Royal Park Rajapruek
Give this one half a day at minimum, and don't try to walk it all. The site is enormous, laid out in themed garden zones, and the orchids and succulents are the parts people come away talking about. At the centre sits the Royal Pavilion, built in 2006 in fully traditional style and treated as a ceremonial building rather than a photo backdrop, so cover your shoulders and knees before you go in. There's also an insect facility with live displays, which is more interesting than it sounds.
The free open-air tram runs a loop of eight stops and comes round every fifteen minutes. My advice is to ride the whole circuit first, work out which stops you actually want, then start hopping off. Bikes and wheelchairs are included with entry too, which makes the place workable for anyone who can't handle a few kilometres on foot in 32-degree heat. Entry has been running at 200 baht for adults and 150 for children.
Book tours & tickets in Chiang Mai
Day trips, skip-the-line entry, and guided experiences around Royal Park Rajapruek — book ahead and skip the on-the-ground markup.
We may earn a commission from bookings made through these links — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Experience hints
Pair your visit. After Royal Park Rajapruek, round out your day in Chiang Mai with contrasting stops nearby.
Reviews from Google
This place is beautiful! Definitely recommend if your in Chiang Mai. My family spent about 4 hours here. The park is open between 8am - 6pm everyday. The cafe inside I believe closes at 5pm. Entry was 200 baht for adults and 150 baht for children. There is bikes and wheelchairs or use the tram to get around (these are included with the entry ticket). The tram stops at 8 main places and comes every 15 minutes. My mum used the wheelchair and the tram to get around, if you can walk a little they will attach the wheelchair to the side of the tram. Making this place very easy to get around even if you need a wheelchair. Even though this place is huge it's kept very clean and there are many gardeners around keeping the plants healthy. The only thing I didn't like was the Japanese garden - They had plastic cherry blossom trees. I understand it's not the time of year for them to bloom but they could have put something else in there. My favourite gardens are the orchid, cactus and bonsai. You can even buy plants at the gift store. We went on a Tuesday around 1pm and it was not busy or crowded. We had a peaceful and amazing time exploring the gardens. I would definitely come back.
Want to start my review by giving shoutout to Jiraporn Chuduang who single-handedly made my trip to the park enjoyable. She is a tenacious employee who showed me around and provided detailed tour of the bug facility. She helped me locate the live bugs in their displays and provided educational information. She is super friendly and I am so glad to have met her! The park itself was gorgeous and even during +32C a fun experience. So thankful that there were little shuttle buses to take you across the land because I heavily underestimated how huge the park is, in a good way. Unforgettable experience
Huge space, you'll definitely need more than half a day to explore it properly. We had a great time exploring. A lot of thought has gone into making this place and it shows! There are shuttle services every 15 minutes between each exhibit if we don't want to walk and its a life saver.
A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 8,288 reviews on Google.
Also Popular in Chiang Mai
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai
No riding, no tricks: a day of feeding and mud with rescued elephants in the Mae Wang hills.
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
Get there around 7pm, before the crowds land, and browse the whole stretch before you buy anything.
Central Chiangmai
Come for the fourth-floor food hall, stay because you've forgotten what you actually came to buy.
MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center
Air-con, cheap food courts and a rooftop with mountain views at the top of Nimman.
Royal Park Rajapruek: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Royal Park Rajapruek worth visiting?
Royal Park Rajapruek holds a 4.6★ rating from 8,288 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated temples & culture in Chiang Mai.
What are the opening hours of Royal Park Rajapruek?
Royal Park Rajapruek is typically open 08:00-18:00 — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.
When is the best time to visit Royal Park Rajapruek?
The best months to visit Chiang Mai are November – February, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – January & Songkran (April) — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: March – May (smoke & heat).
Where is Royal Park Rajapruek located?
Royal Park Rajapruek is at 334, Tambon Mae Hia, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand, in Chiang Mai. Getting around Chiang Mai: Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks); Grab (available in city centre).
Location Info
334, Tambon Mae Hia, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand053 114 110www.royalparkrajapruek.org/Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – February
Avoid: March – May (smoke & heat)
Rainy season
June – October
Avg. temperature
15°C – 36°C(59°F – 97°F)
Crowds
Peak: December – January & Songkran (April)
Getting there
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) has direct flights from Bangkok (1 hr), Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok take ~12 hrs.
Getting around
- •Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks)
- •Grab (available in city centre)
- •Motorbike rental (฿150–250/day)
- •Tuk-tuks (negotiate price first)
Where to stay near Royal Park Rajapruek
Find hotels in Chiang Mai on the booking sites travellers trust most.
- Compare prices across sites
- Filter for free cancellation
- Secure checkout on the partner site
Compare rates on Booking.com
Largest selection
Compare rates on Expedia
Bundle & save
Compare rates on Hotels.com
Member prices
We may earn a commission from bookings made through these links — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Tips for Visiting Temples & Culture
Dress Modestly
Cover shoulders and knees at all temples. Carry a light scarf or sarong — some temples lend wraps, but not all. Shoes come off before entering any building with a Buddha image.
Mind Your Feet
Never point your feet at a Buddha image or a monk — it's considered deeply disrespectful. When sitting inside a temple, tuck your feet behind you or to the side.
Ask Before Photographing
Exterior photos are almost always fine, but some interior halls prohibit photography. Look for signs, and never pose irreverently with Buddha images — it's a legal offense in Thailand.
Nearby Places
Royal Pavilion
Northern Thai craftsmanship without the crowds, out in Mae Hia on the edge of the city.
Wat Phra That Doi Kham
Free hilltop temple where the crowd is mostly Thai worshippers, and the giant white-and-gold Buddha is visible for miles.
Wat Intharawat (Wat Ton Kwen)
Old teak Lanna temple with no gold, where half the visitors are dressed in rented traditional costume.
Wat Umong Suan Putthatham
Tunnels under a 14th-century chedi, a forest full of roosters, and 20 baht to see it all.
Similar Temples & Culture Across Thailand
Wat Phra Kaew
Go at 08:30 or don't bother, the Emerald Buddha's courtyards fill up fast and stay full until closing.
The Grand Palace
Go at 08:30 sharp, cover your shoulders and legs, and give it three hours rather than one.
The Sanctuary of Truth Museum
A hand-carved wooden giant still under construction, and watching the carpenters work is half the point.
Wat Arun
Porcelain-covered spires best seen late afternoon, and yes, the midday heat on those grounds is brutal.
Where to stay near Royal Park Rajapruek
Find hotels in Chiang Mai on the booking sites travellers trust most.
- Compare prices across sites
- Filter for free cancellation
- Secure checkout on the partner site
Compare rates on Booking.com
Largest selection
Compare rates on Expedia
Bundle & save
Compare rates on Hotels.com
Member prices
We may earn a commission from bookings made through these links — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Location Info
Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – February
Avoid: March – May (smoke & heat)
Rainy season
June – October
Avg. temperature
15°C – 36°C(59°F – 97°F)
Crowds
Peak: December – January & Songkran (April)
Getting there
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) has direct flights from Bangkok (1 hr), Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok take ~12 hrs.
Getting around
- •Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks)
- •Grab (available in city centre)
- •Motorbike rental (฿150–250/day)
- •Tuk-tuks (negotiate price first)