Chiang Rai: A Hidden Gem in Northern Thailand
Chiang Rai is a vibrant city in Northern Thailand that is often overshadowed by its more popular neighbor, Chiang Mai. However, Chiang Rai has a lot to offer visitors, including stunning temples, beautiful nature, and a laid-back atmosphere.
One of my favorite things about Chiang Rai was that all of its main attractions are very close to the city. Because of this proximity, you only need one full day to grab a scooter and visit all the hot spots. If you don’t feel comfortable renting a scooter, the easiest way to visit the surrounding areas is with a tour. Check out this cheap tour that will bring you to all the main hot spots or this fully customizable Chiang Rai tour where you can pick all of your destinations! Now that transportation is figured out, let’s get into the best things to do in Chiang Rai!
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The 8 Best Things to do in Chiang Rai
1. Visit the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)
When I say that this temple is reason enough to visit Chiang Rai, I’m not being dramatic. This temple is absolutely stunning and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The temple is entirely white and is covered in small mirrors that make it look like the building is sparkling.
The White Temple is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm and costs about 3 USD to visit
The grounds are also beautiful – the temple is surrounded by a moat and a number of other buildings, including a museum, a library, and a meditation center. Spend a while here just roaming the grounds and soaking in the peaceful atmosphere!
On the property, you will also see a cave art museum, which I highly recommend visiting (it costs around 1.5 USD). This museum houses a collection of paintings and sculptures by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, the creator of the White Temple.
2. Singha Park
Singha Park is a large agricultural park located in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It is owned and operated by Boon Rawd Brewery, the company that produces Singha beer.
Singha Park is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm
The park is home to a variety of attractions, including:
- Tea plantations: Singha Park is home to over 1,000 acres of tea plantations. Visitors can take tours of the plantations, learn about the tea-making process, and sample different types of tea.
- Animal farm: Singha Park has an animal farm where visitors can see and interact with a variety of animals, including cows, goats, sheep, and rabbits.
- Adventure activities: Singha Park offers a variety of adventure activities, such as zip-lining and ATV riding.
- Food and drink: Singha Park has a number of restaurants and cafes where visitors can enjoy delicious food and drinks.
The park is huge and fun to explore – our favorite part was looking out over the stunning tea gardens. You can even go on a hot air balloon ride here!
3. Wat Phra That Doi Khao Khwai
This stunning temple is at the top of a hill and rewards visitors with stunning views of the landscape. The temple itself is gorgeous and very colorful. This temple is definitely a bit more off the beaten path; there weren’t many tourists here at all and it felt like we had the place to ourselves! It’s free to visit, and you can visit whenever!
4. Goddess of Mercy
This statue was absolutely unbelievable. Standing at 90 meters tall, this buddha is enormous. It was a super cool spot to visit, and you can actually go up 25 floors to get amazing views of the surrounding area. Even the inside area of the 25th floor is stunning – decorated with amazing images all in white.
The Goddess of Mercy is open daily from 7 am to 9 pm. It’s free to explore the grounds and enter the bottom level of the buddha, but it costs around 1 USD to go up to the top.
There are a few other temples nearby the Goddess of Mercy, so spend some time exploring the whole area!
5. Lalitta Cafe
Down the road from the Goddess of Mercy, you’ll find Lalitta Cafe. This cafe is designed to look like a magical forest, with lush greenery, cascading waterfalls, and giant mushrooms.
You have to pay to enter the garden, but I thought it was so worth it. It was so peaceful to wander around the gardens, and it really wasn’t too crowded at all.
Lalitta Cafe is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm and costs about 1.65 USD to enter
6. Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten)
Chiang Rai’s Blue Temple is another stunning temple. This temple was built by the same person who built the white temple, which is why it looks very similar to that temple, just blue instead! Spend some time here exploring the temple and it’s grounds – it really is phenomenal and pictures don’t do it justice!
The Blue Temple is open daily from 7 am to 8 pm and is free to visit
7. Cooking Class
If you’ve been to Thailand before, you likely know that Thai food is amazing. Why not learn how to make some of it yourself so you can replicate it at home??
8. Cat ‘n’ a Cup Cafe
If you love cats, this is a must visit spot in Chiang Rai. Located downtown, this cafe allows you access into a room filled with cats with any purchase. The cafe sells coffee and cakes, and also gives you the option to buy some food for the cats to bring inside. We had a ton of fun here, I can’t recommend this place enough!
The Cat Cafe is open daily from 10 am to 9 pm
Best Time to Visit Chiang Rai
If you’re researching a trip to Thailand, you’ve likely come across the fact that different parts of the country have different rainy seasons. In Chiang Rai (and northern Thailand as a whole), the dry season runs from November to May, but the best time to visit is between November and February. During this time, temperatures are noticeably cooler than the later months of the dry season, which you’ll certainly want if you’re not used to extreme heat!
Where to Stay in Chiang Rai
For first-time visitors, budget travelers, and those who love lively atmospheres, we recommend staying downtown Chiang Rai, where the night market and the restaurants will all be within walking distance.
If you’re looking for more of a relaxed atmosphere and are will to spend a bit more, you may enjoy staying on the riverside. There are a number of really nice resorts in this area (including La Meridien) that promise a grand vacation!
Chiang Rai Accommodations
How to Get to Chiang Rai
Boasting an international airport and a busy bus terminal, Chiang Rai is super accessible by various forms of transportation depending on where you’re coming from and what your budget is!
How to Get to Chiang Rai from International Destinations
The easiest and fastest way to get to Chiang Rai from international destinations is by flying into its airport (CEI), which offers connections to major Thai cities and some international destinations.
If flights to Chiang Rai are expensive, you can also check out flights to Chiang Mai (CNX), where you’ll just need a 3.5-4 hour bus to get the rest of the way to Chiang Rai.
Check Skyscanner for Cheap Flights!
How to Get to Chiang Rai from Domestic Destinations
If you’re coming from anywhere that’s not in northern Thailand, you should definitely check out the flights – they’ll likely be the most expensive option, but you can certainly score some great deals depending on what date you’re flying. The buses will be very long trips, so flying is definitely the answer for people short on time.
If you’re coming from within northern Thailand, including from Chiang Mai, the bus will be your best bet!
Book your Bus and Train Tickets on 12Go
Day Trip to Chiang Rai
If you’re staying in Chiang Mai and don’t have time to spend a few days in Chiang Rai, we highly recommend doing a day trip from Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai is simply not to be missed – there are too many cool things to see here!
Keep Exploring Thailand…
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- The Ultimate Guide to the Chiang Mai Jungle Trek
- The Best Things to Do in Pai, Thailand
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Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
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