Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of the most beautiful temples in Chiang Mai, perched on a mountain with stunning views of the city below. The temple is also one of the most sacred in the city since legend has it that the temple was founded in 1383 after a white elephant carrying a Buddha relic climbed the mountain and then dropped dead at the site of where the temple is built today, signalling its sacredness.

Today it is one of the most visited temples in Chiang Mai and a popular tourist attraction. Despite this I would still recommend it, as not only are the temple grounds diverse and beautifully decorated, the view over Chiang Mai is also just absolutely stunning from up there!

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You can drive here yourself with a rental moped or car, or otherwise there are plenty of songthaews that go up to the temple, and wait to take you back down again.

❗️Be aware that the road up to the temple is quite steep and windy and can get slippery if wet, so keep that in mind if you want to drive yourself!

OPEN: 6 am - 8 pm everyday.

PRICE: 50 thb entry paid at the top of the 306 stairs to reach the temple.

SUNSET and SUNRISE are the best times to visit for the most quiet and beautiful experience. You can stay until after dark if visiting at sunset to see the chedis light up and the monks gather.

❗️Being so high up, it is quite significantly colder up by the temple compared to ground-level Chiang Mai city. If you visit in the winter months and especially if you visit early or late during the day, make sure to bring a coat!

❗️Also make sure to dress appropriately, covering shoulders and knees. As you might notice from my videos, this was actually the one time that I came unprepared. Visiting the temple for sunset that day was a bit of a last-minute decision and it completely slipped my mind that my dress didn't go down to my knees until after we had arrived.

Being such a touristy temple they didn't seem to care and let me through, but I felt so bad the whole time unintentionally disrespecting the rules of the temple. So don't be me and make sure to show up appropriately dressed!