Top 17 Chiang Rai Attractions (2023)
Discover a relaxed vibe in Chiang Rai, where a mellow-feel greets you everywhere you go. You’ll find plenty of historical and cultural attractions in Chiang Rai. But what you’ll also find is an incredible place with brilliant cuisine, nightlife, music, entertainment, and shopping. Here are 17 of the best Chiang Rai attractions to visit.
1. Phu Chi Fah
This cliff will surely take your breath away. It’s the best place to visit in Chiang Rai to catch a view of the whole island. Walk through the lush foliage leading the way, and you’ll discover flowers sprawling across meadows in a dreamlike setting that’s hard to beat. While there indeed are many scenic places in Chiang Rai, this rocky summit is one of the best. Here, you can stand tall above the clouds. It’s the best place in the entire country to catch the sunrise too. Waking up early to see it is definitely worth it. With a visit here and you’ll find the true beauty of the world.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Subject to tour rates
2. Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong
This Chiang Rai attraction was built around the 10th century and still serves as the tallest point here. It’s another place to capture that stunning view of the whole island. In fact, the temple was built before this island was named the Lanna capital. There are sacred relics of Buddha here which are wonderful to see but please remember this place still serves as an important place of worship for the people here and should be respected. What will no doubt impress you most is the Golden Pagoda for its resplendent architectural style.
Operating Hours: Daily, 6:00am – 5:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
3. Clock Tower
Right in the main town, the Clock Tower can’t be missed. Even if you wanted to avoid it, you couldn’t possibly escape without catching a glimpse. It was designed by the same artist that created the White Temple. During the day, it appears as an ordinary clock, but at night, it chimes and emits lasers (at 7pm and hourly through 9pm). You’ll know it’s happening when you see the tower change from golden to green and pink.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
4. Oub Kham Museum
This fantastic museum hosts relics from a variety of kingdoms. You’ll get to see antique collections, pottery, and extremely rare pieces of Buddha. There’s also the golden throne of Chiang Tung, tribal costumes, and many more incredible things to behold with a visit to this Chiang Rai attraction.
Operating Hours: Daily, 8:00am – 5:30pm
Ticket Price(s): Adult – THB 200 | Child – THB 100
5. Long Neck Hill Tribe Villages
If you genuinely want to learn more about northern Thai culture, this is a must-visit. It requires a translator and setting up transportation, but those who have had the pleasure to see this tribe are treated to seeing elephants as well as meeting the members of the tribe. The orchid farm here and the Queen Sirikit Botanic Gardens are absolutely stunning.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Subject to tour rates
6. Chiang Rai Night Bazaar
Fully experience the charm of Thai culture at this night bazaar. This Chiang Rai attraction is a bit like other walking streets in Thailand in that you can walk around and shop the unique handicrafts carved from wood, find jewellery, bags, and plenty of other souvenirs created by the people here to take a piece of Lanna culture home with you. The prices are reasonable, plus it’s a wonderful place to eat from the street stalls and cool off with plenty of Thai beer. Authentic Thai massages here are a must, plus when you see the folk music performances and other cultural displays, you’ll want to grab another beer and stick around.
Operating Hours: Daily, 6:00pm – 11:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
7. Wat Rong Khun
The White Temple, designed by the same artists as the Clock Tower, is a gorgeous sight. As soon as you see it though, you may think it’s like every other temple until you realise the entire thing is pure white. To get there, you have to cross the bridge over a small pond of koi, some of which match the temple’s white exterior. Within the plaster, the artist, Chalermchai Kositpipat thoughtfully included pieces of glass so that it glistens like a jewel when the sunlight touches it. Before exploring this Chiang Rai attraction though, it is important to remember that the Thai people take temples very seriously as a place of worship so appropriate attire is required, plus you must remove your footwear once inside the temple grounds. It is an important centre for Buddhist values and worship.
Operating Hours: Daily, 8:00am – 5:30pm
Ticket Price(s): THB 50
8. The Golden Triangle
If you have very little time to explore Chiang Rai, it’s insisted that you visit the Golden Triangle. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations here. With a stunning landscape of hilly jungle terrain and the flowing Ruak River, this Chiang Rai attraction is the meeting point of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Where the Ruak River meets the Mekong River, it creates a natural boundary between the three nations. The locals call it “Sop Ruak.” It’s also the place you’ll want to go if you want to explore the Burmese markets in the area. Do not miss out on Phra That Doi Pu Khao on the hill or the Hall of Opium, which you can get to through an artificial poppy field.
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 8:30am – 4:30pm
Ticket Price(s): THB 200
9. Boon Rawd Farm and Singha Park
While China gets all the credit for tea, Thailand is another of the world’s most reputed producers of the stuff. The tea plantations here are exquisite. You’ll find them atop the scenic mountains, though the ride there is a sight to behold in and of itself. There are about 237 acres of sprawling farm and a golden lion at the entrance. It’s a must-see while in Chiang Rai. Learning about the workers on the tea farms is a fascinating slice of culture. Plus you won’t go hungry with the restaurant on-site which serves tasty Thai dishes as well as Western fare. It’s close by the White Temple and the Khun Korn Waterfalls so you can try to plan all of those in one day.
Operating Hours: Daily, 8:00am – 5:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
10. Doi Tung
This delightful royal villa is simply a beautiful sight. This Chiang Rai attraction aptly melds Swiss and Lanna styles of architecture, and once was the residence of the Late Princess Mother. She was responsible for lifting up the living conditions for the tribal people that reside in the area. Inside, the stunning interiors are sure to surprise. They’re made from recycled wood of teak and pine trees. The woodwork is incredibly impressive, especially the ceilings, so be sure to look it up. The constellation it depicts is the position of the stars at the time of birth for the Princess Mother.
Operating Hours: Daily, 7:00am – 5:30pm
Ticket Price(s): THB 90
11. Wat Klang Wiang
While it’s a small island, Chiang Rai has a huge heritage and values it stringently upholds in its temples. Among all the temples, Wat Klang Wiang is revered as an expert example of Lanna architecture. This Chiang Rai attraction was built in 1432, but in 1903, a massive storm destroyed it. A full renovation ensued to restore it to its former glory. The temple is brilliantly outfitted in gold and red and plentiful with elephant décor. All the intricate designs here are incredibly stunning, making it one of the most visited temples in Chiang Rai. Perhaps its most impressive feature is the intricate carvings of Buddha that span all three levels in the temple.
Operating Hours: Daily, 6:00am – 5:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
12. Khun Korn Waterfall
Northern Thailand is a spectacle of natural landscapes that are unlike any other. Here is where you’ll see some of the most spectacular waterfalls. Waterfalls are pretty much a Chiang Rai thing. You’ll see them just about everywhere here. Perhaps the best is the Khun Korn Waterfall. It is the highest and most powerful, not to mention the most famous. You’ll find it in the Khun Kon Forest with heights over 200 feet. The loud noise of the water here is the result of the force of the water. You’d be wise to dress for getting wet while hiking your way there. But the rewards are sweet. A relaxing moment at the foot of the falls is a wonderful way to cool off, but swimming isn’t possible due to the sheer number of large rocks.
Operating Hours: Daily, 8:00am – 4:30pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
13. Art Bridge
One of the relatively new Chiang Rai attractions, this bridge is where local artists display their works. It began in 2012, a place where you’ll find art of all kinds, plus a restaurant, café, art school, souvenir shop, and library. The locals call it “Khua Silapa” which directly translates to “bridge of art.” This is where the up and coming artists from all over the island try to get noticed by the rest of the world. You’ll find much to love about the unique works here, and perhaps many to take along home to redecorate with to create a unique flair in your living space. Additionally, the food at the restaurant is spoken very highly of while still having incredibly reasonable prices. You can spend much time here while spending as little or as much as you’d like for a chilled-out way to enjoy the day.
Operating Hours: Daily, 10:00am – 7:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
14. Mae Fah Luang Art And Culture Park
As mentioned, Chiang Rai is a more laid-back Thai experience. One of the absolute best things to do while here is to get to know the Thai culture among the tribal communities. This park was created originally for the purpose of bringing education to the minority ethnic tribes in the region, but today it serves as a museum with incredible collections of authentic pieces of both the Thai and Lanna cultures. Here, you’ll want to see the Golden Pavilion, known as Haw Kham. It contains impressive woodworks of Buddha, some from as early as the 17th century. The Haw Kham Noi Pavilion is another must-see while here for its incredible collection of murals. It’s a bit far from the main town but it is definitely a worthwhile place to visit in Chiang Rai.
Operating Hours: Daily, 10:00am – 7:00pm
Ticket Price(s): THB 200
15. King Mengrai Monument
While in the city centre, make a stop at this monument, devoted to King Mengrai. He was responsible for establishing the Lanna Kingdom in 1296. It has fascinating bits of history and is a great way to learn more about the culture in Chiang Rai.
Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours
Ticket Price(s): Free
16. Chiang Rai Beach
There’s something interesting about this beach. It sits on the banks of the Kok River. Peaceful Chiang Rai Beach is a wonderful place to eat in true Thai fashion in a bamboo hut. Cool off with a swim in the river, though be cautious during the rainy season as the current gets strong. The best time of year for a swim is from October to March and is a refreshing way to enjoy your stay.
Operating Hours: Daily, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
17. Huay Mae Sai Waterfall
This beautiful waterfall is not very known to tourists, making it your own slice of heaven. There are two levels here. The lower one features a deeper pool of water, perfect for swimming. The upper level features a taller waterfall and is a better place for basking in the sun.
Operating Hours: Daily, 8:00am – 5:00pm
Ticket Price(s): Free
You’ll certainly find all kinds of food in Chiang Rai as it has become more touristy, but you shouldn’t miss the chance to taste what’s referred to as ‘Lanna Food’. It’s the food of northern Thailand, and it’s delicious. Overall, you’ll find that Chiang Rai is a place to visit with its extreme beauty, lovely relaxation, and wonderfully friendly people that will make your exploration of it a priceless experience.