Lanna Folklife Museum

On the same site as two other interesting museums in Chiang Mai, this grand, white
colonial style building houses 18 different exhibitions depicting Lanna culture through the
ages. It’s a fairly small attraction in itself, but is particularity interesting if you have been
visiting the temples, as it gives you an insight into what all the different monuments and
symbolism actually mean.

What to See and Expect

The museum is packed full of information about the peoples of Northern Thailand, and is
home to many exhibitions including a replica of a traditional Lanna-style household. There
are also old photographs, maps, artefacts and models to help you understand what life
was like for the Lanna people through the ages, and to see their traditional activities
including pottery stencilling, dancing, and traditional clothes-making. There are life-size
waxwork models of Lanna people in traditional clothing, and the exhibits continue on the
first floor of the museum. However, the place is fairly compact, and an hour should be
enough time for the majority of visitors.

There is also a gift shop and a small cafe on-site.

How to Get There

The museum is located on the Prapokklao Road, you can easily get there in a taxi or tuk-
tuk by asking for the three kings monument (sam kasat). It is located fairly centrally inside
the old city (the part inside the moat), so may well be walkable depending on where you
are staying.

Opening Times and Admission Fee

The museum is open every day except Monday, from 8:30am to 5:00pm. The admission
fee is 90 Baht ($2.90) for adults, and 40 Baht ($1.30) for children. It’s worth noting that if
you are going to also visit the Chiang Mai City Arts & Culture Centre and the Chiang Mai
Historical Centre, you can get one ticket to visit all three for only 180 Baht ($5.85), which
lasts for a week.