Things to do in Chiang Rai

When I started planning our visit to Chiang Rai, there was really only one thing on my list – the famous White Temple.

We were travelling through northern Thailand and decided to make the trip from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. Beyond seeing the White Temple, I hadn’t given much thought to what else we would do once we arrived.

As it turned out, there was far more to see in Chiang Rai than I expected.

We only had around 36 hours in the city, but managed to pack in colourful temples, unusual art, markets and some fantastic northern Thai food.

By the time we left, I was wishing we had stayed longer – and I may even have preferred Chiang Rai to the much more popular Chiang Mai.

So if you’re wondering whether Chiang Rai is worth visiting, or looking for things to do in Chiang Rai beyond the White Temple, here are my picks from our visit, along with a few more ideas if you have extra time.

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The White Temple

Even though this list is about all the things to do in Chiang Rai, I can’t leave out its most famous attraction.

Officially known as Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple is not an ancient temple. Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat began creating it in 1997, and the elaborate complex continues to evolve.

And yes, it really is as striking in person as it looks in photos. The main temple is brilliant white and covered with tiny mirrored details, but take your time to look around because some of the artwork is much darker and quirkier than you might expect from a Buddhist temple.

The White Temple is around 14km south of central Chiang Rai, so you’ll need transport to get there. We took the local bus because it was an easy and very cheap option at the time. Alternatively, you can use a taxi, Grab or tuk-tuk, hire a driver or visit as part of a tour.

We deliberately arrived for opening time, which I’d recommend if you can manage it. The temple is one of Chiang Rai’s biggest attractions and becomes much busier once the tour groups start arriving from Chiang Mai.

The White Temple currently opens at 8am, with admission costing 200 baht for foreign visitors. Closing times can vary, so check before visiting if you’re planning to arrive late in the afternoon.

Allow at least an hour to look around, and remember that this is still a religious site, so dress appropriately.

If you want to see more photos and read about our visit, take a look at my full guide to visiting the White Temple.

Short on time? It is possible to visit the White Temple on a day trip from Chiang Mai, although it makes for a long day.

If you have the time, I’d stay in Chiang Rai instead – there’s plenty more here worth seeing.

The Blue Temple

Another of Chiang Rai’s colourful temples is Wat Rong Suea Ten, better known as the Blue Temple.

Unlike many of Thailand’s historic temples, this one is relatively new. Its main hall was completed in 2016, although the complex has continued to develop.

As the name suggests, blue is everywhere. The exterior is an intense blue decorated with gold, while inside you’ll find elaborate blue artwork surrounding a large white Buddha.

The temple was designed by Phuttha Kabkaew, who was a student of Chalermchai Kositpipat, the artist behind the White Temple.

The Blue Temple is around 4km from central Chiang Rai. We combined our visit with the Black House, which worked well as both are north of the city centre.

The temple is currently open from 7am to 8pm and entry is free.

It doesn’t take a huge amount of time to visit, but it’s quite different from the White Temple and I definitely think it’s worth seeing both.

More Chiang Rai Temples to Visit

If the White Temple and Blue Temple aren’t enough, there are plenty more temples to visit in and around Chiang Rai.

Wat Phra Kaew is one of the most important. It was here that the famous Emerald Buddha was discovered in the 15th century after lightning damaged a chedi and revealed the statue hidden inside.

The original Emerald Buddha is now in Bangkok’s Grand Palace, but a new jade Buddha was installed here in 1991. There is also a museum containing religious art and artefacts.

Another impressive option is Wat Huay Pla Kang, outside the city centre. It’s instantly recognisable thanks to the enormous white statue that dominates the site.

Despite commonly being called Chiang Rai’s Big Buddha, the statue represents Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. You can take a lift up inside for views across the surrounding area. The complex also includes a distinctive nine-storey pagoda and white temple.

If you’re staying around the centre, Wat Jed Yod is another easy temple to pop into as you walk past. It’s much less elaborate than Chiang Rai’s headline attractions, but that’s part of its appeal.

The Black House

After all those colourful temples, the Black House offers something completely different.

Also known as Baan Dam Museum, this unusual collection was created by Thai artist Thawan Duchanee.

Rather than being a single black building, the site contains more than 25 buildings displaying art and objects made from materials including wood, animal skins, horns, bones and shells.

It’s dark, strange and at times a little confronting – particularly if you’re not expecting quite so many animal remains.

We enjoyed it simply because it was such a contrast to the temples we had been visiting. There was also a traditional dance performance happening while we were there, although I wouldn’t plan your visit around seeing one.

The Black House is north of central Chiang Rai, around a 20–30 minute drive from the city. We hired a tuk-tuk to take us there, wait for us and bring us back, stopping at the Blue Temple along the way.

If you’re visiting both, combining the Black House and Blue Temple into the same trip makes sense rather than travelling out from the city twice.

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Want to see a lot in one day?

There are full-day tours from Chiang Rai that combine the White Temple, Blue Temple and Black House with a tea plantation and the Golden Triangle.

Some also include a Long Neck Karen village and an opium museum. It’s a long day, but a good option if you want to see many of the region’s most popular attractions without organising all the transport yourself.

Check prices and availability for this Chiang Rai day tour here.

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Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park

If you’re interested in learning more about northern Thailand beyond its temples, consider visiting Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park.

The park showcases the art and cultural heritage of northern Thailand and houses an extensive collection of Lanna artefacts.

One of the highlights is Haw Kham, or the Golden Pavilion, an impressive wooden building constructed in traditional Lanna style.

We didn’t make it here during our short visit, but I’d consider adding it if I returned to Chiang Rai. It offers something quite different from the contemporary temples the city has become famous for.

Chiang Rai Night Bazaar

For an easy evening activity, head to the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar in the centre of the city, right near Bus Terminal 1.

The market opens every evening, with stalls selling souvenirs, handicrafts, clothing and plenty of food.

We ate here during our visit, and the Pad Thai I bought from one of the food stalls was one of the best I had in Thailand.

There are also areas where you can sit down for a meal. When we visited, there was live entertainment on stage, including traditional music and dancing.

One thing I particularly liked was that it didn’t feel as hectic as some of the bigger night markets we visited elsewhere in Thailand.

There was still plenty going on, but it was easy to wander around, grab something to eat and enjoy the atmosphere.

Chiang Rai Clock Tower

You’ll probably come across the Chiang Rai Clock Tower without even trying. Sitting in the middle of a busy intersection in the city centre, it’s hard to miss.

The elaborate golden clock tower was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, the same artist responsible for the White Temple, and you can definitely see similarities between the two.

It’s worth walking past during the day, but try to come back after dark too.

Each evening the clock tower puts on a short light and sound show, when the tower changes colour accompanied by music. Shows are currently held at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm.

It’s free and only takes a few minutes, so it’s an easy addition to an evening exploring central Chiang Rai – perhaps before or after dinner at the Night Bazaar.

Visit a Cat Cafe

If you need a break from temples and sightseeing, Chiang Rai has something a little different – a cat cafe.

We visited Cat ’n’ a Cup in the centre of Chiang Rai, and as someone who was missing my cat at home, I loved having the chance to sit down for a while with a drink, dessert and a few cats for company.

In fact, we enjoyed it enough that we went back a second time.

On that visit we ordered an enormous waffle stack. It was delicious, but we definitely overestimated how much we could eat. If there are two of you, learn from our mistake and don’t automatically order the biggest one!

Cat ’n’ a Cup is still operating, so if you’re a cat lover and want somewhere to escape the heat for a while, it’s a fun little stop while exploring central Chiang Rai.

Eat Khao Soi

You can’t visit northern Thailand without trying khao soi.

This northern Thai speciality is a rich coconut curry noodle soup, usually topped with crispy noodles and served with extras such as lime, pickled mustard greens and shallots.

We tried ours at a small local restaurant on Jedyod Road and loved it. It was cheap, filling and exactly the sort of meal I enjoy finding when travelling.

You’ll find khao soi at plenty of restaurants around Chiang Rai, so I wouldn’t necessarily go looking for one particular place. Instead, keep an eye out for somewhere busy with locals and give it a try.

Even if you’ve already eaten khao soi in Chiang Mai, trying another bowl hardly feels like a hardship!

Get a Thai Massage

After a day spent walking around temples and markets, a Thai massage can be a very welcome addition to your Chiang Rai itinerary.

You’ll find massage shops throughout the city centre, offering everything from traditional Thai massage to foot and oil massages.

I tried to squeeze in a quick half-hour foot massage during our visit, but everywhere I asked was offering treatments of at least an hour. With only 36 hours in Chiang Rai, I simply couldn’t fit it in.

If I were visiting again, I’d leave a little more space in the itinerary for one.

Take a Food Tour

If you want to explore Chiang Rai’s food scene beyond ordering whatever catches your eye at the Night Bazaar, consider joining a food tour.

We didn’t do one in Chiang Rai, but we’ve done food tours in plenty of other places in Asia and I’m a big fan of them. They’re a great way to try dishes you might otherwise walk straight past, particularly when you don’t recognise what’s being cooked.

Northern Thai food has its own flavours and specialities, and a local guide can introduce you to dishes beyond the Thai favourites you might already know.

A food tour early in your stay can also give you ideas for other foods and places to try while you’re in Chiang Rai.

Take a Thai Cooking Class

If you’d rather do more than simply eat your way around Chiang Rai, a Thai cooking class is another option.

We didn’t do one during our visit, but Suwannee Thai Cooking Class was one of the options I found when researching Chiang Rai and it is still operating today.

Classes include a visit to a local market before you get into the kitchen and prepare several Thai dishes yourself.

Allow around half a day, so this is probably better suited to a longer Chiang Rai itinerary than the 36-hour visit we had.

Day Trips from Chiang Rai

If you have more than a couple of days in Chiang Rai, it’s worth using one of them to explore the surrounding province.

One of the most popular options is the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet around the Mekong and Ruak Rivers.

You could also visit Choui Fong Tea Plantation, or head into the mountains around Doi Tung and Mae Fah Luang Garden.

Another option is Tham Luang Cave, which became known around the world after the dramatic rescue of 12 young football players and their coach in 2018. Guided visits can now go beyond the cave entrance into parts of the cave system, although access can depend on conditions.

Other trips focus on hiking, waterfalls and the mountain scenery of Chiang Rai Province.

If you want to cover a lot in one day, this full-day Chiang Rai tour combines the Golden Triangle and tea plantation with the White Temple, Blue Temple and Black House, plus several other stops.

You may also see tours that include visits to Karen or other hill tribe villages. I’d look closely at how these experiences are run before booking.

I prefer experiences where local communities are genuinely involved and benefit from tourism rather than villages that exist primarily as tourist attractions.

If you don’t want to join a group tour, hiring a driver for the day can be a good alternative, particularly if there are two or more of you. It also gives you more control over where you stop and how long you spend at each place.

Chiang Rai Walking Streets

If you’re in Chiang Rai over the weekend, there are a couple of extra night markets worth adding to your plans.

The Saturday Walking Street takes over Thanalai Road in central Chiang Rai from late afternoon. It’s a large local market with food stalls, handicrafts and clothing.

On Sunday, another walking street is held along Sankhongnoi Road, sometimes called Happy Street. This one tends to feel a little more local and is another good opportunity to try street food and browse the stalls.

We were in Chiang Rai during the week, so unfortunately we missed both.

You can still visit the regular Chiang Rai Night Bazaar as well, but the walking streets give you another evening option and a slightly different market experience.

How to get to Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is in northern Thailand, around 190km from Chiang Mai.

We travelled from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by bus, which is still one of the easiest options. GreenBus operates multiple services between the two cities each day, with the journey taking around 3–4 hours depending on the service.

I’d book ahead if you’re travelling during a busy period rather than relying on getting a seat when you arrive.

Chiang Rai also has its own airport, Mae Fah Luang–Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI), just north of the city, with domestic flights connecting it with Bangkok and other destinations.

There is no railway station in Chiang Rai, so you can’t travel directly there by train. If you’re travelling around Thailand by rail, Chiang Mai is the more practical jumping-off point before continuing by bus.

Once you arrive, central Chiang Rai is relatively compact and easy to explore on foot.

For attractions further out, including the White Temple, Blue Temple, Wat Huay Pla Kang and Black House, you’ll need additional transport such as Grab, a tuk-tuk, tour or private driver. 

Places to Stay in Chiang Rai

If it’s your first visit to Chiang Rai, I’d stay in or close to the city centre, particularly if you only have a couple of days.

We stayed at the Wiang Inn Hotel, just a short walk from the Night Bazaar and Bus Terminal 1. It wasn’t the cheapest option, but we found it comfortable and good value, and the location made our short stay much easier.

There are plenty of other accommodation options around central Chiang Rai at different price points.

For a short visit, I’d prioritise location over luxury. Being able to walk out of your hotel in the evening for dinner or the markets is much more useful than staying at a beautiful resort well outside the centre.

How Long Do You Need in Chiang Rai?

We squeezed a surprising amount into 36 hours in Chiang Rai, including the White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House, Night Bazaar and plenty of wandering around the city centre.

But if I were planning the trip again, I’d stay a little longer.

Two full days would give you enough time to see the main Chiang Rai attractions without rushing quite as much as we did.

If you also want to take a cooking class or explore further into Chiang Rai Province, I’d allow three or four days.

We arrived primarily because I wanted to see the White Temple and left wishing we’d given ourselves more time.

Is Chiang Rai Worth Visiting?

For me, absolutely.

I went to Chiang Rai because I wanted to see the White Temple, but that ended up being only one part of what I enjoyed about the city.

Chiang Rai feels smaller and more relaxed than Chiang Mai, but there’s still plenty to keep you busy. You’ve got some of Thailand’s most unusual temples, interesting art, night markets, northern Thai food and plenty more to explore in the surrounding countryside.

Our 36 hours went far too quickly.

If you’re already travelling through northern Thailand, I wouldn’t just squeeze Chiang Rai into a very long day trip from Chiang Mai. Stay for a night or two if you can and give yourself time to see what else is here beyond that very famous White Temple.

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