How to Spend One Day in Chiang Rai, Thailand: Things to Do and Tips

Chiang Rai is home to some of the most beautiful temples in Thailand. If you’re visiting Northern Thailand, you absolutely cannot miss Chiang Rai. In this guide, we’ll describe how to spend one day in Chiang Rai, and also essential information like how to get there, how to get around, where to stay and much more.

Recommended reading: One-Month Thailand Itinerary

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What is Included in this Guide?

Throughout this Chiang Rai travel guide, we’ll cover the following topics. Use the links below to navigate to the sections that interest you the most.

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Things to Do in Chiang Rai in One Day

For those with just one day in Chiang Rai, it’s possible to explore the most popular and beautiful temples and attractions like the White Temple, the Goddess of Mercy, the Blue Temple and much more—keep reading.

1. White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)

The White Temple in Chiang Rai is one of the most famous and beautiful temples in Thailand. If you’re in Chiang Rai, you absolutely cannot miss it. It has a small entry fee, but it’s absolutely worth it.

Tip: We visited in the morning and it was quite crowded. Some of our friends went near closing time and had the place all to themselves. So, opting for a later time near closing might be a better choice.

It was designed by an accomplished Thai visual artist (Chalermchai Kositipat) and it stands out for its white color and little pieces of glass that sparkle in the sun, making it shine.

The main building of the Temple is reached by crossing a bridge over a little lake and an area with hundreds of reaching hands that symbolize desired.

The murals of most temples depict scenes from Buddhist stories, but the walls of the White Temple contain murals that depict modern representations of good and evil, and contemporary figures, villains and superheroes from movies and comics.

You may also like: Chiang Mai Travel Guide for First-Timers (14 Things To Do)

The temple is truly beautiful, but there’s more to see in this place. For example, the golden building where the bathrooms are located is also spectacular. Additionally, we also found a golden wishing well where you can throw some coins to make a wish.

Located at the far left side of the White Temple, we found another imposing golden building on a lake reachable by a golden bridge. I’m not sure about the name of that building and I’m not sure if it’s open to visitors, but it’s truly spectacular.

At the back of the temple, there’s an attraction called “Cave of Art”, which is an artificial cave with scenes depicting a symbolic representation of a life’s journey through hell until reaching enlightenment. This place requires a separate entrance ticket. Unfortunately, we didn’t go inside, but after searching a bit about it afterwards, it seems worth visiting.

2. Wat Huay Pla Kang: Goddess of Mercy

Wat Huay Pla Kang is know for its huge statue of Goddess of Mercy with its stunning Dragon staircase to reach it. The temple has a unique architecture with Chinese influence (Chinese-Lanna Style). This place is absolutely stunning and it has free entrance. We visited right after lunch time and it was not crowded at all.

For an extra small fee (just 40baht per person), you can go on an elevator to the top of the Goddess of Mercy statue and see the surrounding landscapes and the beautiful decorated interior.

The Wat Huay Pla Kang Temple itself is guarded by a Naga staircase and it’s interior is beautifully decorated with amazing white and shinny details (most temples we’ve seen in Thailand are pretty simple from the inside, but this one really stands out).

There’s also a beautiful and unique pagoda guarded by two colorful dragons in Chinese style. In summary, this whole complex is truly beautiful and absolutely worth visiting. We spend more than two hours just exploring this place.

3. Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten)

Another temple that stands out in Chiang Rai for its uniqueness is the Blue Temple, Wat Rong Suea Ten. As the name suggests, it is all painted in blue color with golden beautiful details.

Wat Rong Suea Ten is a former abandoned temple that was redesigned by Putha Kabkaew, a Thai artist that was a student of Chalermchai Kositpipat, the artist that designed the White Temple.

Right at the entrance, before reaching the temple, you’ll find a white Buddha seated on blue pedestals in a water fountain. The stairs to the temple itself entrance are guarded by two huge Naga snakes. At the back of the building you’ll find a huge white image of Buddha.

The interior is is decorated with psychedelic spiritual paintings and a huge Buddha image.

Outside the temple, you’ll also find other beautiful Buddha figures and sculptures, mythical figures, and a blue and gold chedi.

4. Lallita Café

This café become very popular due to the reels on Instagram sharing this beautiful place. It’s like a cafe on an enchanted forest with topical plants, mist and waterfalls. It really seems a magical place, and it’s located in Chiang Rai next to other places of interest—only a 5-minute ride from the Goddess of Mercy.

To enter the café, there’s an admission fee, which can later be deducted from your total bill. We didn’t visit that place, and I truly regret it. Make sure, you take a look at it, because it seems truly worth it, even though the cakes and food seemed overpriced.

Related article: Bangkok Ultimate Travel Guide for First-Timers

5. The Black House Chiang Rai (Baan Dam Museum)

If you still have time on your day, you can consider a visit to the The Baan Dam museum. This is a popular museum in Chiang Rai, and it is also sometimes referred to as the Black House or Black Temple (even though this is not a temple).

This is a private art museum belonging to Thawan Duchanee, showcasing a mixture of traditional northern Thai buildings with unconventional and contemporary architecture. We didn’t have the time to visit this place, but many people classify it as an odd and creepy place, yet worth seeing for being so different.

6. Shinga Park

The Shinga Park is a huge park, with agricultural areas, beautifully organized tea plantations and beautiful nature all around. There’s a tram service for sightseeing around the place as the park is huge. There’s also the option to rent bicycles or golf cars to explore on your own.

Because our time was very limited, we explored by car and only saw the tea plantations and the huge Shinga statue. We just did a quick visit to this park, but you can spend a couple of hours or more exploring this place.

It seems to be a favorite among local families, especially for those with kids, as there’s a mini zoo where you can feed the animals up close. It’s a great place to spend some time, but in my opinion, if you’re in a hurry, consider skipping it.

7. Chiang Rai Night Bazaar

In the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, you’ll discover numerous street food stalls and a dining area, making it an ideal spot for affordable snacks or dinner.

Additionally, there are plenty of stalls offering clothing, paintings, souvenirs, and handmade crafts. We managed to purchase some bracelets for just 40 baht.

Moreover, the bazaar features free live entertainment, including singers, ladyboys, and other performers, as well as cultural shows.

8. Chiang Rai Clock Tower

The Chiang Rai Clock Tower is an iconic landmark in the heart of the city that you cannot miss. Designed by the same artist who created the White Temple, you’ll notice some similarities in terms of design.

Every evening, the Clock Tower comes alive with a light and sound show. The show lasts only a few minutes, and while it may not be as spectacular as other light shows we’ve seen, it’s still worth watching if you’re nearby. The shows are at 7 PM, 8 PM, and 9 PM.

Right in front of the Clock Tower, we discovered a small coconut ice cream stall. The delicious ice cream was served by the friendliest owners, and they had set up small chairs and tables on the sidewalks for their customers. We really recommend checking it out.

More Than One Day in Chiang Rai?

We only spend one full day in Chiang Rai, but now I regret not having spent more to check other nearby attractions. If you have two days to spend in Chiang Rai, consider adding the following places to your itinerary.

The Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle is the intersection of three countries: Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. This is the place where the Mekong River, the border between Thailand and Laos, meets Ruak River, the border between Thailand and Myanmar.

Many excursions to the Chiang Rai temples, also include a visit to the Golden Triangle.

Choui Fong Tea

I had this place saved on my map, but unfortunately, we didn’t have the time to visit it. This place is basically a tea farm that offers panoramic views of the tea plantations.

It also has a small café where you can taste the teas as drinks or in cakes, or ice creams while overlooking the tea plantations on the hills. If you’re a big fan of tea, like me, you’ll probably enjoy this place.

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How to Get to Chiang Rai?

Chiang Rai is easily accessible from Chiang Mai. There are several ways to get there:

• mini van: there are several companies that do this route by minivan. Usually, they’ll pick you up at your hotel in Chiang Mai and you’ll drop you at your desired destination in Chiang Rai. You’ll find several options on websites like 12GoAsia. This alternative is great if you’re travelling as a group. Alternatively, you can also search in travel agencies in Chiang Mai. The journey takes around three and a half hours.

• bus: the cheapest way to travel from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai is by bus, departing from Chiang Mai’s bus terminal 3 and arriving at Chiang Rai’s bus terminal 1. You can also buy tickets at 12GoAsia.

• rent a car: if you rented a car in Chiang Mai, you can easily get to Chiang Rai in more or less three hours, and you can still see other places along the way. We went to Chiang Rai by rented car from Chiang Mai, and it was an easy route with roads in generally good condition and not much traffic.

• organized tour: several organized tours will take you to the most famous temples in Chiang Rai. You can search on apps like GetYourGuide, or in travel agencies in Chiang Mai. Even though, one of these tours will be a bit rushed (consider three hours each way), this can be a great option if you’re short on time.

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How to Get Around Chiang Rai?

The most beautiful temples in Chiang Rai are not located in a central area close to each other. To get around, consider one of the following options:

• rent a motorbike: if you’re used to drive a motorbike, most temples will be within around a 20-minute drive. So, renting a motorbike for one day can be a good option.
• rented car: if you have a rented car (from Chiang Mai), you can easily reach all places of interest. Additionally, all most famous temples have space for parking, so you don’t need to worry about that. We rented a car, and everything went smoothly.
• Grab/Taxi: you can use the Grab app, similar to Ubber. You can also approach a taxi driver and agree on a price to take you to several places on the same day.
• Tuk-tuk: you’ll find several tuk-tuk drivers that will offer to take you to several places on an agreed price. Make sure to haggle the price and don’t accept the first offer.

Related article: How to Spend Two Days in Kanchanaburi: Itinerary and Tips

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Where to Stay in Chiang Rai for First Timers?

If you’re staying overnight in Chiang Rai, like we did, you’ll want to stay near the clock tower. This area is within walking distance of the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar, and many restaurants and cafes. It’s also a great area for budget travelers.

We stayed at the Na-Rak-O Resort Hotel.

We stayed at the Na-Rak-O Resort Hotel that was only 10 minutes by foot from the clock tower and from Chaing Rai Night Bazaar. This place was super cheap, it had a great vibe with simple, beautiful and unique decoration, and it even had parking space for our car.

Here are some other hotel great top-rated suggestions for affordable prices:

• MORA Boutique Hotel (luxury feel for a very affordable price): features a swimming pool, sun terrace, bikes, fitness centre, and buffet breakfast.
• SOOKNIRUND Hotel (luxury feel for a very affordable price): beautiful 4-star hotel about a 4‑minute walk from the Clock Tower, with a fitness centre, garden, restaurant, and free parking.
• Na-Rak-O Resort Hotel (budget): colorful and friendly budget hotel with clean rooms and a homey feel—great for saving money without sacrificing comfort (this is the one we stayed at).
• La Vie En Rose (SHA Plus) (budget): affordable hotel with a pool and spacious rooms, just a short walk from the city center—simple, clean, and great value.

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More Thailand Travel Guides

Finally, if you’re planning a trip to Thailand, make sure you take a look at all our other Thailand travel guides.

• Bangkok Ultimate Travel Guide for First-Timers
• Chiang Mai Travel Guide for First-Timers (14 Things To Do)
• Krabi Travel Guide for First-Timers (Ao Nang)
• Koh Phi Phi: Things to Do and Tips for First-Timers
• Koh Lanta Travel Guide: 3-Day Itinerary and 10 Best Things to Do
• Koh Lipe: Best Things to Do and Tips for First-Timers
• Ayutthaya Travel Guide: Visit on Your Own from Bangkok
• Maeklong Railway and Damnoen Floating Markets – What to Expect
• How to Spend Two Days in Kanchanaburi: Itinerary and Tips
• One-Month Thailand Itinerary

Preparing a Trip o Thailand? Take a look at our One-Month Thailand Itinerary.

Wrapping Up

Chiang Rai is a province in Northern Thailand easily accessible from Chiang Mai—approximately three and a half hours journey. It is home to some of the most beautiful temples we’ve seen in Thailand. Even if you’ve seen plenty of temples during your time in Thailand, these ones are very different and unique. The journey to Chiang Rai is absolutely worth it just to see these temples. If you don’t have a ton of time to spend in Chiang Rai, a day trip from Chiang Mai is also a great alternative.

In this Chiang Rai travel guide we’ve shared how to spend a great day in Chiang Rai as well as practical tips on how to get there and how to get around.

We hope you’ve found this travel guide useful and that it helps you plan your Thailand itinerary.

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