Chiang Rai vs Ubon Ratchathani
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More striking natural scenery
Countryside, hills and riverside settings add scenery to a city-based stay. Plan outings beyond the centre for the strongest landscape experiences. Another assessed advantage: a quieter setting.
A livelier nightlife scene
Local pubs, clubs and riverside bars provide worthwhile evening choice beyond food markets.
Side by side
What feels different
Our editorial assessments · Select a factor to see how we scored each place.
Why we rate Chiang Rai 0/10
Chiang Rai is inland, with no sea beaches. Its appeal lies in temples, art and the surrounding countryside.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 0/10
This inland city has no sea-beach offering; riverfront areas are a different experience.
What we assess
Beach appeal, convenient access and variety during a beach-focused stay, within the destination itself.
Why we rate Chiang Rai 7/10
Countryside, hills and riverside settings add scenery to a city-based stay. Plan outings beyond the centre for the strongest landscape experiences.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 4/10
Riverfront and temple settings add interest, but the dramatic Mekong landscapes require longer provincial journeys.
What we assess
The visual impact of natural surroundings and how central those landscapes are to a typical stay.
Why we rate Chiang Rai 8/10
The White Temple, Blue Temple and Baan Dam give cultural outings a mix of temple architecture and distinctive art. Several headline sights lie outside the centre.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
City temples and candle-making traditions provide strong Isaan cultural interest, with the festival adding a seasonal highlight.
What we assess
The variety, depth and practical access to historic places, temples, architecture, traditions and cultural experiences during a typical stay.
Why we rate Chiang Rai 7/10
Night markets and local restaurants offer northern dishes and enjoyable everyday meals. The dining choice is smaller than Chiang Mai’s.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
Isaan, Vietnamese-influenced and Chinese-Thai food gives independent city dining strong variety and character.
What we assess
Food quality, variety, distinctive local cooking and how readily visitors can find good places to eat, regardless of price.
Why we rate Chiang Rai 4/10
Casual bars and evening markets offer relaxed nights out. Expect a smaller scene with fewer choices for late-night variety.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 6/10
Local pubs, clubs and riverside bars provide worthwhile evening choice beyond food markets.
What we assess
The choice, variety and liveliness of evening venues, their opening hours and how easily you can enjoy a typical night out.
Why we rate Chiang Rai 7/10
A slower city pace makes relaxed stays fairly easy to find. Popular temples and central roads can still be busy during visiting hours.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 5/10
Quieter hotel areas are available, but the normal stay is in a working regional city with busy roads and evening venues.
What we assess
How easily you can enjoy a peaceful stay, considering traffic, nightlife noise, crowds and practical quieter bases.
Why we rate Chiang Rai 0/10
Chiang Rai has no practical sea-island hopping offering. Excursions focus on temples and northern countryside.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 0/10
Ubon is inland and has no practical sea-island excursions.
What we assess
The variety of worthwhile sea-island trips, convenient departures, journey times and flexibility under normal operating conditions.
Why we rate Chiang Rai 7/10
Central markets and some temples are walkable, while the White Temple and other scattered sights need rides or tours. A scooter is optional, but outings take planning.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 7/10
Airport, rail and local rides make a city stay workable without riding; dispersed sights and distant outings need transport.
What we assess
Freedom to explore without renting a scooter, using walking, public transport, taxis, tuk-tuks, ride-hailing or boats; transport price is assessed separately.
Why we rate Chiang Rai 8/10
Simple accommodation, market meals and modestly priced city experiences support a budget-friendly stay. Transport to scattered sights is the main extra to plan for.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
Simple rooms and local meals suit modest budgets, with private transport for provincial sightseeing the main extra expense.
What we assess
How easily you can enjoy a typical stay on a modest budget, including simple accommodation, food, realistic transport and characteristic activities.
Scores out of 10 · Higher means more of that characteristic About these scores
How to read the scale
Scores run from 0 to 10 and describe how strongly a destination offers each characteristic.
Higher does not always mean better
A higher nightlife score means a livelier scene. A higher quietness score means a calmer atmosphere. The right balance depends on your trip.
Close scores mean similar experiences
Small differences should not decide your trip on their own.
Chiang Rai
Choose Chiang Rai if...
- You want to visit the White Temple, Blue Temple and Baan Dam alongside a Chiang Rai stay.
- You prefer a smaller, slower city with markets and local places to eat.
- You want countryside outings alongside a cultural city break.
The trade-off
Several headline sights are spread outside the city, so expect rides between them. February–April haze can also reduce the appeal of countryside views.
Ubon Ratchathani
Choose Ubon Ratchathani if...
- Wat Phrathat Nong Bua
- Thung Si Mueang and city cultural life
- Isaan food and seasonal Candle Festival traditions
The trade-off
City sights are dispersed, and the best-known provincial nature attractions are not close to every city hotel.
Plan your trip
When to go
See how temperature, rainfall and travel conditions change through the year. Select a month to focus your comparison.
| Factor | Chiang Rai | Ubon Ratchathani |
|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | 29°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 17 mm | 3 mm |
| Rainy days | 2 | 0.6 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 31°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 13 mm | 11 mm |
| Rainy days | 1.8 | 1.4 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 36°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 35 mm | 29 mm |
| Rainy days | 3.9 | 3.7 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 35°C | 37°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 93 mm | 83 mm |
| Rainy days | 10.3 | 6.5 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 35°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 227 mm | 223 mm |
| Rainy days | 17 | 14.8 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 186 mm | 237 mm |
| Rainy days | 18.9 | 16.7 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 31°C | 33°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 318 mm | 294 mm |
| Rainy days | 22.8 | 19 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 31°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 373 mm | 291 mm |
| Rainy days | 23.8 | 20.6 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 31°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 275 mm | 314 mm |
| Rainy days | 17.4 | 19.1 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 31°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 124 mm | 112 mm |
| Rainy days | 10.9 | 9.9 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 30°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 45 mm | 22 mm |
| Rainy days | 4.7 | 2.9 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 28°C | 31°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 21 mm | 5 mm |
| Rainy days | 2.5 | 0.8 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | ||||||||||||
| Chiang Rai |
29°C
|
31°C
|
34°C
|
35°C
|
34°C
|
33°C
|
31°C
|
31°C
|
31°C
|
31°C
|
30°C
|
28°C
|
| Ubon Ratchathani |
32°C
|
34°C
|
36°C
|
37°C
|
35°C
|
34°C
|
33°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
31°C
|
| Monthly Rainfall | ||||||||||||
| Chiang Rai |
17 mm
|
13 mm
|
35 mm
|
93 mm
|
227 mm
|
186 mm
|
318 mm
|
373 mm
|
275 mm
|
124 mm
|
45 mm
|
21 mm
|
| Ubon Ratchathani |
3 mm
|
11 mm
|
29 mm
|
83 mm
|
223 mm
|
237 mm
|
294 mm
|
291 mm
|
314 mm
|
112 mm
|
22 mm
|
5 mm
|
| Rainy days | ||||||||||||
| Chiang Rai | 2 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 10.3 | 17 | 18.9 | 22.8 | 23.8 | 17.4 | 10.9 | 4.7 | 2.5 |
| Ubon Ratchathani | 0.6 | 1.4 | 3.7 | 6.5 | 14.8 | 16.7 | 19 | 20.6 | 19.1 | 9.9 | 2.9 | 0.8 |
| Crowds | ||||||||||||
| Chiang Rai | High | Moderate | Low | Moderate | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Moderate | High | High |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | ||||||||||||
| Chiang Rai | High | Typical | Low | Typical | Low | Low | Typical | Typical | Low | Typical | High | High |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | ||||||||||||
| Chiang Rai | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Temperatures are historical average daytime highs, not the highest temperatures you might experience. Rainfall and rainy days are monthly averages, not a forecast. A rainy day need not mean rain all day.
Stay prices are relative to each destination’s usual rates. Holidays can bring extra crowds and higher prices. Sea conditions vary by beach and day; check local conditions before boat trips.
Chiang Rai: Thai Meteorological Department — CHIANG RAI (48303), 1991–2020.
Ubon Ratchathani: Thai Meteorological Department - UBON RATCHATHANI (48407), 1991-2020.
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Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)