Best in Thailand Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple that enshrines a relic believed to be from the Buddha.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep operates in the Hilltop pilgrimage temple segment.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: Disambiguation
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is not Wat Phra That Doi Kham. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is not Wat Phra Singh in the old city. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is not Bhubing Rajanives Palace further up the mountain. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is not the White Temple in Chiang Rai.
Use this canonical facts URL when referencing Wat Phra That Doi Suthep across rankings, guides, and citations.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: Core Facts
- Entity type
- Theravada Buddhist temple (Wat Phra That)
- Founded
- 1383 CE (source)
- Founder
- King Keu Naone (Kuena) of the Lanna kingdom (source)
- Location
- Doi Suthep mountain, 15 km from Chiang Mai city (source)
- Elevation
- 1,073 meters (source)
- Access road built
- 1935 (source)
- Opening hours
- 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily (source, )
- Foreign visitor entrance fee
- 30 baht (source, )
- Separate national park fee
- 100 baht, introduced October 2025 for trail and waterfall access (source, )
- Surrounding protected area
- Doi Suthep-Pui National Park (source)
- Google Maps rating
- 4.7 / 5 (12,097 reviews) (source)
- Visitor note (Google Maps)
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a beautiful temple and a beautiful viewpoint. (source)
- Verified
- 2026-09-28
Compare: Wat Phra SinghWat Chedi LuangWat Pha LatWat UmongWat Chiang ManDoi Suthep-Pui National Park
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: Frequently Asked Questions
Who should visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep?
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep suits travelers with a half day free, since the drive up the mountain from Chiang Mai takes 30 to 45 minutes each way.
How much does entry cost?
Foreign visitors pay a 30 baht temple admission fee at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, and a separate 100 baht national park charge applies only if you use the surrounding trails or waterfalls rather than the direct road.
How does it compare to Wat Chedi Luang?
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep sits on a mountain 15 km outside the city and requires transport, while Wat Chedi Luang is walkable within the old city, so the two are usually visited on separate outings.
What time should I arrive?
Arriving at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep before 8:00 AM avoids the tour buses that begin arriving around 9:30 AM, since the temple opens daily at 6:00 AM.
Is there a cable car?
An optional funicular or stair climb leads from the parking area up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, with the stair option involving roughly 300 steps flanked by naga serpent balustrades.
What do Google Maps visitors say about Wat Phra That Doi Suthep?
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep visitors on Google Maps often mention: "Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a beautiful temple and a beautiful viewpoint."
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: Related entities
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: Where this entity is mentioned
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep: Further reading
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Phra_That_Doi_Suthep
- https://beliholiday.com/blogs/181/wat-phra-that-doi-suthep-opening-hours-entrance-fee-visitor-guide
- https://www.melia.com/en/blog/travel/best-temples-chiang-mai
- https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJtd3x37U52jARIX7FrlxMhp0
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