Just entering Chiang Mai town, you can immediately experience an ambience of ancient time due to the walls and moats of the old city. The present Chiang Mai town lay on the location, known as Wiang Nophaburi, of a small settlement of the indigenous Lawa in the past. The town lies between the Ping River to the east and Doi Suthep to the west. The layout of the city is in a form of square enclosed by moats and walls that face the cardinal directions. This plan is based on the astrological concept that the city pillar at the center represents Mount Sumeru which is considered as the center of the universe in Brahmanic cosmology; the walls and moats symbolize the mountains and seas of the outer universe.

Around the areas of the old city and beyond are teemed with several historical sites, especially temples which represent both historical exuberance and also their magnificently characteristic arts of Lan Na Kingdom.

The Three Kings Monument stands in front of the old City Hall, very close to the center of the old city. The statue represents the three kings of the three allied kingdoms during the time of Chiang Mai's founding. From left, we can recognize King Ngam Muang of Phayao, then King Mangrai in the middle, and King Ramkamhaeng of Sukhothai; they are in the action of discussing the location of Chiang Mai on April 12, 1296. This date became then the memorial day of Chiang Mai's founding, and the annual offering ceremony was made to honor the three kings.

The City Pillar or Inthakin is located at the center of the old city representing the center of the universe according to Brahmanic belief in cosmology. The city pillar is the home of guardian spirits for the city, and people must pay respect to it each year during Inthakin festival to bring prosperity to themselves and the city. It is enshrined in the compound of Wat Chedi Luang.

Wat Chedi Luang is noted for an enormous pagoda, which was originally 280 feet high, but partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. The pagoda is believed to have been constructed at the end of the 14th century at the command of King Saen Muang Ma, the 7th king of Mangrai Dynasty, to enshrine the relics of his father. This temple once housed the most revered image of Buddha in Thailand, the Emerald Buddha which is now in Bangkok's Wat Pra Kaeo. In front of the main chapel, the two magnificent statues of nagas are adorned the staircase; naga statue is the characteristic feature of temples in northern Thailand.

Wat Phra Singh is founded in the 14th century to enshrine the ashes of King Kham Fu. The original name of the temple was Wat Li Chiang Phra and changed to its present name when Phra Sihing Buddha image was first housed here in 1367. This temple is considered as the ultimate specimen of Lan Na arts with its complex of buildings in varying architectural and artistic style. Among those buildings, Viharn Lai Kham is the most famous and most beautiful structure of the temple, representing the most beautifully artistic feature of Lan Na style. The viharn (the main hall) is elaborately decorated with the exquisite woodcarving in the window frames and ancient door ways. Inside, the murals remain the best preserved in Chiang Mai and provide a glimpse of religion as well as the earthy people tradition during the 19th century. This building houses Phra Buddha Sihing Buddha image, one of the most revered in Thailand. Another highlighted feature of the temple is Ho Trai or the script repository, noted for its finest woodcarving, considered the most exquisite of its type in the north. Its base is decorated with stucco of deities.

Wat Chiang Man is believed to have been built by King Mangrai as his royal residence during the construction of Chiang Mai in 1296. It was thus the first temple in Chiang Mai and contains many old artifacts. The temple is remarkable for its chedi (pagoda) supported by rows of elephantine buttresses and a small ancient Buddha image. Phra Kaeow Khaow.

Wat Chet Yod was built by King Tilokarat in 1455. The temple was probably copied from the Indian temple at Bodhgaya, the site of the Buddha's Enlightenment in the north of India. This temple used to be the site of the Eight World Buddhist council which was held to revise the Tripitaka (the Buddha's teaching) in 1477. The temple got its name from its seven-spired-chedi raised on the top of the old viharn. The base of the building is decorated with stucco relief of deities whose faces are reputed to be likenesses of the relatives of King Tilokarat and which are considered the finest stuccoes in Thailand. Nearby, stands a large chedi which contains the ashes of King Tilokarat.

Wat Suan Dok was established in 1371. The legend has it that during the reign of King Ku Na, who considerably patronized Buddhism, invited the venerable Sumana Thera, a very pious monk from Sukhothai to establish Buddhism in Lan Na Kingdom; the king offered him the royal garden as the location of temple's construction. In the main viharn houses a 4.7 meter-tall-Buddha image called Phra Chao Kao Tue, a 500-year-old image; the walls of the viharn are decorated with murals representing the previous lives of the Buddha. West of the main viharn stands a chedi which enshrines the remains of the royal family of Chiang Mai.

Wat Umong is the oldest forest monastery in the region, providing secluded atmosphere for practicing meditation. The origins of the temple are obscure; it may have been founded by King Mangrai to accommodate the forest monks from Sri Lanka. Wat Umong was abandoned until 1948 when local monks reestablished this forest temple. The temple's building itself is modest; its surrounding is calm, covered with shady trees. The temple grounds also extend to cover an open zoo on the side of the mountain; occasionally, you will then see a tame deer wandering the park. There are tunnels that lead to the underground cells used by forest monks for silent meditation and a venerated Buddha image.

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is the most venerated temple among Chiang Mai people as well as the hottest spot among tourists visiting the province. The legend has it that the temple site was chosen by an elephant carrying a sacred relic. Initially, the relic was to be enshrined at Wat Suan Dok in 1371, but it split into two pieces. The second piece was then carried on the back of an elephant which proceeded to climb up Doi Suthep. The elephant finally reached a level piece of ground after three days; it circled three times, knelt down and then died. Therefore, a hole was dug at the site for the relic which was then covered with chedi as seen today. The stairway leading up to the temple was built during the reign of King Phra Mekuti in the mid 16th century, adorned with a statue of naga and composed of more than 200 steps. In the past, pilgrims had to walk up to a mountain to reach the temple, but nowadays, they also use a small cable railway instead of stairway.

The inner sanctuary offers the classic sights of Chiang Mai; in the middle of the sanctuary, the golden plated chedi reflects the sunlight resulting in the striking golden rays spread out to all directions of the sanctuary. The chedi reached its present height of over 16 meters in 1525 in the reign of King Muang Kaew. The sanctuary is enclosed by a cloister which contains Buddha image and murals depicting the life of the Buddha. In the middle of the east and west sides of the cloister, there stand two elaborate viharn. Both of them possess the walls covered with murals. The murals of the eastern viharn show the legend of the elephant and the relic; while those of the western hall represent the last life of the Buddha before he attained the Enlightenment. In this western viharn, devotees often come to receive blessings and lustral water from monks. The calm atmosphere together with the sacred golden chedi always attracts many visitors a day.

Wiang Kum Kam is ancient city founded by King Mangrai around 1286, located in the eastern bank of the River Ping. The king used this site as the capital of Lan Na Kingdom before realizing its inappropriate location, and he eventually moved to build a new one, Chiang Mai. In the city's compound, there are several historical sites representing the existence of a city on the location. The compound is packed with temples and chedi's ruins. One of the most important temples around here is Wat Chedi Liem. The main feature of the temple is the Hariphunchai-style chedi built around 1286. It is a square stepped chedi with Buddha images in niches at each level; it is a replica of one of Wat Chamadevi in Lamphun Province. The temple was abandoned for hundred years. Until 1808, a Burmese monk found the site and fascinated by the ancient ruins; he then restored the temple and chedi by mixing the Burmese art into the original Khmer one.

There are many other beautiful temples around Chiang Mai old town and the extended modern town; all of them are also guaranteed for its elaborate beauty of Lan Na artistic style as well as their interesting historical background. When visiting Chiang Mai town, the temple's sightseeing is a noteworthy experience.

Chiang Mai cultural Center is located on the Chiang Mai-Hangdong route. This is a center of Lan Na arts and cultures. There is a group of houses in Thai traditional style used for local traditional performance as well as original dances of each hill tribe people. The performance starts from 19.00 to 22.00 every day. The traditional cuisine locally called Khan Tok is also served here. In the area, there are souvenir shops lining around.

Phu Phing Palace is located 22 kilometers from town, on the Chiang Mai-Doi Suthep route. The winter royal palace was built in 1962. The palace is fames for its elegantly decorated garden with colorful flowers and the rose beds. Visitors can visit the palace on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and official days when the Thai royal family is not in residence.