Chiang Mai has way over 300 temples to include them all would take pages and it would take you months to see them all. These are the best known

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

The most famous temple in Chiang Mai, sitting on a hill it commands a view of the entire vally floor. This temple dates from 1383. Its builders placed a relic of the Lord Buddha on an elephant's back and letting the elephant roam until it came across a place where it trumpeted and circled before lying down. They took this as marking an auspicious place to build the temple. You can walk the Naga stairway if your heart can take it or the more modern railway. I like this temple but it's not my favorite as it's loaded with local and tourist traffic and you almost feel like you are at the carnival.

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

Wat Chiang Man

The oldest temple in Chiang Mai. King Mengrai lived here while overseeing the construction of the city. This temple houses two very important and venerated Buddha figures - Phra Sila (a marble Buddha) and Phra Satang Man (a crystal Buddha).

Wat Phra Singh

Located within the old city walls it dates from 1345. Classic Northern Thai style architecture at it's best. It houses the Phra Singh Buddha, a highly venerated figure, transferred here many years ago from Chiang Rai. This temple is one of the most important temples in the city. Visitors can also take part in meditation classes here at set times.

Wat Phra Singh

Wat Chedi Luang
Founded in 1401 and dominated by the large Lanna style chedi which dates from the same time, but took many years to finish. An earthquake damaged the chedi in the 16th century and now only two-thirds of it remains.

Wiang Kum Kam
The site of an old city situated on the southern outskirts of Chiang Mai. King Mengrai used this for ten years before the founding of Chiang Mai. The site has a large number of ruined temples. This place is awesome. Last time we were there they were having a local festival that we just happened on. Elephants, local dancers, song and they had a small train that you could go on for 20 Baht each way. The site is huge and was totally covered in mud from the Ping river flooding over the centuries.

The Very Old and the New at Wieng Kun Kam

Wat U-Mong

A forest and cave wat in the foothills in the west of the city, near Chiang Mai University. Wat U-Mong is known for its grotesque concrete fasting Buddha and hundreds of Buddhist proverbs in English and Thai posted on trees throughout its grounds. This is another wat that is off the beaten track but worth a walk around. There is a small lake with lots of fish.

Chedi at Wat U-Mong

Wat Suan Dok

A 14th century temple located just west of the old city-wall. The temple was built by the King of Lanna for a revered monk visiting from Sukhothai to spend the rains retreat. The name translates as "the field of flowers temple." There are several unique aspects to this temple. One is the temple's large ubosot (ordination hall), see picture below - for scale I'm 6 feet tall. This is unusual not only for its size, but also that it is open on the sides instead of enclosed. Secondly, there are a large number of chedis housing the ashes of the rulers of Chiang Mai. The temple is also the site of Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya Buddhist University.

Of all the whats in Thailand this is my favorite. There is just something magical about Suan DoK for me. On Tuesday evenings they have a program, Monk Talk, where novice monks will talk to you in English, this helps them learn English and helps you understand Buddhism.

Rear of the Ordination Hall