Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
4.5
LookoutsObservation Decks & TowersReligious Sites
About
Located high in the hills above Chiang Mai, this magnificent temple was commissioned by King Kuena, ruler of the region from 1367-1388.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Plan your visit
See what travellers are saying
  • Leo N
    Little India, Singapore5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (a must-visit in Chiang Mai!)
    Afternoon's the golden hour at Doi Suthep. Soak in the panoramic city view from the platform, watch the temple glow as the sun dips low, and choose your climb: conquer the 306 steps for a sense of achievement or take the funicular for a leisurely ascent. Inside, be dazzled by gold, intricate carvings, and serene courtyards. Breathe in the peace of chanting monks and discover hidden nooks for quiet reflection. Sunset paints the city in twinkling lights, casting a magical spell on the golden facade. Doi Suthep's more than a temple; it's a breathtaking afternoon adventure woven with golden light, city views, and a touch of serenity.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 13 December 2023
  • mlmdaisy
    Odessa, Florida19,653 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lots of steps
    I personally only saw some of this temple as the stairs were too much for me. I found out later that there was a lift? The number of vendors on the property was a bit distracting, although in retrospect I probably should have done some shopping. My partner did climb the steps and reported back that the temple was quite impressive.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 December 2023
  • Gary C
    1,399 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great View and Good Workout
    We took a private van from the hotel here. It dropped us off at the base of the steps. We ascended the steps and toured around the outer perimeter of the Wat and descended. It took 40 minutes. 30 baht per foreigner to enter. Good view of Chiang Mai. Lots of vendors at the bottom.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 1 January 2024
  • panda_rouge
    Singapore, Singapore52 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A scenic beauty with deep cultural significance too
    The mountain-top where the pagoda is located offers panoramic views of the entire city. Temple grounds are serene, the sculptures and structures resplendent. Very interesting to hear the history associated with Doi Suthep and get a chance to witness the monks chanting in the evening. Consider taking the cable car up and going down the naga staircase as climbing 306 steps upwards might be a challenge for some.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 9 January 2024
  • Ben W
    23 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing viewpoint
    The hike is stunning. We did the monks trail on the way to this hike and all together it was around 9-10k to the top. There is an option to get a taxi straight there though but we recommend doing the monks trail and hike to fully appreciate its beauty.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 January 2024
  • RIchard035
    Northwood, United Kingdom1,342 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Impressive temple and views
    There is a lengthy drive up a hill until you get to the point where you can either walk or take a funicular up to Doi Suthep. At the top there is an ornate temple and impressive views towards Chiang Mai. You are encouraged to put a donation in an envelope and give it to one of the monks inside the temple in exchange for receiving a blessing. Our tour guide took a gift of a package of medicines and other items to give to the monk. This felt to me to be a manufactured and false event put on for the tourists to raise funds. While the temple and views are impressive, I'm not sure the experience was worth the lengthy journey to get here.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 19 January 2024
  • Yann Renaud
    Switzerland862 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Impressive temple and nice view
    The temple is relatively far away from the centre of Chiang Mai, but it is worth paying it a visit, as it is really impressive and moreover offers a great view over the city. To access it you will have to take a grab (around 400-500 bahts for one way) or a red pickup (600 bahts for a privatised round trip). From there, you can also take a red pickup down, which will be 50-70 bahts per person.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 January 2024
  • Chayanee Rattanasuwan
    Thailand1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good experience after going to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
    Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is an amazing symbol of spiritual devotion and architectural excellence overlooking Chiang Mai, Thailand. Located atop Doi Suthep mountain, this sacred temple complex provides tourists with a stunning blend of cultural history, magnificent views, and calm mood. After going to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, i feel happy because i saw the beautiful temple and learned about Buddhism. I also feel peaceful because of the quiet gardens and the sound of bells ringing. Some people feel inspired to be kinder or more patient after visiting such a sacred place. And looking out from the top of the mountain, some tourists feel amazed by the stunning view of Chiang Mai. Overall, visiting Wat Phra That Doi Suthep leave me with good memories and a warm heart.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 March 2024
  • sophi3jane21
    9 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sunrise viewpoint from temple in the mountains.
    We arrived to the temple whilst it was still dark, hoping to catch the sunrise from the viewpoint at the top. The steps to the top are long but stunning and enjoyed a peaceful walk around the top with the sounds of the jungle in the background. Would recommend this time if you like to explore without crowds as had the place almost to ourselves, plus the temperate was perfect. Unfortunately burning season had began when we visited in February so didn’t have the best / clearest view but was still worth going up. The temple itself was pretty but not our favourite in Chiang Mai, it is more the setting that makes it stand out.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 April 2024
  • ErkiBear
    London, United Kingdom383 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing views from this temple
    Amazing views from this temple. Came with a guide who used to be a monk so could tell us everything that was going on which was excellent. Had a blessing from a monk and stayed for the evening chanting which was very atmospheric. Recommended, one of the best temples we went to in Thailand.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 April 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles7,757 reviews
Excellent
4,191
Very good
2,635
Average
745
Poor
137
Terrible
49

CKF
CT2,162 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We had read about Wat Phra That Doi Suthep before coming to Chiang Mai, and knew it was a "must see." We signed up for a half day tour (late afternoon into evening) that included visiting this amazing structure.

Wat Doi Suthep is high up on a hill. You will encounter about 20 minutes of winding uphill roads to ascend. There is a beautiful dragon (naga) staircase leading to the top, but we rode the funicular and walked down (unfortunately, it was dark by then so couldn't appreciate the intricacies of the dragon artwork). Once at the top, the main wat is a sight to behold. We were lucky enough to see and hear children chanting in the temple, followed by the gong being hit loudly. Three monks then chanted outside. Shortly thereafter (around 6 pm), the adult monks and nuns began their evening chants. Such a special experience to sit in the temple and be part of this.

Before you leave, soak in the view from the top. Just wonderful! Take time to explore the many stupas and buddhas around the complex as well. Enjoy!
Written 22 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chris F
Wroughton, UK245 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
This is a ‘must do’ for any visitor to Chiang Mai and best with a local guide. Set high in the hills above Chiang Mai with a panoramic view over the city it is best visited early in the morning at sunrise, like the Taj Mahal, or in the evening when it is all lit up. The main temple is very large and has many different sections with varied Buddha images and statues. There is an area in which you can get you fortune told by shaking a stick out of a scroll. The temple is covered in a highly reflective type of brass that almost looks like gold. It is quite a climb up to the temple from the car park, but there is a lift available. The guide will tell you much about the history of the temple and Thai Buddhist traditions. Well worth the visit.
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Xin Ru T
Singapore, Singapore1,345 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
From Chiang Mai Zoo, it cost 40 baht to go up to Doi Suthep Wat Phrathat via the red song thaew. There were market stalls selling food and souvenirs at the drop-off point. For example, we ate boiled pork noodles and fried chicken rice for 50 baht each. The 309 steps climb up to the wat was very manageable. The entrance fee for the wat was 30 baht per person. The gold plated chedi was rather majestic looking. There were photographers milling around taking photographs for visitors against the chedi backdrop for a fee. There were also viewpoint areas at the side with a beautiful panoramic view of Chiang Mai.
Written 14 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ana Maria P
Ghent, Belgium74 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We arrived here at 6AM, which was perfect since there are very few tourists at that hour and the sun isn't up yet. We enjoyed the nightlights over the city and the peacefullness of the moment. The sunrise is breathtaking and we got to witness the early morning chanting monks. I really recommend visiting the Doi Suthep early in the morning if you like tranquility and space.
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

iluvhunni
Singapore, Singapore183 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Chose to climb up the 300+ stairs to view this temple. It looks even more awesome when the morning sun casts on it. The view up here is worth a visit even if you are not into temples.

There is an entrance fee of 30 baht per foreigner. I am not sure why some reviewers said there isn't, maybe they missed the signage.

I visited around 8am before the tour groups arrive; people who went around my time were all very respectful of the temple, spoke softly, dressed appropriately. Weather was quite cool so it made the climb up not so tiring.

Do note that you need to remove your shoe to enter the temple compound.
Written 2 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gloria K
Berlin, Germany156 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2019
The temple itself is really pretty and I can imagine that without all the crowd would make the experience more easier and enjoyable. We went a little bit after lunch time so maybe in the early morning would be less crowded. Unfortunately we didn't have time to visit the national park that surrounds this temple.
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Blog PartiuMundo
Sao Paulo, SP202 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
Planning a trip up the mountain to see the temple is a fairly easy endeavour from Chiang Mai. We rented a scooter and it took us only 45 min from the hotel in Riverside to the temple. For me, it’s the best option because you can get in an adventure and enjoy the way up to the mountain.
Once you get to the temple there’s a stairway with +300 steps with dragons leading the way to the top. I believe you wouldn’t feel comfortable going up in high temperatures so arrive VERY EARLY for endless reasons! Although, if you don’t feel like going up the stairs, you can get a cable car for a small fee. We chose to climb all the steps because we felt it was an important part of the experience.
Don’t wear short pants or skirts, otherwise, you’ll have to rent clothes at the entry of the temples to cover yourself up.
You have to remove your shoes inside the temple. The floor is super hot, so bring socks if you don’t want to burn your feet.
Our goal was to watch the sunrise up there at the temple. So we managed to take pictures with almost no one besides us. Especially at the famous stairs which are very Instagrammable.
Written 19 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jane N
London, UK984 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
You can climb up all the steps or take the enclosed cable car. We took the cable car up and walked back down the steps. A 7-headed naga undulates down the balustrade of the 290 step stairway.
According to legend the temple was sited here in the mid-1300's by an elephant that was turned loose with a Buddha relic attached to its back. It climbed and then refused to go any further so the temple was built at the spot where it stopped.
There are lovely views over Chiang Mai at the top and in the grounds is a 80ft high gilded chedi and parasols and many Buddhas.
Written 15 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Delaney
Singapore, Singapore225 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2021
Visited this marvelous temple on the first day of 2021 - a gracious beginning to the year up on one of Chiang Mai's infamous peak. The temple itself was truly and incredible sight to see - truly worth the walk through the numerous steps. The infrastructure is very well maintained and clean. The viewpoint was just breathtaking; it was a great to catch the sight of Chiang Mai alit at dusk. Lots of beautiful adornments and intricate wood carving are also worth exploring throughout the temple. Other than that, my companion and I were lucky enough to behold and also participate in circulating the main golden stupa, carrying large yellow sheet of exquisite silk along with all the visitors there. The large silk sheets were intended for wrapping around the base of the stupa; although, I don't much on the details behind this intriguing ceremony. Overall, a beautiful temple in great weather and also an incredible experience! Absolutely worth visit when in Chiang Mai!
Written 8 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KioSai
Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar37 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2019 • Solo
I took a hiking tour and there was me alone and my guide for the day, we tracking from the bottom to the top of the mounting, it’s a nice tracking tour where you can enjoy the forest. On top, there’s crowded with visitors and shops and restaurants. You can have a bird eye view of the city from the top of the mountain, there’s a golden pagoda and temple and the view point. So far, good to visit there.
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 4,638
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

All things to do in Doi Suthep
RestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire