Wondering where to stay in Chiang Mai if you’re visiting Northern Thailand for the first time? Here’s a guide to the best areas, top hotels, and guesthouses for every budget.
A Few Words About Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, the main city in northern Thailand, is not a megacity like Bangkok, but it’s far from being a small provincial town.
With a population of nearly 2 million people, Chiang Mai is home to hundreds of historical temples, stunning natural scenery, and incredible road trip routes around its surroundings.
If you want to know more about what to do in Northern Thailand, check out our detailed itinerary for exploring the region. But here, we’ll focus on where to stay in Chiang Mai, which area to choose, and what accommodation options are available.
How I Choose Hotels
When choosing accommodation, I always consider:
- Location
- Price
- Traveler reviews
- Amenities that are important to me (like a rooftop pool, a balcony, or a terrace).
I never choose the most expensive hotels that offer luxury features I don’t need, but I also avoid the most basic options.
I’ve visited Chiang Mai several times — both as a standalone trip and as part of a road trip through Northern Thailand.
I’ve stayed in different areas and know the city well.
I frequently check reviews on Booking.com, Expedia, TripAdvisor, and travel blogs, but I always book through Booking.com because it’s the most convenient and reliable for me.
I also rely a lot on recommendations from experienced travelers — personal experiences are priceless.
Best Accommodation Options in Chiang Mai (By Category)
- Best Luxury Hotel: 137 Pillars House
- Best Hotel in the Old City: POR Thapae Gate
- Hotel with the Best Views: Panviman Chiang Mai
- Best Budget Hostel: Green Sleep Hostel
- Best Hotel in the Hipster Nimmanhaemin Area: Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel
The 4 Best Areas to Stay in Chiang Mai
Do you want temples right outside your window or trendy cafés within walking distance? Maybe you prefer a peaceful area for a long stay?
Your choice of area will significantly impact your experience in Chiang Mai.
1. The Old City (Old Town)
Chiang Mai’s historical center is shaped like a square and surrounded by ancient walls. This area has the highest concentration of temples and attractions.
The Old City is perfect if you love walking, exploring historical sites, and enjoying great cafés and restaurants. In fact, Chiang Mai has just as many amazing cafés as it does ancient pagodas!
Best Hotels in the Old City:
- Green Sleep Hostel – The perfect choice for budget travelers, solo travelers, and backpackers. Affordable, spotlessly clean, comfy beds, friendly staff, and a great location in the heart of the Old City. Walking distance to temples, cafés, the night market, and the famous Tha Pae Gate.
- Aksara Heritage – A mid-range hotel with a balcony, swimming pool, and bar. The interior is designed in a traditional Thai style. Located near the Sunday Night Market, and just a short walk to Wat Phan Tao and Wat Chedi Luang.
- POR Thapae Gate – The perfect luxury stay with stylish design and an excellent breakfast included. Ideally located in the heart of the Old City, close to the Ping River, restaurants, and bars.
2. Nimmanhaemin (Nimman) – The Trendy Hipster Area
A modern and stylish area named after Nimmanhaemin Road.
I highly recommend it for long-term stays or for those who want to experience local life without tourist crowds. It’s also one of the best areas for shopping.
Nimman is extremely popular among students and digital nomads. You’ll find many cafés, restaurants, coworking spaces, and gyms. The area is home to universities, the Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center, One Nimman boutique mall, and various brand stores.
Best Hotels in Nimmanhaemin:
- Nord Studio – A great mid-range apart-hotel. Perfect for digital nomads and long-term stays. This place is especially popular among remote workers who stay in Chiang Mai for a month or more. Spacious studio apartments with AC, a work desk, and a kitchen.
- Hotel Yayee – The best budget-friendly option in a quiet part of Nimman. Not a hostel, but a comfortable and stylish boutique hotel. Rooms are spacious, and there’s a beautiful rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Nimman Road and the mountains.
- Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel – A unique and artistic mid-range hotel. Perfect if you’re looking for something creative and inspiring. Great for art lovers! The hotel also has parking for travelers with rental cars. There’s a rooftop pool, and many bars and restaurants are nearby. The airport is just a few minutes away.
3. Night Bazaar & Riverside Area
This area beautifully combines a lively atmosphere with peaceful riverfront spots.
The Mae Ping River is lined with street food vendors, bars, and restaurants.
If you love nightlife, you’ll enjoy this area!
In the evening, many restaurants set up candlelit tables along the river—super romantic!
Make sure to visit The Riverside Bar and Restaurant, one of Chiang Mai’s most atmospheric spots.
Best Hotels in the Night Bazaar & Riverside Area:
- Rimping Village – A fantastic choice for mid-range travelers. Spacious and bright rooms, a coffee machine, peaceful surroundings, a pool, and an outdoor relaxation area. The hotel offers bike rentals, so you can explore the riverfront area.It’s quiet and relaxing, but nightlife is within walking distance. The hotel even offers a shuttle to the Night Bazaar!
- Rarin Jinda Wellness Spa Resort – A luxurious spa retreat. One of the best high-end hotels in Chiang Mai.Their spa menu includes traditional Thai massages and Tibetan sound therapy.Just a 10-minute walk to the Night Bazaar, and the hotel has a beautiful terrace with river views and a restaurant. Of course, breakfast is included.
4. Santitham – A Local, Quiet Neighborhood
If you’ve already been to Chiang Mai and want to experience life like a local, stay in Santitham.
This peaceful residential area is north of the Old City and is perfect if you want an authentic local atmosphere.
There are almost no tourists, but plenty of authentic Thai cafés and restaurants.
Santitham’s Top Attractions:
- Chiang Mai Boxing Stadium – If you want to see a Muay Thai fight, this is the place to go.
- Siri Wattana Market – A great spot to buy local products and delicacies.
Best Hotels in Santitham:
- POR Santitham – Best budget-friendly option with top-notch quality. Large outdoor pool, minimalist rooms, and everything you need for a comfortable stay.
- D’vieng Santitham Condo by Ping – Perfect for long-term stays and digital nomads. Fully equipped kitchen, laundry, pool, gym, and fast Wi-Fi.
- Hi Chiangmai Hotel – A modern, affordable hotel with high standards. Close to Nimman’s cafés, bars, and restaurants.
Useful Resources for Planning a Trip to Thailand:
- Flights: Find, book, and buy plane tickets to Thailand on the Aviasales website, which is more reliable than Skyscanner — I’ve checked. Use useful filters to find flights at the optimal price and airline, pay attention to layovers and arrival times.
- Hotels or Hostels: Use Booking.com or Agoda to search for accommodation, apply filters, and use the map search function to understand where the accommodation is located. Booking offers many options without prepayment and the possibility of free cancellation. Agoda specializes in Asia, with a slightly larger selection of budget hostels and small guesthouses.
- Travel Insurance: Many people hesitate or try to save money by not buying insurance. I recommend buying it; it’s not expensive, and in case of any issues, you won’t have problems with the clinic that provides assistance, and you’ll save a decent amount of money. Medical care in Thailand is excellent but expensive. In our 7 trips to this country, we used insurance only once, saving several hundred dollars plus the comfort of receiving assistance.
- Car Rental: Driving in Thailand is as easy as in Europe. The only difference is left-hand traffic, and it will take no more than 15 minutes to get used to driving on the right side. Rent a car on LocalRent-Thailand; they offer excellent conditions and fair prices, tested.
- Transportation in Thailand: Getting around with transportation in this country is very easy and straightforward—buses, ferries, trains, budget airlines. Buy tickets for all this in one place on the 12Go website.
- Internet and Mobile Communication: You can buy a local SIM card right at the airport. A more convenient option is to buy an eSIM from Airalo. You can download their app and be in touch immediately after the plane’s engines stop. You don’t need to buy a physical SIM card.
- Sightseeing Tour: There are attractions for which it is easier and cheaper to buy an organized tour; for this, there is the GetYourGuide platform. At least, check what tours are available from the place where you are staying.
: Best Areas, What to Consider, and Personal Recommendations){kind=link}