The Best Temples in Chiang Mai (2026): 9 Temples Worth Your Time

The best temples in Chiang Mai are Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on the mountain, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh in the Old City, Wat Jed Yod with its seven spires, the forest temple of Wat Umong, Wat Suan Dok, Wat Chiang Man (the oldest in the city), Wat Sri Suphan (the “silver temple”) and Wat Pha Lat on the Monk’s Trail. You can see the Old City temples on foot in a morning; Wat Jed Yod, Wat Suan Dok and Wat Umong make a second half-day; Doi Suthep needs its own trip.

Chiang Mai has well over 100 temples, many of them from the Lanna kingdom (13th–16th centuries). Below are the ones worth your time, what makes each special, and how to group them. Fees and hours were checked in November 2026 and change often – carry small notes and check locally.

The best temples at a glance

Temple	Area	Known for	Entry for foreigners (Nov 2026)
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep	Mountain, 15 km	Golden chedi, naga staircase, city views	30 baht reported
Wat Chedi Luang	Old City	Huge ruined chedi, Monk Chat	about 40–50 baht
Wat Phra Singh	Old City	Viharn Lai Kham, Phra Singh Buddha	around 40 baht for the main halls
Wat Jed Yod	Superhighway, north-west	Seven spires, 1477 council, stucco deities	free
Wat Umong	Foot of Doi Suthep	Forest temple, brick tunnels	check locally
Wat Suan Dok	Suthep Road	White royal chedis, sunset	check locally
Wat Chiang Man	Old City	Oldest temple, elephant chedi	check locally
Wat Sri Suphan	Wua Lai Road	Silver ubosot	check locally
Wat Pha Lat	Doi Suthep slope	Jungle temple, waterfall	trail fee 100 baht (see below)

1. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

The most important temple in northern Thailand sits on Doi Suthep mountain above the city. A naga staircase of about 306 steps (or a funicular) leads to a terrace around a gleaming golden chedi said to hold a relic of the Buddha. On a clear day the view over Chiang Mai is superb. Foreigners pay a small temple fee – 30 baht in a mid-2026 guide; check locally. Since October 2025, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park charges entry at some sites on the mountain, but not at the temple by the main road. How to visit – by red truck, on the Monk’s Trail or on a tour – is in our Doi Suthep tour guide.

2. Wat Chedi Luang

In the heart of the Old City stand the massive remains of a 15th-century chedi, partly collapsed after an earthquake centuries ago but still enormous. It once held the Emerald Buddha. Elephant sculptures line its base, and in the afternoons monks from the Buddhist university chat with visitors (Monk Chat). Foreigners pay a small fee, reported at 40–50 baht in 2026.

3. Wat Phra Singh

Chiang Mai’s most revered Old City temple, home to the Phra Singh Buddha image, which is carried through the streets at Songkran. The small Viharn Lai Kham is a masterpiece of Lanna architecture, with gilded carvings and murals. Foreigners pay around 40 baht to enter the main halls (Oct 2026); the grounds are free.

Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh and Wat Phan Tao are a 10-minute walk apart and form the core of most guided walks. The 3-Hour Old City and Temples Guided Walking Tour (from about $12, 4.6 stars, 1,729 reviews) covers exactly these three; the Historic Temples and City Guided Walking Tour (from about $21, 4.8 stars) visits five temples.

4. Wat Jed Yod

Outside the moat on the Superhighway, King Tilokarat’s temple (founded 1455) has a square vihara topped by seven spires, modelled on the Mahabodhi temple. Around 70 stucco deities cover its walls, and in 1477 it hosted a great Buddhist council. It is free, open daily from about 6:00 to 18:00, and usually quiet. Read our Wat Jed Yod guide and how to get there.

5. Wat Umong

A forest monastery at the foot of Doi Suthep, with brick tunnels dating back to the Lanna period, shrines inside them, and a quiet lake. Trees are hung with proverbs in Thai and English. It is one of the most peaceful places in the city and a highlight of evening tours such as the Doi Suthep and Wat Umong Enchanting Evening Tour (from about $24, 4.6 stars, 1,935 reviews).

6. Wat Suan Dok

West of the Old City, on Suthep Road, this temple is known for its field of white chedis holding the ashes of Chiang Mai’s royal family, with Doi Suthep behind. It looks best at sunset. Wat Suan Dok also hosts Monk Chat sessions, and some evening tours, like the Doi Suthep, Wat Suan Dok & Wat Phalat evening chanting tour (from about $28, 4.9 stars), time their visit for the monks’ chanting.

7. Wat Chiang Man

The oldest temple in Chiang Mai, traditionally dated to the founding of the city in the late 13th century. Look for the chedi supported by rows of elephants and the small, revered crystal and stone Buddha images in the vihara. It is in the north-east of the Old City and usually calm.

8. Wat Sri Suphan – the silver temple

South of the Old City on Wua Lai Road, the silversmiths’ street, the ordination hall is covered inside and out in silver and aluminium relief work. Note that by tradition women may not enter the ubosot itself, but can view it from outside. It is beautifully lit in the evening and included on tours like the Old City Electric Tuk-Tuk Tour (from about $24).

9. Wat Pha Lat

Halfway up Doi Suthep, Wat Pha Lat is a small temple built around rocks and a stream in the jungle. Most people reach it on the Monk’s Trail. Since 1 October 2025, the national park charges foreigners 100 baht (children 50) on the Pha Lat nature trail, according to Chiang Mai CityLife – check locally.

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How to group the temples

• Old City morning: Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phan Tao, Wat Chiang Man – all on foot.
• North-west half-day: Wat Jed Yod, the National Museum, Wat Suan Dok, Wat Umong – by Grab or bike.
• Mountain afternoon: Wat Pha Lat and Doi Suthep, staying for sunset.
• Evening: Wat Sri Suphan and lit-up Old City temples, ideally with street food.
• Day trip: the White, Blue and Red Temples of Chiang Rai – see Chiang Rai day trips.

Not sure whether to go with a guide? We compare walking, cycling, tuk-tuk and evening tours in Chiang Mai temple tours. And before any temple, read the temple dress code.

Late in the afternoon you sit on the cool tiles of an Old City temple, shoes lined up by the steps. The gold of the chedi turns warm as the sun drops, a dog sleeps in the shade, and from somewhere inside comes the low murmur of monks beginning to chant.

FAQ

What is the most famous temple in Chiang Mai?

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, on the mountain above the city. In the Old City, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh are the best known.

How many temples should I visit in Chiang Mai?

Three or four a day is plenty. A good mix for two days: the Old City temples, Wat Jed Yod and Wat Umong, and Doi Suthep.

Do Chiang Mai temples charge entry?

Many are free. Foreigners pay small fees at some famous ones, for example around 40–50 baht at Wat Chedi Luang and about 30 baht at Doi Suthep (Nov 2026, check locally).

Which Chiang Mai temple is least crowded?

Wat Jed Yod and Wat Umong are usually much quieter than the Old City temples, especially early in the morning.

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