Phayao (Thai pronunciation: [pʰā.jāw]) is a town (thesaban mueang) in northern Thailand, capital of Phayao Province. The town is divided into the subdistricts of Mae Tam and Wiang, tambon of Mueang Phayao district.

The town is on the shore of the Phayao Lake. It dates back to the semi-independent city-state (mueang), founded between 900-1,000 years ago.

As of 2005 Phayao had a population of 19,118. Phayao lies 726 km north of Bangkok.