Central Chiangmai Airport is a major shopping, dining, and entertainment centre near Chiang Mai International Airport. Previously known as CentralPlaza Chiangmai Airport, the complex offers a convenient place to shop for fashion, groceries, and Northern Thai products, or to enjoy a meal before or after a flight.
The centre includes Robinson Department Store, a supermarket, a multi-screen Major Cineplex, restaurants, cafes, a food court and numerous retail businesses. Its Northern Village handicraft zone is particularly useful for travellers looking for locally made gifts and souvenirs.
Entry is free, and its location between the airport and Chiang Mai’s Old City makes the centre an easy addition to a travel day.
Shopping at Central Chiangmai Airport
Central Chiangmai Airport offers a wide range of Thai and international retail businesses. Shoppers can browse fashion, footwear, cosmetics, electronics, mobile phones, sporting goods, accessories, household products and everyday services.
Robinson Department Store is one of the main retail anchors, offering clothing, beauty products, luggage and homewares across several departments. A supermarket provides groceries, packaged food, drinks and travel essentials.
The tenant mix changes periodically, so visitors seeking a particular brand should consult the centre’s current online directory before travelling.
Northern Village and Chiang Mai Souvenirs
Northern Village sets Central Chiang Mai Airport apart from many conventional shopping centres. The zone brings together products associated with Chiang Mai and northern Thailand, making it a practical stop for last-minute souvenir shopping.
Items may include textiles, clothing, carved wood, decorative pieces, ceramics, jewellery, packaged food and locally produced handicrafts. Quality, prices, and opening hours vary between stalls and businesses.
Visitors interested in local products can compare several sellers in one air-conditioned location. However, those wanting a broader traditional market experience may still prefer destinations such as the Night Bazaar, Warorot Market or the weekend walking streets.
Restaurants, Cafes and Food Court
The shopping centre offers a wide choice of food, from quick snacks and inexpensive Thai meals to sit-down restaurants. Options generally include Thai, Japanese, Korean and international dishes, along with bakeries, dessert shops, coffee outlets and familiar fast-food brands.
The food court is useful for visitors wanting an affordable meal with several choices in one area. Payment arrangements vary by business, and some food courts in Thailand use a prepaid card that is refunded when returned.
Restaurants and cafes may operate on slightly different schedules from the main centre. Diners arriving close to closing time should confirm the kitchen’s last-order time.
Major Cineplex and Entertainment
Major Cineplex operates a multi-screen cinema at Central Chiangmai Airport. Films include Thai and international releases, although the language and subtitle arrangements differ between sessions.
Visitors wanting an English-language screening should check the listing carefully. A movie marked “EN/TH” generally has English dialogue with Thai subtitles, while dubbed versions may be listed separately.
Session times and ticket prices depend on the film, screen, day and seating category. Major Cineplex offers current programs and bookings.
The centre also contains event spaces and Chiangmai Hall, a multipurpose venue used for exhibitions, fairs, performances and community activities. Event access and admission conditions vary.
Shopping Before or After a Flight
Despite its name, Central Chiangmai Airport is not inside the airport terminal. It is a separate shopping centre located nearby on Mahidol Road.
The short distance makes it convenient for travellers with time before check-in, but passengers should still allow for traffic, luggage handling and airport security. Walking from the airport is possible in terms of distance, although busy roads, heat and limited pedestrian convenience can make a taxi or app-based ride the more practical option.
Travellers with several hours between hotel checkout and a flight can use the centre for a meal, shopping or a movie. However, visitors should confirm luggage arrangements because the availability of public storage facilities can change.
Opening Hours
Central Chiangmai Airport is open from 11am to 9pm Monday to Friday. It opens earlier on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, operating from 10am to 9pm.
Robinson Department Store, the supermarket, the cinema, restaurants, and individual shops may have different hours. Cinema sessions can continue beyond the general retail schedule.
Hours may change during Songkran, New Year and other major holidays, so visitors travelling on a significant festival date should check the centre’s latest announcement.
Getting to Central Chiangmai Airport
Central Chiangmai Airport is approximately three kilometres southwest of Chiang Mai’s Old City and close to Chiang Mai International Airport.
Taxis, tuk-tuks, red songthaews and app-based ride services can reach the centre from most parts of Chiang Mai. Journeys from the Old City are usually 10 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic and the pickup location.
Traffic can become congested around Mahidol Road, particularly during the late-afternoon peak, weekends and major shopping events. Visitors catching a flight should allow plenty of time, rather than treating the shopping centre as part of the airport terminal.
Parking
The shopping centre provides parking for approximately 1,500 vehicles. Drivers should follow the centre’s directional signs, as entrances and available parking areas may change during events or particularly busy periods.
Accessible parking spaces are available within the wider parking facilities, but visitors who need a specific location should contact the centre before arriving.
Motorbike parking is also available. Check parking conditions, validation requirements, and any applicable charges on arrival.
Accessibility and Family Facilities
Central Chiangmai Airport is a multi-level indoor shopping centre with escalators and lifts connecting its main retail floors. Air conditioning, toilets, seating areas and food outlets make it manageable for families and visitors wanting a break from Chiang Mai’s heat.
Parents can find meals, snacks, children’s products and entertainment within the same complex. Temporary children’s activities and seasonal displays are also sometimes held in the public event areas.
Visitors with mobility requirements should contact customer service for current information about wheelchair availability, accessible entrances and the most convenient parking area.
How Long to Spend at Central Chiangmai Airport
Allow one to two hours for a meal and general shopping. Visitors exploring Robinson Department Store, Northern Village and the wider retail centre could spend two to three hours.
A cinema visit or scheduled event will extend the stay considerably. The centre can also serve as a convenient indoor stop during hot weather or heavy rain.
Is Central Chiangmai Airport Worth Visiting?
Central Chiangmai Airport is worth visiting for practical shopping, dining and entertainment, particularly for travellers staying near the airport or looking for northern Thai souvenirs in an air-conditioned setting.
It is less of a sightseeing destination than Chiang Mai’s temples, markets and historic neighbourhoods. Its strength is convenience: visitors can buy travel essentials, enjoy a meal, see a film, and shop for gifts in one location.
Central Chiangmai Airport FAQs
Is Central Chiangmai Airport inside the airport terminal?
No. It is a separate shopping centre near Chiang Mai International Airport.
What are the Central Chiangmai Airport opening hours?
The centre opens from 11am to 9pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 9pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Is Central Chiangmai Airport free to visit?
Yes. There is no general admission charge, although cinema tickets, events, meals and purchases cost extra.
What can visitors buy at the shopping centre?
The centre offers fashion, cosmetics, electronics, groceries, luggage, household products and locally made northern Thai gifts.
Does Central Chiangmai Airport have a cinema?
Yes. Major Cineplex operates a multi-screen cinema showing Thai and international films.
Is parking available?
Yes. Central Pattana reports parking capacity for approximately 1,500 vehicles.
How long should visitors allow?
Allow one to two hours for shopping and a meal, or longer if you’re seeing a film, attending an event, or browsing the full centre.
Is Central Chiangmai Airport the same as Central Chiangmai?
No. Central Chiangmai Airport is near the airport on Mahidol Road. Central Chiangmai, formerly CentralFestival Chiangmai, is a separate shopping centre in the Fa Ham area.
How to go to Chiang Mai International airport from Central Plaza Airport Chiang Mai
Hi Charles,
You could in theory walk from the airport to Central Plaza as it’s less than 1km in distance, but if that doesn’t sound ideal, there are usually taxis, tuk tuks and songthaews at the airport.
Granted most of those might not be too keen taking you such a short distance as they are looking for a much longer fare, so if haggling doesn’t worth the hassle, just visit one of the taxi counters inside the terminal to organise the trip.
As for the return trip, you can use any of the same methods or use a Grab Car. There may be shuttles that leave the mall, but i think these only go to the tourist areas and not to the airport itself.
Thanks
Michael