When talking about beautiful ancient architecture, temples in Chiang Mai are among the first places people around the world will think of. The many exquisite temples in Chiang Mai, a city with a long history, are a must-see, and Hungry Hub has compiled a list of 10 temples in Chiang Mai that are worth visiting to experience their unique beauty with one’s own eyes.
Top 10 Must Visit Temples in Chiang Mai
1. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratchaworawihan
Because of its location and architectural beauty, Phra That Doi Suthep, one of Chiang Mai’s most famous temples, attracts tourists from all over the world.
Phra That Doi Suthep is approximately 689 meters above the plains of Chiang Mai, or 1,046 meters above sea level, ensuring that when you go up, you will experience a unique, almost magical atmosphere.
2 Ways to Reach Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- Walk up the Naga staircase, which has 306 steps and takes about 30 minutes to complete.
- Travel to the top by electric tram; Thais pay 20 baht per person, while foreigners pay 50 baht per person. The car will be available from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Hour: 6:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.
- Location: Huai Kaeo Road Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50200
- Entrance Fee: 20 baht for Thais / 50 baht for foreigners
- Website: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep | Facebook
2. Wat Suan Dok
Wat Suan Dok, which translates to “the flower garden” in Thai, was previously the northern lord’s flower yard, which was ordered to be built as “Phra Aram Luang” in the year 1371 and built a pagoda to enshrine the Lord Buddha’s relics.
There are still many ancient and beautiful sanctuaries and objects within this temple, such as the Great Langka Chedi, a large pagoda containing the relics of the Lord Buddha or the president of the royal hall and a Lanna-style sermon, ensuring that visitors will experience Chiang Mai art to the fullest.
- Hour: 5:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.
- Location: 139 Suthep Rd, Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200
- Entrance Fee: No charge for all
- Website: Wat Suan Dok Chiang Mai | Facebook
3. Wat Chiang Man
Wat Chiang Man, the city of Chiang Mai’s oldest temple, has been in existence since the city was founded in 1296. Wat Chiang Man has two sanctuaries: the main hall, which was built in modern times, and the small hall, which was built in ancient times.
Murals painted in gold on a red background between the windows of the main hall tell the story of the creation of the city and various temples. The small hall, the temple’s original hall, houses the essential Buddha images of Chiang Mai.
As for the ordination hall, it is very important to the people of Chiang Mai because, in the front hall, there is a stone inscription of Wat Chiang Man that records the story of the creation of Chiang Mai and the history of this temple.
- Hour: 5:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.
- Location: 171 Ratchapakhinai Rd, Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200
- Entrance Fee: No charge for all
- Website: –
4. Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Chedi Luang Varavihara, a spacious Lanna-style royal temple built in 1928, is located in the heart of Chiang Mai.
The largest stupa in Chiang Mai is enshrined at Wat Chedi Luang, but later in the year 1545, an earthquake caused the top of the stupa to be broken; however, the pagoda retains its majesty and captivates the visitor’s eyes as if nothing has been damaged.
Inside, a Buddha image in an early Chiang Mai style influenced by Indian art is enshrined, and in front of its entrance is an ancient Naga staircase that has been around since the beginning and was known as the most beautiful Naga of the North.
- Hour: 5:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.
- Location: 103 Prapokkloa Rd, Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200
- Entrance Fee: free for Thais / 40 baht for foreigners
- Website: Wat Chedi Luang Chiang Mai | Facebook
5. Wat Phra That Doi Kham
Wat Phra That Doi Kham, an important temple in Chiang Mai that is over 1,300 years old, is located on Doi Kham behind the Royal Park Rajapruek, about 10 kilometers from the city. Wat Phra That Doi Kham was built in 687 and consists of a chedi containing the Lord Buddha’s relics, a sanctuary hall, and stucco Buddha images.
- Hour: 6:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
- Location: Mae Hia, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50100
- Entrance Fee: No charge for all
- Website: Wat Phra That Doi Kham | Facebook
6. Wat Phra Singh
Wat Phra Singh, one of the most important temples in Chiang Mai, is a temple with a majestic Phra Singh, an ancient Chiang Saen Buddha image built in 700 AD.
Inside the temple, there are murals depicting Suphannahong and Sang Thong, which can only be found there!
There are also other arts that are worth seeing, such as the ordination hall decorated in Lanna style, the temple library decorated with statues of angels, and the Lanna-style circular stupa that guarantees that visitors will see with their own eyes how beautiful authentic Lanna art truly is.
- Hour: 9:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
- Location: 2 Samlarn Rd, Phra Sing, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50280
- Entrance Fee: Free for Thais / 20 baht for foreigners
- Website: Wat Phra Singh | Facebook
7. Wat Umong
Wat Umong, an ancient temple built around 1296, is a unique temple with internal walls and numerous passageways.
Inside the tunnel, there used to be murals, presumably painted between 1900 and 2000 B.E. Originally, it was probably full of paintings in every room, mostly depicting lotus flowers, peony flowers, and various birds such as peacocks, storks, parrots, and teal.
Archaeologists believe the bell-shaped stupa with 3 round tiers, resembling overlapping lotus petals, was built around the turn of the 20th Buddhist century.
The temple area is a shady garden with a variety of trees suitable for sitting in meditation, with a forest garden and a zoo behind it ideal for walks and another good place for bird watching, ensuring that visitors will delight in the unique atmosphere that cannot be found elsewhere.
- Hour: 5:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.
- Location: 135/10 Moo 10, Ratchaphakhinai Road Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50200
- Entrance Fee: No charge for all
- Website: Wat Umong | Facebook
8. Wat Lok Moli
Wat Lok Moli, a temple built in 1527 that had to be abandoned for hundreds of years, is an important temple that was recently rehabilitated by Chiang Mai’s monks from an abandoned temple in 2001.
Religious structures in the temple are exquisitely stunning, whether it’s a castle-shaped chedi, angel sculptures on the chedi’s corners, or a new Lanna-style royal hall built after the temple’s restoration.
This guarantees that visitors will feel as if they have journeyed back in time to the glorious Lanna era.
- Hour: 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
- Location: 298/1 Manee Nopparat Rd, Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200
- Entrance Fee: No charge for all
- Website: Wat Lok Moli | Facebook
9. Wat Phan Tao
Wat Phan Tao, known as Chiang Mai’s most beautiful and complete teak wood Buddhism building, is an old temple in the Chiang Saen style. In addition, there is also an ancient pulpit that is more than a hundred years old for visitors to admire.
The main stupa of the temple is in the back, a bell-shaped structure on an octagonal base surrounded by beautiful chedis.
Aside from the elaborate architecture, the temple is also adorned with colorful northern-style lanterns, making it worth a visit just to experience its magical vibration.
- Hour: 6:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
- Location: 105 Prapokkloa Rd, Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200
- Entrance Fee: No charge for all
- Website: Wat Pan Tao | Facebook
10. Wat Jed Yot, Phra Aram Luang
Wat Jed Yot, one of Chiang Mai’s most important and ancient temples, is similar to the Bodhisattva Maha Vihara at Bodh Gaya in India.
The base of the pagoda is decorated with stucco images of deities, and the outside of the pagoda is decorated with stucco images of deities both sitting cross-legged and standing in different designs.
Furthermore, Wat Chet Yod is the temple where the world’s 8th edition of the Tipitaka was reconciled, which was the first in Thailand and is considered the practice of the monks in Lanna, making it a temple of great historical significance.
Besides that, the architecture inside the temple is grand and absolutely gorgeous, deserving of worship and a personal visit.
- Hour: 6:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
- Location: 90 Super Highway Rd. (Chiang Mai-Lampang), Chang Phueak, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 45130
- Entrance Fee: No charge for all
- Website: Jedyod Royal Temple – Home | Facebook
And that’s the list of 10 temples in Chiang Mai that we have carefully selected. Hungry Hub encourages you to loosen up in a peaceful and serene atmosphere in the wonderful city of Chiang Mai and find yourself falling in love with this magical city.
