I had a beautiful time in Chiang Rai but also a difficult time booking the right hotels before my trip. I booked my hotels very spontaneously, just three days before my arrival. It was in the high season (early December), so most of the good hotels were fully booked.
I was still lucky and able to find places to sleep for a few nights. They are not the best but I had safe places to stay. In this article, I’ll share with you my tips on how to choose the best areas to stay in Chiang Rai and good hotels in each area.
Chiang Rai is a laid-back mountainous city in the northern part of Thailand, only a few hours from Chiang Mai. It is known for its beautiful temples, relaxing atmosphere, and proximity to Golden Triangle, tea plantations, Karen Long Neck Village, and the mountain villages of Doi Mae Salong.
If you need more information about Chiang Rai, you can check these articles:
- 14 Things to Do in Chiang Rai
- How I Spent 2-3 Days In Chiang Rai
- How to get to Chiang Rai and Get Around
Here are the main content:
My Opinion on Where to Stay in Chiang Rai
In my opinion, Chiang Rai City center is the overall best area to stay in Chiang Rai. This is a great base for exploring the region and it has lots of accommodations, restaurants, bars, and shops for all budgets.
The city center of Chiang Rai is home to several attractions such as the Clock Tower, Night Bazaar, and Walking Street. You can easily get to White temple, Blue temple, Black House museum, Tea Plantation, and the Golden Triangle by sightseeing tour, motobike, taxi, or hire a private driver.
If you want quieter and more luxurious feels, you can choose to stay in a hotel and resort along the Kok River. Most accommodations here are located within a 5-10 minute taxi ride to the downtown area but offer a more relaxing atmosphere and river views.
You can consider staying outside of Chiang Rai City Center if you are planning to rent a motorbike. These areas are a bit further from Downtown but often have more affordable hotels and guest houses.
If you want to stay close to the airport, you can book hotels on the Main highway 1 in the section that runs parallel with the airport.
Like many other cities in Thailand and Southeast Asia, mosquitoes can be a big problem, so be sure to bring insect repellent with you or use the net if your hotel has one.
My top hotel picks in Chiang Rai:
- Luxury: MORA Boutique Hotel
- Mid-range: Sleepy House Chiang Rai
- Budget: Baanmalai Hotel Chiangrai
Best areas and neighborhoods to stay in Chiang Rai
1. The City Center – best place to stay in Chiang Rai for first-timers
The City Center, particularly the area around the Clock Tower and the Night Bazaar, is the overall best location to stay in Chiang Rai for new visitors to the city.
This area is home to a range of tourist facilities such as restaurants, bars, shops, laundry shops, convenience stores, and tour agencies. It is a small area (around two square km), so you can easily get around on foot, tuk tuk, or short Grab ride.
The city center is also home to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1, which is convenient to get to nearby places such as Chiang Mai, Phu Chi Fa, or Mae Sai.
In addition to the major sights such as the night bazaar and the clock tower, the city center is home to several small temples such as Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Ming Muang, and Wat Phra Singh.
The Night Bazaar is a popular place to explore in Chiang Rai City Center. It is a lively night market located near the central Bus Station. The market has a foot court and a bar area where you can chinese street food, drink a beer, and listen to live performances.
If you are in the city center on the weekend, you can explore the Saturday Night Market on Thanalai Road and Sunday Night Market on San Khong Noi Road. These night markets are great places to try Thai food and buy souvenirs.
There are many attractions on the outskirts of Chiang Rai town center within 10-20 km from the Clock Tower. To the northern area of the Kok River, you can find the famous Wat Huay Pla Kang, Baan Dam Museum (or Black House), and Wat Rong Sear Tean (Blue Temple).
To the south of Chiang Rai City center, you can explore Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) and Singha Park. You can go cloud huntting at Mount Phu Chi Fah, located 90 km east of Chiang Rai city.
Chiang Rai is also a great base for day trips to the Golden Triangle, Mae Sai – Thailand’s northernmost town, Doi Tung area with Mae Fah Luang Garden, and Mae Salong with tea plantations.
Where to stay in Chiang Rai City Center:
MORA Boutique Hotel
MORA is a good 5-star hotel in Chiang Rai City Center. It is only 5 minutes walking from Walking Street and Statue of King Mengra and around 15 minutes walk from The Clock Tower.
In terms of facilities, this hotel has nicely decorated guest rooms, a rooftop bar, and an outdoor pool. I recommend this hotel for families and couples who have a good budget and want to stay in the center of Chiang Rai.
Le Patta Hotel
Le Patta is a 4-star mid-range hotel on the main road right at the heart of Chiang Rai, close to everything. It is within walking distance from popular points of interests including the Saturday Night Walking Street, Clock Tower, Old Bus Station, and Night Bazaar.
The rooms are quiet, clean, spacious, and comfortable with large bath rooms. They also have an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness center.
Hop Inn Chiang Rai
Hop Inn is one of the best places to stay in Chiang Rai for budget and mid-range travelers. It is centrally located in a prime location, right just at the corner from the Clock Tower. The hotel is a short walk to several bars, restaurants, night market and the walking street.
2. Chiang Rai Kok Riverside area
The Kok River area is a quiet area located just north of the city center. There are numerous hotels and resorts located on the banks of the Kok River, within a 2 km radius of the city center and the night bazaar area. You can get to the downtown area by scooter or taxi.
This area offers a more tranquil atmosphere. It is best suited for those seeking a quieter holiday and who don’t mind being a bit farther from the nightlife area.
There are several attractions near the Kok River, including Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple) and the Garden of Reeds, as well as several local temples.
Best places to stay in Chiang Rai Riverside area:
The Riverie by Katathani
This is a 5-star hotel located right on the bank of Kok River and is ideal for couples and families who want relaxing and luxury accommodation in Central Chiang Rai. It is only a 5 minute taxi ride from the town center where you can find the night market and the walking street.
The hotel features beautiful guest rooms, extensive breakfast buffet, and a lovely rooftop restaurant and bar. The pool area is great for both adults and children.
The Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort & Spa
The Legend is a 4-star hotel located close to Mae Kok River, featuring an outdoor infinity pool and multiple restaurants. From the hotel, it is a 5 minute drive to the Night Bazaar and the Saturdays and Sundays walking street. It has villas and studios options for families and couples.
Riva Vista Riverfront Resort
Riva Vista is located on the bank of Kok River, a 5 minute walk from the famous Wat Rong Suea Ten and Chivit Thamma Da Coffee House, Bistro & Bar. Downtown Chiang Rai is 5 minutes drive away and the airport is also close by. I highly recommend this hotel for couples and families with kids.
3. Chiang Rai Airport Area
Chiang Rai Airport is located around 10 km from the city center of Chiang Rai. This area is convenient for those who want easy access to the airport. You can find a cluster of guest houses in Highway 1 running parallel with the airport.
This area is close to several attractions including the Baan Dam Museum, Wat Rong Suea Ten, and Pong Phra Bat Hot Springs. Big C Supercenter is here, which is also a great place to go shopping.
Where to stay near Chiang Rai Airport:
One Budget Hotel Chiang Rai Airport
This is a budget-friendly hotel on the main road near Chiang Rai Airport. It has a good-size and clean room with a comfortable bed. Easy access to Big C Supermarket nearby. It is a budget hotel, so bring your toothbrush and toothpaste with you.
Benja369
Benja369 is a good value for money hotel close to the airport. It is in a quiet location and a 10 minute drive to the city center and the clock tower. If you have a motorbike or you want to stay close to the airport, this is a good choice.
Capital O 727 Be One Resort
Capital O is a good location for easy access to the airport. You can find many restaurants, as well as a seven eleven and laundry nearby. Mosquitoes can be a problem, as many other places in mountainous areas, so be sure to have insect spray with you.
4. The White Temple area
The White Temple area is located south of Chiang Rai City center and is around 10 km away. This area is best suited for those who want a more local atmosphere, close to the iconic White Temple, or are planning to rent a motorbike.
It is also close to Bus terminal 2, which is the final stop of long distance buses from other cities in Thailand to Chiang Rai.
In addition to the famous White Temple, This area is home to famous attractions such as the Singha Park and NamTok Khun Kon National Forest Park & waterfall. Singha Park has a beautiful natural area and tea plantations.
Where to stay near The White Temple area in Chiang Rai:
5. The Golden Triangle area
The Golden Triangle area is located far away from Chiang Rai City center, around 60 km away. It is a popular day trip from Chiang Rai. But you can also consider staying overnight in this area to fully experience the area, camping, trekking, or spend time with elephants.
When visiting the The Golden Triangle area, you can visit the Golden Triangle viewpoint, Golden Triangle Park Hall of Opium, House of Opium Museum, and take a boat trip along the Mekong River.
Where to stay in the Golden Triangle area?
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
Anantara is a luxury 5-star hotel centrally located in the heart of the Golden Triangle, surrounded by the forest and rice paddies. This hotel has multiple dining options and an infinity pool with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
You can watch elephants from your balcony. There are many activities to enjoy including elephant camp experience, countryside tour, spa treatment, as well as cooking classes, yoga classes, and longtail boat along Mekong River.
Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
Four Seasons is another popular hotel in the Golden Triangle. This hotel provides an all-inclusive package which includes accommodations and activities such as elephant trekking, spa treatment, meals. It has an onsite restaurant that serves both local Thai, Burmese, Laotian, and western dishes.
Where did I Stay in Chiang Rai, Thailand?
I prefer to stay in Chiang Rai City Center because it offers easy access to all tourist amenities. I can walk to restaurants, bars, the night bazaar, clock tower, travel agents, and bus terminal 1. I don’t need to pay extra money for a taxi/ tuk tuk to get to these tourist amenities.
I traveled in the high season in Thailand, in early December. There weren’t many options when I booked my hotels just 2-3 days before my trip. So if you travel to Chiang Rai in the peak season (from November to April), I recommend booking a hotel well in advance for better deals and quality.
With limited hotel availability at the time of booking, I was still lucky to find a safe place to stay for my visit to Chiang Rai. One is in the form of a hotel and one is in the form of a hostel. I stayed in a private room in each place, and they are both in the heart of Chiang Rai.
Na Rak O Resort
I stayed in this guest house for a couple of nights. I’m not sure why the owner calls it a resort. I think it would be more accurate to call it a hotel or guesthouse.
Anyway, This accommodation is located in a small alley in the heart of Chiang Rai. It is just a few minutes walking distance from the night bazaar, the bus terminal 1, and the clock tower. It was easy to walk to the main road to do laundry and withdraw money from ATMs.
I got to Chiang Rai from Pai. The van stopped at Chiang Rai Bus terminal 2. From The bus terminal 2, I used a Grab taxi to get to the Na Rak O Resort. It was around a 10 minute drive and it cost me 100 baht.
Check in process was easy. I arrived at 3pm, showed my booking ID and they took me to the room. My room is spacious with a double bed. There are lots of facilities inside the room such as a tv, table, chair, bean bag, hair dryer, hangers, and towels.
The room had two free bottles of water, air conditioning, and lots of natural light. The bathroom is also spacious with shampoo and body soap. There is a kitchen on the second floor where you can cook your own meals or have free tea, coffee, cookies, and bananas.
During my stay, the air conditioner was quite noisy, and I found the cleanliness to be below expectations. Nevertheless, it’s a generally safe place to stay and a decent option when other hotels are fully booked.
The owner and the staff were very friendly. I booked two tours with them, one sightseeing tour around Chiang Rai and one trekking tour. Both tours were great with good prices and good tour guides.
There are also many travel agents near the hotel and on the main road, so you can look around to choose the best ones for your preferences.
Little One
As the name suggests, this is a little accommodation located on Soi Thai Viwat, in central Chiang Rai. It is midway between the Night Bazaar and the clock towel. There are many restaurants, bars, and massage shops within walking distance from the hotel.
The hostel has both shared dorm rooms and private rooms. I stayed in a private room with a shared bathroom. This place is a safe place to stay as you will need to enter the pin code to open the door at the entrance and to enter your room.
My private room is a Japanese-style room with a double bed and a small bed. There is a small window open to the street but still quiet enough for a good night sleep. The room has a TV, air conditioning, and a towel.
I was on the second floor and there were a couple of shared baths and toilets on my floor. I never felt crowded and had to wait for a shower. It was clean during my stay.
There is a fridge, water, toaster, microwave, and kettle in the common area near the lobby. They don’t have lift, so I had to carry my big suitcase to the second floor, which wasn’t a big problem as I used to do it at many hotels all around Thailand.
When I checked out, they let me store my suitcase so I could explore. The hotel is within walking distance from the bus terminal 1, which is convenient to just drag my suitcase to the bus station to get a bus to Chiang Mai.
I would choose Little One again if I were traveling alone and looking for a budget-friendly option. If I go back to Chiang Rai with my partner or with my family, I would choose somewhere more comfortable.
See more: Where to Stay in Thailand
In conclusion, if you are visiting Chiang Rai for the first time and want to be in the heart of the action, it is best to stay in the city center. For a quieter atmosphere but still close to the downtown, the riverside is a good choice. If you are planning to rent a scooter and want a more local vibe, you can stay in the outskirts. near the white temple for example.