Things to do and where to stay in Chiang Rai
Where to stay · Thailand

Where to stay in Chiang Rai — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks

Chiang Rai is the northernmost city, full of art and nature — the exquisite White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten), Thawan Duchanee's Black House, the Golden Triangle on the Mekong, and tea plantations on Doi Tung in the hills. The air is cool and the people are friendly.

🤍White Temple💙Blue Temple🖤Black House🛕Golden Triangle🍃Doi Tung tea
1areas to consider
1ranked guides
8hotels reviewed
9See & Eat
🤝 Curated by the TopOfHotel team · scores from real guest reviews · live price comparison across 3 sites · no hidden adsHow we review →

Why stay in Chiang Rai

🤍

The exquisite White Temple

Artist Chalermchai's all-white temple, intricate down to the last detail.

🎨

A city of art

The blue Wat Rong Suea Ten and Thawan Duchanee's Black House.

🛕

The Golden Triangle

Where three countries meet on the Mekong — Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar.

🍃

Mountain tea plantations

Doi Tung, the Choui Fong tea estate, and Doi Mae Salong — cool air and lovely views.

Pick an area first — where to stay in Chiang Rai

Location is the single most important thing about a hotel — choose the right area first, then pick the hotel

Ranked reviews — find your ideal stay in Chiang Rai

Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights

Find the right Chiang Rai hotel for you

1 ranked reviews

Local dishes to try in Chiang Rai

  1. 1🍜

    Khao soi & nam ngiao

    Mellow northern dishes — khao soi and khanom jeen nam ngiao.

    📍 Citywide
  2. 2🍵

    Mountain tea & coffee

    Oolong tea and arabica coffee from the plantations of Doi Tung and Mae Salong.

    📍 In the hills
  3. 3🌶️

    Tai Yai food

    Shan-style noodles and bold borderland dishes.

    📍 Citywide
  4. 4🌙

    Chiang Rai Walking Street

    The weekend walking-street market, with Lanna food and crafts.

    📍 In town
  1. 1🤍

    Wat Rong Khun

    A contemporary all-white art temple with a bridge crossing into the Buddhist realm — don't miss it.

    📍 Outskirts
  2. 2💙

    Blue Temple

    A blue-and-gold hall with a beautiful white Buddha image.

    📍 In town
  3. 3🖤

    Baan Dam Museum

    Thawan Duchanee's Black House museum — raw, powerful art.

    📍 Outside town
  4. 4🛕

    Golden Triangle

    Where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet on the Mekong, with a giant Buddha and boat trips.

    📍 Chiang Saen
  5. 5🍃

    Doi Tung

    The Doi Tung Royal Villa, Mae Fa Luang Garden, and mountain tea plantations.

    📍 Mae Fa Luang

Things to do in Chiang Rai

Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Chiang Rai — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.

Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

★ TEAM'S TOP PICKS

3 Chiang Rai hotels our team picked for you

Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison

The Riverie by Katathani★ 9.4Luxury

The Riverie by Katathani

📍 Chiang Rai⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#4 5-star resort · Kok River views

From~$80/night
read the full review →
Le Patta Hotel Chiang Rai★ 9.3Upper-mid

Le Patta Hotel Chiang Rai

📍 Chiang Rai⭐⭐⭐⭐

#3 design hotel · high score, great value

From~$37/night
read the full review →
Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort★ 9.2Luxury

Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort

📍 Chiang Rai⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#1 resort in Chiang Rai · 5-star Marriott on the Kok River

From~$100/night
read the full review →
🏨 ALL PICKS

โรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในChiang Rai

ครบทุกระดับงบ — คัดจากคะแนนรีวิวจริง พร้อมเทียบราคา 3 เว็บ

#4

Nak Nakara Hotel

★ 9.0⭐⭐⭐⭐Upper-mid📍 Chiang Rai

#2 Lanna-style hotel · downtown

~$40/night
#5

Homey Dormy Chiangrai

★ 8.9⭐⭐Value📍 Chiang Rai

#5 hostel · the cheapest start price on the list

~$14/night
#6

Baanmalai Guest House

★ 8.9⭐⭐⭐Value📍 Chiang Rai

#8 Guest house · warm and home-style downtown

~$26/night
#7

Na-Rak-O Resort

★ 8.8⭐⭐⭐Value📍 Chiang Rai

#6 boutique stay · cute design

~$23/night
#8

The Rama Hotel

★ 8.0⭐⭐⭐Value📍 Chiang Rai

#7 mid-range hotel · best value, big rooms and parking

~$20/night

🚆 Getting around Chiang Rai

🚐

Van/bus from Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai is about 3 hours, or fly direct into Mae Fah Luang Airport.

🚗

Car or charter

The sights are spread out, so a car with a driver for the temples and the hills is best value.

🛵

Motorbike rental

Handy in town; drive carefully on the mountain roads.

✈️

Mae Fah Luang Airport

Direct flights from Bangkok; about 10 minutes from town.

Where to go next near Chiang Rai

Frequently asked — where to stay in Chiang Rai

How many days do I need in Chiang Rai?+

2–3 days for the White Temple, the Blue Temple, the Black House, and a trip up to Doi Tung / the Golden Triangle.

How do I get to Chiang Rai?+

Fly direct into Mae Fah Luang Airport, or take a van/bus from Chiang Mai (about 3 hours).

When's the best time to visit Chiang Rai?+

Nov–Feb is cool, comfortable, and clear — perfect for the hills and tea plantations (avoid the smoke haze of Mar–Apr).

Ready to book your Chiang Rai stay?

Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking