Chiang Mai's moated square is barely 1.5km a side, which makes its dense cluster of historic temples a joy to explore slowly on foot or by rented bicycle. The showpiece is Wat Chedi Luang, whose vast brick chedi begun in 1441 once stood over 80 metres tall and housed the Emerald Buddha, until a 16th-century earthquake sheared off its top and left the monumental, weathered stump you see today. A short walk away, elegant Wat Phra Singh shows Lanna architecture at its finest and enshrines the revered Phra Singh Buddha, while Wat Chiang Man, the city's oldest temple from its founding in 1296, guards a chedi ringed by stone elephants. Several temples run friendly monk chat sessions where visitors can talk with young monks about Buddhism and daily life. Come early to beat both heat and crowds, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and remove your shoes before stepping inside the prayer halls.
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