Doi Suthep Chiang Mai Guide 2026: Sunset Views & How to Get There
Planning a trip to Chiang Mai? Don't miss Doi Suthep! This guide reveals the best ways to reach the golden temple and why sunset is the absolute must-see time.
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Planning a trip to Chiang Mai? Don't miss Doi Suthep! This guide reveals the best ways to reach the golden temple and why sunset is the absolute must-see time.
If you're planning a trip to Chiang Mai,
there's one place you absolutely have to visit at least once:
Doi Suthep.
Honestly, when I travel,
I usually prefer exploring local spots
over famous tourist attractions or landmarks.
So, I actually debated whether or not to go to Doi Suthep.
But I'm so glad I went!!
I would have regretted it if I hadn't gone🥹
The panoramic view of Chiang Mai city,
and the golden glow of Doi Suthep Temple itself were
absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful!!❤️
1. How to Get to Doi Suthep - Songthaew
Among the ways to get to Doi Suthep,
the most commonly used method is
taking a Songthaew
from in front of Chiang Mai University.
A friend who had visited Chiang Mai before
told me about this method, so I went to catch a Songthaew!
They typically depart once a certain number of passengers have gathered,
which is why many travelers use this method.
I wanted to go up around sunset,
so I arrived at Chiang Mai University around 5 PM.
Maybe it was a bit early, or perhaps because it was a weekday,
but I was the only one there... haha.
Red Bus Station
Going to the Doi Suthep
📍 Red Bus Station to Doi Suthep (Songthaew pick-up point for Doi Suthep)
RX53+FHC, 1004, Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300 Thailand
2. Cost to Get to Doi Suthep
If 10 people gather, the Songthaew price is
50 baht for a one-way trip per person, making it 100 baht for a round trip.
If 6 people gather, it's 150 baht for a round trip,
and if 4 people gather, it's 200 baht for a round trip.
This is how you can go.
However, perhaps because I went a bit early on a weekday,
I didn't see anyone else going from Chiang Mai University to Doi Suthep at all ㅠㅠ haha.
After waiting for a bit,
it didn't seem like enough people would gather,
so I decided to just call a Bolt motorbike rider, haha.
3. Bolt Motorbike Rider
Ultimately, I called a motorbike rider via Bolt,
and a one-way trip to Doi Suthep was 150 baht!
I figured I'd worry about the way down later,
so I just called a motorbike and went.
In conclusion, it turned out to be a really good choice!
The rider kindly pulled over at a viewpoint along the way :)
He said it was fine and gave me a moment to take it all in,
allowing me to enjoy the Chiang Mai scenery!
And when I asked the rider to take some photos,
he happily obliged, which I was super satisfied with...⭐
Seriously... people in Chiang Mai
are always so friendly, no matter where you go!!❤️
4. Arriving at Doi Suthep
And finally, I arrived at the entrance of Doi Suthep Temple!
After saying goodbye to the friendly rider,
I arrived at Doi Suthep only to find a whole lot of stairs to climb?!
Feeling like I was on a diet,
I diligently climbed those stairs, haha.
5. Doi Suthep: Admission & Opening Hours
For foreigners visiting Doi Suthep,
there's a separate admission fee.
The admission fee is 30 baht, which is quite affordable,
so you can enter without any hassle! :)
Doi Suthep is open
every day from 5 AM to 9 PM.
With our tickets purchased,
we finally ascend to Doi Suthep!
While they don't strictly check tickets,
it's based on an honor system to purchase your admission.
6. Doi Suthep: Dress Code
Not just Doi Suthep, but all Thai Buddhist temples
have a dress code!
Tops that expose shoulders, very short shorts or skirts,
as well as crop tops, sheer clothing, and ripped bottoms
should be avoided.
If you're not dressed appropriately,
you can rent a sarong (covering cloth) at the entrance
to wear before entering.
Also, when you ascend to the temple area,
you need to remove your shoes and enter barefoot.
7. Soaking in Doi Suthep & Chiang Mai's Panoramic Views
The Doi Suthep temple in real life!
It was already stunning during the day before sunset,
but the night view later was truly breathtaking.
Perhaps because it was a weekday,
there weren't many tourists,
and I got to experience a peaceful temple atmosphere.
Then I waited for the sunset.
We left a little after 5 PM,
and arrived at Doi Suthep around 5:40 PM.
It took longer than expected for it to get dark.
So I sat in front of Doi Suthep temple,
chatting with a friend,
when my friend 'Mini' asked if I'd seen the observatory.
"Huh?! There was such a thing?!" I thought,
and quickly stepped out of the Doi Suthep temple area to look around nearby.
And sure enough, there was an observatory
where you could see the entire Chiang Mai skyline at a glance!
Thanks to my friend Mini, I discovered the observatory,
captured some beautiful photos, and had a fulfilling day! :)
This just goes to show that I wasn't particularly interested in Doi Suthep at first,
so I didn't research much
and just went without a plan, right?!
Oh, by the way, I went solo and independently this time,
but I noticed there were also people who came with guided tours!
The guides were taking photos for their groups at prime photo spots,
and their tours often combined Doi Suthep with other destinations.
So if you're looking for a more comfortable way to travel,
it might be a good idea to look into tours as well! :)
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
Please note that prices may vary
depending on travel agency promotions and the daily exchange rate.
Be sure to compare and book wisely! :)
Seriously, you absolutely HAVE to visit Doi Suthep...⭐
From the stunning daytime views and vibrant city lights of Chiang Mai,
to finally experiencing the magical Doi Suthep by night!!
8. Doi Suthep at Night is a Must-See!
Wow... you truly have to experience this with your own eyes!!
Pictures simply can't capture the full majesty
of Doi Suthep's golden glow ㅠㅠ
It was so, so, SO beautiful and breathtaking,
that even I, a true 'F' (Feeler), got choked up and shed a tiny tear...!!!
Perhaps it was because I was traveling alone that day,
and a mix of thoughts and feelings were swirling around,
that my emotions were particularly stirred 🥹
The atmosphere is completely different between day and night,
making it feel like you're visiting two distinct places,
and it truly became the most memorable spot in Chiang Mai for me ❤️
Anyway, after soaking in the stunning Doi Suthep night views,
it was time to head back down!
Noticing that most of the tourists were leaving,
I quickly realized it was time and hurried down myself!
Luckily, there was a songthaew just about to depart!
It's usually advertised as 50 Baht for a one-way trip if they get 10 passengers,
but since it was late and they only had two couples
and me, they still only asked for 50 Baht for the one-way trip,
so I got a great deal on the ride down :)
They offered to drop people off at major destinations like Old Town or Nimmanhaemin.
I wanted to check out the night market in front of Chiang Mai University,
so I asked to be dropped off there.
9. Wrapping Up
Leaving with a touch of bittersweet regret, I waved goodbye from the songthaew 🖐🏻
If you're planning a trip to Chiang Mai,
I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Doi Suthep at least once.
Try to go around sunset to catch both the magical twilight
and the golden glow of the temple's night view all in one go!
It will undoubtedly be a trip you remember for a long, long time ❤️
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
While I chose to explore independently,
if you'd rather not worry about transportation or travel times,
consider comparing night tours that combine Wat Umong and Doi Suthep.
Choosing the method that best suits your itinerary and travel style
will always lead to the most satisfying experience!
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
Prices can vary depending on promotions and when you book,
so make sure to compare and book wisely!
You can catch a Songthaew from in front of Chiang Mai University. They depart once a certain number of passengers have gathered, and many travelers use this method.
The Songthaew fare varies depending on the number of passengers. If 10 people gather, it's 50 Baht one-way or 100 Baht round-trip. If 6 people gather, it's 150 Baht round-trip, and if 4 people gather, it's 200 Baht round-trip.
If using a Songthaew is difficult, you can call a Bolt motorcycle rider. This method cost 150 Baht for a one-way trip to Doi Suthep.
The entrance fee for foreigners at Doi Suthep is 30 Baht. Operating hours are daily from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
You should avoid tops that expose shoulders, excessively short bottoms, crop tops, sheer clothing, or ripped bottoms. If your attire is not appropriate, you can rent a sarong at the entrance. When entering the temple, you must remove your shoes and go barefoot.
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I was the one who almost didn't go to Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai...✋🏻 But after visiting, I would have regretted it if I hadn't!🥹 A must-visit if you're planning a trip to Chiang Mai!!⭐ #TodayClipChallenge #ChiangMai #ChiangMaiTravel #DoiSuthep #ChiangMaiDoiSuthep