Lampang

Lampang is a calm provincial city in northern Thailand, about two hours by train south-east of Chiang Mai. It is known for three things you will not find together anywhere else: horse-drawn carriages as city transport, Burmese-style teak temples built during the teak trade, and the hand-painted rooster bowl found on Thai dinner tables.

Most visitors pass through on the train to Chiang Mai without stopping, which is why the city still feels unhurried. Two nights are enough to see the main temples, ride a carriage along the Wang River and walk the old merchant street at night. It also works as a long day trip from Chiang Mai if you catch the morning train. This guide covers the sights, the crafts, the seasons and how to get there by rail, air or road.

A teak town on the railway

Lampang is far older than the railway. Local belief credits Queen Chamadevi, whom TAT calls the founder of the city, with building its most important temple. But the town you see today was shaped in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when teak logging brought Burmese, Shan and British traders to the Wang River, and then by the railway.

Nakhon Lampang station opened on 1 April 1916, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). For five years it was the end of the northern line, until the Khun Tan tunnel towards Chiang Mai was finished in 1921, and goods from Bangkok were shipped on from here to the rest of the north. The station building, in a Lanna-colonial style, still stands and is a stop on most carriage tours. The old trading quarter by the river, abandoned as business moved towards the station, is now the setting for the weekend walking street.

Riding a horse carriage around town

Horse-drawn carriages have been Lampang's trademark for generations, and a short ride is the classic first thing to do. The Bangkok Post traces them to the railway era, when they carried passengers from the station into town. The Bangkok Post reported in June 2022 that the Lampang horse-drawn carriage association had more than 50 drivers and 100 carriages, and that each horse works only three or four hours a day.

A typical route passes Wat Si Rong Mueang, the riverside streets and the railway station. In 2022 the Bangkok Post gave the price as 300 baht for a 30-minute trip and 400 baht for an hour, per carriage. We could not find an official fare list from the city, and prices may have changed since, so agree the route, the time and the price with the driver before you climb in.

If you care about animal welfare, look at the horse before you book: a horse that is thin, lame, or has sores under the harness is a reason to choose another carriage. Rides are best in the late afternoon, when the heat drops.

Wat Phra That Lampang Luang

The province's most important temple stands outside the city, in Ko Kha district, south-west of town. TAT's Lampang office calls it one of the most complete wooden temples in Thailand. Its Lanna-style chedi stands in the middle of a compound of old wooden halls, several of them centuries old.

• Wiharn Luang, the large open hall built in 1476, with painted wooden panels showing stories of the Buddha's past lives and teachings.
• Wiharn Nam Taem, built in 1501, known for its old paintings, although most of them have faded.
• Sum Phrabat, built in 1449 over a Buddha footprint. Inside, light coming through a small opening shows an upside-down image of the chedi. Women are not allowed to enter this building.
• Phra Kaew Don Tao, a small jade Buddha image that is the sacred image of Lampang province, kept in the temple compound with a small museum.

No official page lists opening hours or an entry fee. It is an active temple, so dress for one: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off in the halls. Our page on temple etiquette and dress has the details. There is no reliable public transport schedule to the temple, so most visitors hire a car with a driver, a songthaew for the half day, or drive themselves.

Burmese teak temples in the city

The teak trade left Lampang with a group of temples that look more like Mandalay than Bangkok: tiered wooden roofs, carved eaves, colored-glass mosaics and Burmese-style Buddha images with round faces and crowns. A local guide quoted by the Bangkok Post in 2022 counted nine Burmese temples in central Lampang. Three are easy to combine on foot or by carriage:

• Wat Si Rong Mueang, on Tha Khrao Noi Road, built in the reign of King Rama V by Burmese families and British teak firms. Its wooden hall is covered inside with colored glass set in lacquer.
• Wat Pa Fang (Wat Satsana Chotikaram), on Sanambin Road, founded in 1892 by a Mon couple. A large gold Burmese-style pagoda holds relics brought from Myanmar in 1906.
• Wat Chai Mongkhon, across the street from Wat Pa Fang, with a carved teak hall added by Burmese merchants between 1877 and 1907.

In the city you can also visit Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Suchadaram, where, according to TAT, the Emerald Buddha now in Bangkok was kept for 32 years from 1436. Nearby, Ban Sao Nak is a wooden house on 116 pillars built in 1895 in a mix of Lanna and Burmese styles. TAT listed it in 2020 as open daily 09:00–17:00 with a 50-baht entry fee; check before you go. Monks and families still use all of these temples, so visit quietly and keep away from ceremonies.

Rooster bowls and Lampang ceramics

The white bowl with a red-and-black rooster, peonies and banana leaves has been part of Thai home life for more than a century. TAT notes that the Lampang rooster bowl is registered as a Geographical Indication in Thailand, because the province's white clay suits ceramics so well. In Chinese culture the rooster stands for hard work and plenty, which explains the motif.

Many factories have closed, and TAT says a group of makers formed the Lampang Ceramic Association to keep the craft alive. The easiest place to see it is the Dhanabadee Ceramic Museum, opened in 2012 by one of the city's long-established ceramic firms to honor the founder of Lampang's first ceramic factory; it shows the history of the bowl and how it is made. TAT's Lampang office lists several factory shops in and around the city. For other ideas, see our guide to souvenirs worth taking home.

Kad Kong Ta: the old merchant street at night

Kad Kong Ta, on Talat Kao Road by the Wang River, was a busy trading street a century ago and emptied after the railway came in 1916. It has been revived as an evening walking street. TAT describes it as lined with old wooden houses in a mix of colonial, Burmese, Shan, Chinese and Lanna styles, with local food, handicrafts and art on sale.

TAT does not publish fixed days or hours for the market. Local guides say it is a weekend evening market, so check with your hotel before planning a trip around it. Bring cash in small notes. Much of the food is northern Thai; our guide to Thai dishes by region explains what to order.

Day trips: floating pagodas, forests and Lamphun

The view most people now associate with Lampang is the "floating pagodas" of Wat Phra Phutthabat Sutthawat in Chae Hom district, a line of large and small chedis along limestone peaks. TAT says the climb is a steep staircase of more than 300 steel steps, so go early, take water and wear shoes with grip. It is a long drive north of the city; plan a full day with a car.

Lampang province also holds the Huai Tak Teak Biosphere Reserve, listed by UNESCO in 1977, according to TAT, and Chae Son National Park, where TAT notes that the orchid trees flower in January and February. The old Mon city of Lamphun lies between Lampang and Chiang Mai; our day trips from Chiang Mai page describes it.

Getting to Lampang by train, plane and road

From Chiang Mai, the train takes about two hours, and the October 2026 timetable has several trains each way, including a morning local train out and an afternoon express back that make a day trip possible. Search for "Nakhon Lampang" when you book; our guide to booking Thai trains online explains the D-Ticket site. Times change, so check them there.

From Bangkok, all northern long-distance trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, not Hua Lamphong. A daytime special express takes about eight and a half hours, and the overnight sleepers arrive in Lampang in the early morning, before they continue to Chiang Mai. Our page on Thailand's night trains compares the berths.

By air, Thai AirAsia flies from Don Mueang to Lampang Airport (LPT) in about 1 hour 10 minutes. We found no current Nok Air or Bangkok Airways flights to Lampang. Check which Bangkok airport is on your ticket; our comparison of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang helps.

By road, Lampang sits on the main highway between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. For mountain roads beyond the city, driving in northern Thailand on our sister site covers distances and road conditions, and our guide to renting a car covers licenses and insurance.

When to go, and how Lampang fits a northern trip

Lampang gets about 1,107 mm of rain a year, much less than the south, with the heaviest rain in August and September. The cool, dry months from November to February are the most comfortable for temple visits. The north's smoky season usually peaks in March and April; see our guide to PM2.5 air pollution before booking a spring trip.

Lampang celebrates Loy Krathong with its own festival, Long Sapao Chao Lakon, at the Clock Tower intersection; in 2025 it ran from 4 to 6 November, according to TAT. Loy Krathong in 2026 falls on Tuesday 24 November, so expect the festival around that date and check TAT's event calendar.

Most travelers add Lampang to a route that starts in Chiang Mai. It also links well southwards to the ruins of Sukhothai and eastwards to the quiet town of Nan. Our northern Thailand itinerary covers Chiang Mai, Pai and Chiang Rai; Lampang makes a good extra stop at the start or end.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lampang worth visiting?

Yes, if you like temples, old wooden architecture and a slower pace than Chiang Mai. Its Burmese teak temples, the horse carriages and Wat Phra That Lampang Luang are unusual even by northern standards, and two nights are enough to see the highlights without rushing.

How do I get from Chiang Mai to Lampang?

The train is the simplest option, at about two hours to Nakhon Lampang station, with several departures a day in the October 2026 timetable. A morning train out and an afternoon train back make a day trip possible. Check current times in the State Railway's D-Ticket system.

How much does a horse carriage ride in Lampang cost?

The Bangkok Post reported 300 baht for 30 minutes and 400 baht for an hour per carriage in 2022. There is no official fare list online, so confirm the price, the route and the length of the ride with the driver before you start.

Can I fly to Lampang from Bangkok?

Yes. Thai AirAsia flies from Don Mueang Airport to Lampang Airport (LPT), a flight of about 1 hour 10 minutes. Make sure you go to Don Mueang, not Suvarnabhumi, and compare the fare with the train if you have time.

Sources

• TAT Lampang Office – Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang (archived copy, 2020) (checked October 2026)
• TAT Lampang Office – Lampang Train Station (archived copy, 2020) (checked October 2026)
• TAT Lampang Office – Kat Kong Ta Walking Street (archived copy, 2020) (checked October 2026)
• TAT Lampang Office – Travel in Lampang: visit ceramics (archived copy, 2021) (checked October 2026)
• TAT Newsroom – Local artisanal products, including the Lampang rooster bowl (April 2026) (checked October 2026)
• TAT Newsroom – Landmarks including Wat Phra Phutthabat Sutthawat, Lampang (February 2026) (checked October 2026)
• TAT Newsroom – Loi Krathong Festival 2025 events, including Lampang (checked October 2026)
• Bangkok Post – Majestic Lampang (June 2022) (checked October 2026)
• Thai Meteorological Department – Climate normals 1991–2020 (checked October 2026)
• TAT Newsroom – Thailand's UNESCO sites, including the Huai Tak Teak Biosphere Reserve (checked October 2026)