In a nutshell
- We cover 4 neighborhoods for your stay in Chiang Mai — with the pros and cons of each area and our top hotel picks for every budget.
- First-time visitors should stay in Chiang Mai’s Old City — that’s where most of the highlights are. Our readers most often book the Villa Thai Orchid — a stunning boutique hotel.
- Also super central but a bit more lively is the Night Bazaar area. Our top pick there is the Kate and Hasu Boutique — pool, great breakfast, excellent value.
The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Chiang Mai
Although Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand, there are only a few areas that are really interesting for tourists.
The main attractions in Chiang Mai are located around the Old City. In this area there are four neighborhoods we’d recommend for your hotel in Chiang Mai.
The 4 best neighborhoods to stay in Chiang Mai are:
- Old City: Ideal for first-time visitors, most highlights are here ➞ Villa Thai Orchid
- Night Bazaar area: Between the highlights and a lively nightlife ➞ Kate and Hasu Boutique
- Riverside: Quiet location and many places to stay with river views ➞ Buri Sriping Riverside
- Nimman Road area: For those who want to stay longer ➞ The Craft Nimman
Hotel prices in Chiang Mai start at around 15 euros — significantly cheaper than a hotel in Bangkok, accommodation on Koh Phangan, and of course much less than a beach hotel in Phuket. Pretty great!
If you’re planning a guided day trip to Chiang Rai — especially to the White Temple, one of the top highlights in Chiang Rai — you should stay in the Old City or near the Night Bazaar. That’s exactly where the tours depart from.
The 4 Neighborhoods on a Map at a Glance
For better orientation, we’ve marked the best neighborhoods for your stay in Chiang Mai on a map. You can clearly see that everything revolves around the Old City.
A Chiang Mai Hotel in the Old City
A hotel in the Old City is the right call if it’s your first time in Chiang Mai and you’re only there for a few days. You can easily walk to most of the must-sees.
If it’s your first trip to Chiang Mai and you don’t have much time on your road trip through Thailand, book a hotel in the Old City. It’s easy to spot on a map because it’s framed by an almost square city wall.
Getting around is really easy — you can orient yourself by the individual gates to the north, east, south, and west. You’ll often hear things like “That’s near the North Gate” when you’re there.
To give you a sense of the distances: it takes about 20 minutes to walk from the West Gate to the East Gate. So nothing is really that far away.
Chiang Mai’s Old City is absolutely charming and it’s a lot of fun to stroll through the streets and alleyways. Many of our favorite things to see in Chiang Mai are here, especially the temples.
The Old City also has plenty of cafés, restaurants, and near the East Gate you’ll find some of the coolest bars. Hotels are available in all price ranges.
Our Chiang Mai Hotel Recommendations for the Old City
One of the best hotels in Chiang Mai is the Villa Thai Orchid. A truly beautiful and stylish boutique hotel — and our readers’ favorite.
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
A Hotel Around the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
The Night Bazaar area is a great fit if you love a lively atmosphere and want to be close to Chiang Mai’s nightlife. The market and plenty of bars are all right here.
The popular Night Bazaar of Chiang Mai is located east of the Old City. The center of the market is roughly at the intersection of Chang Klan Road and Loi Kroh Road, and it spreads across several streets.
Especially between 6 and 10 PM, the streets are packed with stalls selling food, clothing, jewelry, and souvenirs. There’s a lot going on here every evening.
And the nightlife keeps going after that too. The streets are lined with numerous bars — with and without live music. You can also catch traditional Muay Thai boxing here.
Location-wise, a hotel around the Night Bazaar is almost as good as the Old City. From here you can also walk quickly to the highlights in the historic center. Bonus: you’re even closer to the Ping River.
Alongside some solid mid-range hotels, the Night Bazaar area is also home to the most luxury hotels in Chiang Mai — though they’re not quite on the level of the resorts in Khao Lak.
Our Chiang Mai Hotel Recommendations Around the Night Bazaar
Our top pick is the Kate and Hasu Boutique. A small hotel with cozy rooms, a small pool, and excellent value for money.
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Riverside: A Chiang Mai Hotel on the River
A hotel near the Ping River is ideal if you’re after a bit more peace and quiet in Chiang Mai and want to escape the hustle of the center.
Even further east of the Night Bazaar is the Mae Nam Ping River (the Ping River for short), which flows right through Chiang Mai. Here along the riverbank, things are a lot quieter than in the Old City or around the Night Bazaar.
If you want a calmer base, we’d suggest booking accommodation along what’s known as the Riverside. Some of our favorite restaurants in Chiang Mai are also located here.
Depending on exactly where your hotel sits along the river, it’s about 35 to 40 minutes on foot to the Old City and 15 to 30 minutes to the Night Bazaar. A taxi is always an easy alternative.
You’ll find lodging ranging from budget to luxury along the river — but keep in mind that not all of them have direct river views. It’s worth checking the exact location carefully before you book.
The further north or south your hotel is along the Chiang Mai river, the longer the walk to the Old City. Most of our picks are not too far out of the way.
Our Riverside Hotel Recommendations in Chiang Mai
A 5-star hotel right on the river is the Buri Sriping Riverside. The ambiance is one of a kind and the rooms are decorated in an authentic style.
If you don’t need to sleep right on the river, we also really like the Gategaa Village. It’s more affordable and has a modern, warm design.
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
A Hotel Around the Nimman Road
The Nimman Road area is perfect if you’d rather skip the touristy center and prefer to be among locals and expats instead.
This neighborhood is very popular with expats and anyone who spends an extended time in Chiang Mai. So if you’re planning a longer stay, you’ll feel right at home here.
We’ve lived here ourselves for a while. Around Nimman Road you’ll find a great variety of Thai and international restaurants — Italian, Japanese, and more.
In the side streets between Nimman Road and Siri Mangkalajarn Road, there are lots of bars where young Thais like to unwind in the evenings with loud music and cold drinks.
This area has modern and stylish hotels for every budget. You’ll also find many apartments and rooms with small kitchenettes — great if you’re staying a while.
For a short first stay in Chiang Mai, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend this neighborhood — you’ll need to take a taxi to most of the city’s highlights.
Our Chiang Mai Hotel Recommendations Around the Nimman Road
A reader favorite is The Craft Nimman. We love the beautiful design and the spacious rooms.
If you’re after more affordable lodging for a longer stay, Like A Local is a seriously cool option. It has a kitchen and a communal pool.
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Frequently Asked Questions About Staying in Chiang Mai
How many days should I spend in Chiang Mai?
We recommend at least 3 full days in Chiang Mai. That gives you enough time to visit the most important sights, fit in one or two activities, and soak up the city’s unique vibe.
Don’t cut it too short either — Chiang Mai is quite far from Bangkok, the most popular Thai islands, and Ayutthaya, so it’s worth making the journey count.
What is the best neighborhood in Chiang Mai?
Honestly, it depends on what you’re after. Personally, we love the Old City the most. You’re steps from the beautiful temples, the restaurants are great, and there are plenty of cool bars nearby too.
Where is the most action in Chiang Mai?
The area around the Night Bazaar is where things really get going. The market runs every evening and there are bars everywhere you look.
During the day, the Old City is also seriously lively.
Is Chiang Mai expensive?
Not at all — Chiang Mai is one of the most affordable cities in Thailand. You can find a great double room for as little as 15 euros, and hostels are even cheaper.
It does depend a bit on your travel dates. Around popular events — like the Lantern Festival (Loi Krathong, held on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month in November) — prices go up, so budget a little extra for those nights.
Food is incredibly affordable too. Street food starts at just 1 to 3 euros per dish, and a meal at a local restaurant runs 3 to 7 euros per person.
Public transportation, scooters, and activities are also super cheap.
How far in advance should I book a hotel in Chiang Mai?
It depends. The good news: you can usually find accommodation on short notice. But during the busy travel months from November to February, booking early means you won’t end up with the leftover rooms.
If your trip falls around any of these events, book well ahead:
- Lantern Festival in November (annually on the 12th full moon night of the Thai lunar calendar)
- Christmas and New Year’s Eve
- Chinese New Year (late January to mid-February)
- Songkran, the Thai New Year festival (April 13–15)
When is the best time to visit Chiang Mai?
The best time to visit Chiang Mai is from November through early February.
During this period, the sun shines almost all day, it rarely rains, and temperatures sit at around 77 to 86°F (25 to 30°C). At night, it can cool down to around 59°F (15°C).
The weather is also nice from mid-February through April, but this is actually the worst time to visit Chiang Mai. During these months the city is heavily affected by smog and air pollution.
