Chiang Mai attractions
With well over four million foreign visitors arriving in Chiang Mai annually, the 700 year old city is without doubt one of Thailand’s most important attractions. So, just what is it that brings them to this northern province?
Apart from some striking natural beauty and an excellent hospitality industry, Chiang Mai also has a number of attractions to fill its tourist brochures. And although it doesn’t have as many entertainment options as some other destinations in Thailand, there are plenty of cultural and natural attractions to keep visitors busy.
The temples dotting the city and its surroundings are among the most popular attractions. On daytrips, you can visit some fantastic mountains and national parks nearby. Chiang Mai city itself has plenty of historic and cultural legacy, while the rest of the province has several pretty waterfalls and caves.
Here are the most popular attractions in Chiang Mai; we’ve given approximate locations but we suggest you use a free tourist map for navigation.
Wat Prathat Doi Suithep – temple
This one of Thailand’s most famous temples, overlooking the city from its spectacular mountain location. The winding road up to the temple passes a couple of nice waterfalls and the view from the temple platform is impressive. The site, dates from 1386 and is reverred among Thais as one of the country’s most important temples. With its distinctive gilded chedi and marble–floored courtyard the temple is full of symbolism and usually busy. If the 300 steps leading up to the temple are too much for you, a funicular offers a quick shortcut. On the way up to the temple its worth looking at Huay Kaew and Monthathal falls, although the latter hardly justifies the 400 baht national park entry fee.
Open: daily, 05.00 to 18.00
Admission: 30 baht
Phuping Palace and National Park
Located another six kilometres up the mountain, this site is decorated with plenty of colourful, exotic flowers. It serves as the royal winter residence from mid–December to early February, when it is closed to visitors. Carry on up the mountain and you visit a very touristy Hmong hill tribe village Baan Doi Pui, or continue to a lovely viewpoint near the summit.
Open: daily, 08.30 to 15.30
Admission: 50 baht
Wat Phra Singh
Situated in the middle of the old city, this temple contains Chiang Mai’s most important Buddha statue. The recently restored Viharn Lai Kham is a classic example of a Lanna style viharn while the main houses the much venerated Phra Singh for which the temple was built in the 15th century. The mural paintings on the walls of Wat Phra Singh depict the scenes of Suwannahong and Sang Thong classic literature. It also contains an ancient Singhalese Buddha brought over from Sri Lanka which has resided at various temples around the region over the centuries.
Open: daily, 06.00 to 17.00
Admission: free
Wat Chiang Man
Chiang Mai’s oldest temple began construction shortly after the city’s founding in 1296, and has a pretty grounds near the Sriphum corner of the old town. It’s one of the most important historic sites in the city. It contains two ancient, diminutive, Buddha images purported to be almost 2000 years old. This temple is a good example of classic Lanna architecture.
Open: daily, 06.00 to 17.00
Admission: free
Wat Chedi Luang
This is perhaps Chiang Mai’s most striking relic and was once the most important in the Lanna capital. Dating from 1441, the 91m high pagoda was felled to half that height in an earthquake in the late 16th Century. To this day the partially renovated chedi remains the tallest structure in the old town and the main attraction.
Open: daily, 06.00 to 17.00
Admission: free
Wat Suan Dok
This temple was established to the west of the old town as a Buddhist university that survives to this day and is noted for it’s collection of stark chedis under which several former rulers of Lanna have their ashed interred. There is a ‘monk chat’ here every evening from 17.00 where novice monks practice their English by answering questions on Buddhism.
Open: daily, 06.00 to 17.00
Admission: free
Chiang Mai Zoo
is spread out over a huge area at the foot of Doi Suithep. Most of the animals enjoy quite large natural habitats here, with inhabitants ranging from bears to penguins. The latest additions are two Chinese pandas which are hugely popular.
Open: daily, 08.00 to 17.00; tel. 05322 1179
Admission: 100 baht (adult), 50 baht (child), pandas extra
Chiang Mai National Museum
This is located next to Wat Jet Yot and houses a collection of Lanna Thai works of art, ancient Buddha images and war weapons. The museum is built in a vague neo–northern Thai style and aims to preserve the art and culture of northern Thailand, it’s hardly world–class but a good introduction to local history.
Open: Wed to Sun, 09.00 to 16.00; tel. 053 221308
Admission: 30 baht
Wat U Mong
This forest retreat was built in 1296 by King Mengrai and is located in a rustic forest setting near Suthep road. It was renovated during the reign of King Keu Na, but is unlike the usual gaudy temples of Thailand, being a retreat comprising mostly of forested grounds. It features a unique tunnel–like construction beneath an ancient chedi. There is a lake full of overfed fish and a deer sanctuary behind the temple on the mountain slopes.
Open: daily, 08.00 to 17.00
Admission: free
Wiang Kum Kam
The original Chiang Mai city was unearthed in 1984 and is situated just outside the modern metropolitan area, to the Southwest. It was built by King Mengrai as his first attempt to establish a settlement in the valley before chronic flooding of the Ping river forced its abandonment. Almost 20 temples have been uncovered in the area and a ride by horse–drawn carriage, or on a bicycle will let you take most of them in within half a day. Some have been well excavated and offer a fascinating ‘Atlantis of Chiang Mai’. There is also the striking Chedi Liam in the area, attached to a working temple.
Open: daily, 08.00 to 17.00; tel. 053 140322
Admission: free
Other temples
There are many other temples in the city that display various styles of influence over the seven centuries of the city. Three striking temples, Wat Bupparam and Wat Mahawan and Wat Chetawan are all found on the central Thapae road. Others that are particularly worth getting to are Wat Lookmooli outside the Northwest corner of the moat, with its impressive chedi, and Wat Chaimongkhon which fronts the river and has a garrish Chinese style to it. Boat trips up the river also take off from here. Several more ancient temples are found in the Southwest corner of the old town. Right beside the National Museum beyond the super highway is Wat Jed Yod, which was built for the Eight Buddhist World Council in 1477. The remains of seven chedis are vaguely modelled on the Mahabodhi temple in Bodgaya, India. While you are visiting the city’s most famous landmark, Wat Chedi Luang, you might also find it convenient to admire the nearby Wat Phan Tao which is classic Lanna in style and entirely constructed of wood (including the nails).
Mae Sa Elephant Training Centre
offers elephant shows, bathing elephants and elephant rides. Located about an hour’s drive into the Mae Sa Valley, this is a great outing for the whole family. There’s even a bamboo rafting centre. It’s one of several camps in the area, with the rival Mae Taman camp in Mae Tang operated by the estranged wife of this camp’s owner. There’s another well known camp in Lampang, and all offer a fun experience with elephants trained to paint, play musical instruments and conduct humorous stunts.
Open: daily, 08.00 to 14.00; tel. 053 297 060
Admission: 120 baht
Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden
Continue up the Mae Sa valley, just past Mae Sa Elephant Centre, and discover this lovely landscaped mountainside garden collection which covers an area of 560 acres among the cool hills of Mae Sa Valley. Home to over 700 species of plants, including cacti and some spectacular orchids, it also features a number of attractive nature walks, green houses, a pretty cascading river, restaurant and a great gift shop.
Open: daily, 08.30 to 16.30; tel. 05329 8171
Admission: 40 baht
Royal Flora grounds
Developed as an 80 hectare flora expo in 2006/2007 to commemorate the King’s 60th year on the throne, this enormous landscaped park with permanent exhibition space is due to become a public park and is nice for a stroll – located near the Night Safari.
Open: Tue-Sun: 09.00-17.00
Admission: free
Chiang Mai Night Safari
One of Chiang Mai’s newest attractions, this 120 acre woodland at the foot of Doi Suithep National Park is worthwhile for the whole family. A 2km Jaguar trail around a pretty lake has many zoo-like enclosures and when it gets dark two different tram rides take visitors through open safari area full of African, Asian and South American predators and wild animal. Includes a large pavillion area with restaurant and SE Asia’s biggest musical fountain.
Open: Mon-Fri 13.00 to 21.30; Weekend & public holidays 10.00-21.30
Night: Daily 18.00 to 24.00 tel. 053 999090
Admission:100 baht (day), 500 baht (night). Half price for Thais
Chiang Mai Aquarium
Surprisingly, landlocked Chiang Mai now boasts the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, opened in November 2008. It’s located inside the Zoo and has an 8,000 cubic litre tank that apparently includes the world’s longest aquarium tunnel (133m). More than 8,000 aquatic species, including 250 fresh water varieties are found here.
Open: daily, 08.00 to 21.00; tel. 05322 1179
Admission: 450 baht (adult), 350 baht (child), Thais 250/180 baht.
Wat Doi Kham
Rarely visited by the throngs of tourists coming to the city, this temple behind the Royal Flora grounds predates the city itself and is unremarkable except for a giant seated buddha that was constructed more recently.
Open: daily, 08.00 to 17.00
Admission: free
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Updated and correct: November 2008
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