# Things to see in Chiang Rai (Thailand): 19 places and when to go

> Chiang Rai is a city in Thailand with around 117,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 19 places in and around it, mainly Nature (11), Mountains (9), Temples (6). The best known are Darunaman Mosque, Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai and Wat Phra Sing, Chiang Rai. The best time to come is November to February; also possible: March and May to October. In June there are 13 h 12 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 48. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/chiang-rai/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** Thailand · 19.9119, 99.8265
- **Population:** About 117,000
- **Places:** 19 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/naturaleza/) (11) · [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/montana/) (9) · [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/espiritual/) (6) · [Stargazing](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/estrellas/) (2) · [With kids](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/familia/) (1) · [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/historia/) (1)
- **Best time:** November to February.
- **Also possible:** March and May to October.
- **Nearest airport:** CNX Chiang Mai, 156 km as the crow flies
- **Highest point:** Kio Kho Ma, at 907 m.

## What to see in Chiang Rai

The places in and around Chiang Rai, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [Darunaman Mosque](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/darunaman-mosque/): Mosque in Chiang Rai province, Thailand · 538 m
- [Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/wat-phra-kaew/): Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand · 60 m
- [Wat Phra Sing, Chiang Rai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/wat-phra-sing/): Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai province, Thailand · 427 m
- [Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/wat-phra-that-doi-chom-thong/): Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai province, Thailand · 578 m
- [Wat Rong Suea Ten](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/wat-rong-suea-ten/): Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand · 2.0 km
- [Doi Chik Chong](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/doi-chik-chong/): Mountain in Chiang Rai, Thailand · 16 km
- [Doi Hua Chon](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/doi-hua-chon/): Mountain in Thailand · 18 km
- [Doi Kong Khao](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/doi-kongkhao/): Mountain in Thailand · 16 km
- [Doi Mae Kaeo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/doi-mae-kaeo/): Mountain in Thailand · 26 km
- [Doi Phrabat](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/doi-phra-bat/): Mountain in Chiang Rai, Thailand · 3.8 km
- [Doi Saken](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/doi-sa-ken/): Mountain in Thailand · 4.3 km
- [Doi Ton](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/doi-ton/): Mountain in Chiang Rai, Thailand; geonames ID = 7421917 · 20 km
- [Kio Kho Ma](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/kio-kho-ma/): Mountain in Thailand · 18 km
- [Doi Tham Phra](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/pra-cave/): Hill in Chiang Rai province, Thailand · 3.7 km
- [Wat Tham Phra](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/wat-tham-phra/): Bhuddist temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand · 4.0 km
- [Chiang Rai Discovery Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/chiang-rai-discovery-center/): Planetarium · 4.3 km
- [Chiang Rai Meteorological Station](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/chiang-rai-meteorological-station/): Observatory · 8.0 km
- [Khun Korn Waterfall](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/khun-korn-waterfall/): Waterfall in Chiang Rai, Thailand · 22 km
- [Clock tower in Chiang Rai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/torre-del-reloj/): History · Architecture · 706 m

## When to go to Chiang Rai

The best time to visit Chiang Rai is **November to February**; also possible: March and May to October. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Best time | 10 h 55 |
| February | Best time | 11 h 21 |
| March | Possible | 11 h 52 |
| April | Better not | 12 h 28 |
| May | Possible | 12 h 57 |
| June | Possible | 13 h 12 |
| July | Possible | 13 h 06 |
| August | Possible | 12 h 41 |
| September | Possible | 12 h 06 |
| October | Possible | 11 h 32 |
| November | Best time | 11 h 02 |
| December | Best time | 10 h 48 |

In June there are 13 h 12 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 48. In January, 18 of the 19 places are at their best.

When to go to Thailand in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to Chiang Rai

The nearest main airport is Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX, Chiang Mai), 156 km as the crow flies. How to get around Thailand (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=19.9119%2C99.8265)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=19.9119%2C99.8265)

## Other towns nearby

- [Phayao](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/phayao/): 5 places · 83 km
- [Chiang Mai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/chiang-mai/): 36 places · 152 km
- [Nan, Thailand](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/nan/): 6 places · 160 km
- [Lampang](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/lampang/): 6 places · 184 km
- [Phrae](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/phrae/): 5 places · 199 km
- [Mae Hong Son](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/mae-hong-son/): 7 places · 206 km

And all of Thailand, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in Chiang Rai?

The best known: [Darunaman Mosque](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/darunaman-mosque/), [Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/wat-phra-kaew/), [Wat Phra Sing, Chiang Rai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/wat-phra-sing/), [Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/wat-phra-that-doi-chom-thong/), [Wat Rong Suea Ten](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/tailandia/wat-rong-suea-ten/). In all, 19 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit Chiang Rai?

November to February; also possible: March and May to October. In June there are 13 h 12 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 48.

### How do you get to Chiang Rai?

The nearest main airport is Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), 156 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=19.9119%2C99.8265) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with Chiang Rai as the destination and these 19 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).