Chiang Mai is one of my favorite cities in Thailand. I love Chiang Mai because it has a more laid back atmosphere, fresher air, and slower pace than the more popular Bangkok and Phuket. If you like smaller crowds and less hustle, you will love Chiang Mai.
I had a wonderful time exploring Chiang Mai and stayed in several locations in the city. In this article, I will help you to settle down with the best areas and where to stay in Chiang Mai. This is a helpful guide for both first-timers and repeated travelers.
Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand and is a major city in the Northern part of the country. It is the ancient capital city of the Lana Kingdom and is packed with beautiful temples, ruins of the old city wall. The city is also known for its relaxing vibe, delicious food, and beautiful natural attractions.
If you need more info about the itinerary, getting around, and things to do and Chiang Mai, you can check these articles:
- 23 Wonderful Things to Do in Chiang Mai
- How to Spend 4-5 Days In Chiang Mai
- Getting to and Around Chiang Mai
Here are the main content:
My opinion on Where to Stay in Chiang Mai
I stayed in several guest houses and hostels in different neighborhoods in Chiang Mai, including the old town, the edge of the old town, and the Nimman area. In my opinion, Chiang Mai old city is the most popular and convenient area to stay in Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai Old Town is the heart and soul of the city, packed with major tourist attractions and best hotels, restaurants, cafes, and bars. It is an ideal location for first-timers and repeated visitors who want to be within easy walking distance from the popular temples, attractions, and all tourist amenities.
The old town is a small and walkable area, so you’ll be within walking distance from important sights such as Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Tha Phae Gate, and Walking street Sunday Market.
In addition to the old town, you can consider staying in the Night Bazaar, the Ping Riverside, and Nimman. These areas are all located right outside of the ancient city, either within walking distance or a short Grab ride away.
If you want to be in the middle of the party and nightlife, The Night Bazaar is a great base. This area offers a vibrant nightlife atmosphere and is just a 10-15 minutes walk from the eastern gate of the old town, Tha Phae Gate.
The riverside area is located further away, offering a more peaceful atmosphere. Nimman is a popular area with expats and has a young population as it is close to Chiang Mai University. This area is home to lots of trendy cafes, restaurants, and bars. Nimman is located 1.5km from the west gate of the old town.
My top hotel picks in Chiang Mai:
- Luxury: InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping
- Mid-range: The Wing Boutique Hotel
- Budget: BaanBooLoo Village
6 Best areas to stay in Chiang Mai
1. Chiang Mai Old Town, best area for first-timers
Chiang Mai Old City is the most popular location to book hotels in Chiang Mai for first-timers. It is the historic heart of the city and is packed with iconic temples, historical attractions, as well as restaurants, cafes, bars, and massage shops.
The Old City is a small area (only 1.5 square kilometers) that was surrounded by a moat, and city walls. King Mengrai built the moat and city walls to protect the city from Burmese invaders. Today, you can still see the moat around the old city and the ruins of the city walls.
There are several gates to enter the old town. They are Tha Phae Gate in the eastern side of the old town, Suan Dok Gate in the western side, Chang Puak Gate in the north, and Chiang Mai Gate in the south.
Tha Phae Gate is the main gate of the old town and is the starting point of the Ratchamanka Rd, which is one of the main roads in the old city, connecting the west and north side of the old city. This road is also home to the Night Walking Street Market, which is held every Sunday evening.
If you are in Chiang Mai on Sunday, it is definitely worth checking out the Walking Street Market. If not, there are daily night markets at Chiang Mai Gate and Chang Puak Gate. These markets offer a more local atmosphere and authentic Thai food.
In addition to the ruins of the old city wall and the gates, the old town is home to many temples, museums, and cultural attractions.
With dozens of temples, I recommend checking some hightlifes such as Wat Phra Singh, Wat Phan Tao, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chiang Man. These temples are dating back to the foundations of the city in the 13 and 14th century. They all have stunning Lana architecture with teak wood viharns, and tall roofs.
When wandering around the old town, visiting the temples, you can take a visit to some museums and cultural sights such as Three Kings Monument, Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre, and Lanna Folklife Museum. These are great places to have more insights into the history and culture of the city.
Beside cultural and historical attractions, Old Town is home to lots of tourist amenities such as massage shops, motorbike rental, tour agencies, restaurants, hotels, cafes, and bars.
With a high concentration of tour agencies all around the old town, from the main road to small alleys, you can easily book tours with a reasonable price. I recommend checking the tours and prices at several shops to find the best deals. Also read the reviews before choosing the right one for you.
You can explore the old city on foot and consider taking tours to further destinations. Some tours to consider such as the trekking Doi Inthanon, elephant sanctuary tour, cooking tour, temples tours to Wat Pha Lat and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, day trip to Chiang Rai, or trip to Sticky Waterfall.
As in the central location of Chiang Mai, you can easily reach another neighborhood such as Chiang Mai Night Bazaar and the trendy Nimman area on foot or by a short tuk tuk or Grab Ride.
It is around 100-150 baht to catch Grab taxi or tuk tuk from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2,3 and the train station to get to Chiang Mai Old Town.
Chiang Mai Old City has hundreds of hotels, guest houses, and hostels in its 1.5 square kilometers. You will have lots of options to choose from if you book in advance.
If you book at the last minute, especially during the high season, you’ll likely be left with very few options. The price also rises in the high season (from November to April).
Where to stay in Chiang Mai Old Town:
Chala Number6
If you are looking for a luxury retreat in the heart of Chiang Mai Old Town, Chala is a great choice. This hotel is centrally located on Prapokklao Rd, within walking distance to many famous attractions in the old town including Chedi Luang Temple, Sunday Walking street, and Three Kings Monument.
Additionally, the hotel has beautiful facilities including a courtyard, swimming pool, Thai decor rooms, a fitness center and free use of bikes.
Pingviman Hotel
Pingviman is a popular 4-star hotel in the central location, close to the Chiang Mai Gate, in the south of the Old City. You can easily explore the area by foot, bicycles, and tuk tuk. You can walk to the Chiang Mai Gate Night Market, Wualai Saturday Market, and Sunday Walking Street. Many restaurants, bars, and shops are close by.
In terms of facilities, Pingviman has an onsite restaurant offering both traditional Thai cuisine and international dishes. It has an outdoor pool, a gym, and a pool bar. You can book a room with spa and pool access.
At Home At Chiang Mai
The hotel is located in a central location, on the east side of the old town, 2 minutes walk from Tha Phae Gate and Sunday Walking street. Lots of restaurants and bars in small alleys nearby. At night, you can easily walk to the Night Bazaar area for more bars, clubs, restaurants, and night market options.
This hotel is a good budget option for solo travelers and couples who don’t want to stay in a dorm room in a hostel. If you just want to find a clean and private place to sleep to explore Chiang Mai, this is a good place.
See more: Best Hotels in Old City Chiang Mai
2. Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, best area for vibrant nightlife
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar area is a lively area located east of the old town, within a 10-15 minute walk from Tha Phae Gate. If you want to be located just a step away from vibrant nightlife and parties, the night bazaar is the best place to book your accommodation.
The Loi Kroh Rd and Chang Khlan Road are the main roads in the Night Bazaar area. The Loi Kroh Rd is around 1 km long road stretching from the old town to the Ping River. This street and its small alleys are lined with go go bars, nightclubs, massage shops, restaurants, and travel agents.
Chang Khlan Road is lined with night markets and street food market complexes. Two sides of the road is also home to many stalls selling souvenirs and all kinds of things. Kalare Night Bazaar, Anusarn Market, Ploen Ruedee Night Market are popular night spots in this area.
Not only close to the old town, Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is also within a few minutes walking distance from Ping River. You can easily walk along Loi Kroh Rd to reach Khua Lek (Iron Bridge) or Tha Phae Road to reach Nawarat Bridge to get to the other side of the river.
To the north of the Night Bazaar lies the vibrant Warorot Market. This market is a great place to experience local daily life. It is a huge market with both indoor and outdoor zones. You can buy dry fruits, fabric, and all daily groceries at the market.
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is closer to the Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2,3 and the train station. It will cost around 100 baht to catch shared tuk tuk or Grab Taxi from these stations to the night bazaar area.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai Night Bazaar:
Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel
The Marriott Hotel is a great place to stay for families and couples who want luxury stay in the city center of Chiang Mai. It is located right on the Night Bazaar area between the old town and the Ping River. You can easily explore the old town and its temples within a short tuk tuks ride away.
Marriott has beautiful spacious rooms with comfortable facilities such as an outdoor swimming pool, a spa, a fitness center, and lots of options for breakfast. You’ll be close to the night markets.
Banthai Village
Banthai is a nice 4-star hotel located just outside of the old town near the eastern gate – Tha Phae Gate. Its central location also offers walking distance to the Night Bazaar and Warorot Market. If you arrive by train to Chiang Mai Train station, you can catch a taxi which is a 15 minute drive to the hotel.
I think Banthai is a good value for money hotel for couples and families. It offers spacious and clean rooms. It is close to both the old town and the night bazaar with easy access to tourist amenities such as taxis, money exchange services, and supermarkets.
Born Guest House
Born is a great option for solo travelers and couples who are looking for budget-friendly private rooms in central Chiang Mai. It is located just a few minutes walk from Tha Phae Gate and the old town. It is also easily accessible from the Bus Station, the Train Station, and the airport. This is a good value for money hotel that has a great location to explore the city.
See more:
3. Nimmanhaemin, Chiang Mai’s hip and expat area
Nimmanhaemin, also known as Nimman, is a hip area located west of the old town, around 10 minutes drive to the heart of the old city. This area is a popular place for expats, digital nomads, and young people. It is paced with trendy cafes, restaurants, and live band bars.
Nimmanhaemin is close to Chiang Mai University, creating a youthful atmosphere. There are also a couple of big shopping malls here including MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center and One Nimman.
Maya is an ordinary shopping mall with a foot court, fashion, cosmetic, tech stores, while One Nimman offers the same thing with a more artistic atmosphere with several famous cafes inside the mall. There is the flea market right outside of One Niman, offering more shopping opportunities.
You can find many trendy cafes, restaurants, boutique shops, and co-working places on the 1 km long road, Nimmanhaemin Road as well as on alleys off the main road (Soi 1 to Soi 17).
As a popular expat area, you will find many restaurants serving both local Thai and international food such as Japanese, Korean, Thai, American, and Italian.
Nimmanhaemin is a great area for nightlife with a more relaxing vibe compared to the Night Bazaar. If you want to drink in a trendy rooftop bar, and more high end lounges, Nimman has many options to choose from.
In addition to the modern facilities and shopping centers, the area is home to several museums. If you are history buffs or interested in the arts, you can take a look at the Lanna Traditional House Museum or Chiang Mai University Art Museum.
If you love exploring the beautiful temple, why not check out the Wat Suan Dok, located on Suthep Road, just south of Nimman Road. This temple is less popular than the ones in the old town but still worth visiting if you have time.
Nimman is close to Chiang Mai Zoo, a family-friendly destination with Penguin exhibit and Aquarium. It is also close to Doi Suthep where you can hike Monk’s trail to visit the famous Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, and the peaceful Wat Pha Lat.
Nimman is located a bit further from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 2,3 and the train station compared to the old town and night bazaar area. It is around 150-200 baht to get to these stations from Nimman.
Just take a note that the traffic on Nimman Road is quite heavy at certain times during the day. So, if you need to take the long distance bus and train to other places like Pai, Chiang Rai, or Bangkok, you should allow plenty of time to get to the stations to catch your bus and train on time.
Nimmanhaemin has a wide variety of accommodations catering for all visitors, especially for long term travelers, digital nomads, and backpackers. There are lots of hotels, apartments, hostels, and guest houses.
Where to stay in Nimmanhaemin:
AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai
This is a luxury hotel located in the heart of the Nimmanhaemin hip area, in Soi 9. Staying here means you’ll be surrounded by many trendy boutiques, art galleries and coffee shops. It has a rooftop infinity pool and beautiful rooms.
G Nimman Chiang Mai
G Nimman is a lovely 4-star hotel in central location in Nimman Soi 17. It is close to shopping malls and many dining options. The hotel is clean with a nice pool and comfortable bed rooms. I believe that it is ideal for couples and mid-range travelers who want to be in the heart of Nimmanhaemin.
ALEXA Nimman
ALEXA is a budget option in Nimmanhaemin Soi 3, offering both private rooms and dorm rooms. This hostel has common areas, so you can meet other fellow travelers. If you are young and on a budget, this hotel is a good choice.
See more: Best Hotels in Nimman
4. Chiang Mai Riverside, peaceful area in Chiang Mai
The Ping River is located on the east side of the old city, around 1 km away from Tha Phae Gate. This area offers a more laid back atmosphere and is home to some luxury resorts with river views. You can use tuk tuk, Grab, or even walk to get to major attractions.
There are a couple of bridges connecting two sides of the Ping River. These are Khua Lek (Iron Bridge) and Nawarat Bridge. Both bridges have pedestrian walkways that allow you to cross the river to the other bank. They are even more beautiful when illuminated at night.
One side of the river is the party area of Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, and the other side is the quieter and more local neighborhood of Wat Ket. You can travel between these areas on foot by crossing the bridge.
The Riverside area is closer to Chiang Mai train station and the long distance bus terminal than the old town, which offers a shorter taxi ride to get to these stations.
There are numerous high rise building hotels and resorts along the banks of the Ping River. These hotels have rooms and onsite restaurants/bars with beautiful views of the river.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai Riverside:
Maladee Rendezvous
Maladee is a beautiful 5-star resort located along the Ping River. You can easily walk to the night market and riverside where you can find many nice bars and restaurants. It is in a nice neighborhood only a few minutes Grab Taxi ride to the old town.
This hotel has excellent amenities including an outdoor swimming pool, a bar, a restaurant, and delicious buffet breakfast.
Ping Nakara Boutique Hotel And Spa
This is a 5-star boutique hotel located within walking distance to the lively Night Bazaar and Ping Riverside Garden. I think Ping Nakara is an ideal place for families and couples who want a luxury retreat in a quite central location.
By now, I have already shown you accommodation inside the old town, west of the old town (Nimman), east of the old town (The Night Bazaar and Ping River). Let’s look at some options to the north and south of Chiang Mai Old Town.
See more:
5. North of Chiang Mai Old Town
If you can’t find any hotels that suit your budget inside the old town and the night bazaar area, you can consider booking hotels in the north of the old town around Chang Phueak Gate. From this area, you can walk within 10-15 minutes to the center of the old city.
This area is home to Chang Phuak Market, a popular night market where you can try authentic Thai dishes. As lots of locals come here, the market offers cheaper dishes than in the night bazaar. Famous stalls are the cowboy lady shop selling pork leg rice and Suki Changphuak.
The Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 1 (Chang Phueak Bus Terminal) is also located in this area. It is convenient for catching short distance buses to nearby villages around Chiang Mai such as Fang, Chiang Dao, Mae Rim, and Mae Theng.
Accommodations near the Old town North Gate are small guest houses, hotels, and lots of hostels, which is ideal for backpackers and budget travelers. If you don’t mind being in the heart of the old town and willing to walk or take transport to it, you can find some good value for money hotels here.
This area also offers a quieter atmosphere compared to the old town and the night bazaar area. If you are an active traveler, you can walk all the way to the trendy Nimman neighborhood and the historic town. Other local attractions in this area include the Chiang Mai boxing stadium and Wat Lok Moli.
Here are some recommended hotels near North Gate:
6. South of Chiang Mai Old Town
Similar to the North Gate area, The South Gate area (Chiang Mai Gate) is an alternative place to stay in Chiang Mai for those who want more affordable accommodations while still being close to the heart of the action. If you don’t mind walking or using Grab, tuk tuk to get to the sights, this is an ideal base.
South of Chiang Mai Old Town is home to the Wualai Saturday Walking Street and several local temples such as Wat Sri Suphan and Wat Muen San. You’ll also be close to the night bazaar for nightlife.
Here are my suggested hotels around South Gate:
Where did I stay in Chiang Mai? My personal experience
I stayed in several hotels and hostels in different neighborhoods in Chiang Mai. I booked my hotels just 2 days before coming to Chiang Mai from Sukhothai, so I didn’t have many options. I traveled in the high season, late November and early December, most accommodations are sold out.
Also keep in mind that the price of hotels in the high season is also more expensive than on a normal day. So, if you are coming to Chiang Mai and Thailand in the peak season, be sure to book at least one to two weeks in advance.
I stayed in All In 1 Guest House and Chiang Mai Gate House inside the old town, Vlodge House in the edge of the old town, and ALEXA Hostel in the Nimman area. Here are my personal experiences of staying in each place as well as its pros and cons.
All In 1 Guest House
I was able to book this accommodation for 2 nights. I wanted to extend my stay but they were fully booked. This is a great guest house located on a small alley called Moonmuang Road Soi 2, on the south eastern part of the old town. It is just a short walk from the Sunday Walking street and Tha Phae Gate.
The alley itself is packed with trendy restaurants, bars, cafes, and guest houses. Lots of bars on the alley where All In 1 is located open until late night. You can easily walk to the Chiang Mai Gate Market near the south gate and the Night Bazaar for more street food, restaurants, and bars.
My room was quite spacious with a comfortable double bed, a TV, and a mini fridge. There were two tables in my room, one next to the bed and one next to the TV. The room also has hangers and an open wardrobe to keep the clothes.
My room has both air conditioning and fans. It has a big window so there was lots of natural light inside the room. I had good views of the neighborhoods in my window.
The bathroom is simple with a toilet and shower in the same place. There was body gel and shampoo inside the bathroom along with 2 towels. The hall outside of the room is well-decorated with paintings and pictures from Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries.
There are no elevators in the guest house, so you will need to carry your suitcase or backpack on the stairs. I had a medium suitcase and was familiar with this when staying in a budget and mid range hotel all around Thailand.
The entrance to the guest house has lots of green trees. They also have a bar near the reception area. The owner is very friendly and can help you with all tours and information about Chiang Mai. I would stay at this accommodation again.
Vlodge House
This is a small family-run guest house located in a quiet area in the northeast side of the old town. It is on Chaiyapoom Soi 1, just 120 m outside of the moat and the old city. You can easily walk to the old town, Tha Phae Gate, and Warorot Market in Chinatown.
The Chang Moi Rd nearby is packed with trendy cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops. Lots of nice local temples, ruins, street art and graffiti in this neighborhood. You can easily walk to more popular places such as Wat Chiang Man and Three Kings Monument.
At night, you can walk to Chang Puak Market at the old town’s north gate or the Sunday Night Market near the Tha Phae Gate for dining and shopping.
I came early in the morning, so they let me store the luggage and come back later for check in. The room is cozy and small with white being the main color. White bedding, white wall and floor. My room has a TV, a mini fridge, a kettle, a chair, and two free bottles of water. The room has air conditioning.
They have lots of house rules but it was not the problem for me. I just need a good night’s sleep. There are lots of hostels and bars on Chaiyapoom Soi 1 where the hotel is located but my room was quiet during my stay.
If you are looking for a private simple room to sleep at a budget price, Vlodge House is a good option. If you want something more comfortable and spacious, maybe look somewhere else.
ALEXA Hostel
I wanted to experience staying in Nimman, so I booked a night at ALEXA Hostel. I booked at the last minute, so this is the only available accommodation that I could afford to pay.
The hostel has a central location in the heart of Niman. It is right on Nimmana Haeminda Soi 3, within easy walking distance from One Niman, the white market, as well as many chic boutiques, restaurants, and cafes. It is a very good location to explore all of Nimman on foot.
I stayed in the 12 bed dorm room. The dorm is clean and spacious with big lockers for suitcases and a bed with a thick curtain. There are both air conditioning and fans inside the room. They have the lift, making it easy to bring the suitcase to the room.
It wasn’t soundproofing though. I still hear the noise from the road and music from the nearby market. You can bring earbuds to reduce the noise.
Chiang Mai Gate House
When traveling from Chiang Rai to Bangkok, I decided to stay a night in Chiang Mai and choose to stay at Chiang Mai Gate House. As the name suggests, the hotel is located near Chiang Mai Gate, at the south of the old town.
It is a central location, very convenient for first-timers and those who want to walk to most things. It is very close to the Chiang Mai Gate Night Market, Saturday Night Market, and the night Bazaar.
My room is quite spacious with good quality bedding, clean bathroom, and wooden floor. There is a big body mirror in the room, as well as a mini bridge, a bedside table, and a TV.
My room has a big window with beautiful views of the garden. The garden is peaceful and packed with greenery and beautiful statues. They have a tour desk onsite, which is convenient if you want to book a tour and need information about Chiang Mai. I’d definitely stay at this hotel again.
Should you Stay in Old town or Nimman?
You can read more detail at this link: Is it better in Chiang Mai Old Town or Nimmanhemin?
In my opinion, if you are a first time visitor and you are staying in Chiang Mai for just a few days, it is best to book a hotel in the old town. This is because the old town has historic charm and all the beauty that Chiang Mai offers. Staying here means you will be within an easy walk from iconic temples, cultural and historical attractions.
If you are repeat travelers or plan to stay in Chiang Mai for a long period of time, you can consider splitting your stay between the old town and Nimman. Nimman has all modern amenities, hip cafes, bars, restaurants, and malls for long term travelers and expats.
If you are first-timers staying in Nimman, you will need to use Grab taxi or tuk tuk to get to attractions in the old town. This is not really convenient like staying inside the old town where you can walk to all attractions and the night bazaar easily.
See more: Where to Stay in Thailand
So did you find out where you will stay in Chiang Mai? Do you want to stay in the old town, the night Bazaar area, Nimman, and the riverside area?
I personally prefer the old town for easy walks to all attractions and amenities. But if you want to be in the heart of nightlife, consider the night bazaar area. For a quieter atmosphere, maybe staying somewhere along the Ping River. Or if you want a modern and youth area, look into a hotel in Nimman.