If you love shopping for unique handmade products, then you’ll love Baan Kang Wat in Chiang Mai. This artist village is located on the other side of the airport, in a greener and calmer part of the city. I was curious to see what the local artists had to offer, so I planned my visit there for a Friday morning. What was it like, and was it worth the journey?
Baan Kang Wat is a community of artists set in a complex of wooden buildings arranged around a small central courtyard and an amphitheatre. It opened back in 2014, and apart from the shops, you’ll also find cafés, restaurants and little stalls selling food. You can get very creative here as well, joining one of the many workshops on offer, whether that’s making your own notebook or painting a picture.
In this guide I’ll share how I got there, when’s the best time to visit and which shops I really liked.
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Everything You Need to Know About Baan Kang Wat
| Location | Soi Ban Ram Poang, 7km from the Old Town |
| Opening hours | Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–6pm, closed on Mondays |
| Cafés and restaurants | Some open earlier than the shops, so you don’t have to wait until 10am |
| Best time to arrive | 10am on opening |
| Time needed | About an hour to walk around and browse properly, longer if you join a workshop |
| Workshops | From 450 THB for a scent roll-on up to 2,500 THB for silver clay |
| Getting there | Grab or motorbike from the Old Town, around 20 minutes |
➞ If you are planning a trip to Chiang Mai, check out my full 5 day Chiang Mai itinerary.
Is Baan Kang Wat Worth Visiting?
Yes, it’s worth visiting if you like handmade products such as linen and cotton clothing, ceramics in organic shapes, leather notebooks, silver jewellery, natural candles and all that kind of thing. I think it’s worth it just to reach this part of Chiang Mai, which feels very different to areas like the Old Town and Nimman. And there are some stunning temples nearby that you can combine with your visit.
It was smaller than I expected, and it took me about an hour to walk around, stop at most of the places and check out what they offer. You should also know that this isn’t a cheap souvenir stop, you’re paying maker prices for small-batch work. You can find many of the same artists at other markets in Chiang Mai, like Jing Jai, which I visited the day after.
Baan Kang Wat Opening Hours
The village is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am till 6pm, but I noticed that some of the cafés open earlier than that, so you don’t have to wait until ten to arrive. One shop was closed during my visit, so I assume that if the owner has something else on, they simply don’t open that day. But 99% of them were open.
I planned my visit to arrive at 10am, and I’m glad I did, as it was still not fully packed. More and more visitors were arriving later on.
How to Get to Baan Kang Wat
Baan Kang Wat is located roughly 7 kilometres west of the Old Town. If you’ve rented a motorbike, this is an easy ride and there’s parking available. I took a Grab from my hotel to Artisan Sourdough by Apple Fahey, where I had breakfast, and from there I walked along the road for 12 minutes until I reached the village.
So the drive from the Old Town takes about 20 to 25 minutes. On the way back, I got a Grab bike to a nearby café, The Baristro Asian Style.
You can also try flagging down a red songthaew and negotiating the fare. This might work better if you’re in a bigger group, otherwise Grab works just fine.
Baan Kang Wat Map
There’s a directory map on the premises, so you can easily work out where everything is. I took a photo of it, so you can check it below.
What to Shop for at Baan Kang Wat & the Workshops
Note a Book
This place sits right at the entrance and sells lovely journals that you can decorate yourself. Once you’ve purchased the notebook, you choose your letters and rods and start decorating, and they had quite a lot of tables set up with all the tools you’ll need. They also offer a bookbinding workshop for 1,490 THB that takes about three hours.
Rumpoey
This shop sells beautiful linen clothing like asymmetrical tops, shorts with side details, handbags and lovely dresses. You can check out their Instagram beforehand at @Rum_poey.
Aromatherapy Baloft
This cute little shop sells candles, scents and perfumes inspired by traditional Thai fragrances from the past. They offer various workshops where you can paint your own ceramic candle, or create your own healing roll-on by blending your own scent with essential oils, and the price for this is 450 THB.
Enough for life
This little shop sells handcrafted trays, spoons and jewellery made from mother of pearl, wood, bone and minerals.
Pachana Studio
This lovely place sells ceramics in natural colours and shapes that aren’t always perfect, but that’s exactly what’s so nice about them. Inside the shop they have an actual working studio with a few wheels, where you can join their underglaze painting workshop. You’ll have to come back to collect your piece within two days, but they also offer free shipping within Thailand. The prices depend on the size of each piece, but just to give you an idea, a mug ranges from 950 to 1,450 THB.
Mai-ni-ji Everyday
Another great shop for clothes in materials like cotton and linen, in natural colours with intricate little details, including handbags, scarves and other accessories.
Lanna Silver CM
If you’re after silver jewellery, then you can’t miss this shop with its necklaces, earrings, rings and other beautiful pieces. They offer two different workshops, one for 790 THB where you make your own bracelet or necklace and which takes 30 to 60 minutes, and another for 1,500 THB where you design your own jewellery using wax carving techniques and which takes about three hours. They also run a silver clay workshop for 2,500 THB.
Where to Eat and Drink
I’d had breakfast before coming to the village, and as I was walking around I really wished I was hungry, because every food place looked amazing. Here are the spots that caught my eye and where I’d eat next time:
- Yook Samai: this restaurant specialises in khao soi and you’ll recognise it by the ladies in straw hats stirring the orange curry in massive pots. They serve the cutlery and trimmings in bamboo and banana leaf bowls, so it all looks beautifully put together.
- Tsukemono: not only can you buy little snacks of Japanese pickles in seaweed here for 70 THB, you can also join their workshop to learn how to prepare them yourself, which costs 500 THB.
- Seasons Ice Cream
- Chocolate Culture Club
- Farmstory Baankangwat
My Tips for Visiting Baan Kang Wat
- Bring cash in baht, because some of the smaller studios don’t take cards.
- The closest ATM is just a few minutes down the main road, and I used it myself without any problems.
- Don’t make the same mistake I did, and come hungry.
- If you want to avoid the crowds, arrive at 10am.
What to Do Near Baan Kang Wat
If you’re coming here from central Chiang Mai, you might as well see a few more spots in this area. I really wanted to visit the bakery Artisan Sourdough by Apple Fahey, so I went there beforehand, and while the omelette and flat white were nice rather than mind-blowing, the best part was the outdoor seating among the leafy greens, which felt like a great escape from the traffic of the city for a while.
I also visited The Baristro Asian Style afterwards, which was on my list mainly because of the architecture, and it really is stunning, built in a calming Japanese style with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The matcha tasted like water to my palate, but I’m still glad I went.
There’s also Wat Umong nearby, a forest temple with brick tunnels, moss and a lake, as well as Wat Ram Poeng very close to Baan Kang Wat, which is known as a meditation centre. The whole road leading to the artist village has a village feel to it, surrounded by greenery.
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FAQ: Visiting Baan Kang Wat in Chiang Mai
What is Baan Kang Wat known for?
It’s known as an artist village, a community of local artists selling their own products such as clothing, ceramics, jewellery and candles, and also offering workshops where you can learn how to make your own piece.
Is Baan Kang Wat free?
Yes, it’s completely free. You only spend money if you buy something or join a workshop.
What to do near Baan Kang Wat?
There are quite a few lovely cafés and temples in the area. You could visit Wat Umong, a forest temple with brick tunnels, or The Baristro Asian Style with its Japanese-style garden and outdoor seating.
What’s the best time to visit Baan Kang Wat?
In my opinion, it’s during the rainy season when there are fewer tourists around. Otherwise, come right when they open at 10am, before everyone else arrives, because the lanes between the shops are pretty narrow and it isn’t very enjoyable when it’s full of people.
What time does Baan Kang Wat open?
It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am until 6pm, and it’s closed on Mondays.
Is there food available at Baan Kang Wat?
Yes, there’s quite a lot to choose from. There’s a restaurant serving khao soi, and I also spotted a burger place, a stand specialising in fermented Japanese snacks wrapped in seaweed, as well as Thai coconut treats and ice cream.
Check Out My Other Chiang Mai Guides
- Where to Stay in Chiang Mai: Nimman or Old Town?
- Chiang Mai Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
- Visiting Chiang Mai in August: What the Rainy Season Is Really Like
- Jing Jai Market Chiang Mai: What to Eat and When to Go
- Meditation and Monk Chat at Wat Suan Dok, Chiang Mai: What It’s Really Like
- Is Chiang Mai Worth Visiting? My Honest Answer
- What to Do in Chiang Mai Old Town: 12 Things I Loved
- How to Get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai: The Best Ways to Travel
- Best Travel Insurance for Thailand: Is SafetyWing Worth It?
- How much does a trip to Thailand cost in 2026: Budget, mid-range & luxury breakdown
- Thailand 10-day itinerary for first-time visitors: Perfect route + tips
