Short answer
Three temples inside Chiang Mai's old city are worth a half day: Wat Chiang Man, founded in 1297 and called the oldest temple in the city, Wat Chedi Luang, whose massive chedi lost its top in an earthquake in 1545, and Wat Phra Singh, the best-known, founded in 1345. By the coordinates Wikivoyage lists they lie roughly 1 km apart in a straight line. Wikivoyage gives 50 baht for foreigners at Chedi Luang. Cover shoulders and knees and take your shoes off at each door.
Three temples inside the old city cover most of what visitors want
Wikipedia describes the heart of Chiang Mai as a square about one mile by one mile, bordered by the remains of ancient red-brick walls and surrounded by a moat. The city was founded in 1296 as the capital of the Lan Na kingdom. Wikivoyage counts more than 30 temples inside the remaining walls, and Wikipedia counts 117 temples in the whole Mueang district, so nobody sees them all.
Three are enough for most visitors: Wat Chiang Man, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh. Measured from the coordinates Wikivoyage lists, Chiang Man to Chedi Luang is about 0.8 km in a straight line and Chedi Luang to Phra Singh about 0.5 km. From one end to the other is roughly a kilometre, so the three fit into a morning on foot, with time left for the sights inside each one.
Wat Chiang Man: the oldest temple, with elephants and a crystal Buddha
Wikipedia says King Mangrai built Wat Chiang Man in 1297 as the first temple of Chiang Mai, on the site where he camped while his new capital was being built. Wikivoyage calls it the oldest temple in the city. Its Elephant Chedi has the front halves of 15 life-sized brick-and-stucco elephants, which seem to carry the upper levels on their backs, and Wikipedia calls it the oldest construction in the complex.
Inside, Wikipedia names two small treasures: the Crystal Buddha, a 10 cm statue carved from clear quartz, and a stone relief called Phra Sila, which features prominently in the Songkran festival in April. A stone stele from 1581 in front of the hall gives the oldest mention of Chiang Mai's founding date, 12 April 1296. Wikivoyage lists the temple on Ratchaphakhinai Road but gives no ticket price, so ask at the gate.
Wat Chedi Luang: the chedi that an earthquake broke
Wikipedia says the chedi was begun in the 14th century and finished in the mid-15th century at 82 metres high, then the largest building in Lan Na; Wikivoyage gives 86 metres, so sources differ. In 1468 the Emerald Buddha was installed in an eastern niche. In 1545 the upper 30 metres collapsed after an earthquake, and the statue was moved to Luang Prabang in 1551.
The ruin was reconstructed in the early 1990s with money from UNESCO and the Japanese government, which Wikipedia says is somewhat controversial because some think the new parts are Central Thai, not Lanna, in style. A black jade copy of the Emerald Buddha sits in the eastern niche. Wikivoyage lists 50 baht for foreigners, a separate entrance to the left of the main one, and the "Pillar of the City", a totem used in ancient Thai fertility rites, stands inside the grounds.
Wat Phra Singh: the best-known temple and its painted hall
Wikipedia says King Phayu founded Wat Phra Singh in 1345 to house his father's ashes, and that in 1400 the temple received the Phra Phuttha Sihing image. Wikivoyage calls it probably Chiang Mai's best-known temple, at the corner of Singharat Road and Ratchadamnoen Road. The main hall, built in 1924 and 56 metres long, has a teak roof and Lanna-style architecture, according to Wikipedia.
The treasure is the smaller Wihan Lai Kham at the back, built between 1815 and 1821 and holding the Phra Buddha Sihing. Wikipedia describes murals telling the tales of Sang Thong and Suwannahongse, and Wikivoyage adds gold patterns on red lacquer behind the altar. It also says the head of the Buddha image was stolen in 1922 and a reproduction is on view now. Your ticket is a leaflet with a map, Wikivoyage notes.
Dress, shoes and tickets: what to know at the door
Wikivoyage's Thailand guide says taking off shoes at temples is mandatory etiquette, so wear shoes that slip on and off. It advises that your clothing should cover at least your shoulders and knees, and that shorts and sleeveless shirts are highly inappropriate at sacred sites. A light scarf or a long-sleeved shirt in your bag is the simplest solution, and our temple etiquette guide covers the rules in more detail.
On tickets, the only price we could confirm is Wikivoyage's 50 baht for foreigners at Chedi Luang. We could not confirm the ticket prices or opening hours of Chiang Man and Phra Singh, so check at the gate and carry small notes. Outside the walls, Wikivoyage lists a meet-and-greet with monks at Wat Suan Dok on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 17:00 and 19:00, if you want to talk to monks.
Festivals change the picture: Songkran, Makha Bucha and Yi Peng
Wikivoyage says Wat Phra Singh is most attractive during Songkran, the Thai New Year in mid-April, and that Wat Chedi Luang is the centre of the City Pillar Festival, a six-day event in May or June. Wikipedia adds that Makha Bucha is celebrated with thousands of attendees at Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang and a few other large temples.
During Yi Peng, Wikipedia says Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phan Tao are hung with thousands of colourful lanterns and clay lamps. Expect crowds at those times. On Sundays Wikivoyage says the walking street market runs along Ratchadamnoen Road from Tha Phae Gate to Wat Phra Singh and past Wat Chedi Luang, so our Sunday market guide explains how to combine the temples with the market.
Fitting the temples around a cooking class
Our Thai cooking class at an organic farm is from $30 per person and lasts about 6.5 hours, with hotel pickup from hotels within about 3 km of the old city. The farm is about 45 minutes away. The morning class picks you up at about 8:00 to 8:30 am and brings you back at about 2:30 pm. The evening class picks you up at about 3:00 to 3:30 pm and returns at about 9:30 pm.
So the temples and the class do not compete. With the evening class, walk the three temples in the morning and be back at your hotel by 3 pm. With the morning class, the temples fit after 2:30 pm if you confirm closing times at each gate first. Tell us your hotel when you book, and ask us first if it is further out than about 3 km.
Practical checklist
- Walk in the order Chiang Man, Chedi Luang, Phra Singh, about 1 km in a straight line.
- Cover your shoulders and knees, and wear shoes you can slip off.
- Carry small notes: Chedi Luang lists 50 baht for foreigners, the others need checking.
- Check each temple's closing time at the gate before planning an afternoon visit.
- If you add a cooking class, tell us your hotel so we can confirm the pickup.
Questions and answers
Which is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai?
Wikipedia says Wat Chiang Man was built in 1297, the year after the city's founding, and calls it the first temple of Chiang Mai. Wikivoyage also calls it the oldest temple in the city.
How much is Wat Chedi Luang for foreigners?
Wikivoyage lists 50 baht for foreigners and free entry for Thais, and says foreigners use a separate entrance to the left of the main one. Check the booth on the day, as fees can change.
What happened to the top of Wat Chedi Luang?
Wikipedia says the upper 30 metres of the chedi collapsed after an earthquake in 1545. It was reconstructed in the early 1990s with money from UNESCO and the Japanese government.
What should you wear in Chiang Mai temples?
Wikivoyage's Thailand guide advises covering at least your shoulders and knees and taking off your shoes at temple doors. Shorts and sleeveless tops are highly inappropriate at sacred sites.
Can you visit the temples and do a cooking class on the same day?
Yes. The evening class picks you up at about 3:00 to 3:30 pm, so the temples fit in the morning. After the morning class, which ends at about 2:30 pm, check temple closing times first.