The red trucks
The red songthaew is the city's signature transport: a converted pickup with two benches in the back, no fixed route, and a driver who will take you where you are going if it fits roughly with where he is already heading. You wave one down, name your destination through the window, and agree a price before you climb in.
There is no meter and no published tariff, which makes the pre-boarding conversation the whole transaction. It is not adversarial, it is just how the system works: the driver is deciding whether your destination suits him, and you are deciding whether the price suits you. If it does not, wave down the next one.
Apps and the city bus
Ride-hailing operates legally in Thailand under a national framework, with a list of approved applications and requirements that drivers hold a public vehicle licence and pass a background check. For a visitor the appeal is the same everywhere: a destination you type rather than pronounce, a price shown in advance, and no negotiation.
The RTC City Bus also exists, running a flat 30 baht fare on loop routes that connect the airport, the Old City gates, Nimmanhaemin, the Night Bazaar and Waroros Market. It is cheap and predictable and slower than everything else, which makes it a good option when you are not in a hurry.
| Option | Suits | What you give up |
|---|---|---|
| Red songthaew | Short hops, spontaneity, low fares | Negotiating each time; a shared route |
| Ride-hailing app | Fixed price, no language friction | Waiting, and higher fares at peak times |
| City bus | Predictable cost on a known corridor | Speed and route flexibility |
Renting a scooter, honestly
Scooter rental is everywhere in Chiang Mai and the shops will hand you keys without asking hard questions. The law is less relaxed than the rental counter. Thailand recognises a Thai driving licence, an International Driving Permit used alongside your home licence, or an ASEAN member licence, and motorcycles are a separate licence category from cars.
Helmets are required for both rider and passenger, with the strap actually fastened. And the point that matters most financially: official guidance warns that driving without a valid licence can mean you are not entitled to compensation or damage protection if something happens. Travel insurance policies commonly take the same view.
Matching the transport to the day
Inside the Old City, walk. It is a square roughly a mile and a half across, and the temples, cafés and guesthouses are close together. For a day at a temple on the mountain or a trip out to a market, hire a driver by the hour or use an app, which is cheaper than it sounds when split between two or three people.
For evenings, remember that songthaews thin out late and the Old City's lanes are quiet after midnight. Have an app on your phone as the fallback rather than assuming a red truck will appear.