Chiang Rai is located all the way in the northeastern part of Thailand, which is therefore not routinely included in a Thailand itinerary. Still, a visit to this destination is worthwhile, especially if you like (very special) temples. For us, the temples in Chiang Rai are the most special temples in all of Thailand.
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What to do in Chiang Rai?
Chiang Rai is thus not as crowded as the nearby city of Chiang Mai. There are far fewer activities to enjoy in Chiang Rai but enough to keep you entertained for one full day. Below we give you more information about the most extraordinary temples in Chiang Rai and in our opinion perhaps the most beautiful in all of Thailand. The three most famous temples in Chiang Rai are the white temple, the golden temple and the blue temple. In addition, there are many more temples in Chiang Rai that you can visit.
Wat Rong Khun ~ The White Temple
In our opinion, the White Temple is truly one of the most beautiful temples in all of Thailand. The silver sparkles, millions of details and architecture make the white temple in Chiang Rai a true work of art. You can easily walk around here for over an hour to take in all the details. In addition, of course, it is also a huge photogenic temple.
If you do not want to share the white temple with hundreds of others, it is wise to set out early. Opening hours are every day from 08:00 – 17:00. We recommend getting there right away at 8:00 a.m. so you can still have the temple a little to yourself. The white temple is a short half-hour scooter ride from downtown Chiang Rai. The rural route also immediately shows a nice part of local life in Thailand.
You can visit the White Temple complex for free. However if you want to enter the temple and see it up close, you need to buy a ticket of 100 baht per person.
The Golden Temple
The golden temple is located in the same complex as the white temple. The Golden Temple is closed daily between noon and 1 p.m. for lunch break. Furthermore, you can enter this temple via a cool, obviously golden, bridge. The golden temple is a lot smaller and less impressive than the white temple, but it is still fun to visit.
Wat Rong Suea Ten ~ The Blue Temple
The blue temple is located more in the center of Chiang Rai. As you can guess, this temple is completely blue. Everywhere you look you see the indigo blue color, really very special.
The blue temple is completely free to visit. From the center of Chiang Rai, it is only a few minutes scooting to the blue temple. It is open daily from 07:00 – 20:00. The blue temple is a lot less crowded than the white one, so you don’t necessarily have to be here tremendously early. Of course, if you really don’t want to share the temple with anyone else, it is advisable to be there at 7:00 am.
The other temples in Chiang Rai
Besides these 3 most popular temples in Chiang Rai, there are many more temples in and around the city. If you get on your scooter and just ride around, you’ll come across quite a few. Just walk in everywhere to admire the beautiful details.
Day trip to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai
You can also do a day trip to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai. You will then leave early in the morning by minivan for Chiang Rai. Along the way you will visit several other attractions, such as the temples in Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle. The downside of this day trip is that you don’t get very much time at the attractions and the whole ride in the minivan can be very long. A minivan is not the most comfortable way to travel and it is a very long day. Check out the 3 different day trips from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai below.
Night Market of Chiang Rai
Besides all the temples in Chiang Rai, there is also a nice, small night market in Chiang Rai. At the night market you can buy some nice souvenirs and there is a nice restaurant where live music is played every night. This is the coziest restaurant in Chiang Rai.
How to get to Chiang Rai?
To visit the temples in Chiang Rai, you actually always pass through Chiang Mai. The bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai takes 3 hours. Tickets are available from 200 baht and can be purchased through this link. You travel on the Greenbus, which is really very comfortable.
If you travel by minivan from Pai to Chiang Mai, you can continue to Chiang Rai the same day. If you are coming from Bangkok then you can easily travel by night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. After this, you can catch the bus to Chiang Rai. Have a great time visiting the temples in Chiang Rai!
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