5 Things to See and Do in Chiang Rai, Thailand - Make the best of this city

If you have time to visit only one attraction in Chiang Rai then it should be the White Temple which is absolutely stunning. The Buddhist statues, the drawings, and the structures of the buildings are absolutely amazing that they are bound to keep you mesmerised for several hours. There are two museums in the temple premises, one which is quite old and unique and the other one is a recently built museum which also holds some paintings and drawings.

Wat Rong Suen Ten which is also known as the Blue Temple is the second most popular temple in Chiang Rai. The blue temple is said to have been completed only in the recent past and as the name suggests, it is a temple that is entirely painted in Blue with intricate golden details. Inside you will find the statues of gods, dragons, and other important figures that are extremely beautiful and detailed. The highlight of this temple would definitely be the gleaming white Buddha statute. Even though the temple is located on the other side of the Mar Kok River this temple can be reached from many hotels in the city including Hotel Sooknirund.

Even if you are staying at a luxury hotel in Chiang Rai this night bazaar is a place you must visit when you are in the city as it is one of the most exciting attractions here. The Night Bazaar is located next to the bus terminal so you will not have difficulty finding the location and it is open every evening from around 6 pm till around 11 pm on weekdays and till around 1 – 2 am on Friday and Saturday depending on the crowd at the market. If you are interested in unique, handcrafted products you will find this is a great location to shop as there are some tribes from the nearby mountain ranges that come to sell their arts and crafts at the night bazaar.

Doi Tung is located a little outside of the city of Chiang Rai but takes only about an hour to reach the location. The excursion includes a hike to the top of Doi Tung mountain which has several tourist attractions to explore. The Doi Tung Royal Villa, the Hall of Inspiration, and the Mae Fah Luang Garden are the three main attractions you can explore here. You can also try out a small zip-line activity when you are done exploring the top of the mountain.

Baan Dam Museum is also called the Black House Museum or the Black Temple and is definitely one of the most famous tourist destinations in the city. Located only about 10-12 kilometres away from Chaing Rai the Black House Museum got its famous name because it is mainly related to death / dying and is known to be extremely morbid. Once you get here, expect to see around forty small houses which are painted in black and decorated in crocodile skins, different animal furs, and a variety of skeletons from different species.