Temples

There are more than 300 temples in Chiang Mai, many of them inside the Old City; for instance, there are 6 temples just along Phrapokklao Road and many more in and out of the Old City — You can't walk a block or two without stumbling into one. Most temples are free to go in, but they have donation boxes if you want to contribute. Most temples open really early in the morning. Although each one is unique, if you only have time to see a few, check out the following ( ★ view locations on map ★ ) :


Absolutely breathtaking golden 14th temple up Doi Suthep Mountain, with a hazy not-so-impressive view of the city. Take a windy 45-minute 60-baht songthaew (pickup truck taxi) ride up or hike up. It's 30 baht to enter for non-Thais. You'll need 30 minutes to an hour here. Very crowded.

14th century temple in the center of the Old City with an impressive old pagoda. It opens until 10:30 pm. 24-hour public bathroom here (no soap or toilet paper though)!
Wat Suan Dok ( ★ map )

Big 48-meter golden pagoda that's a 15-minute walk west out of the Old City on Suthep Road.. You can donate 50 baht for a bowl of coins that you put into over a hundred little alm bowls to make merit. Lots of stray dogs here but not so many tourists.
Wat Jet Lin / Wat Ched Lin ( ★ map )

Colorful lanterns and a stone bridge across a quiet pond in the southeast quarter of the Old City. Not as many tourists here. You can donate money to get some gold flakes and press them on the Buddha statues to make them gold. Opens from 4 am to 6 pm.

Located in the northeast quarter of the Old City, it houses a 2500-year-old marble Buddha and an 1800-year-old crystal Buddha. Tourists can pay vendors in front of the temple to release caged pigeons into the air.
☯ Other temples in Chiang Mai ☯ if you have more time

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