A Guide to Doi Suthep Temple, Chiang Mai: 4 Things to Know

I’ve been in Chiang Mai, Thailand for two weeks at the time I’m writing this, and I already feel at home. So much so that I haven’t really explored much yet. I’ve fallen into a nice routine of jiu jitsu training and working from home – which I absolutely love.

So when my two best friends decided to visit, it felt like the perfect time for a proper weekend adventure. At the top of my list was Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of Chiang Mai’s most sacred temples. Located on Doi Suthep mountain, it overlooks the city and it’s only 45 minutes drive from the city centre. Known for its golden pagoda, beautiful view, and the famous 306-step dragon staircase, it’s one of those places that feels both grounding and magical.

First Thing First: How to Get to Doi Suthep

After researching how to get there (the options are a private car, public transport from Chiang Mai Zoo, or a Grab car), we decided to just book a Grab car so we could head up early. And by early, I mean 7am – which, by the way, was a huge achievement for the three of us, considering we love a good sleep-in. I read that the sunrise from the viewpoint is amazing, but let’s not push it right? 7am felt ambitious enough, lol. One thing about taking a Grab car up there: some drivers might be a bit hesitant as they might struggle to find passengers on the way back down. In our case, the driver just asked if we could pay cash instead, which was absolutely fine. 

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Outside of the temples – people often pray here too

The drive up the mountain didn’t feel long at all, especially with good company. Once we reached the foot of the mountain, the road began winding upwards. On the way up, we passed keen runners and determined cyclists. There’s also the Monk’s Trail if you fancy a hike up, which is popular among locals and hikers looking for a more challenging route to the top. Distance-wise, it’s only around 10km from the city. Technically, I could run to Doi Suthep… but my poor knees would never survive the elevation! Haha. We were dropped off right at the temple entrance, where loads of songthaews (Thai public transport vehicles) were parked. That instantly allayed my worries after all the earlier stress about whether we’d be able to find a Grab car back down. 

Getting to the Top: Stairs or Cable Car?

Okay, so there are two ways to get to the top: the famous 306-step dragon staircase or the cable car. With a little bit of persuasion, I managed to convince the girls that the stairs were the right choice! It’s totally up to you if you want to take the cable car, but there’s usually a queue. The morning air is pretty chilly too, which makes a huge difference. Climbing the stairs when you’re not hot and drenched in sweat is way more pleasant. So yeah… give it a try 😉

Me and my best friends in front of Doi Suthep’s famous 306-step dragon staircase

Temples, Rituals, and Quiet Moments

Once we made it to the top, there are several temples you can to visit. Just a few things to keep in mind: wear respectful clothing; no tank tops, no shorts, and no shoes inside the temples. You’ll find shoe racks by the entrance where you can safely leave them. Within the temple areas, keep your voice low and your movements calm. You’ll often see people circling the pagoda clockwise three times, and you’re welcome to join in. There’s also a prayer you can recite to worship the pagoda.

There are prayer rooms you can walk into as well, and you’re free to pray in whatever belief you hold. I believe gratitude and blessings exist in every religion, so I visited a few of the prayer rooms with my friends – it felt very soothing. And if praying or rituals aren’t your thing, you can simply wander around and admire the beautiful Buddhist architecture. Once you’re done, take some time to soak in the view of Chiang Mai from the viewing point before heading back down.

Oh, one interesting thing I found in one of the prayer rooms – which I later read that it is actually a fortune-telling area, is that you can step in and say a personal prayer, whether it’s about life, love, decisions, or anything. Once you’re done, you shake a bamboo cylinder provided there until a numbered stick falls out. That number is considered your sign. You then match it to a paper on the wall that you can take, with a written fortune. People usually make a small donation afterwards.

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My friend Jessica in the fortune-telling area

A 50-Baht Ride Down The Mountain

We wrapped up our trip with coffee at one of the local food stalls near the dragon staircase. We sat outside on the balcony, watching songthaews line up to head off to different destinations. We then decided to stop by the closest national park, which I’ll cover in the next article. By the way, a one-way songthaew ride to the national park (it’s close enough to the city) costs just 50 baht! Super affordable and so much fun. We shared the ride with other travellers – an experience I hadn’t had in years. 

The iconic red songthaew (Thai public transport vehicle) lining up by the entrance of Doi Suthep

Anyway, that’s my Doi Suthep adventure with my girls. Hope you found some useful tips if you’re planning a trip there or to Chiang Mai in general. I’ll be in this beautiful city for a while, so expect more articles on other spots, restaurants, events, and whatnot. Stay tuned on www.kata-bella.com and follow us on Instagram @katabellamag.

Planning your trip to Doi Suthep

• ⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 6am – 6pm
• 🌅 Best time to visit: Sunrise or sunset for the magical views
• 📍Location: Around 10 – 13 km from the city centre, on Doi Suthep Mountain
• 🎟️ Entrance fee: 50 baht for foreign visitors (for temple maintance)
• 🚘 Transportation: Grab car, songthaew, private car, or a mountain bike! 😉
• 🚶🏼 Access to the temple: Stairs or cable car
• 👗 Dress code: Clothing that covers shoulders and knees
• 🚽 Toilets: Available downstairs near the cable car entrance (they’re clean!)

Personal tips:

• Get there as early as you can – the weather is cool in the morning and there are fewer people.
• Try the fortune-telling area and do the pagoda loop for the full experience.
• Go to the toilet before heading up and bring a water bottle. It gets really hot once the sun comes out.