Phrae Travel Guide in Northern Thailand: Phrae is often overlooked by tourists but has a unique charm. The few tourists who do come here are among the few who remain. The town center was once surrounded by a city wall, parts of which are still preserved or restored. The old town contains some interesting temples and old houses. A visit to Phrae can be short, but don't forget to visit Wat Phra That Cho Hae, 8 km outside the town. It's the largest and most popular temple in the area. If you have a vehicle, you can explore the surrounding countryside and perhaps drive to Payao and its lake. This will allow you to discover beautiful panoramas and an authentic glimpse of Thailand. In the evenings, a small night market takes place at Pratu Chai, the entrance to the old town at the end of Charoen Muang Road. There you can eat very cheaply in the typical atmosphere of a small Thai provincial town. Phrae is a nice stopover on the way from Chiang Rai to Bangkok if you have a day or two to spare. All the ways to get around in Phrae can be found in our section "Getting Around in Phrae".

Accommodation in Phrae: The accommodation options in Phrae have improved significantly in recent years and include some very nice new hotels. The town is becoming increasingly popular with domestic tourists. Despite this growing appeal to Thais, the number of hotels remains sufficient. However, it's worth noting that Thai tourists are mainly found on weekends. Hotel and guesthouse staff don't always speak English, or at least not well, and some establishments have signs only in Thai, even though they warmly welcome foreigners. However, you can always find a way to communicate with gestures and a smile. I recommend choosing accommodation in or near the square by the old city wall to be close to the area with Wat Phong Sunan, Wat Phra Non, the Vongburi House, and the Saturday Night Market. Find accommodation in Phrae. Choose a destination: Amphawa Ayutthaya Bang Saphan Bangkok Buriram Cha Am Chachoengsao Chaiyaphum Chanthaburi Chiang Dao Chiang Khan Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Chonburi Chumphon Dan Sai Hat Yai Hua Hin Kalasin Kamphaeng Phet Kanchanaburi Khao Lak Khao Sok Koh Chang Koh Jum Koh Kood Koh Lanta Koh Larn Koh Lipe Koh Mak Koh Phangan Koh Phayam Koh Phi Phi Koh Samet Koh Samui Koh Sichang Koh Tao Koh Wai Krabi Lampang Lamphun Loei Lopburi Mae Hong Son Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Si Thammarat Nan Nang Rong Nong Khai Pai Pak Chong Pattaya Phang Nga Phang Nga Phayao Phetchabun Phetchaburi Phitsanulok Phrae Phuket Prachuap Khiri Khan Pranburi Railay Ranong Ratchaburi Rayong Roi Et Samut Songkhram Sangkhlaburi Sattahip Sukhothai Surat Thani Surin Tak Trang Trat Ubon Ratchathani Udon Thani all categories less than 300 THB from 300 to 500 THB from 500 to 1000 THB from 1000 to 2500 THB from 2500 to 5000 THB plus 5000 THB // grey Less prices not available in the city selection ("All prices are available at any time") function findAccommodationCategories(citySelect) { var option=citySelect.options[citySelect.selectedIndex]; var price=parseInt(option ? option.getAttribute("data-price") : 0,10) || 0; var categories=citySelect.form.elements["categories"]; if(!categories) return; for(var i=0;i<categories.options.length;i++) { var val=categories.options[i].value; categories.options[i].disabled=!(val=="all" || val=="-" || (Math.pow(2,parseInt(val,10))&price)); } } (function() { var forms=document.querySelectorAll("#form-accommodations form"); var form=forms[forms.length-1]; if(form && form.elements["cities"]) findAccommodationCategories(form.elements["cities"]); })(); My Recommendations I am often asked which accommodations I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations for Phrae. Taris Art Hotel in Phrae (7.9/10) Book now More details PhoomThai Garden Hotel in Phrae (7.3/10) Book now More details Mee Bed and Breakfast Guesthouse in Phrae (8.7/10) Book now More details Chatawan Homestay in Phrae (8.9/10) Book now More details View all accommodations in Phrae

Practical information about Phrae: Phrae receives few foreign tourists. Therefore, there is neither a Thai tourism authority office nor a tourist police force. Hotels and guesthouses are scarce, and few staff members speak and understand fluent English, but communication is always possible. Renting bicycles or scooters is also difficult for foreigners (I personally couldn't find anything). Although Phrae has an airport, it has not offered scheduled flights to and from Bangkok since April 2023.

How do you get to Phrae? Phrae does have an airport, but Nok Air has discontinued flights on this route, and no other airline offers them. Therefore, there are currently no scheduled flights to Phrae. The easiest way to travel is by bus. Note that the town does not have a train station. However, you can take a train to Denchai and from there a songthaew (shared taxi) to Phrae, which is 20 kilometers away. [arrow_circle_right] See all travel options to Phrae

What's the best way to get around Phrae? You can explore the city walls on foot. This is the most interesting part of the city, so I recommend staying in or near them. Alternatively, you can hire tuk-tuks and songthaews, especially for trips to Wat Phra That Cho Hae, which is 8 km from the city center. Note that an increasing number of hotels and guesthouses in Phrae are also offering bicycles to their guests.

Annual Phra That Cho Hae Festival. This festival usually takes place in March. More about the annual Phra That Cho Hae Festival

Other sights in Phrae: Wat Luang (★), the oldest temple in the city, has been restored and renovated, as has its chedi, the oldest building within the temple complex. The temple houses a small museum, open on Saturdays. Wat Phra Bat Ming Muang (★) is usually the first temple visitors see in Phrae's old town. Its chedi is considered the heart of the city. The Kosai Buddha statue and the sacred Buddha footprint are other points of interest. The Vongburi House (★), one of the most remarkable old teakwood houses in Phrae, now houses a museum dedicated to the history of teakwood processing in the province. Wat Chom Sawan (★), a Burmese-style temple built entirely of teakwood, is certainly not the most exciting sight in Phrae, but it is worth a visit for those curious about different architecture. Wat Chetawan (★), this temple is barely mentioned in Phrae guidebooks, but it's a beautiful place. I especially liked the entrance door and the Naga heads that line the stairs to the ordination hall. Wat Phra That Chom Chaeng (★★★): This lesser-known and therefore less visited temple is only 2 kilometers from Wat Phra That Cho Hae. I personally like the atmosphere (except perhaps the area around the "Garden of Hell," which is often renovated or expanded). I recommend visiting it after Wat Phra That Cho Hae. Wat Na Khu Ha: There are many interesting temples in the mountains surrounding Phrae, but this one, with its bamboo bridge over the fields, the mountain with two caves, and the magnificent viewpoint, is definitely one of my favorites. It's located 27 kilometers east of the city and is barely mentioned even in Thai guidebooks. Golden Rock Temple (Wat Phra That Din Kwaen): The highlight of this temple, located 23 kilometers east of Phrae, is a smaller-scale replica of the sacred Golden Rock in Myanmar. I also find the short walk along the brick paths interesting. Combining it with Wat Na Khu Ha and its slightly more distant bamboo bridge makes for a lovely day trip. Phae Muang Phi Forest Park: This forest park, 12 kilometers from Phrae, is famous for its stone pillars, formed by erosion. Although they cover only a small area, they are still interesting to see. And why not take a short stroll along the forest trails?

How do you ask for directions to Phrae in Thai? I want to go to Phrae / Yak pai thi Plè. Where is Phrae? / Plè yu thi nai?