Boasting- a large university town, Khon Kaen has an energetic and youthful atmosphere. The city is home to an array of temples, museums and markets and makes a good base for exploring the Khorat Plateau and surrounding mountains.
Things to do in Khon Kaen
The city’s most striking sights lie around Kaen Nakhon Lake. Wat Nong Waeng is an impressive nine-floor temple with a towering spire that has a panoramic view of Khon Kaen. The meditation centre at Wat Pho Ban Nontan is older than the city itself and contains beautifully sculpted scenes of old Thai proverbs.
The Khon Kaen National Museum displays a diverse selection of antiques and archaeological finds telling the history of the Isan region, along with remarkable dinosaur fossils. Its sister museum, the Art and Culture Centre, has exhibitions of modern Thai artists that change every month.
The heart of Khon Kaen is Ton Tann Night Market, which sells everything from food and clothing to ceramics and jewellery. Try some of the local delicacies, including the whole grilled fish, barbecued chicken and sticky rice at the food stalls.
If you’re looking for a day trip, head to Phu Kradueng National Park, a vibrant display of colourful flowers, wild monkeys, deer and elephants. It’s a challenging climb to its summit, but the reward is beautiful waterfalls and stunning views from the plateau at the top.
Getting around Khon Kaen
Flights land at Khon Kaen Airport, 10 kilometres from the city centre. Khon Kaen’s grid layout isn’t particularly pedestrian-friendly, but the bus and minibus network and local tuk-tuks can get you anywhere you need to go.