Bhubing Palace, a winter retreat for the royal family and guests, was built in 1961 and located about 8km further up the road beyond Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
Visitors can walk around the palace gardens when the royals aren’t there, though you need to be respectfully attired. The palace buildings are not open to the public.
The gardens are of particular interest to horticulturalists, as they have been laid out with great care and feature a fantastic array of blooms, especially in the cool season from November to February. There are several rose gardens and pavilions for relaxing, and you could easily while away a few hours here, though note the restricted hours of opening.
Since everything is on steep slopes, you might want to consider taking a tour of the gardens in a trolley car, which costs 300B for a maximum of 3 people.
Getting There
The easiest way to visit the palace is by hired car or motorbike. Follow Huay Kaew Road to the west of the city; it leads straight up the mountain. The palace is about 8km beyond Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Some songthaew go as far as the palace, though most stop at the temple, so specify to your driver where you want to go. You can find songthaew at the western end of Huay Kaew Road in Chiang Mai.
Need to Know
- What is it? A winter retreat for the Thai royal family
- When to go: The cool season is best to see the gardens, but check if the royals are in residence first, as the gardens are closed then.
- Where/Nearest Town: Chiang Mai is at the foot of the mountain.
- Website: www.bhubingpalace.org
- Opening hours: 08:30-16:30 daily (last entry 15:30; no entry when royals are in residence)
- Entrance fee: 50B