Thailand

Chiang Mai

A northern Thai old town still ringed by its moat. No urban rail here — the red songthaew is how the city moves.

RTC Chiang Mai City Bus

City buses here mean RTC alone, looping out of the airport. It paused in July 2026 and says it returns on 31 August. No gates, and one flat fare per ride - 50 baht, though the airport's page still shows an older 30.

Updated on August 28, 2026

  • Until Dec 31, 2026

    Suspended since July 2026, due back on 31 August

    RTC stopped running in July 2026 because of soaring fuel prices and falling ridership, and has named 31 August as its return date. It comes back with three electric buses, and routes and frequencies are still being reworked. Check RTC's latest Facebook post for whether buses are running before you wait at a stop.

How to ride

  1. 1
    Check that the buses are running
    RTC paused in July 2026 and announced 31 August as its return date; read its latest Facebook post before you set out.
  2. 2
    Get cash ready
    A move to online payment has been announced, but no such app exists in the stores.
  3. 3
    Pick the loop that suits your destination
    Red, yellow and green loops all start from the airport. Routes and frequencies are being reworked, so check the stops in an app.
  4. 4
    Pay the fare and ride
    One flat fare per ride whatever the distance; 50 baht is the figure in the restart announcement, so confirm it with the driver.
  5. 5
    Get off at your stop
    Each loop runs one way round only; at the stop, check whether anything runs back the way you came.

Fares

Single fares2

One ride
The figure reported in the August 2026 restart announcement; the same whatever the distance
50 THB ≈ $1
One ride (as still posted on the airport's page)
Still on the airport's page, but 2026 reporting and the operator's own site both say 50
30 THB ≈ $0.9

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 4, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
There are no fare gates at all, so nothing to tap
Card payment on board Unverified
The operator does not name the brands it accepts
The only official wording is the generic phrase credit card
IC card Unverified
On board: The operator's own card appears on one undated page and nowhere else
App tickets
In the wallet: No app published by RTC exists in the stores
QR ticketing Unverified
On board: Thai QR and others were announced, but the current state cannot be confirmed
Cash Unverified
On board: A switch to online payment was announced; its current status is unconfirmed

Quick facts

Hours
7:00-18:30
Fares from
50 THB+

Heads-up

  • Whether anything but cash works cannot be confirmed

    In December 2025 RTC announced that from March 2026 it would move to an online payment system called CM Transit Payment. No such app can be found on the App Store or Google Play, and the July 2026 suspension and change of fleet have come in between, so whether the plan is still live cannot be confirmed. Carry cash.

  • The old RTC domains are hijacked, one now a gambling site

    The old domains that come up when you search for RTC's official website have been taken over by third parties, and one of them now opens an online gambling site. Check service and fares on RTC's official Facebook page or on the airport and provincial pages instead.

Timetable

Operating hours 7:00-18:30
Typical duration A loop of about 20 km from the airport around the old city and Nimmanhaemin
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka