4 Must-Visit Places in Chiang Mai

Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden

A place that conserves and collects plant species, grouped by family and genus and planted to be as close to nature as possible. In particular, the group of greenhouses on the hilltop offers both beauty and knowledge, making this garden a place to relax and to learn about nature, plants and landscape: a truly outstanding botanic garden.

The Tropical Rainforest House is a large greenhouse showing rainforest conditions and rainforest plants, with an atmosphere that feels like being in a real jungle. A man-made waterfall keeps the plants inside humid, and visitors can see the trees up close from an elevated walkway (the Sky Walk).

The Orchid and Fern House displays all kinds of orchids and ferns, with gravel paths through the greenhouse. If you love collecting orchids, you'll be thrilled for sure~

The Arid Plants House is a large greenhouse growing all kinds of cacti, such as golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii), Mammillaria, Astrophytum and Ferocactus, as well as century plants, stone roses, prickly pears, succulents, agaves and tall drought-tolerant plants. Most of them are common cactus varieties rather than rare ones.

The Lotus and Water Lily House brings together lotuses, especially Thai and Asian varieties, with beautiful, really brightly colored flowers.

More details: Admission is 60 baht for adults, 40 baht for students and 20 baht for children or seniors. If you drive yourself, it's 100 baht per car, or 30 baht per motorbike.

Wat Umong, or Suan Phutthatham

This is another important temple in Chiang Mai, shady and spacious, and designed in the Sri Lankan (Lankavamsa) Buddhist tradition. It was originally built in the time of King Mangrai, in a grove of 11 bamboo clumps. Later, King Kue Na had a tunnel built in the temple grounds, and so it came to be called Wat Umong Thera Chan, or eventually just Wat Umong. The name Suan Phutthatham was given by Bhikkhu Panyananda, head of Wat Umong from 1949 to 1966, to describe the large stretch of forest covering the ancient abandoned temple, about 150 rai (roughly 24 hectares) in all, bringing together the various temples around Wat Umong.
  Inside the temple there are lots of interesting spots, such as the tunnels beneath the 700-year-old chedi, which are unusual in a way you won't see at ordinary temples: four tunnels all connected to one another. Outside the tunnels is a courtyard of Buddha heads made in the Phayao school of craftsmanship, which feels quite mystical as you walk around. There's also the Dhammaghosana Hall, a museum, a replica Ashoka pillar, a Dhamma courtyard and an island in the pond where you can make merit by feeding the fish, all surrounded by shady greenery and places where the monks practice.

More details: To get to the temple, I'd recommend taking your own car, as it's much more convenient. If you don't have a car, try a rot daeng (Chiang Mai's red shared trucks), or you can call a taxi.

One Nimman

A hub that brings shops, art, culture and contemporary style together in one place. It's at the Rincome intersection, right next to Nimman Soi 1, and if you drive around Chiang Mai it's sure to catch your eye. The second floor has shops selling souvenirs, clothes and all sorts of odds and ends, and there are pretty, chic photo spots in almost every corner, so you'll never get bored walking around.

More details: There's convenient parking for cars, buses and motorbikes, and plenty of public transport passes by too. Chiang Mai now has shuttle buses that run from the airport around the city for 20 baht per route, and they pass One Nimman too, just 15 minutes from the airport.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

This is one of those places where, if you skip it, you can't really say you've been to Chiang Mai. It's the most important temple in Chiang Mai, built around 1383 (Buddhist Era 1926), during the reign of King Kue Na Thammikarat. What makes Wat Phra That Doi Suthep stand out starts with the way up to the chedi: a masonry staircase lined with seven-headed nagas. Inside the temple you'll find a Chiang Saen-style chedi on a high base, with indented corners and an octagonal bell shape, covered with two layers of gilded copper plates (thong jangko) and built in the Lanna style. The temple grounds are also one of the places where you get a clear view over Chiang Mai city. It's a really beautiful temple.

There are two ways to get up to Phra That Doi Suthep:
  The Naga Staircase is one of the key symbols of Phra That Doi Suthep Temple and a favorite photo spot for visitors. At the bottom of the staircase there are lots of souvenir shops.
  The electric tram runs from 6:00 to 18:00 and costs 20 baht per person for the round trip (for Thais) or 50 baht (for foreigners). It makes getting up and down much easier.

More details: By private car, take Huay Kaew Road past Chiang Mai University toward Chiang Mai Zoo, where you'll find the road up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Worawihan. By public transport, songthaews (shared pickup trucks) wait in front of Chiang Mai University on the Huay Kaew Road side, running from 5:00 to 17:00.