Because Chiang Mai is active in the tourist circuit, you may have to pay for activities that otherwise you get for free in less touristy regions. But it doesn’t mean you have to pay through the nose to take in the delights of Chiang Mai; you just need to risk a little, walk a bit, and smile a lot.

Below are five things you can do in Chiang Mai without shelling out a single ‘satang’ (one cent).

1. Go temple trekking

Wat Chedi Luang

Chiang Mai is home to at least 300 temples, so getting lost in all of them is rather easy to do. Head first to Wat Chedi Luang, an example of Lanna architecture built 600 years ago. The wat used to house the famous Emerald Buddha, now enshrined in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.

2. Chat with the monks

Monks in Chiang Mai

Since you’re already in monk territory, why not offer them food and engage them in small talk? Monks at Wat Suan Dok are eager to talk to visitors as much as visitors are eager to hear their thoughts. For one, monks get to practice their English and talk about things other than Buddhism.

3. Visit the Tribal Museum

Tribal Museum in Ratchamangkla Park

Trekking in the jungles of Chiang Mai is free, but getting into artificial tribe settlements is not (charges at least 500 Baht). The Tribal Museum at Chotana Road not far from downtown Chiang Mai is the closest you can get to the tribes without feeling like you’re invading their privacy or entering a human zoo. This ethnology museum features artistic objects and artifacts that represent the Karen, Hmong, Mien, Lisu, Akha, Lahu, Lau, Thin and Khamu.

While you’re pursuing Chiang Mai’s museum trail, spend some time in the Stamp Museum (Philatelic Museum of Chiang Mai, once a post office); the Royal Thai Air Force Museum (located at A. Muang, Chiang Mai) for their vintage planes; and Chiang Mai Numismatic Museum for antique Thai coins and insignia of ranks. All museums mentioned are admission-free.

4. Catch Muay Thai demonstrations

Muay Thai Fight

Thai boxing is both gruesome and fascinating to watch because all limbs seem to be used for defense and offense. The Kawila Boxing Stadium, a stone’s throw from Narawat Bridge, has Friday night demonstrations that start at 8:00PM. Should you want to see a real Muay Thai fight – blood and all – ticketed fights are usually scheduled on Wednesdays at 400 Baht apiece.

5. Windowshop at the Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road and Sunday Night Market

Sunday Night Market

The Night Bazaar is more touristy, selling woven textiles, wood carvings, Thai silk, ceramics, pottery and lacquerware. The Sunday Night Market, on the other hand, is where the locals go to shop, chat and get foot massage;  thus, offering you a more realistic feel of the commerce in the region. Start from Tha Phae Gate at 5:00PM when stalls are starting to set up, and walk and ogle (at the wares) and photo-op your way through the other end of the gate until the market closes at around midnight.

Photos by Jeremiah Ro, KTRawlings, Mac63,  AkumAPRIME and Nicolai Bangsgaard

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1) Singapore Botanic Gardens

Singapore Botanic Gardens

When the weather is nice you’ll want to enjoy the outdoors so the Botanic Gardens is a great option with free entry. Open from 5am to midnight daily, the 73 hectare (183 acre) garden is the earliest and latest open public garden in the world. Being so grandiose in size it is easy to get lost so a map is needed. The ginger garden, which homes 250 species of ginger and the evolution garden, which details the evolution of plants on earth, are too interesting to be missed among many others. The main attraction of the park is the National Orchid Garden, but unfortunately, there is a small entrance fee.

2) Raffles Hotel

Raffles Hotel

It might be way out of your budget to stay at Raffles Hotel with rooms starting at around $600 SGD per night, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy it. Raffles Hotel is more than just a luxurious place to sleep, it is a landmark filled with history and beauty. It’s open for the public to marvel at, and even includes free entry to the Raffles Museum which explains the hotel’s history along with Singapore in general.

3) Singapore City Gallery

Central City Model

Anyone interested in architecture would be interested to visit the Singapore City Gallery. Here is where you can immerse yourself in Singapore’s architecture and urban planning throughout the years. They offer one of the largest architectural models in the world, which alone is a good enough reason to visit the free gallery.

4) Merlion Park

Merlion

Standing 8.6 meters high, the merlion is Singapore’s icon so avoiding this touristic spot is almost impossible. The lion with a fish’s body is located in the free Merlion Park, making it a popular hang-out spot for locals and visitors. As the statue stands spitting water, people are reminding of Singapore’s origins as a fishing village.

5) Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Bukit Timah

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is the perfectly preserved forest of what Singapore used to be before skyscrapers and urbanism. This ASEAN Heritage site is free to enter, to hike, to animal watch (there are tons of monkeys), and to discover plenty of rare flora and fauna. Singapore does not offer much when it comes to trekking and nature so whatever is available, you must take advantage of, especially for that city break.

6) Water and Light Show at Marina Sands

Fountain of Lights

It may be only 13 minutes, but those minutes are completely electrifying. Thanks to the Marina Sands, each night at 8pm and 9:30pm (also 11pm on Friday and Saturday), there is a highly entertaining light and water show complete with colors and live music. It’s 100% free, but weather permitting so check their website for updated information.

7) Singapore Art Museum

Singapore Art Museum

Housed in a former colonial-style school, the Singapore Art Museum showcases the world’s grandest collection of Southeast Asian contemporary art. Need I say more? It is too good to be free all the time so try to visit on Fridays between 6pm and 9pm for free admission.

8) East Coast Park

East Coast Park

Quite possibly the most popular park in Singapore, East Coast Park offers the beach and loads of sporting activities from cycling to surfing to camping. Since most travelers head to Sentosa, this park is filled with locals to give a real outdoor Singaporean experience. Some activities may cost you, but it goes without saying that walking and sunbathing are free!

9) Lee Kong Chian Reference Library

National Library

If you love books, you will be in your glory at the 7 story Lee Kong Chian Reference Library. Open till 9pm every day, it is a great free place to pass time learning about Singapore and other subjects. To name a few, collections include; Arts, Business, Chinese, Malay, Singapore, Tamil, Southeast Asia, and Science and Technology.

10) Haw Par Villa

Haw Par Villa (Tiger Balm Theme Park)

Probably the strangest of all listed in this post, Haw Par Villa is a theme park themed on Chinese mythology. Founded by the Tiger Balm brothers, there are over 1,000 statues and 150 dioramas depicting Chinese legends and folklore. None of the statues are really considered beautiful since many can be quite disturbing while others are rotting away. The most famous display, Ten Courts of Hell, depicts the consequences of sin with goriness. Walking through this free park is simply reading an amazing tale.

Photos by edwin.11, David Blackwell, kewl, tolomea, pixculture, Simon Jones, fabcan, qinrongs, jblyberg and gruntzooki

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1) The Bangkok Art and Culture Center

The Bangkok Art and Culture Center

Art and culture are the best things to absorb in most big cities and in Bangkok you can do it without spending a dime. Architecturally resembling the Guggenheim in New York, BACC offers constant changing exhibits on contemporary and modern art. A visit to the ice cream shop is highly recommended, but of course the ice cream isn’t free!

2) Lumphini Park

Lumphini Park

There are several parks around Bangkok, but none stand out like Lumphini Park especially in the mornings when you can catch older visitors practicing Tai Chi or dancing. It’s a great place to relax, boat, cycle, jog, or walk with beautiful surroundings at no cost.

3) Bangkok Butterfly Garden & Insectarium

Butterfly in the Garden

One of the most beautiful insects, the butterfly, can be embraced by the colorful ton at the Bangkok Butterfly Garden and Insectarium. Set in a typical glasshouse, there are over 100 butterflies to soar around you. It’s an amazing site to see and completely free.

4) The Bangkokian Museum

Museum Garden

Also known as the Bangkok Folk Museum, this free admission museum is a pleasant surprise since it’s not your typical museum. The Bangkokian is a typical Bangkok family home from 70 years ago. From utensils to decor, this house or museum showcases what life was like in Bangkok for a middle class family during World War II.

5)  Silpa Bhirasri Memorial National Museum
Silpa Bhirasri was and still is known as the father of modern art in Thailand. Therefore, this memorial and museum was well deserved in his honor. The museum is the actual home of his former workspace filled with his previous work along with the works of his well-known colleagues. Even with an admission cost, it’s worth a visit.

Photos by BernieCB, Cambridge Cat, antwerpenR and veritatem

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