21 Best Places to Stay in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Smile Lanna hotel is less than 1km from the Chiang Mai Gate, this luxury hotel offers a stunning outdoor swimming pool and comfortable rooms.

Each room overlooks the surrounding gardens and has modern amenities. It’s one of the most luxurious Chiang Mai hotels with a central location.

Pingviman Hotel is a Thai-style hotel that is just a ten-minute walk from the weekend night markets. All rooms offer modern facilities and wood-carved furniture.

The spacious bathrooms feature bathtubs, and the hotel offers a beautiful outdoor pool. If you are traveling for work, there’s an onsite business center.

Rich Lanna House is located within a few minute’s walk of the main attractions, this boutique-style hotel offers good-value stays. There’s an onsite Thai restaurant, swimming pool, and tour desk.

All rooms are air-conditioned and have free wi-fi. I found I was out and about so much in the city, that this hotel offered everything I needed to relax and rest at the end of a busy day exploring.

248 Street Hostel – Offering low-priced dorm beds or private rooms, 248 Hostel is a modern hostel with an onsite bar and swimming pool. With DJ’s and happy hours regularly happening here, you’ll be impressed by the atmosphere of the hostel and its stylish design.

For a good location, Green Sleep Hostel is very close to all the main attractions. There is a large, shared lounge that is a great place for solo travelers to meet new friends.

The rooms and shared bathrooms are all well-equipped throughout the hostel. It’s a good value option near all the action, with dorms of varying sizes to choose from.

Chiang Mai Riverside

Located near the Ping River, the Riverside area of Chiang Mai is a great area for travellers who are considering where to stay in Chiang Mai for a relaxing trip. For families, this is also one of the most popular areas.

It’s away from the busy city centre and offers an authentic Thai experience. Many of the hotels in Chiang Mai Riverside provide stunning views from their windows over the river.

See also: Chiang Mai Massage Guide 

These are my top recommendations for places to stay in Chiang Mai’s Riverside area:

Ping Nakara Boutique Hotel and Spa – This is one of the most stunning places to stay in Chiang Mai. Located in a colonial-style building, the hotel offers luxurious rooms and amenities.

There’s an outdoor pool, restaurant, an onsite spa, and even a library. The rooms all feature hand-crafted furniture and the personalized service you will receive here is of the highest quality.

The Empress Premier Chiang Mai – This hotel offers a wide range of features including a restaurant, bar, outdoor swimming pool, and fitness center.

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With a 24-hour desk onsite, the staff here can help you with anything you need during your stay. Rooms here afford views of the pool or mountains nearby, and there’s a wide variety of rooms and suites to choose from.

I-River Chiang Mai is located near the river and offers a great selection of facilities at a low price. There’s a 24-hour concierge service, and the hotel offers family rooms.

Enjoy relaxing at the outdoor pool, garden, or terrace on the hotel’s well-kept grounds. All rooms offer air-conditioning and views of the river or pool.

OYO 552 Hab40 Hostel is an excellent choice for budget travelers looking for modern dorms and facilities. With a shared lounge and onsite tour desk, you’ll be able to meet other travelers in this sociable hostel.

I really like the rooms here, which offer privacy and more comfortable beds than many other hostels I’ve stayed in.

Mapping Hostel is another great budget option near the river. I loved the outdoor facilities and spaces to relax here, and it’s the perfect escape from the city. Each room comes with air conditioning or a fan, and there’s a shared lounge on-site.

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Located close to the Old City, the Night Bazaar area is one of my favorite Chiang Mai districts. If you love shopping and exploring the markets, this is your place of you.

When you are considering where to stay in Chiang Mai, this is a great area for any budget. There are many luxury options here, as well as good backpacker hostels.

For anyone planning to make the most of Chiang Mai’s nightlife, you’ll be close to all the action here.

Here is my top recommendation for places to stay in Chiang Mai’s Night Bazaar area:

Shangri-La Chiang Mai – Offering a family-friendly 5-star experience, the Shangri-La chain is famous for its beautiful properties around the world.

The hotel enjoys beautiful views of the mountain ranges, as well as extensive amenities. They have the largest swimming pool in the city and an onsite spa called Chi Spa.

Yaang Come Village – Located within a short walk of the Night Bazaar. This hotel offers spacious rooms and a traditional Thai experience.

If you enjoy the peace and nature of the country, this is the perfect immersion into that atmosphere. The hotel offers stunning grounds and an outdoor pool.

Spice House – Close to Tha Pae Gate and Chiang Mai city center, Spice House offers good value accommodation with all the amenities you’ll need for your time in the city. Enjoy breakfast each morning, and rooms equipped with kettles and fridges.

What’s Up Chiang Mai – This hostel offers dorms and private rooms at affordable prices in the Chiang Mai centre.

They have a 24-hour front desk, and it’s a great place to meet other travelers. One of the best features of this hostel is its outdoor swimming pool, which is a sociable area for residents to gather.

D-Well Hostel has a great shared lounge and garden on their site. I really like the wide variety of accommodation and bed choices offered here. They also serve a delicious buffet breakfast.

Chiang Mai Nimman Road – Good Nightlife

One of the best areas for young visitors to stay in is Nimmanhaemin or Nimman Road. It’s a modern area of the city, with many great malls and restaurants. It’s one of my favorite Chiang Mai neighborhoods.

I love spending time on Coffee Street, where there are great cafés and restaurants to while away an afternoon at. If you are looking for cool places to stay in Chiang Mai, look no further!

Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel Chiang Mai – If you are looking for a trendy boutique hotel, this is one of my favorites in the city. As well as being in one of the best areas to stay in Chiang Mai, it’s a stunning property.

The guestrooms are all uniquely decorated, and there’s an amazing outdoor pool here. Don’t miss dining at Jarid Thai food and enjoy the fantastic cocktail selection at the bar.

De Chai Oriental Nimman is located on Nimman Road in the heart of all the action. The fitness center has impressive views of Doi Suthep, and I loved the outdoor pool here. The rooms are stylish and great for anyone traveling and working at the same time.

OYO 1049 N Nimman – Offering air-conditioned rooms that are well-designed and have all the amenities you could need.

I appreciated how clean and tidy everywhere was kept here, including the communal areas.

ALEXA Nimman Hostel – I was impressed with how modern and spotless this hostel was. It’s perfect for anyone traveling solo or backpacking for the first time.

You’ll find each room equipped with everything you may need, and the location is perfect for experiencing the nightlife in the area.

The Chiang Mai Walkers offers great value beds and private rooms, and a shared lounge and garden. There are also family rooms here, which are a nice touch for a hostel. It’s close to Nimman Road and is great for meeting new friends to hang out with on your travels.

The Best Places to Stay in Chiang Mai

Now that I’ve shared my top hotels and hostels throughout the city for each area, I’d like to share my absolute best places to stay in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Sometimes a hotel or hostel can really transform your experience of staying in a city, and with these selections below, I believe that will be the case. I’ve chosen my top one of the Chiang Mai places to stay listed above to fit each travel budget and style.

Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai – The quintessential 5-star experience here will offer you a relaxing and luxurious holiday. You won’t even want to leave the property!

Yaang Come Village – I love the atmosphere and immersion into nature you feel in this hotel. It’s a great option for those looking for a luxurious stay without breaking the bank.

OYO 1049 N Nimman – This is such a good-value option, and the rooms here are spotless. The location is unbeatable for anyone looking to enjoy the nightlife and restaurants of Nimman Road.

Bodega Chiang Mai Party Hostel – I was extremely impressed by this hostel as they really do wild parties and good pub crawls every week. This is the kind of hostel where people are not sleeping before late morning and is perfect for solo travelers.

Read also: The Best Party Hostels in Thailand

ALEXA Nimman Hostel – I was really stunned with how clean and modern the dorms and communal spaces were in this hostel.

It’s the perfect hostel for working in. There’s plenty of space to set up your laptop, and it’s a peaceful and clean environment for digital nomads.

So there you have my suggestions for the best area to stay in Chiang Mai, as well as which hotels to choose for each price category.

It is such a diverse and exciting city, and there really is an area for everyone whether you want to take a cooking class, go hiking, or do a yoga retreat in Chiang Mai.

Do you have a favorite area to stay in the city? I love trying new hostels and hotels on each trip as I keep trying to find the new best place to stay in Chiang Mai.

Your money will stretch far in this city, and there are new hostels and hotels opening continually. Wherever you choose to stay, you’ll have a great time if you pick one of these for your next trip!

Where to go next? We recommend taking a bus to Laos. For more information, check our Laos Travel Guide.

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