Beyond Chiang Mai Temples: What to Do, Where to Eat & Drink
Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand. On my visit to Thailand, I stayed five days in the town mainly to celebrate Songkran. However, Chiang Mai offers so many fun things to do for travelers beyond temple visits to waterfall chasing to hiking to exotic animal experiences. I could’ve easily stayed for ten days in this chill town and never get bored.
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1. Get Templed-Out at Four Must-Visit Temples in Chiang Mai
Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep (“Doi Suthep”)
After visiting many temples in Bangkok, I felt “templed out” by the time I got to Chiang Mai. As Thailand has no shortage of temples everywhere you go, you might feel the same way. But even if you do, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep should be on your list of the places to visit in Chiang Mai. It was my personal favorite.
Doi Suthep is located on top of the Mount Suthep, which is about an hour ride away from the Old City. The day we arrived in Chiang Mai, we rented a scooter via the hotel we stayed. We paid 250 BHT for 24 hours. We rode the scooter to Doi Suthep.
Hiking up the steep dragon stairs on a scorching hot day was challenging. But once I got to the top of Mount Suthep, the giant gold stupa and elaborately decorated temple stood in front of me. Wow, it was quite the scene!
Some people were walking around the giant gold stupa in circles with a white flower in their hands. Although I wasn’t sure what this ritual was about, it looked interesting. On the side of the giant stupa, I also noticed a line of people waiting to wash off mini stupa with water. I joined them and donated some money. Pity no one was there to explain what this signified!
April in Thailand was too hot. I was already drenched in sweat from hiking up the stairs; the temple was not air-conditioned. Before entering into the temple, everyone had to take off shoes. My bare feet couldn’t bear the heat from the floor any longer. Otherwise, I would’ve stayed much longer because the view at Doi Suthep was stunning.
Location: Map
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Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Chedi Luang is probably the most famous temple in Chiang Mai. My hotel was around the corner of this temple. I actually could see the tip of the temple from the balcony. It didn’t look fancy or elaborated like other temples in Chiang Mai. Although I thought about skipping, I decided to swing by as it was too close to miss. It turned out what I saw from the balcony was the tip of an iceberg. This temple was as beautiful as others.
Location: Map
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Wat Chiang Man
Wat Chiang Man is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. The temple interior was elaborately decorated in red and gold. The famous elephant statues had an antique vibe showing the age. The temple ground has a well-maintained garden area, featuring a pavilion on a small pond and jackfruit trees. Compared to other temples in Chiang Mai, Wat Chiang Man attracts fewer tourists. It is a beautiful and serene temple worth the visit.
Location: Map
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Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan
My most vivid memory of Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan is that it was a super shiny golden temple. When I visited during the day, the golden shrine was so bright under the Sun that I could barely open my eyes. During Songkran, the colorful paper decor adorned the temple, making it even more ornate. I ended up visiting this temple one more time at night as I walked along the streets at night bazaar. Although the night scene was entirely different from the day, the shrine was well-lit and as bling-bling as during the day.
As a side note, I treated myself with a coconut slush and Takoh (Thai Coconut Pudding) at the day market on site. They were yummy! I’m not sure if the market opens regularly or was part of the Songkran celebration.
Location: Map
Additional Resource: See how you can add all four temples in your Chiang Mai itinerary. (The link goes to an external site.)
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2. Take a Tour to Doi Inthanon National Park
Doi Inthanon National Park is perhaps the most underrated place to visit in Chiang Mai. Do not scratch this off your list just because it is not in the city. Hiking the highest mountain in Thailand leading to Doi Inthanon National Park is well worth your time. The Royal Pagodas and Queen’s Garden on top, overlooking the mountain, is breathtakingly beautiful. You do not want to mi