CHIANG MAI HISTORICAL CENTER AND ROYAL ANCESTRAL SHRINE OF LANNA

The Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center is one of the best places to begin exploring Chiang Mai’s Old City.
At the front of the compound, directly facing Prapokklao Road is the Three Kings Monument. Immediately behind this monument is the large Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center building, and behind this is the Chiang Mai Historical Center which houses the Royal Ancenstral Shrine of Lanna.
A major theme of the museum is Lanna culture. Lanna heritage can be seen throughout Northern Thailand in temple architecture, wood carving, textiles, festivals, music, food, and Buddhist rituals.
The museum is also a good place to learn about the layout of Chiang Mai’s Old City. The historic square city plan, moat, gates, and old defensive walls are central to Chiang Mai’s identity.
The exhibits are ideal if you enjoy history, architecture, culture, and photography. These air-conditioned attractions are best visited if you want a calm indoor stop during the heat of the day.
Places such as Tha Phae Gate, Suan Dok Gate, Chiang Mai Gate, and Chang Puak Gate are well worth seeing and are best visited after the museum, as this gives you a better understanding of the Old City. Taking a tuk-tuk tour around the Old City moat and gates after visiting the museum is also a good way to appreciate the city’s cultural identity.
If you have already visited the Lanna Folklife Museum over the road, then use the same entry ticket.
There is so much for you to see, it would take at least 2 hours to view everything in these magnificent attractions.
Open typically 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, closed on Mondays.
See below for map and directions.

If you are staying inside the Old City, the center may be within walking distance from many hotels, guesthouses, cafés, and temples. From Tha Phae Gate, it is usually a comfortable walk through the Old City streets. From Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, or the Sunday Walking Street area, it is also easy to reach on foot. Use the Chiang Mai Tour Map link above to view and download the Old City map showing all the attractions, or click the interactive map link below.

If you are staying outside the Old City, you can take a red songthaew, tuk-tuk, taxi, or use the Grab app. Ask for the Three Kings Monument, which is a well-known landmark. Once you arrive at the monument, the Chiang Mai Arts & Cultural Center, Historical Center, and Royal Ancestral Shrine of Lanna are in the same grounds. The Lanna Folklife Museum is directly over the road and also well worth a visit.
You can use the same entry ticket for all the exhibits.