MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum

MAIIAM is the serious contemporary art museum in Chiang Mai, out in San Kamphaeng about 20 minutes from the centre. It was built to show the private collection of the Beurdeley–Bunnag family, gathered over some 30 years, and it focuses on Thai and Southeast Asian contemporary art, shown through changing exhibitions. If you only know Thailand through its temples, this is a good corrective, and an easy couple of hours indoors on a hot afternoon. Combine it with the San Kamphaeng craft shops or Chamcha Market on a weekend.