The best areas to stay in Chiang Mai for visitors. This guides also includes where to stay for longer stays if you are a digital nomad.
Chiang Mai is a surprisingly international city for an inland provincial capital. Part of its charm is the Old City, which is surrounded by a moat and fortress wall. Chiang Mai is considered as the cultural capital of Thailand, and the city is filled with beautiful Buddhist temples (wats).
This Where To Stay guide lists where to stay in Chiang Mai for first-timers, and where to stay if you plan to stay longer as a digital nomad.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai guide
Map of Chiang Mai hotels
Best areas to stay in Chiang Mai
Old City (Historic area inside the moat)
Nimmanhaemin (Entertainment area popular with digital nomads)
Night Bazaar (Shopping area with big hotels)
Other areas to stay in Chiang Mai
Chinatown (Old area that is revitalising)
Santitham (Low-key local area for expats and nomads)
Map of Chiang Mai hotels
Hotels mentioned in this article are pinned on this map.
[View map of Chiang Mai hotels.]
Best areas to stay in Chiang Mai
If you’re visiting Chiang Mai for the first time then stay in the Old City. This is the most historic area with temples and quiet streets to wander around.
If you’re planning to stay longer as a digital nomad, then the Nimmanhemin area is more popular for long-term stays.
The Night Bazaar. and area around the Ping River is where most of the 5-star hotels and resorts are located.
Search for hotels in Chiang Mai.
Old City
The Old City is where all the action is for the casual visitor to Chiang Mai. The area is easily defined by the city wall and moat which forms a square around the city. Inside the moat is the old town area which is distinctly low rise. Cross-town traffic has to go around the moat, so there is no through-traffic. Indeed, some lanes are so quiet throughout the day it feels like you are in a small town.
Each side of the moat has a main gate on the wall, with Tha Phae Gate (East Gate) being the most popular area for accommodation options. If you want to be in the most central area, search around Tha Phae Gate.
Search all hotels in the Old City.
At Tha Phae Gate is Ratchadamnoen Road, which runs east-west to Wat Phra Singh (Gold Temple). On Sunday night this road becomes a walking street for the Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market. This is one of the most lively night markets in Thailand. If you are looking for the most central area or “main street”, then Ratchadamnoen Road would be it.
Hostels and Guesthouses
There are lots of options for budget accommodation, and if you will be pleasantly surprised with how much cheaper it is here compared with accommodation in Bangkok or the Thai islands.
The most lively backpacker area is between Tha Phae Gate and the northeast corner of the moat. Moonmuang Road runs along this section of the moat, and there are many cheap places to stay in the sois (alleys) off Moonmuang. It’s nothing like Khao San Road in Bangkok (a noisy party street) so you can come here to chill or party.
There are still guesthouses in this area without online booking presence where you can walk in and get a room. There are lots of cheap places online now so there is no real advantage of showing up without a booking. A cheap guesthouse I’ve stayed which has online booking is the Banwiang Guest House.
S.K. House 1 is one of the older backpacker hotels in the Moonmuang area.
Moonmuang Lane 7 has a variety of budget and boutique guesthouse options, including Sri Pat Guest House (3-star) and Valentier Cafe and Hotel (3-star).
[Sri Pat Guest House.]
Opposite Moonmuang Lane 7 on the other side of the moat is Chaiyapoom Soi 1. This has become a mini backpacker party alley, with Stamps Backpackers being a popular place to socialise with fellow travellers.
[Stamps Backpackers.]
Mid Range
The old city has a good selection of mid-range hotels, some of which have pools and are tucked away in peaceful gardens. There are height restrictions in the old city, so there are no boxy chain hotels here.
Hotel M Chiang Mai (3-star) is in a busy area opposite Tha Phae Gate.
Boutique hotels the old city include Wealth Boutique Hotel Chiang Mai (3.5-star) and Baan Huenphen Boutique Hotel (3.5-star).
On Ratchadamnoen Road is the Moondragon Hotel Chiang Mai (3.5-star).
Another Ratchadamnoen Road option is MoMo Hotel (4-star).
4-star/Boutique
The 5-star hotels in Chiang Mai are located outside the old city, but there are a number of 4-star hotels to choose from.
Amora Tapae Hotel (4-star) is the largest hotel in the Old City vicinity, located outside the moat and near Tha Phae Gate.
[Amora Tapae Hotel next to the Old City moat.]
Hotel De Sripoom (4-star) is in the quiet Moonmuang area.
[Hotel De Sripoom.]
Tamarind Village Hotel (4-star) is built around an old tamarind tree with a garden setting, off Rajdamnoen Road.
[Entrance to Tamarind Village Hotel.]
The Baan Klang Wiang Hotel and 99 The Heritage Hotel are highly-rated 4 Star hotels.
The 4.5 Star Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel is the highest star-rated hotel in the old area.
[Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel.]
Nimmanhaemin
Nimmanhaemin refers to Nimmanhaemin Rd (sometimes written as Nimmanhaeminda Rd) which is northwest of the old city. It’s also referred to as Nimman, which can mean the road or the general area around it.
Nimmanhaemin Road is a busy thoroughfare where the Route 11 Superhighway abruptly ends and funnels traffic into this road. Off Nimmanhaemin there are lanes that are filled with cool cafes and boutique stores that wouldn’t be out of place in Bangkok. This is definitely the coolest place in Chiang Mai, and it’s also the epicentre of the digital nomad scene.
If you are a new visitor or only staying a few days in Chiang Mai then I would stay in the old city. Most of the tourist sites are around there, and the bulk of the travel agencies are around there for onward travel.
I would recommend Nimmanhaemin if you have been to Chiang Mai before and want to experience the modern arty side of the city, or if you are hunting for an apartment rental in the area.
When coming from the old city the main road is Huay Kaew Road. At the intersection of Nimmanhaemin and Huay Kaew is Maya Mall, and Huay Kaew continues towards Doi Suthep (Mount Suthep) – the dominant landmark of Chiang Mai.
[Eastin Tan Hotel and Maya Mall.]
Search for hotels near Nimmanhemin in Chiang Mai.
Hostels and Guesthouses
There aren’t as many budget accommodation options here, and if you are looking for a cheap guesthouse with a private bathroom then I would stay in the old city. If you are a hostel person then there are quite a few good choices here that reflect the boutique style of the Nimman area.
Baan Mek Hostel has Japanese-style private compartments instead of dorm beds and is a cool place to stay. Here is my review of the Baan Mek Hostel.
Another good place to look for.a cheap room is on Airbnb. I found a room on Nimmanhaemin Soi 9 which was ideal for a few days.
Mid Range
Chalnatt Hotel is a 3-star hotel that has a distinct arty Nimman vibe.
Yantarasri Resort (4-star) is set in a tropical garden and is conveniently located off Nimmanhaemin.
The corner of Nimmanhaemin and Huay Kaew Road is anchored by two big hotels (by Chiang Mai standards). Opposite Maya Mall is the Eastin Tan Hotel Chiang Mai (4-star). Rooms on the western side offer great views of Doi Suthep. The hotel is next to a plaza that has been turned into a Little Tokyo shopping area, complete with a fake metro station.
[Eastin Tan Hotel Chiang Mai.]
Luxury Hotels
On the other corner of Nimmanhaemin and Huay Kaew Road is the 5-star U Nimman Chiang Mai on 1 Nimmanhaemin Road. This is next door to the One Nimman shopping centre, which is a shopping complex with a European-style arcade.
[U Nimman Chiang Mai.]
Akyra Manor Chiang Mai offer modern 5-star suites.
Night Bazaar
This covers the area between the eastern wall of the old city and the Ping River. I’ve spent several months in Chiang Mai, yet I have rarely stayed in this area. I am always surprised with how busy it is when I go there. Most of the luxury 5-star level hotels are in this area as there is not the same height restriction on buildings.
There are two main roads that connect the old city to the night bazaar area. Thapae Road is a busy one-way street the runs from the Ping River towards Thapae Gate.
The other road is Loi Kroh Road, which is a one-way street from the old city to the night bazaar. Loi Kroh Road is where most of the expat pubs and girlie bars are. It’s another world away from the Nimman hipster scene.
Search for hotels near Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai.
Hostels and Guesthouses
Mad Monkey Chiang Mai is a party hostel which you might have seen in other places around Southeast Asia.
Mid Range
Hotel Montha is one of the best-rated 3 Star hotels east of the Tha Pae Gate.
Movenpick Suriwongse Chiang Mai (4-star) is a landmark hotel in the cluster of big hotels in the Night Bazaar area.
Duangtawan Hotel (4-star) is at the Night Bazaar end of Loy Kroh Road (the bar street).
[Duangtawan Hotel on Loy Kroh Road.]
Luxury
Most of the luxury hotels in Chiang Mai can be found in the Night Bazaar and riverside area in Chang Khlan.
Near the Night Bazaar is the Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel (formerly the Le Meridien).
The InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping opened in November 2023 after taking over the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel which closed in 2019.
[InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping.]
Between the Night Market and the Ping River is the Melia Chiang Mai.
South of the Night Bazaar in Chang Khlan is the Shangri-La Hotel.
[Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai.]
Anantara Chiang Mai Resort is not far from the market area and has frontage on the Ping River.
[Anantara Chiang Mai Resort.]
Other areas to stay in Chiang Mai
I have included some other areas to consider if you are a repeat visitor to Chiang Mai and looking for somewhere different to stay.
Chinatown
The Chinatown area is between the Old City and the Ping River, centred around the Warorot Market area. There is a Chinese Welcome Gate, though the exact boundary of Chinatown is undefined.
I’ve been walking around this area for years, and the shops in the area have always been a bit old and run-down. There has been a noticeable change happening in the area, with little bars and boutique shops popping up. The Warehouse on Ratchawong Road is an old warehouse that has been turned into an art space with vintage clothing stores and cool bars. Behind the Warehouse is the The Warehouse Chiang Mai Hotel (3-star).
Also on Ratchawong Road is the Darley Hotel Chiangmai (3-star).
Santitham
The Santitham area is northwest of the Old City area in Ban Sathaphon. Santitham is named after a road and it’s not an official district name. This area has become popular with expats and digital nomads who are looking for a more local living experience while being close to the Old City and Nimman.
Santitham is my preferred area if I’m spending a month in Chiang Mai. If you are considering a longer stay then have a look around the area to see if you like it. You may find it’s too quiet or not close enough to the main areas. The main drawback for me is there are no cafes open at night in this area.
There aren’t as many hotels in Santitham as it’s mostly residential. There are cheap monthly rentals in the area that aren’t listed on booking sites. I have found monthly rentals by walking around looking for rental signs. I have stayed here for 5,500 THB ($154 USD) per month.
Ban Kong Rao Yododo Resort (2-star) is a guesthouse in the main area near the shops and restaurants.
Wiang Inn Mansion (3-star) offers daily and monthly rentals.