Stand at the surviving gate of the old walls
The city's front door
Free
The eastern gate of the 13th-century city wall, and the square in front of it where Chiang Mai gathers.
Why it's unique
It is the one substantial surviving piece of Mengrai's fortification, and the square is the staging point for Songkran, Yi Peng and the Sunday walking street.
Before you go
There is nothing to enter and about ten minutes of looking. Come back for whatever is happening in the square, which is the actual reason it matters.