Chiang Mai

Founded in 1345 by King Pa Yo, the temple comprises a number of different buildings in the Lan Na style, which have been richly decorated by local wood carvers. — Michelin Guide

This northern Thai–style building contains many statues of Lord Buddha, including a bust that measures 10 feet high. — Fodor's

Wat Suan Dok. It's said to have been built on the site where bones of Lord Buddha were found. — Fodor's

Dotted around the compound are more chapels and chedi, as well as lots of mature ficus trees propped up with wooden stakes by devotees seeking merit. — Lonely Planet

Now a superb ruin. The parklike grounds contain a variety of assembly halls, chapels, a 30-foot-long reclining Buddha, and the ancient citypillar. — Fodor's

The handsome city museum is housed in a colonnaded palace that was the official administrative headquarters of the last local ruler. — Fodor's

In Wat Phan Tao, you'll be struck by the delicate wood carvings in the wihan, where local woodworkers have surpassed themselves in their use of teak, the main resource from the neighbouring forests. — Michelin Guide

This handsome wát looms above the city from the hillside above Royal Park Rajapruek. With its gilded chedi, super-sized Buddha statues and panoramic city views — Lonely Planet

More than 100 species of wild animals, including tigers, leopards, jaguars, and elephants. — Fodor's

Set inside the Thai-colonial-style former Provincial Court, dating from 1935, this imaginative museum re-creates Lanna village life in a series of life-size dioramas. — Lonely Planet

This forest wát is best known for its secluded sylvan setting and a series of interconnecting brick tunnels built around 1380 for the clairvoyant monk. — Lonely Planet

Located on the 'handicraft highway' between Chiang Mai and San Kamphaeng, this museum showcases the only standalone collection of Thai and Southeast Asian contemporary art in the country. — Lonely Planet

Today, the excavated ruins are scattered around the winding lanes of a sleepy village 5km south of Chiang Mai. — Lonely Planet