# Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai > Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is northern Thailand's most important temple, on Doi Suthep mountain 15 km from Chiang Mai's Old City at 1,073 m. It has a 24 m gilded stupa with a Buddha relic and a view over the city. Entry for foreigners is about 30 baht and the funicular about 20 (unofficial). Around 300 steps lead up. It's open roughly 6:00–20:00. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-suthep - City: [Chiang Mai](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai), Thailand - YesGo score: 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h 30 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry for foreigners: About 30 baht - Funicular: About 20 baht — instead of the stairs - Hours: Daily, roughly 6:00–20:00; some sources say 5:00–21:00 - Stairs: About 306–309 naga-lined steps from the car park - Dress code: Shoulders and knees covered; shoes off in the inner courtyard - Distance: ≈ 17 km from the Old City, 30–40 minutes by songthaew or Grab - Coordinates: 18.80520, 98.92160 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1,073 m** — the temple's elevation (source: English Wikipedia) - **1383** — the first stupa was built, according to legend (source: English Wikipedia) - **White elephant** — legend says it carried the relic and stopped on this mountain, choosing the site (source: English Wikipedia) - **24 m** — the height of the gilded stupa, in typical northern style (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 309** — steps lead up to the temple; a funicular runs alongside (source: English Wikipedia) - **1935** — the first road to the temple was built (source: English Wikipedia) - **15 km** — from Chiang Mai city to the temple (source: English Wikipedia) - **Monk's Trail** — a hiking path to the temple starts in the foothills behind the university (source: English Wikipedia) ## Entry fee, funicular and hours According to guides, entry for foreigners costs **about 30 baht** and the **funicular** from the car park **about 20**; Thai citizens enter free. The temple is open **daily from about 6:00 to 20:00** (some sources say 5:00–21:00). It has no official website. Since October 2025, Doi Suthep–Pui National Park charges foreigners a park entry fee, but according to Chiang Mai CityLife this doesn't apply to visitors going to the temple by the main road. ## What is Doi Suthep? **Wat Phra That Doi Suthep** is a Buddhist temple on **Doi Suthep** mountain (the name often used for the temple itself), 15 km from Chiang Mai at **1,073 m**. It's one of northern Thailand's holiest sites. Legend says the first stupa was built in **1383**: a king of Lanna placed a Buddha relic on a white elephant's back and released it into the jungle, and the elephant climbed this mountain — so the temple was built here. At its heart stands a **24 m gilded stupa** in northern style with a tiered parasol. The viewing terrace looks out over **all of Chiang Mai**. A road to the temple was only built in **1935**; before that, pilgrims walked up. > **Dress and the stairs** Shoulders and knees must be covered, and shoes come off in the inner courtyard around the stupa. The naga staircase is about 300 steep steps — take the funicular if climbing is hard. It's cooler at the top than in town, so bring a jumper in the rainy season and winter. ## What to see - **The gilded stupa**, 24 m tall, in the inner courtyard. - **The seven-headed naga staircase** from the car park. - **The viewing terrace** — a panorama of Chiang Mai. - **The white elephant statue** — a nod to the legend. - **Murals and halls** around the stupa. - **Bells** along the gallery. ## How to get to Doi Suthep 1. **By red songthaew** from the Chiang Mai University gate on Huay Kaew Road; they leave once full and take 30–40 minutes uphill. 2. **By Grab or taxi** — about 17 km from the Old City, 30–40 minutes. 3. **On foot via the Monk's Trail** — it starts in the foothills behind the university and passes Wat Pha Lat. 4. **By scooter** — a winding mountain road; take care on the descent. 5. From the car park, take the naga staircase or the funicular. ## How long do you need, and when to go? Allow **1–1.5 hours** at the temple, half a day with the journey. **Morning**, before the groups, or **evening** is best: at sunset the city below lights up. Clear skies and good views are most likely **November to February**; in spring the valley is often hazy. Bhubing Palace and Doi Pui village are further up the road and can be combined in one trip. ## Is Doi Suthep worth it? Yes: it's Chiang Mai's signature temple — beautiful, cheap and with the best view of the city. A trip to Chiang Mai feels incomplete without it. The YesGo take: it's crowded by day, and in spring the view is often lost in haze. Go early and check the air-quality forecast. If you like walking, climb the Monk's Trail — it makes the trip far more memorable. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Shoulders and knees covered - [ ] About 50 baht in cash — entry and funicular - [ ] A jumper — it's cooler up top - [ ] Going in the morning or for sunset - [ ] Decided: stairs or funicular ## Chiang Mai temples: compare and choose Chiang Mai temples rated by YesGo. - [Wat Chiang Man](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-chiang-man) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free - [Wat Umong](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-umong) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free - [Wat Chedi Luang](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-chedi-luang) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ 40–50 baht - [Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-sri-suphan) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ 50 baht - [Wat Phra Singh](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-phra-singh) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · grounds free; Lai Kham ≈ 20 baht - [Wat Phra That Doi Suthep](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-suthep) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 30 baht, funicular ≈ 20 ## Chiang Mai temples in a day Doi Suthep on the mountain in the morning, then Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang in the Old City. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Wat Phra That Doi Suthep](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/doi-suthep) — YesGo score 31/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 30 baht, funicular ≈ 20 2. [Wat Phra Singh](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-phra-singh) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · grounds free; Lai Kham ≈ 20 baht 3. [Wat Chedi Luang](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-chedi-luang) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ 40–50 baht ## Good to know Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is the temple on Doi Suthep mountain. Doi Suthep–Pui National Park and Doi Pui village are separate places on the same mountain. ## Tips - The best city view is from the terrace by the stupa. - Before 8:00 there are hardly any groups. - The songthaew at the university leaves once 8–10 people are aboard. - Walk down the stairs — it's easier than going up. - In the afternoon: [Wat Chedi Luang](https://yesgo.io/thailand/chiang-mai/wat-chedi-luang) in the Old City. ## Questions ### How much is entry to Doi Suthep? About 30 baht for foreigners; the funicular is about 20 baht (according to guides). ### What are Doi Suthep's opening hours? Daily, roughly 6:00 to 20:00. ### How many steps are there at Doi Suthep? About 306–309 naga-lined steps; there's a funicular too. ### How do I get to Doi Suthep? By red songthaew from the university gate or by Grab — 30–40 minutes. ### Do I pay the national park fee? According to local press, not if you're visiting the temple by the main road. ### What is the dress code? Shoulders and knees covered; shoes off in the inner courtyard. ### When is the best time to go? Early morning or for sunset; November to February has the clearest views. ### How long do you need? 1–1.5 hours at the temple, half a day with the journey. ## How we checked There's no official website. History, elevation, the stupa and the ways up are from English Wikipedia; sources count 306–309 steps, so we give the range. Most guides list 30 baht entry and a 20 baht funicular, one says 40 baht; hours are 6:00–20:00 or 5:00–21:00 — all marked unconfirmed. The October 2025 national park fee and the exemption for temple visitors come from Chiang Mai CityLife. The distance is an OSRM route from Wat Chedi Luang (16.9 km). We retell the elephant legend without the details of its death. ## Sources - English Wikipedia — Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: elevation, white elephant legend, 1383, 24 m stupa, steps, funicular, 1935 road, Monk's Trail - 2026 travel guides (Thai Holiday Guide and others) — entry, funicular, hours (unofficial) - Chiang Mai CityLife (2025) — national park fee and the temple exemption - Wikidata Q1517698 — coordinates; OSRM route — distance from the Old City --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.