Black House and Blue Temple Chiang Rai: Fees, Hours

Chiang Rai's "Black House" and "Blue Temple" are two very different stops that sit alongside the more famous White Temple. The short answer: on the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) pages we read on 2026-10-16, the Black House (Baan Dam Museum) charges 80 baht and opens daily 09:00 to 17:00, while the Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten) opens daily 07:00 to 20:00 and the page lists no entrance fee. Give the Black House about an hour and the Blue Temple half an hour, and plan them together with the White Temple if you only have a day.

Read the facts table before you go. Opening hours and prices are copied from TAT, and where a travel site says something different we show both. We have not visited, and we do not guess times or prices.

Verified facts, and where sources disagree

TAT also says that groups visiting the Black House must notify the museum in advance.

Black House (Baan Dam Museum)

Baan Dam is the opposite of the White Temple. TAT describes it as the work of Thawan Duchanee, with more than 25 traditional Northern-style buildings and several adapted local-style buildings, carved wood against a black backdrop, and displays of large crocodile and snake skins and animal horns. It is a museum and art compound, not a working temple, so temple dress is not required, but keep clothes modest and do not touch the artworks.

Some displays are made from animal remains such as skins, horns and skulls, which some visitors find confronting. If you are travelling with young children or are sensitive to this, look at the photos first and decide. The grounds are spread out and partly on bare ground, so wear closed shoes and bring water.

Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten)

The Blue Temple is a working temple. TAT says it was rebuilt in the Rong Suea Ten community by the local artist Phuttha Kabkaew, known as "Sala Nok", with deep blue tones and stucco craftsmanship. The ordination hall holds a Buddha image 6.5 metres high with a lap width of 5 metres. The image is said to contain 88,000 small Phra Rot Lamphun Buddha images, and the walls carry murals of the life of the Buddha.

Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees, and take shoes off before entering any building, as a travel site also advises. See Thailand temple etiquette. Follow the signs about photography and never block worshippers.

How to combine them with the White Temple

All three are in the Chiang Rai area, but the White Temple is out of town to the south, so a day plan has to cross town. A relaxed order is:

1. Early: White Temple when it opens, before the tour buses.
2. Midday: lunch in Chiang Rai city.
3. Afternoon: Black House for about an hour, then the Blue Temple, which stays open to 20:00 on TAT's page and is pleasant in late light.

Check the map for travel times on the day; we did not verify distances. For where to sleep, see where to stay in Chiang Rai and the Chiang Rai hub.

Getting there

The booking box on this page opens a 12Go search for Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. It is an affiliate link. It gets you to Chiang Rai city only; neither the Black House nor the Blue Temple has a ticket we can sell, and you pay at the gate.

Costs

Entry for the Black House is 80 baht per TAT, and the Blue Temple has no listed fee. We have no verified prices for local taxis or tours, so we show none. At a working temple, a small donation is optional.

Best time to go

The cool season from November to February is the most comfortable for walking between buildings. In the burning season, roughly February to April, smoke can affect the north; check Air4Thai (air4thai.pcd.go.th) before a long day. Late afternoon at the Blue Temple is a good choice if midday is hot.

FAQ

Prices, schedules and entry rules change. Figures here are approximate as of 2026; always confirm on the official or operator page before you book. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.