21 Awesome Things to Do in Chiang Rai, Thailand, in 2023

There are a surprising number of things to see and do in Chiang Rai, a quirky, artistic city in northern Thailand. Close to the borders of both Laos and Myanmar, it’s a great base for visiting hill tribes and for scenic mountain trekking (one of the most adventurous things to do in Chiang Mai!).

Chiang Rai is also home to an incredible number of beautiful temples — from historic jewelled monuments to unusual contemporary artworks.

I stayed in Chiang Rai for over a week during my recent trip to Thailand, and I still didn’t manage to see everything. I think it’s an amazing city that deserves to be included on every northern Thailand travel itinerary.

21 Awesome Things to Do in Chiang Rai, Thailand

There are numerous interesting things to do in Chiang Rai. This is definitely one of the top places to visit in Thailand.

It’s possible to visit Chiang Rai for just a couple of hours on a day trip from Chiang Mai, which is the bigger and better-known city in northern Thailand. It’s a 3-4 hour bus ride from Chiang Mai on winding mountain roads.

Many people who visit either come for the day or stay for only one night, and they try to pack in as many Chiang Rai activities as possible on a 1-day group tour.

Tours can be a good idea if you’re short on time. But if you’re not, there are so many cool things to do in Chiang Rai that it’s definitely worth staying a few days. Or stay a full week, like I did.

Here are my top 21 things to do in Chiang Rai.

1. Visit the White Temple

The epic White Temple, also known as Wat Rong Khun, had to be first on the list. It’s definitely one of the most famous things to do in Chiang Rai, and in this case, its iconic status is deserved.

The White Temple is a sparkling-white modern temple with a huge number of surreal touches. It’s a genuinely breathtaking sight, and I was surprised by just how much I loved it.

The White Temple was designed by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. Apart from the famous temple itself, there are other buildings and interesting objects you can walk around, plus a gallery of unusual paintings by the same artist. It’s actually a work in progress, with surrounding buildings still being constructed.

You could easily spend a couple of hours taking in the small, surprising details that make up this beautiful temple complex — such as the most beautiful and disturbing No Smoking sign I’ve ever seen, or Keanu Reeves in his Matrix outfit…