Chiang Rai

Chiang Mai is bigger, with more restaurants, more nightlife and more tourists. Chiang Rai is quieter, more authentic, and home to the White Temple, which features on every top-ten list. Both are worth visiting: if you're visiting only one, Chiang Mai offers more variety; if you're doing both, start in Chiang Mai and finish in Chiang Rai.

Two to three days are enough to see the main sights: day one the White Temple and Blue Temple, day two the Golden Triangle or Doi Tung, day three the city itself (Clock Tower, morning market, Oub Kham Museum). If you also want to visit Singha Park and hill tribe communities, allow four days.

Bus or minibus is the most popular option: 180-200 THB, three to four hours, departing from Chiang Mai's Arcade Bus Terminal. A private taxi or shared shuttle also takes three hours and costs 250-400 THB. Flying is possible but logistically inefficient for such a short distance.

Yes. Wat Rong Khun is no ordinary temple but an ongoing art project. The white exterior with mirrored glass sparkles in sunlight, and the interior contains murals that blend Buddhist iconography with modern characters like Neo from The Matrix. Arrive before 9:00 to beat the crowds; afternoons get packed.

Singha Park has a small zoo, bicycles and a zipline circuit suited for children from six years old. The Clock Tower light show (every evening at 19:00) is always a hit. The White Temple is so visually striking that children enjoy it in their own way. The morning market is perfect for an early adventure.