Things To Do In Chiang Rai

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  • Buddhist Temple (5)
  • Farms & Plantations (2)
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1. Visit The Iconic White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)

Visit The Iconic White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)
4.5 /5

13 km
from city center
1 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

The White Temple, also renowned as Wat Rong Khun, is the most popular attraction in Chiang Rai. It is a privately-owned art exhibit in the form of a temple, beautifully depicting the Buddhist teachings of karma, hell, heaven, and earthly sins. An architectural wonder in its own right, this temple is filled with many Buddhist elements in its architecture, mirror decorations, and ornate reliefs.

2. Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple)

Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple)

1 km
from city center
2 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Wat Rong Suea Ten, better known as the Blue Temple of Chiang Rai, is a renovated Buddhist shrine in the Rimkok district. The temple's facade is a blend of gold and brilliant cerulean blue. Outside the temple is a statue of Phra Upakut, a revered monk in Theravada Buddhis. Inside the monastery, the presiding deity is Lord Phra Buddha Rajamongkol Bodhi Trilokanat, seated on a lotus in a serene, meditating pose.

3. See Giant Buddha At Wat Huay Pla Kang

See Giant Buddha At Wat Huay Pla Kang

54 km
from city center
3 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

The majestic Wat Huay Pla Kang, or Big Buddha Temple, looms over Chiang Rai from a rolling green hilltop. The temple stands out due to its Chinese-Lanna style of architecture and striking colors. The main highlight is the 90m white statue of Guan Yin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, locally referred to as Chow Mae Kuan Im. You can take the elevator to the top of the 25-floored structure to enjoy a panoramic view of rice fields, forests, and mountains around Chiang Rai.

4. See The Clock Tower At Night

See The Clock Tower At Night
3.8 /5

1 km
from city center
4 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Clock Tower is a notable art and architecture work that serves as a traffic roundabout in Chiang Rai. It's best to view it at night when it's completely lit up in golden, pink, and green. In the evening, there is an interesting light and sound display at 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM, which is a lovely sight to see in the middle of traffic.

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5. Explore Baan Dam Museum

Explore Baan Dam Museum
4.2 /5

9 km
from city center
5 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Baan Dam Museum is a collection of around 40 buildings of varying shapes and sizes spread across a beautiful garden. The traditional Thai structures are dark-colored and the funky white igloos with cool graffiti on the outside. Though all the structures are not open to the public, the garden makes for a pleasant stroll.

6. Trip To Doi Mae Salong

Trip To Doi Mae Salong
4.3 /5

37 km
from city center
6 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Doi Mae Salong is a mountain in northern Chiang Rai famous for its native Chinese culture. It is located in Mae Fah Luang, right along Myanmar's border. Today, it's become a great tourist attraction, but many hill tribes continue to live here. It's known for its Oolong tea and fresh fruit plantations.The Chinese community of Mae Salong offers various activities for tourists.

7. Tour Doi Chang Coffee Farm

Tour Doi Chang Coffee Farm

30 km
from city center
7 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Known for its world-class coffee that rates in the top 1% of coffee worldwide, Doi Chang is a coffee plantation in northern Thailand. A trip to Doi Chang includes wandering the coffee plantations, watching the stages of cultivation and processing, interacting with the Doi Chang farmers, and learning more about the coffee-making process at the Doi Chaang Coffee Academy.

8. Visit Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong

Visit Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong

2 km
from city center
8 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong is a popular temple and religious spot. Also known as Wat Phra That Doi Jom Thong, it is built on the tallest point in the city, thereby providing a beautiful view of the Chiang Rai skyline. The wat has a massive 14-meter (45 feet) golden stupa at its center that evokes the ancient Burmese and Lanna style of architecture.

9. Stroll Around Mae Fah Luang Garden

Stroll Around Mae Fah Luang Garden

15 km
from city center
9 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

The Mae Fah Luang Garden is a beautifully landscaped 10-acre garden in the Doi Tung Development Project. Located in northern Chiang Rai, close to the Myanmar border, it holds rock formations, maze gardens, and a variety of flowers like dahlias, petunias, and rhododendrons.

10. Shop & Eat At Chiang Rai Night Bazaar

Shop & Eat At Chiang Rai Night Bazaar

1 km
from city center
10 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai Night Market is in the Mueang Chiang Rai District of Thailand. It is a famous spot for many handicraft items, clothing, jewelry, shoes, and authentic Thai food. This mini version of a night market is a perfect option for an evening stroll and excellent snacks and beer.

11. Watch Sunrise From Phu Chi Fah

Watch Sunrise From Phu Chi Fah

2 km
from city center
11 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Rightly termed as ‘Thailand’s best hidden secret’, ‘the most beautiful place you would have never heard of’ and ‘the place that offers the best sunrise view in all of Thailand’, Phu Chi Fah is a mountainous area and a national park which is located in the Toeng County of Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. Just next to the border of Laos, this mountain range offers a breathtaking sunrise.

12. Hike To Khun Korn Waterfall

Hike To Khun Korn Waterfall

45 km
from city center
12 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Standing at a majestic height of 70 meters, the Khun Korn Waterfall is located inside the Khun Korn Forest Park, outside Chiang Rai. The attraction is famous not just for the beautiful and gorgeous sights of the falling water and lush greenery, but for the vast rice fields and dense jungles. These can be seen on the journey to the waterfall along with the following trek through the tall bamboo forest.

13. Stroll Around Chiang Rai Walking Street

Stroll Around Chiang Rai Walking Street

1 km
from city center
13 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai has two walking streets lined with shops and food stalls that come alive on the weekends. Thanalai Road on Saturday evenings and San Khong Noi Road on Sunday evenings become pedestrian after sunset. Both streets have many stalls for artifacts, handicrafts, clothes, jewelry, accessories, and souvenirs. The Sunday market has stage performances and live dances opposite Wat Cetuphon Temple.

14. Explore Wat Phra Kaew

Explore Wat Phra Kaew

1 km
from city center
14 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Located on Trairat Road in Wiang, Wat Phra Kaew is a third-common-class royal temple and one of the oldest shrines in Chiang Rai. It has immense historical importance as it is where the Emerald Buddha or Phra Kaew Morakot idol was unearthed. The temple also houses a jade replica of the Emerald Buddha, Phra Yok Chiang Rai, installed in 1991 on a Thai Princess-Mother’s 90th birthday.

15. Oub Kham Museum

Oub Kham Museum

1 km
from city center
15 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

The Oub Kham Museum in the Muang district in Chiang Rai, Thailand boasts of being home to thousands of rare Lanna items and artefacts that once belonged to the Tai people, and thus it offers its visitors with a comprehensive and beautiful thousand-year visual history of the Lanna culture and the roots of the Thai people.

16. Stop By Choui Fong Tea Plantation

Stop By Choui Fong Tea Plantation

21 km
from city center
16 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Located in Mae Chan, Choui Fong Tea Plantation is a relaxing pitstop on the way to the Golden Triangle from Chiang Rai. The undulating green plains covered in tea bushes make an excellent sight. You can take pictures but not step inside the tea fields or witness the tea processing process at the plant. There are two cafes that offer tea tasting and tea brewing demonstrations along with food and beverages.

17. Admire Wat Klang Wiang

Admire Wat Klang Wiang

1 km
from city center
17 out of 17
Things To Do in Chiang Rai

Wat Klang Wiang stands right at the center of the city of Chiang Rai. Built with exquisite modern Lanna architectural influences, the temple’s ornate gold and red relief gives it a majestic look. It consists of an ubosot or ordination hall, a viharn, a chedi, a city pillar, and a scripture library. The city pillar is flanked by statues of Jatulokaban, the keepers of the four cardinal directions as per Theravada Buddhism.

FAQs on Chiang Rai

What are the top hotels in Chiang rai?

There are 335 Hotels in Chiang rai which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Chiang rai are Bann Fasai 3, Doitung Home stay(ดอยตุงโฮมสเตย์2), ปันดีการ์เดนท์โฮม, Chiang Rai Bicycle Homestay, Glass House, Mountain View, Near Airport-City, บ้านบุญสิริ. You can see all the hotels in Chiang rai here

What are the top activities in Chiang rai?

The top activities in Chiang rai are Chiang Rai Private Car Charter: Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), Baan Dam (Black House), Golden Triangle, and More, Private Chiang Rai International Airport Transfers (CEI) for Chiang Rai, Private White, Black, Blue Temple, and Singha Park Day Trip from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai Half Day Private Tour with White Temple, Blue Temple, and Black House, Suwannee Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour, Private City Transfers between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.

What are the top sightseeing places in Chiang rai?

The top sightseeing places in Chiang rai are Wat Rong Khun, Clock Tower, Chiang Rai, Baan Dam Museum, Doi Mae Salong, Doi Chang, Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong.

How can I commute within Chiang rai?

The main modes of public transport in Chiang Rai are tuk-tuks, songthaews, and taxis. Exploring on foot is also a good option, but travellers prefer a vehicle due to time restrictions. If you don't want to travel by public transport, you can choose to rent a car or a motorbike; neither will cost too much. A couple of places to rent bikes from are ST Motorcycles and Chiang Rai Big Bike Rentals.
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