool
What are the opening hours at hot springs? Daily from 7am – 6pm
Where are the best places to eat in Chiang Mai with toddlers?
Carp Cafe – cafe with a pool packed with carp fish swimming around tables. They serve cakes, drinks and sushi
Much Room Cafe – mushroom theme cafe with amazing cakes and drinks and very beautiful surroundings
Bunny story pet cafe – pet cafe where kids can love and stroke bunny rabbits – perfect for animal loving toddlers
Khun Kae’s juice bar – healthy fresh juices and tasty smoothies
Where are the best places to stay in Chiang Mai with a toddler?
Here are a few great places to stay in Chiang Mai with a toddler:
| Hotel | Rough price range | Summary | Ratings |
| Pastell Oldtown Chiang Mai | £50 – £90 | The best mid-range hotel in Chiang Mai for families. Clean, light, simple and cute. Small friendly hotel. In the heart of the old town. You can reserve Pastell Oldtown on Booking.com or Agoda. | 9.3 |
| Phra Singh Village hotel | £50 – £120 | Stylish, beautiful and clean hotel in the heart of the old town. Families love it. Laminate floors, beautiful grounds, bathtubs and an outdoor swimming pool. Find Phra Singh on Booking.com and Agoda. | 9.2 |
| Shangri-La Hotel | £90 – £250 | Large, luxury, hotel with lots of kids activities and spaces. A short walk from the old town. Great facilities and amenities for families. Find Shangri-La on Booking.com or Agoda. | 8.7 |
| Anantara Chiang Mai Resort | £260 – £600 | Luxurious, peaceful, east asian style resort by the river. A short walk from the old town. One of the most decadent family hotels in Chiang mai. You can reserve the Antara on Booking.com or Agoda. | 8.9 |
| Sireeampan Boutique Resort & Spa | £300 – £600 | Characterful Thai style, super luxurious dream resort. 4km from the old town. You have to see it to believe it. Traditional Thai temple style buildings and stunning surroundings. You can find Sireeampan on Booking.com and on Agoda. | 9.1 |
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