Chiangmai Most Attractions

Chiang Mai tourist attractions

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Wat Chedi Luang is still the highest point in old CM

With a legacy of 700 years of history and its own distinctive culture Chiang Mai offers its five million annual tourists a busy brochure of attractions. Only Bangkok has more urban sites to point your camera at, and this laidback city offers numerous stunning temples, waterfalls and national parks, ancient ruins, fascinating markets and animal parks for family fun.

To visit all the popular Chiang Mai tourist attractions, you would need several days; we have listed the main ones here in order of importance and popularity. Renting a moped and finding your own way around is practical, although a tour guide is useful to impart interesting history and mysticism behind the city and its attractions.

Taxi and Tour Chiangmai, Patrick, mobile 081 617 2116 E-mail: neomart@gmail.com

Wat Prathat Doi Suithep

This is 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 revered among Thais as one of the country’s most important religious sites. With its distinctive gilded chedi and marble-floored courtyard, the temple is full of symbolism and is usually busy. If the 300 steps leading up to the temple are too much for you, a lift offers a quick shortcut. On the way up to the temple, it's worth looking at Huay Kaew and Monthathal Falls - a meditation centre is attached to the temple and food, drink and souvenirs are on sale at the entrance. Open: 06:00-18:00; entry: foreigners 30 baht, free for Thais, lift: 20 baht per person each way; tel: (053) 295 003.

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: 08:30 to 16:30 (tickets not sold from 11:30-13:00), closed from January to March; entry: foreigners 50 baht, Thais 20 baht;trolley car 300 baht per car (max. 3 persons); tel: (053) 233 065, email: info@bhubingpalace.org.

Wat Chiang Man

Chiang Mai’s oldest temple began construction shortly after the city’s founding in 1296, and has pretty grounds near the Sriphum corner of the old city. It’s one of the most important historic sites in Chiang Mai and although not as photogenic as other temples (and somewhat neglected), it contains two ancient, diminutive Buddha images; one purported to be almost 2,000 years old. This temple is a good example of classic Lanna architecture. Open: 06:00-17:00; entry: 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 91-metre 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 city and the main attraction. There are several Viharn or Ubosots in the compound as well. The much revered Emerald Buddha, found in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, briefly lived here during its remarkable travels. Open: 06:00-17:00; entry: free.

Chiang's illustrious Wat Pra Singh in the old town

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 viharn (c. 15^th century) houses the much venerated Phra Sihing Buddha, which has a murky background yet a unique lion-style originating from Sri Lanka. A distinctive, elevated Hoi Tra (scriptures repository) is also on site. The mural paintings on the walls of Wat Phra Singh depict the scenes of Suwannahong and Sang Thong classic literature. Open: 06:00-17:00; entry: free.

Chiang Mai Zoo

Spread out over a huge area, at the foot of Doi Suithep, is this exhausting zoo - it’s very hilly - although there is a tram and a monorail. Most of the animals enjoy quite large natural habitats here, with inhabitants ranging from bears to penguins. The latest additions are two pandas (on loan from China) and their recent offspring, which have become national celebrities. There is also a brand new snow dome, which is a novelty for the locals. Open: 08:00-17:00; entry: foreigners:adults/children 100/50 baht, Thais: adults/children 50/10 baht (pandas, snow dome, aquarium,adventure park and tram, extra); 100 Huay Kaew Road, tel: (053) 221 179, email: chiangmaizoomail@gmail.com.

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 two-kilometre 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, Asia and South American predators and wild animals. It includes a large pavilion area with restaurant and Southeast Asia’s biggest musical fountain. Open: 11:00-23.00, day safari 15:00- 17:00, tram riding: 15:00-17:00; entry: adults 500 baht, children 300 baht between 100-140cm high, under 100cm free, Thais half price; 33 Moo 12, tel: (053) 999 000. More on the Night Safari.

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 (at 133m). More than 8,000 aquatic species, including 250 fresh water varieties, are found here. Adults/children: 520/390 baht, Thais 290/190 baht, snorkelling: adults/children: 1,000/500 baht, open: 08:00-21:00, tel: (053) 893 111, (053) 893 013-7, email: info@chiangmaiaquarium.com

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 by 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: 08:00-17:00; entry: free, horse carriage tour 200 baht per person, tram 20 baht per person; tel: (053) 140 322, email: tatchmai@tat.or.th.

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: 09:00-16.00 (Wednesday to Sunday); entry: 100 baht, Thais: 20 baht; 451 Chiang Mai-Lampang Superhighway, tel: (053) 221 308, fax: (053) 408 568.

Mae Sa Elephant Camp is educational

Mae Sa Elephant Training Centre

Mae Sa 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 provide a fun experience with elephants trained to paint, play musical instruments and conduct humorous stunts. Mahout courses are also offered, shows are at 08:00, 09:40 and 13:30. Open: 08:00-15:00; entry:adults/children 200/120 baht (elephant rides: one hour/30 min cost 1,200/800 baht); 119/9 Tapae Road (town office); tel: (053) 206 247/8, fax: (053) 20 6247, email: maesaele@loxinfo.co.th.

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, along with greenhouses, a pretty cascading river, restaurant and a great gift shop. Open: 08:30-16:30; entry: adults/children 40/10 baht, 100 baht per car; tel: (053) 841 000, email: qbg@chmai.loxinfo.co.th.

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 has become a public park and is nice for a stroll. It is located near the Night Safari, south west of the city. Open: 09:00-18:00 (Tuesday to Sunday); entry: free.

Wat U Mong

This forest retreat was built in 1296 by King Mengrai and is located in a rustic 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 and there is a lake full of overfed fish and a deer sanctuary behind the temple on the mountain slopes. Open: 08:00-17:00; entry: 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 its collection of stark chedis under which several former rulers of Lanna have their ashes interred. There is a monk chat here every evening from 17:00, where novice monks practise their English by answering questions on Buddhism. Open: 06:00-17:00; entry: free.

Wat Doi Kham

Rarely visited by the throngs of tourists coming to the city, this temple, located behind the Royal Flora grounds, pre-dates the city itself and is unremarkable except for a giant seated Buddha that was constructed more recently. Open: 08:00-17:00; entry: free.

Wat Jed Yod

Built to host the Eight World Buddhist Council in 1477, the seven-spired Chedi is modelled on a similar one in Bodhgaya, where the Buddha reached enlightenment. The ashes of King Tilokarat, who supervised its construction, are interred here, and there is a sizeable Viharn with striking murals in the large spacious grounds. Open: 08:00-17:00; entry: free.

Other Chiang Mai temples

There are many other temples in Chiang Mai that display various styles of influence over the seven centuries of the life of the city. Three striking temples, Wat Bupparam, Wat Mahawan and Wat Chetawan, are all found on the central Thapae Road. Others that are particularly worth getting to are Wat Lokmoli, outside the northwest corner of the moat, with its impressive chedi, and Wat Chaimongkhon, which fronts the river and has a garish 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. 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). However, wander Chiang Mai’s old town and you’ll encounter dozens more unique, ancient and photogenic temples.

Tweechol Botanical Garden

Although far out of the city on the Chiang Rai road, a visit to this sprawling and magnificent private garden is well worth it. Over the decades it has been quietly developed into an underrated nature park that includes a myriad of sculptured ponds and lakes surrounded by numerous species of palms, cycads, and topiary, and includes greenhouses with cacti, tropical species and rare plants. There is a small petting zoo, a swimming pool, a playground, restaurant and bikes for hire to get around the vast flat grounds. The Horizon Village Resort is attached to it. Open: 08:30-17:30; entry: adults/children 80/40 baht .

Dokmai Garden

This private botanical garden in Chiang Mai gives visitors lots of information regarding monsoon plants instead of row upon row of bright colour. With nearly 1,000 species - most labelled in Latin - and fascinating facts in English, Japanese and Thai, there's lots to keep visitors entertained. It is located in Namprae Village, around seven kilometres south on the Canal Road. Open: 10:00-17:00 (Tuesday to Sunday); Tel: 08 9433 9045.

Updated and correct: January 2012