Where to stay · Chiang Mai · Thailand
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Stefan Fussan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Old City. Temple-filled square inside the moat, with guesthouses and quiet sois. Best alternatives — families: Tha Phae and Night Bazaar; nightlife: Tha Phae and Night Bazaar.
Key facts
- First visit
- Old City
- Families
- Tha Phae and Night Bazaar
- Budget
- Old City
- Nightlife
- Tha Phae and Night Bazaar
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Old City | Temple-filled square inside the moat, with guesthouses and quiet sois |
| Families | Tha Phae and Night Bazaar | Market streets between the east moat and the river |
| Couples | Nimmanhaemin | Trendy grid of cafés, galleries and condos near the university |
| Budget | Old City | Temple-filled square inside the moat, with guesthouses and quiet sois |
| Luxury | Riverside | Boutique hotels and teak houses along the Ping River |
| Nightlife | Tha Phae and Night Bazaar | Market streets between the east moat and the river |
| Food lovers | Nimmanhaemin | Trendy grid of cafés, galleries and condos near the university |
| Solo travellers | Old City | Temple-filled square inside the moat, with guesthouses and quiet sois |
| Shopping | Tha Phae and Night Bazaar | Market streets between the east moat and the river |
| Quiet stays | Riverside | Boutique hotels and teak houses along the Ping River |
Chiang Mai neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, budget and solo travellers
Old City
The 1.5 km square inside the moat holds Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Chiang Man, plus hundreds of guesthouses, cafés and massage shops on lanes that are quiet after dark. The Sunday Walking Street runs down Ratchadamnoen Road through the middle, and every part of the square is walkable.
- Good
- Walk to the main temples; Wide choice of guesthouses; Quiet lanes at night
- Watch out
- Rooms can be small and basic; Traffic on the moat roads
- Nearby
- Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chiang Man, Tha Phae Gate
$$ · Best for shopping, first-timers, nightlife and families
Tha Phae and Night Bazaar
East of Tha Phae Gate, Tha Phae Road leads to the Night Bazaar on Chang Khlan Road and Warorot Market near the river. Larger hotels, bars and restaurants line the streets, and the area is lively every evening with stalls, food courts and live music.
- Good
- Markets on the doorstep; Good hotel choice at all levels; Walk to the old city and river
- Watch out
- Touristy around the bazaar; Noisy streets in the evening
- Nearby
- Night Bazaar, Warorot Market, Tha Phae Gate, Ping River
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and couples
Nimmanhaemin
Nimmanhaemin Road and its numbered sois west of the old city are Chiang Mai's modern face, with speciality coffee shops, co-working spaces, boutique hotels, the One Nimman complex and Maya mall. It is popular with digital nomads and young Thais, and Doi Suthep and Chiang Mai University are close.
- Good
- Best café and restaurant scene; Modern hotels and apartments; Short ride to Doi Suthep
- Watch out
- Little traditional character; Heavy traffic on Huay Kaew Road
- Nearby
- One Nimman, Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center, Chiang Mai University, Wat Suan Dok
$$$ · Best for couples, luxury and quiet stays
Riverside
Both banks of the Ping River, especially around Charoen Rat Road on the east bank, have boutique hotels in teak houses, riverside restaurants with live music and a slower pace. The Night Bazaar and Warorot Market are a short walk across the bridges.
- Good
- Romantic river setting; Calmer than the bazaar; Good riverside dining
- Watch out
- Longer walk to the old-city temples; Mosquitoes by the water
- Nearby
- Ping River, Warorot Market, Night Bazaar, Wat Ket Karam
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and quiet stays
Santitham
Santitham is a grid of apartment blocks, local markets and inexpensive restaurants between the old city and Nimman. It is popular with long-stay visitors for monthly rentals and everyday Thai life, about 10 minutes by songthaew from both.
- Good
- Low prices; Local food markets; Between the old city and Nimman
- Watch out
- Few sights; Limited hotel choice
- Nearby
- Chang Phueak Gate, Nimmanhaemin, Old City
$ · Best for food lovers, budget and nightlife
Chang Phueak
Around the old city's north gate, Chang Phueak is known for its evening food market, including a famous stewed pork-leg stall, and for a small jazz club with nightly jam sessions. Guesthouses here are cheap and close to the north side of the old city.
- Good
- Excellent street food; Walk to the old city; Low prices
- Watch out
- Busy road junction; Basic guesthouses
- Nearby
- Chang Phueak Gate, Wat Chiang Man, Wat Lok Moli
$$$ · Best for luxury, families, quiet stays and couples
Mae Rim
About 15–25 km north of the centre, the Mae Rim valley has resorts set among rice fields and forest, botanical gardens and easy access to elephant sanctuaries and the Mae Sa waterfalls. It suits travellers who want space and quiet over walking access to the city.
- Good
- Resorts with pools and gardens; Close to nature and sanctuaries; Cooler, quieter evenings
- Watch out
- 30–45 minutes to the old city; Need a car or driver
- Nearby
- Mae Sa Waterfall, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Old City | $$ | Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chiang Man, Tha Phae Gate |
| Tha Phae and Night Bazaar | $$ | Night Bazaar, Warorot Market, Tha Phae Gate, Ping River |
| Nimmanhaemin | $$$ | One Nimman, Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center, Chiang Mai University, Wat Suan Dok |
| Riverside | $$$ | Ping River, Warorot Market, Night Bazaar, Wat Ket Karam |
| Santitham | $ | Chang Phueak Gate, Nimmanhaemin, Old City |
| Chang Phueak | $ | Chang Phueak Gate, Wat Chiang Man, Wat Lok Moli |
| Mae Rim | $$$ | Mae Sa Waterfall, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden |
Getting to your hotel
Chiang Mai International Airport is only about 4 km south-west of the old city; the ride takes about 10–20 minutes by taxi or app car, and taxis leave from a counter in arrivals. Overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok take about 11–13 hours.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Chiang Mai for first-time visitors?
Old City. The 1.5 km square inside the moat holds Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Chiang Man, plus hundreds of guesthouses, cafés and massage shops on lanes that are quiet after dark.
+Where should families stay in Chiang Mai?
Tha Phae and Night Bazaar: Markets on the doorstep.
+Which area of Chiang Mai is best for a budget stay?
Old City ($$): Temple-filled square inside the moat, with guesthouses and quiet sois.