Why I Loved Chiang Rai, Thailand: The Ultimate Travel Guide
A lot of people skip Chiang Rai or rush their visit during their Thailand itinerary, but I urge you to spend some time here. It has a much slower pace than Bangkok and other parts of Thailand, including even Chiang Mai. In this travel guide, I’m sharing the best things to do in Chiang Rai, where to stay, how to get around, and my exact 2-day itinerary.
Most people go to Chiang Rai as a day trip from Chiang Mai. While it is totally doable, slow traveling here is rewarding. There are plenty of things to do in Chiang Rai. Especially if you’re into nice cafes and exploring the most beautiful temples I’ve seen in all of Thailand.
I spent 2 nights in Chiang Rai and enjoyed it thoroughly. Plus, if you head to the mountains, you will find the stunning scenery. Read on for more of why I loved Chiang Rai, Thailand. I’ve put together the ultimate travel guide to Chiang Rai, so save this post for your future planning! These are the exact things I did during my time traveling solo in Chiang Rai.
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How to Get There
Through an organized tour
You can book a tour like this one and have all logistics taken care of. They take you to all 3 main temples and the beautiful Lalitta Café.
by Flying
Chiang Rai has its own airport, making it highly accessible if you’re coming from other areas of Thailand, especially Bangkok, for direct flights. I always use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals.
by Bus
by Car
You can also rent a car for very affordable rates. If you do this, you have the flexibility to explore the mountainside areas of Chiang Rai, too. This part of Chiang Rai is an hour out of the city center.
by Taxi
Grab is the Asian version of Uber. There’s also InDrive and Bolt. But if you’re going a long distance, I recommend a private transfer, which you can get via GetYourGuide.
Where to Stay in Chiang Rai
If you have a short stay in Chiang Rai, I recommend staying in the city center. Near the bus station is convenient and will put you in the area where you can easily get around.
I personally stayed at Hi Chiang Rai – it was about a 7-minute walk from the bus station and central to restaurants and cafes. As a solo traveler, I was looking for something budget-friendly. I paid £30 a night here. There’s a nice indoor pool in the courtyard. The rooms, however, are super basic.
One Day Chiang Rai Itinerary
One day is doable to visit Chiang Rai using the itinerary below. If you prefer a slow pace, add a day or two. You can then visit the beautiful countryside too!
8 am: Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)
10:30 am: Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple)
11 am: Lunch and coffee at Lalitta Café
1 pm: Wat Huay Pla Kang
2 pm: explore Chiang Rai City Center
6 pm: Chiang Rai Night Bazaar
7 pm: Clock Tower night show
Two-Day Chiang Rai Itinerary
You can follow day 1 above or split it into 2 days for a more relaxed pace.
If you have 2 days or more in Chiang Rai, you can explore Phu Chi Fa, a cliff-top viewpoint on the Thai–Laos border. It’s one of the most beautiful spots in Thailand, especially at sunrise. Located high in the mountains on the Thai–Laos border in Chiang Rai province. At sunrise, you’ll see a “sea of mist” and layered mountain views.
I recommend visiting the tour below, which will pick you up early and guide you to the best viewpoint at sunrise.
Traveling to Chiang Mai? Don’t miss my full guide on it! <– Get my Chiang Mai Itinerary
The Most Beautiful Temples in all of Thailand
One of the reasons I loved Chiang Rai so much was that it’s home to the most beautiful temples in all of Thailand (in my opinion!) The White Temple and Blue Temple truly impressed me.
The dress code at temples all over Thailand is very strict. You must cover your shoulders and knees, or you won’t be permitted to enter. I always wear a long dress and throw on a scarf, and it works just fine!
Wat Rong Khun – The White Temple
This is one of the world’s prettiest temples. Located in Chiang Rai, Thailand, this is the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun).
Its story is the most fascinating. You pass hundreds of reaching hands (basically hell) until you get to heaven. Represented by the white design (purity) and covered in mirrors to reflect wisdom.
One thing you won’t want to do is go back the other direction, as you’ll be headed straight back to hell. There are signs everywhere advising about the one-way system.
Don’t miss a visit to the bathroom! It’s the prettiest bathroom you will ever see, trust me. The whole thing is gold and elaborate!
To get here, you can take the public bus or a Songthaew (a converted pickup truck/shared taxi). I took a Grab (like Uber), which cost maybe $10 usd – so if you’re on a budget, the other options are best.
Photo tips: I arrived right at 8 am on a weekday, and there were still tons of people around. The best time to visit is right at opening or right before closing time. If you get there first, you can get in some empty shots with a bit of patience. The very entryway where you see the reaching arms will have an annoying loudspeaker announcement that keeps telling you to keep walking. Everyone tends to ignore it anyway and take photos here.
But there are many other beautiful angles to take, and if you angle low, you can achieve the photo I got on the right above. There were actually a lot of people passing through behind me, but I blocked them.
The temple interior is not allowed to be photographed, so I chose to respect this. It’s gorgeous, and you will have to see it yourself!
🎟️ 200 baht ~ $7 usd
🕥 8 am -5 pm daily (arrive at opening to get fewer crowds)
👗 cover knees & shoulders to enter
⭐ Why go: One of Thailand’s most iconic temples. It’s fully white with mirrored mosaics
Wat Rong Suea Ten – The Blue Temple
Visiting the Blue Temple is one of the best things to do in Chiang Rai. It’s actually a bit smaller and quieter than the White Temple. However, I spent just as much time here admiring it. It’s really beautiful and crazy how intricate all the details are. The whole temple is painted blue with hues of gold all around. The color is said to represent wisdom, purity, and the infinite sky.
Inside, you will find a large white Buddha statue set amongst the blue mural-covered walls. I thought it would be quite difficult to get a photo sitting inside with it empty, but it was pretty easy. I went around 4 pm with no issues. Just note that the shade is all along the front of the temple in the late afternoon. Possibly, morning time is a better time to visit for the best lighting. The back of the temple is also just as beautiful to photograph and is where the first photo above was taken.
Don’t miss the naga (serpent) staircase at the entrance. It’s one of the nicest close-up photo spots here and much less crowded than the front of the White Temple.
🎟️ Free entry (donations welcome)
🕥 7:00 am – 8:00 pm daily (go early or near sunset for fewer people + nicer light)
👗 Cover knees & shoulders to enter
⭐ Why go: Famous for its beautiful blue walls, gold details, and modern design. It’s definitely one of the most photogenic temples in Chiang Rai
Wat Phra Kaew
I didn’t get a chance to visit this one, but I hear it’s really beautiful. Actually, it’s an easy one to visit because it’s in the center of Chiang Rai near the Clock Tower. It was once home to the Emerald Buddha, which is now in Bangkok.
🎟️ Free or small donation (suggested ~฿50–฿100)
🕥 8:00 am – 5:00 pm daily
👗 Cover knees & shoulders to enter
⭐ Why go: Famous as the site where the Emerald Buddha was first discovered; peaceful grounds and a beautiful jade Buddha replica
Wat Huay Pla Kang
Wat Huay Pla Kang was the quietest temple I visited in terms of crowds. But it’s so worthy of visiting!
Its huge white 9-storey statue of Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, can be seen from far away as you arrive, as it dominates the skyline. What I didn’t realize is that you can take a small elevator up inside the statue for panoramic views over Chiang Rai.
I loved this stop because it feels much more open and peaceful compared to the other temples, and the views alone make it worth coming.
One of the best photo spots is actually the giant dragon staircase on the way up to the statue. If you come at sunset, you will find the best lighting and might be lucky enough to see a beautiful golden sky.
Don’t forget to pair a visit here with the fairytale cafe, Lalitta Café. It’s only a 20-minute walk away.
🎟️ Free entry (donations welcome)
🕥 8:00 am – 5:00 pm daily
👗 Cover knees & shoulders to enter main areas
⭐ Why go: Massive 9-story Goddess of Mercy statue, giant dragon staircase, panoramic views
It’s home to the prettiest flower garden
This magical flower garden is just a 10-minute drive from the Blue Temple. You’ll find endless flowers and fun displays all around. My favorite was the Umbrella Street in Chiang Rai. I love finding umbrella streets around the world, so I was really surprised to see one here. There is an annual flower festival that takes place from December to February.
See the light show at the Clock Tower
The Chiang Rai Clock Tower is right in the city centre. Designed by the same artist who created the White Temple, it’s an iconic landmark to Chaing Rai. But it’s set along a busy traffic roundabout.
I would recommend a visit in the evening for the light and sound show. Every night at 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, the tower changes colors synced to music. The shows are free, and last about 10 minutes.
Many people gather on the stairs across the clock tower 10 minutes before the show, but you can easily find a spot to stand too. If you have the time, and since it’s central, you should definitely visit. But to be honest, the show was a bit underwhelming to me, so if you are short on time, it’s not a must in my opinion.
Chiang Rai’s Best Restaurants and Cafes
Cafes
Lalitta Café
Thailand has some really elaborate and beautiful cafes. One of the prettiest in all of Thailand has to be Lalitta Café. I’d pair it with a visit to Wat Huay Pla Kang, which is only a 20-minute walk away. This cafe is a true fairytale with waterfalls, a colorful tiled pathway, and a mist-filled, tropical landscape. I will caveat that the waterfalls are all man-made, but it doesn’t take away from the beauty of this place. I’d recommend visiting at opening time to avoid the crowds. You might be able to get away with visiting closer to sunset, but I opted to go in the morning. As I was leaving, it was already filling up with tons of tourists. There’s a 60 baht fee to enter, so you don’t have to order anything at the cafe if you don’t want to. I love Thai tea, so I ordered that. They also have food if you’re hungry.
Pasom – Art cafe and activity.
Pasom – Art cafe and activity is the perfect spot to relax after all your exploring in Chiang Rai. I spent some time catching up on work, there’s plenty of seating and space. They even have a quiet working space upstairs. The iced coffees were seriously artisan – with lots of cream and froth. They also have an art gallery space. I also noticed along this hidden street there were more cozy cafes to discover.
Restaurants
Aui Chan Kitchen
Aui Chan Kitchen – I stumbled upon this hole-in-the-wall place and had the most amazing pad thai for only 60 Baht ($2). It’s a really authentic place to try Thai food. You could tell that the owner freshly makes everything on her own, and I mostly saw locals eating here.
Panual’s 150 yrs Northern noodles
Panual’s 150 yrs Northern noodles is another great restaurant I found just by walking by. The interior decor is full of cool vintage trinkets. The food was really nice too. I had a braised beef soup (Nam Ngiao), and the Grilled pork wrapped in betel leaves was amazing.
Lanzhou Noodles
I was craving some really good noodles, so I found Lanzhou Noodles. The beef noodles were delicious, and you can see the staff making them fresh. But also considered going to Khao Soi Restaurant as well.
Chiang Rai Night Bazaar
The night bazaar is another great thing to do in Chiang Rai. Here you can enjoy some of Thailand’s best food. Don’t miss specialties like pad thai, khao soi, or som tam (papaya salad). They also have shopping and you’ll find everything from clothing to artwork here. It’s open every evening from around 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Tacos La Gatita Loca
Tacos La Gatita Loca is a relatively new restaurant in Chiang Rai. I love Mexican food and passed by this looking for a place to eat near the Clock Tower. I had a quesadilla, and it hit the spot for me. I loved the outdoor seating and decor as well.
Is Chiang Rai Safe for Solo Travel?
I personally travelled to Chiang Rai solo, and it was extremely safe! I even walked alone at night and felt 100% comfortable. Thai people are the kindest, and Chiang Rai has a peaceful feel compared to bigger cities like Bangkok. I personally traveled here solo and met a friend at random at the White Temple. I asked her to take my photo, and we ended up hanging out the rest of the trip!
Is Chiang Rai worth visiting?
Yes, Chiang Rai was so worth the visit! I found it had the most beautiful temples in all of Thailand. The White and Blue Temple were especially impressive. To go there alone is worth a visit!
How do you get to Chiang Rai?
I took a 3-hour bus from Chiang Mai, and on the way out, I flew to Bangkok via Chiang Rai’s airport, located moments from the city center.
What is the best time to visit Chiang Rai?
The best time to visit Chiang Rai is from November to February, when the weather is cooler and less humid. Note: the burning season is from late December through around April each year, in case you’re sensitive to smoke or poor air quality.
What is the best way to get around Chiang Rai?
Many people rent a scooter, but I didn’t feel comfortable, so I mostly used Grab (a ridesharing app). There’s also the public bus. Near the bus station, you can pick up tuk-tuks or private taxis too. Many of the sites are spread out, so you will need to arrange transfers if you don’t drive.
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