The best places to stay in Chiang Mai: guesthouses, hotels, hostels, and Airbnb
Chiang Mai has thousands of options to spend the night. From budget hostels and quaint guesthouses to five-star hotels and the most jaw-dropping resorts in the mountains just outside of town. You will not have a hard time finding a place to sleep in our famous city. From low-budget to high-end, we have made a list of our favorite places to stay in Chiang Mai.
Location, Location, Location!
Location is the most important if you only have a few days to explore Chiang Mai. We highly recommend staying in or just outside of the old city moat, so that you are within walking distance of all the sights, temples, markets, food, and nightlife. Please check out the following neighborhoods and see which area suits you the most.
The Old City
Surrounded by a moat and dotted with temples and green trees, this labyrinth of charming alleys and streets should be on top of your list. Getting lost in the old city while exploring and discovering ancient temples, cute coffee shops, and fantastic street food is what traveling is all about. The park in the southwest corner of the moat is a hidden gem.
Chang Klan
Chang Klan is the neighborhood sandwiched between the Ping River and Thapae gate, just East of the Old City. It feels a bit more like a big city here with some high-rise hotels, bustling markets, and China town. It is the place to be if you enjoy shopping, sunset cocktails by the river, and a bit more luxury.
Santitham
If you want to experience Chiang Mai like a local, then Santitham is where you want to stay. Just North of the old city, this neighborhood is like being in Thailand 30 years ago. At night Santitham comes truly alive, as every square meter is becoming a food stall, and locals are mingling on the sidewalk enjoying their meals and drinks.
Nimman
About 2 kilometers west of the old city on the foot of Doi Suthep is the busy Nimmanhaemin Road (Nimman). An area popular with ex-pats, Asian tourists, and students, the Chiang Mai University campus is within walking distance from here. If you want endless restaurant options, nightlife, and shopping on your doorstep and don’t mind the busy city life than Nimman should be on the top of your list.
If you are planning to stay longer than three days, then we advise spending a few nights outside of town in one of the resorts in the mountains or homestays in the tribal villages.
Budget Hostels and Guesthouses
HUG HOSTEL ROOFTOP
With beds as cheap as a 120 Baht per night and a lively rooftop bar, this hostel should be a backpacker’s first choice. The nearby Chang Phuak Gate market offers excellent street food, and the legendary North Gate Jazz bar is just a 3-minute stroll away.
THE PAUSE HOSTEL
You can find The Pause Hostel in the middle of the trendy Nimman area, such a cool location with hundreds of restaurants, cafes, and clubs within walking distance. The old city is a 10-minute taxi ride away, but you will find some lovely temples nearby the hostel also, like Wat Suan Dok.
PM GUESTHOUSE
A cozy guesthouse right in the center of the old city and on walking distance to the highlights of Chiang Mai. The rooms are basic but spotless and affordable. Owners Pim and Miki are sharing a wealth of local knowledge and also run an excellent travel agency.
D-WELL HOSTEL
Free bikes, breakfast buffet, 2-minutes from the Thapae Gate and Nightbazaar, and one of our favorite temples, Wat Buppharam, right in front of the door. D-Well Hostel has mixed, and female-only dorms and only accepts adult guests. The common area has a TV with Netflix, (video) games and books and is a great place to relax after a day of exploring.
WAYSIDE GUESTHOUSE
Host Fluke is one of the friendliest guys you will ever meet and will bend over backward to make sure that your stay in Chiang Mai will be unforgettable. The guesthouse is basic but immaculately clean, and the stunning temple Wat Chiang Man is right around the corner. Wayside Guesthouse is a real gem.
Midrange Guesthouses and Hotels
CHADA MANTRA HOTEL
You can’t beat the location of Chada Mantra Hotel. In the peaceful backstreets of the old city surrounded by the best food, massage, temples, and nightlife, but still quiet after midnight. To top it off, they have a fantastic on-site restaurant and a swimming pool. A great choice for families!
POR SANTITHAM
POR is a hotel chain with four branches in Chiang Mai. Our favorite one is the Santitham branch because it is one of the few good hotels in this fantastic neighborhood. Excellent breakfast, a pool, clean, and comfortable rooms for an affordable price. The bustling Santitham area will keep you busy day and night. The place to be for ‘flashpacker’ couples.
SAKULCHAI PLACE
Sakulchai Place is a typical Thai hotel on the edge of the Santitham neighborhood in a quiet alley of the busy Huay Kaew Road and a 10-minute walk to both the old city and Nimman areas. They are offering comfortable rooms for budget prices and have an on- site swimming pool and gym.
LE PURE HOTEL CHIANG MAI
On walking distance to the Haad Buak Park and right next to the city moat, Le Pure Hotel is a fantastic choice for active travelers. The nearby park offers a running track, free fitness equipment, and a playground for kids. The rooms are a bit older, but for the price, you can’t complain. The ground floor rooms in the back of the property even come with a private terrace!
GALARE GUESTHOUSE
Nothing beats having your breakfast and morning coffee in a lush green garden right by the Ping River while enjoying the sunrise. I hear you think, ‘that must be expensive’? Not at Galare Guesthouse. This typical Chiang Mai guesthouse has been around for decades and has thousands of travelers keep coming back for more. Book ahead, especially during the Loy Krathong Festival.
BAAN BOO LOO V|LLAGE
Baan Boo Loo Village is a special place, an oasis in the busy old city of Chiang Mai. It is a crossover of a luxury hotel and old fashioned Thai farm living. Think authentic wooden rice barns with comfortable beds and modern bathrooms. The smile of the staff, fantastic location and the relaxing decor makes you want to extend your stay here for as long as possible.
High-end Hotels and Resorts
PINGVIMAN HOTEL
It sounds weird, I know, but the Pingviman Hotel must be the most affordable high-end hotel in Thailand. It feels like going back in time with all the beautiful woodwork and Thai decorations. Pingviman Hotel is in the quieter south-west corner of the old city, close to the Haad Buak park and several bars, try the Nophaburi Thai Cocktail Bar. The well trained and friendly staff will serve you with the biggest smile. Treat yourself to a pool access room; you will not regret it.
KANTARY HILLS
Right in the center of the trendy Nimman area, you will find the luxurious Kantary Hills. This brand new hotel offers large modern apartments that come with a kitchenette, living room, one or two-bedrooms, a balcony with mountain or pool view, and a fantastic breakfast buffet. The stunning swimming pool and cocktail bar make you feel like a movie star — an excellent choice for an unforgettable honeymoon, business trip, or if you want to spoil yourself for a couple of days.
SIRIPANNA VILLA RESORT
Next to the train station and just a 10-minute taxi ride from the city center, Siripanna Villa Resort is close to all the action, yet it feels like you are far, far away in the mountains of Northern Thailand. The enormous swimming pool with several seating areas, pool-access rooms, spa, and gym facilities, and even an on-site rice paddy. The only downside of staying here is that you don’t want to leave the resort to explore Chiang Mai.
Home-Stay and Air-Bnb
More and more travelers start to use Airbnb to book an entire apartment, villa, or home- stay. Especially for those traveling with a large group and don’t need the service that hotels and guesthouses offer, this could be a good option. Check out the following three options to get an idea of what is possible.
THE ASTRA CONDO
The Astra Condominium is a luxurious apartment building that services mainly to Airbnb rentals. The location of the Astra can not be better, a 5-minute walk to the night bazaar and right on the busy Chang Klan Road. The building has two parts, building A and B. We highly recommend staying at the A building because of the larger rooftop swimming pool and superb sunset views over Doi Suthep Mountain.
MONKEY HOUSE
Monkey House is a luxurious villa with seven spacious rooms nearby Rajapruek Royal Park on the foothills of Doi Suthep. You can rent the entire place or just one of the rooms. It is a bit outside of town, and we recommend renting a car or motorbike to get around. For me, it is a great place to get away from the city and relax for a couple of days. Chinese owner Mr. Lee and his family are always around to help you out, cook you a delicious breakfast, or just to have a chat. An excellent place in a fantastic secluded location.
MINT HOMESTAY
Mint Homestay is a 2-hour drive south of Chiang Mai city in Nong Tao Village. If you are looking to go back to basic and surround your self with nature in a lovely Karen Tribal Village, look no further. The village is close to Doi Inthanon National Park, Elephant Freedom Village, waterfalls, and hiking trails, so you can easily spend four days here without getting bored. The friendly and curious Karen villagers love to share a drink at night by the campfire, but make sure to go to bed early. You don’t want to miss the fantastic sunrise over the rice paddies.
