What to see in Chiang Rai in two days

Chiang Rai Located in northern Thailand, it's a small city but full of unique places that leave no one indifferent. Although it tends to be overshadowed by its neighbor, Chiang Mai We fell in love with it because we made some improvised plans instead of seeing the typical recommended temples.

In this article we tell you how we organized our visit with motorcycle routes, local food, and practical tips. At the end, you'll find a map with the essentials from Chiang Rai so you can plan your own itinerary.

How to get to Chiang Rai

To reach Chiang Rai There are different options depending on the site of origin. We leave you all the detailed information in the following post:

• How to get to Chiang Rai.

We decided to go directly from Ayutthaya, so our choice was a night bus who arrived at 6 in the morning. We didn't know what the experience was going to be like but it is highly recommended The bus goes without lights so you can sleep and they even give you some food We do recommend bringing an eye mask and a sweatshirt, though, as the air conditioning is on full blast.

How to get around Chiang Rai

First, we'll tell you about the different options available for getting around Chiang Rai. The option you choose will depend on how much time you have y what sites you want to visit. Here are the most common options:

• Tuk-tuk: Tuk-tuks are a classic and practical option for short distances within the city. The price usually depends on your negotiating skills, but in general, a trip within the city center costs between 50 and 150 THB (€1.50-€4). If you go as a couple or in a group, it's easier to share the cost and it's worth it. Tip: Always ask the price before getting on, as fares aren't fixed.
• Songthaew: They are like shared vans that are super typical of the area. For about 20-40 THB per person (€0.50-€1) allow you to travel short distances, although if you want to go to more distant tourist spots, they'll take advantage of this and try to charge you more (don't forget to haggle!). It's cheap, fun, and a different way to explore the city. We recommend trying them at least once.
• Grab If you prefer convenience and avoid haggling, Grab is your best ally. A ride within the city can cost between 80 and 200 THB (€2-€5), depending on the distance. It's more expensive than a songthaew, but much more convenient, especially if you're in a hurry or carrying a lot of luggage. The best thing is that the price is fixed, so there are no surprises.
• Motorcycle Renting a motorbike seems like the best option if you're a regular driver, as it gives you the freedom to go wherever, whenever you want. We used it to get around Chiang Rai, and we highly recommend it. Rent a motorcycle costs about 300 baht (about €9) a day and, although we tried to haggle, we couldn't get that price down much in any city.

👀 Watch out!
When renting a motorcycle, you'll always be asked to leave your passport or a deposit to take it with you. We recommend always leaving money.

Day 1: Tea fields and Blue Temple

Our first day in Chiang Rai started early, as we arrived by night bus from Ayutthaya. Since our hotel was still closed, we had breakfast at Yellow Truck Coffee, a super striking yellow van that is right in the Clock Tower (below we tell you everything we asked for).

We stayed at the hotel Baan Jaru, and we highly recommend it 100%. The place is super nice, clean, and includes breakfast prepared on-site in the morning: fresh fruit, eggs, meat with vegetables, toast, coffee... everything was delicious! The staff was also super friendly, and the owner gave us recommendations on what to see in Chiang Rai on a motorbike outside of the four typical temples. That's the route we followed and are sharing with you now!

Singha Park

After renting a motorcycle at a place near the hotel we headed towards Singha Park Honestly, we didn't find it anything special; if you're short on time, we probably wouldn't include it in our itinerary. It's like a park that's very tourist-oriented, and the only cool thing about it is the giant golden lion at the entrance.

Doi Chang

We continued our route and took a mountain road towards Doi Chang It was a beautiful drive, full of nature and small towns. The road was almost empty, and that made the trip super peaceful, although it also had an adventurous touch. We even had to cross part of a dam with a motorcycle, and the water reached up to the wheels! At first, we were hesitant about whether to cross, but when we saw other motorcycles and cars doing it, we were encouraged. It was a different experience, and with the scenery surrounding us, it was well worth it.

Our next stop was the See Mont Slow Bar and Farm Stay, a charming café with incredible views. We sat for a while enjoying the atmosphere, drinking something while looking at the coffee fields and the surrounding mountains. From there, we continued towards the Doi Chang Buddhist Park, a lonely Buddhist temple that looks like something out of a fairy tale. No one was there; it was a moment of absolute calm and, at the same time, a bit unnerving, but now we remember it fondly.

After the temple, we stopped to eat at BC2, a local restaurant with spectacular views and priceless tranquility. The food was simple but delicious, and we recharged for the return trip.

We return by a circular road that passes between tea fields and viewpoints We made several stops to enjoy the scenery and take photos. We barely crossed paths with other tourists, except for a group of Thais who were also exploring the area. It was one of those moments when you feel like you're discovering something special.

Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten)

Back in Chiang Rai, we finished the day visiting the spectacular Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten) The hotel recommended we visit it at night to see it lit up. Its design, full of details and colors, left us amazed.

For dinner, we went to night market Chiang Rai, where we lost ourselves among the food stalls, live music, and atmosphere. It was the perfect ending to a day filled with incredible scenery and good times.

Day 2: White Temple and Lady Buddha

The second day in Chiang Rai was short but very intense, as we only had the morning to finish exploring before leaving for Chiang Mai. We decided to focus on two key places: the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) and the Lady Buddha (Wat Huay Pla Kang).

White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)

The first stop was the White Temple, and what can I say… impressive! It's a temple totally different from any other you've seen, with a super modern design that seems straight out of another world. From the outside, the bright white color and crystal details are spectacular, but inside it's… peculiar, to say the least. It's decorated with drawings of characters like Doraemon, Pikachu and even Michael Jackson, which make no sense in a Buddhist temple, but make the visit memorable, to say the least. Despite how strange it may seem, it's a must-see.

Lady Buddha (Wat Huay Pla Kang)

After the White Temple, we headed to see the Lady Buddha in the complex of Wat Huay Pla Kang, located on a hill surrounded by smaller temples. To enter the Lady Buddha you have to climb quite a few stairs, and once inside, there is an elevator 40 THB per person It takes you to the very top with spectacular views... although the windows could be better designed to allow you to enjoy the scenery even more. However, the views of the mountains and surrounding area make the climb worthwhile. It's a very peaceful place, perfect for ending the morning.

On the way back to the city, we made a quick stop at the 7-Eleven before heading to the Chiang Rai bus station to grab a bite to eat before catching the bus to Chiang Mai. The food was surprisingly quite good. We chose a green curry and a meat dish with rice; both were a good way to eat quickly and cheaply.

Other places to see in Chiang Rai

Two of the most famous places in Chiang Rai that we didn't get to visit due to lack of time are the Black House (Baan Dam) and the Golden Triangle If you have an extra day in the city, you can consider including them in your visit. We prefer to prioritize seeing a bit of nature over continuing to see more temples, but it depends a bit on your tastes.

The Black House (Baan Dam)

The Black House, the work of Thai artist Thawan Duchanee, is a complex composed of several buildings in a dark style, both in its aesthetics and the elements it houses inside. It is known for its somewhat disturbing, as the rooms are filled with artifacts such as bones, horns, and animal skins, as well as sculptures and paintings with a macabre touch. Although some consider it a contrast to the White Temple, it is more a work of art than a spiritual place.

Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle, for its part, is located about two hours by motorbike or car from Chiang Rai and is famous for being the point where Thailand, Laos and Burma, separated by the Mekong River The area has an interesting history linked to the ancient opium trade, and now you can visit it to enjoy the views or take a short boat tour along the river. There's also an opium museum that explains the whole history in detail.

Where to eat in Chiang Rai

Throughout the article we have already been commenting on where we ate or had something to drink, but if you want all the details with photos included, we leave the post here:

• Where to eat in Chiang Rai.

Map of Chiang Rai's must-see sites

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement What to see in Chiang Rai in two days you can visit our posts about Thailand.