Best Places to Stay in Riverside Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Riverside is the peaceful area to stay in the city. The area is known for its relaxing atmosphere, luxury hotels, and scenic river views.

In this article, I will give you some recommendations on the best places to stay in Riverside Chiang Mai, the best areas and hotels for all budgets. I’ve had the opportunity to travel across Thailand, including a wonderful time in Chiang Mai, so I’ll do my best to offer you useful information.

You can check out these articles to see best hotels in other popular areas of Chiang Mai:

Where is Riverside Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai Riverside is part of the Ping river that runs through Chiang Mai. It is located on the eastern side of the Old city and the Night Bazaar.

It is around 6km east of Chiang Mai International Airport, 3km west of Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2 & 3, and 1.5km west of Chiang Mai Train Station.

The central area of Chiang Mai Riverside is on the western side of Ping River, stretching from the area around Nawarat Bridge to the area around Iron Bridge. It is quieter and more remote further away from this area and on the eastern side of the Ping River.

Why Should You Stay in Riverside Chiang Mai?

The Riverside Chiang Mai is a great area to stay in Chiang Mai, especially for those who enjoy tranquil riverside settings, high-end accommodations, and close proximity to the night bazaar, the old town, and bus/train stations.

1. Relaxing atmosphere

If you want a relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the old city, staying in the Chiang Mai Riverside area is a good choice. This area is best known for its peaceful atmosphere, which is a great spot for chill and enjoy river views.

2. Luxury Hotels

There are numerous upscale highrise hotels and apartments along the Ping River. If you’re looking for something luxury and modern amenities, the riverside has good options for you to choose from.

3. Close to long distance bus and train station

The Riverside area is a bit closer to the Bus terminal 2 & 3 and the train station than the Old City. It is very convenient to get to these stations within a short Grab taxi ride to get to other destinations like Bangkok, Chiang Rai, or Pai.

The Downside of staying Riverside Chiang Mai

The Riverside offers a peaceful setting that’s perfect for relaxation, but it lacks some of the traditional charm and has only a few tourist facilities, such as restaurants, bars, and shops.

1. A bit distance from of historical attractions

Most cultural and historical attractions in Chiang Mai are located in the city. Depending on your location along the riverside, you can walk or take a few minutes tuk tuk/ Grab taxi ride to the old town.

2. Less tourist amenities than the Old City and Night Bazaar

The Riverside has few restaurants and shops, so if you want more shopping and dining options, you will need to travel to the Old Town and the Night Bazaar. The nightlife here is quite calm, so those seeking more lively entertainment can visit the nearby Night Bazaar area.

3. Flooding

In the rainy season, Chiang Mai often experiences flooding, of which the area around the river is the most affected. So keep this in mind, if you’re in the city during the period from May to October with peak months for flooding is September and October.

Best Areas to Stay in Riverside Chiang Mai

The Ping River is a around 750 km long river running through many cities in Northern Thailand. In Chiang Mai, most riverside accommodations are concentrated on the 2 km long river from Mueang Mai Market to Wat Chai Mongkhon.

The western bank of Ping River is more popular than the eastern bank because it is closer to the Old City and The Night Bazaar, which are the center of Chiang Mai.

If you want a more central location, luxury hotels, and lots of tourist amenities, stay on the western bank. For a more authentic local atmosphere and budget & mid-range hotels, consider staying on the eastern bank. The east side is also closer to the Bus Terminal 2 & 3 and the Train Station.

The most popular area to stay along the Chiang Mai Riverside is the western side of Ping River that spans from Waroros Market to Wat Chai Mongkhon. This area is right next to the Night Bazaar and only 1km away from the Old City.

Some popular attractions along Chiang Mai Riverside are two lovely pedestrian-friendly bridges: the Iron Bridge and Nawarat Bridge. On the west bank, you can explore the lively Waroros Market, and Wat Chai Mongkhon. On the east bank, there are local places like Wat Ket Karam and Sanpakhoi Market.

My top hotel picks in Riverside Chiang Mai:

10 Best Places to stay in Riverside Chiang Mai

In this section, I’ll share the list of my hand picked hotels in and near the Chiang Mai Riverside area, including luxury, mid-range, and budget options. These places are selected based on my personal experience, and the overall good rates from the booking website.

1. Melia Chiang Mai

This is a 5-star hotel set in a great location, within walking distance to the river and the Night Bazaar area. The hotel offers rooms with river views. You can easily reach a range of restaurants,cafes, and night markets on foot from the hotel.

The hotel has a lovely rooftop area, a pool, gym, buffet breakfast, and comfortable rooms. The hotel is a kid-friendly hotel with a kids club on the 2nd floor and spacious family rooms. It is overall a good quiet place to stay near the river while still close to the action.

2. Maladee Rendezvous Hotel

This 5-star boutique hotel is located close to the Ping River. It is walking distance to the Night Bazaar where you can explore the Anusarn Market, Kalare Night Bazaar, and many other street food stalls and restaurants.

If you are an active traveler, you can walk to the old town, otherwise it is just a short tuk tuk or Grab taxi ride away from the hotel.

The hotel has a large pool with a nice poolside bar. The rooms are clean, spacious, and nicely decorated. You can find all necessary amenities in the room like a comfortable bed, private bathroom, mini-fridge, hair dryer, tea, and coffee markers. You can choose a room with a balcony for the best experience.

3. Anantara Chiang Mai Resort

This luxury 5-star hotel is located on the western bank of the Ping River and is within a short distance from the Night Bazaar. The hotel has beautiful grounds with an outdoor pool, a veranda with river views, onsite bar/restaurant, and a fitness center.

You can enjoy a wide range of dishes on the breakfast buffet on the terrace next to the river. They can help with organizing tours, and transportations for you. If you’re looking somewhere quiet by the river while still in a pretty good location, Anantara is a good choice.

4. Ping Nakara Boutique Hotel And Spa

This Beautiful Boutique hotel is located near Ping River and close to Wat Chai Mongkhon. It has colonial style architecture with with old fashioned amenities and lovely timber work.

You can walk to the night bazaar within 10-15 minutes. The Ping Riverside Garden is also a short walk away. The old town is around 30 minutes walk away, which is doable for active travelers. You can always take a short taxi, tuk tuk to get to the old town on hot days.

The hotel has huge rooms, a pool, a library, a bar, and spa services. It is overall a cozy, homey hotel in a quiet location for relaxing stay in Chiang Mai.

5. Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort

This 5-star lively hotel located along Chiang Mai Riverside. It is in a pretty good location, within easy distance from the Night Bazaar for nightlife and the old town for sightseeing. You can enjoy its quiet location while still close to major areas of the city.

The hotel has a beautiful design with spacious rooms, outdoor swimming pool, and an onsite restaurant. You can have a lovely reakfast n on the terrace overlooking the river.

6. Amata Lanna Chiang Mai

This 4-star mid-range boutique hotel is located in a quiet area on the western bank of Ping River. It is conveniently located within a 10 minutes walk to the nightlife area of the Night Bazaar. With just twelve rooms, this small hotel provides an intimate and cozy ambiance.

The amenities include a pool surrounded by green tropical trees, a tour desk, and laundry services. If you are with families or friends, you can book the three bedroom villas.

7. Rimping Village

This 4-star mid-range hotel is set on the eastern bank of the Ping River, but still very close to the action. It is just 10 minutes walk to the night markets, bars, and eateries in the Night Bazaar area. You can walk across the beautiful Iron Bridge Khua Lek.

Like many other hotels in Chiang Mai, this hotel has an outdoor swimming pool with many sunbeds and umbrellas for the guests. They also offer free bicycles, which is convenient to get to the old town. The rooms Rimping are good-sized, clean and well equipped.

8. Ban Narai River Guesthouse

This is a good budget family-run guest house in the pretty central location along Ping River. You can easily walk to a variety of night markets, food stalls, restaurants, and cafes in the night bazaar area. It has a quiet location, which is ideal for relaxing while still relatively close to all tourist amenities.

They offer air conditioning double rooms with a fridge, a microwave, coffee machine, and a terrace with views of the peaceful garden and river. Good place to relax and unwind.

9. Celosia Chiang Mai Hotel

This 3-star budget-friendly hotel is located near Ping River on the eastern bank in a Japanese style area. It is still within 10-15 minutes walk to the vibrant Night Bazaar, which is located across the river. They have multiple buildings (A, B, C), which offer more privacy.

The hotel has a clean pool, free laundry, which is good for both short and long time guests. Rooms are modern and spacious. The mattress can be hard for some people, but it is normal in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

10. Rustic River Boutique

This budget 3-star hotel is located close to Ping River and Waroros Market. It is very close to Chinatown. The Chang Klan Road where the Night Bazaar is located, is only a 10 minutes walk away.

The hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a parquet floor and private bathrooms. You can find a good cafe downstairs, as well as many cafes and restaurants nearby.

See more:

There you have it, my suggestions on the best hotels in the Riverside of Chiang Mai. Overall, if you want a relaxing holiday, the riverside is an excellent choice to stay in Chiang Mai. If you stay somewhere along the river that is close to the Night Bazaar, you can easily walk to the heart of the action.