Chiang Mai University Art Center

The CMU Art Center sits on Nimmanhaemin Road at the corner of the university, a short walk from the Nimman cafés, and it's an easy, free hour of culture in the middle of the city's busiest neighbourhood. It hosts rotating exhibitions, so what you'll see changes from one visit to the next. Some visits will be better than others; that's the nature of a rotating gallery. Check what's on before you go, because rooms sometimes close while new shows are being installed. It pairs well with an afternoon around Nimman.