Where to Stay in Chiang Mai? Best Hotels in All Price Ranges
Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand (from budget to luxury) | Hi! We're Alex & Victoria - a digital nomad couple from Copenhagen escaping 9-5 to chase adventures in our beautiful world. Learn more about us here. |
The capital of Northern Thailand
It’s hard to skip Chiang Mai when visiting the beautiful north of Thailand.
And it would be a real shame to miss this part of Thailand!
Beyond being a charming city with great food and literally hundreds (!) of temples, it also serves as the perfect base for exploring the nearby mountains, hill tribe villages and waterfalls.
We spent 10 nights in Chiang Mai at Yi’s Garden Villa (adlink) and while that’s more than enough for most, we could easily have stayed twice as long. The atmosphere is wonderful and there’s just so much to do.
In this guide to where to stay in Chiang Mai, we share recommendations for some of the best budget stays, great value mid-range hotels and luxury options. Hopefully, it helps you make the most of your time in the city.
Our favourites: The best hotels in Chiang Mai
- Budget: Yi’s Garden Villa – We stayed here for 10 nights and loved it. A pool and comfortable rooms with air conditioning at a great price in the old town.
- Value for money: The Inside House – Photogenic hotel in the old town with private pools at reasonable prices.
- Luxury: 137 Pillars House – Elegant luxury hotel with a colonial-inspired design, just minutes from the eastern city gate.
- Ultra-luxury: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai – One of Northern Thailand’s most luxurious resorts, set in stunning natural surroundings just 30 minutes from the city.
Search for the cheapest and best hotels in Chiang Mai here (adlink).
Table of contents
Where is Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai is the largest city in Northern Thailand, situated about 700 kilometres (435 miles) north of Bangkok.
The city sits 300 metres above sea level in a valley surrounded by mountains.
Chiang Mai is centred around the old town which is encircled by a moat. Many of Chiang Mai’s most famous sights and things to do can be found here.
How many days to spend in Chiang Mai
We spent nine full days in Chiang Mai (10 nights), going out to explore almost every day. With a nine-month-old baby in tow, we took things at a relaxed pace and avoided packing the days too tightly.
How long you should stay in Chiang Mai depends entirely on what you’re looking for.
Some will find a few days enough to see the main sights, while others see it as an ideal place to settle for months – especially backpackers and digital nomads.
Examples of how long to stay in Chiang Mai:
- 1 full day: In just one day, you can stroll through the old town, visit several stunning temples and take in the charming atmosphere – but you’ll be missing out on a lot.
- 2-3 full days: If you only have two weeks to explore multiple parts of Thailand, you can still experience a lot in Chiang Mai with just two or three full, well-planned days.
- 4-5 full days: Four to five days will be a more relaxed pace for most people and allow for day trips beyond the city centre.
- 1 week: With a week in Chiang Mai, you can explore at a relaxed pace, visit some lesser-known things to do and even take a trip to Chiang Rai or Pai.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has long been a popular destination for backpackers and those looking to experience Northern Thailand on a budget. And there are indeed many options for great accommodation in that category.
Beyond that, there’s no shortage of hotel beds – with everything from lovely boutique hotels to five-star luxury.
You’ll also find modern apartments in complexes with pools and gyms (something digital nomads often appreciate) as well as homestays tucked away in quiet mountain villages.
No matter the type of accommodation you choose, Chiang Mai offers excellent value for your baht.
Tip: If you’re visiting during the hottest months (March, April and May), we recommend staying somewhere with air conditioning and ideally a pool as temperatures can soar to 40°C (104°F).
Which area of Chiang Mai is best to stay in?
Chiang Mai is largely centred around the Old Town and staying here is perfect for most tourists. You can easily walk to most attractions with temples and lots of restaurants just a short distance away.
Staying just outside the city walls is also a great option, offering a chance to upgrade your accommodation or save a bit of money.
If you stay further from the city centre, be prepared to either have your own transport or rely on taxis and other forms of transport to get around.
The best hotels in Chiang Mai
- Budget: Yi’s Garden Villa – We stayed here for 10 nights and loved it. A pool and comfortable rooms with air conditioning at a great price in the old town.
- Budget: U Chiang Mai – Stay right next to the Sunday Night Market in the centre with a pool, quiet rooms, a small gym and breakfast.
- Value for money: The Inside House – Photogenic hotel in the old town with private pools at reasonable prices.
- Value for money: Sireeampan Boutique Resort & Spa – Stay in a Thai temple.
- Luxury: 137 Pillars House – Elegant luxury hotel with a colonial-inspired design, just minutes from the eastern city gate.
- Ultra-luxury: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai – One of Northern Thailand’s most luxurious resorts, set in stunning natural surroundings just 30 minutes from the city.
Search for the cheapest and best hotels in Chiang Mai here (adlink).
The best budget hotels in Chiang Mai
Yi’s Garden Villa
When we visited Chiang Mai, we stayed for 10 nights at Yi’s Garden Villa in the northeast part of the old town on a quiet road.
For an incredibly fair price, we got a large room with a sofa, table and a private balcony offering a panoramic view of the city and the mountains. Upon arrival, we initially stayed one night in one of the more “ordinary” rooms which was also very nice.
The garden pool is big and we enjoyed both swimming in it and dining beside it (where the lovely receptionist was kind enough to play with our baby from time to time).
Overall, the service level was much higher than the price we paid and we had a wonderful stay.
See prices and availability at Yi’s Garden Villa here (adlink).
U Chiang Mai
If you’re looking for an upgrade from Yi’s Garden Villa, U Chiang Mai is another great place.
The hotel offers a shared pool and a prime location in the old town, right on the main street where the Sunday Night Market takes place.
The rooms are decorated in calming tones, each with a small balcony. Guests can also make use of a (small) fitness room and breakfast is a mix of buffet and à la carte options.
See prices and availability at U Chiang Mai here (adlink).
The best mid-range hotels in Chiang Mai offering good value for money
The Inside House
If you’re looking for a private pool and a location within Old Town, and want to avoid paying a fortune, the 4-star hotel The Inside House is well worth considering.
See prices and availability at The Inside House here (adlink).
Sireeampan Boutique Resort & Spa
Sireeampan, designed to resemble a Thai temple, is in fact a beautifully crafted boutique hotel located just north of the trendy Nimman area northwest of Chiang Mai’s old town.
See prices and availability at Sireeampan Boutique Resort & Spa here (adlink).
The best luxury hotels in Chiang Mai
137 Pillars House
137 Pillars House is situated just across the Ping River, only a few minutes’ drive from Old Town.
The 30 suites each feature their own outdoor areas with daybeds and two of them come with private plunge pools.
See prices and availability at 137 Pillars House here (adlink).
Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai
The best hotel in Chiang Mai is located half an hour’s drive north of the city centre.
Once you arrive, however, you may find it hard to leave.
We’d love to spend a couple of days relaxing at this resort!
See prices and availability at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai here (adlink).
Best things to do and see in Chiang Mai
Whether you’re into adventure, culture, nature or a bit of everything, you’ll find plenty of exciting things to do in Chiang Mai.
Here are some of the best experiences and sights:
- Doi Suthep Temple – Popular temple overlooking Chiang Mai
- Pha Lat Temple and Monk’s Trail – Temple in nature
- Chiang Mai Old Town – Discover the charm within the walls
- Sunday Night Market – Lively street market with many stalls
- Chedi Luang Temple – Tall stupa in the middle of the city
- Doi Pui Hmong Village – Village in the mountains behind Doi Suthep
- Phra Singh Temple – Huge gold stupa
- Long Neck Karen Village – Village home to long-necked women
- Doi Kham Temple – Giant gold Buddha
- Royal Park Rajapruek – Flower garden with a royal pavilion
- Tha Phae Gate – Ancient city gate to the east
- Sri Suphan Temple – Silver temple (exclusive to men!)
- Warorot Market (Kad Luang) – Large indoor day market
- Three Kings Monument – Central square in Chiang Mai
- Nimmanhaemin – Trendy café area
- Try khao soi – Curry with noodles from Northern Thailand
- Shopping malls in Chiang Mai – Cool down and shop in “real” stores
- Doi Inthanon National Park – Thailand’s highest mountain
- Bua Tong Waterfall – Climb a “sticky” waterfall
- Day trip to Chiang Rai – See the White Temple, the Blue Temple and the Black House
- Day trip to Pai – Visit the hippie town in Mae Hong Son
- Thai massage – Treat yourself
- More temples in Chiang Mai
- Other things to do in or around Chiang Mai
Read our comprehensive travel guide to Chiang Mai with all the best things to do and see here.
Map of things to do and see in Chiang Mai
Click on the icon in the top left corner to find the places we have written about in the guide.
Transport to and from Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is located approximately 700 kilometres (435 miles) north of Bangkok.
The fastest way to travel between Thailand’s two largest cities is, unsurprisingly, by plane. It’s also possible to drive or take the train.
By plane
From Bangkok, you can fly to Chiang Mai from both Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang Airport (DMK). The flight takes about an hour and 15 minutes.
There are also flights to Chiang Mai from many other cities in Thailand, as well as major cities across Asia.
Search for the cheapest flights on Momondo here (adlink).
By bus or car
Depending on when you drive in or out of always-busy Bangkok, the journey takes around 9 hours.
Night buses are also available on this route.
By train
The train journey between Bangkok and Chiang Mai takes between 10 and 14 hours depending on which departure you choose.
The night train is likely more comfortable than the night bus.
We’ve previously taken the night train from Bangkok to Surat Thani, and although it was a bit bumpy, we still managed to get some sleep. Some of the night trains between Bangkok and Chiang Mai even look rather appealing.
When to visit Chiang Mai
As in the rest of Thailand, Chiang Mai generally experiences three seasons:
- The cold season (high season): November to February.
- The warm season (low season): March to May.
- Rainy season (low season): June to October.
The cold season (high season)
If you visit Chiang Mai (and the rest of Northern Thailand) between November and February, you can expect cool temperatures and dry weather.
Be sure to bring a sweater for the evening, as it can get a bit chilly.
Towards the end of February, the air quality may become slightly hazy due to the burning season fires which typically begin sometime in January.
The warm season (low season)
Northern Thailand gets extremely hot from mid-March and April until the arrival of the rains around May.
During the hot season, temperatures can reach around 40°C (104°F) in the day and air pollution tends to be quite bad.
Therefore, it’s generally not recommended to visit Northern Thailand during this time if you can avoid it.
We visited Chiang Mai ourselves in mid-May when the hot season lasted a little longer than usual.
On several days, there was a heatwave with temperatures between 32-37°C (~ 90-99°F) in the shade and nights when the temperatures only dropped slightly.
On the plus side, accommodation prices were low and many attractions weren’t too crowded with tourists.
Rainy season (low season)
It’s always difficult to say exactly when the rainy season begins – but once the rains arrive in April, May or June, it marks the end of the burning season and the extreme heat.
The smoke gradually disappears, the waterfalls start flowing again and it becomes much more comfortable to be outdoors.
On the other hand, some roads can be tricky to navigate – especially in more remote parts of Northern Thailand. Trekking can also get quite muddy.
What is the best time of year to visit Chiang Mai?
The season and weather naturally influence when it’s a good idea to visit Chiang Mai.
The most pleasant time of year is also the most popular, namely the high season between November and February. Prices tend to be higher around Christmas and New Year.
Tip: The Loy Krathong and Yee Peng light festivals take place during the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai calendar, which usually falls in November. These festivals mark the end of the rainy season with lanterns illuminating the sky and water – a stunning (yet polluting) spectacle.
When not to visit Chiang Mai
In terms of weather, we would not recommend late March, April and early May.
It’s not an ideal time to visit Northern Thailand – unless you want to experience Songkran (the Buddhist New Year). Celebrated in the days after the first full moon in April, it turns into a massive, public water fight.
It’s also best to avoid the burning season. See below for more on that.
Burning season
In Northern Thailand (including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Pai), the air quality is heavily affected by the annual burning season. Fields and forest areas are burned to clear land for the next growing season, leading to severe air pollution.
The burning season typically lasts from mid-January to mid-April, though the timing varies each year.
Haze can appear as early as December (after the rainy season ends in November) but pollution worsens significantly from late February.
Air pollution peaks in March but conditions improve once the rains return, usually around April and the Songkran festival.
Breathing in the polluted air is neither healthy nor pleasant, so if you have flexibility in your travel plans, it is best to avoid Northern Thailand during this period.
Our best tips for Chiang Mai
- Chiang Mai is a beautiful city. Make sure to bring a good camera! Here’s our guide to lightweight photography gear for high-quality travel content.
- Be mindful of the season and weather. The timing of your visit to Chiang Mai makes a big difference. Avoid the burning season, and bring light rain gear if visiting during the rainy season.
- Transportation with Grab or Bolt is often cheaper than the local taxis. It works just like Uber. Simply download both apps, compare prices for your route, and make sure you have data on your phone to use them.
- The electrical outlets in Chiang Mai generally feature two round prongs, fitting both most European and Asian appliances, as well as the flat prongs of USA and Japan. The standard voltage is 220 volts.
- How long to spend in Chiang Mai is difficult to say. You can see the main attractions in a few days or spend months as a digital nomad.
- Dress respectfully at the temples. Make sure your shoulders and knees are covered in religious surroundings. If possible, bring a sarong, which you can quickly tie around your waist or drape over your shoulders. They can also often be rented very cheaply.
- Wear good shoes. You will be walking a lot in Chiang Mai, so bring sneakers or comfortable sandals. Shoes that are easy to take on and off are useful if you plan to visit many temples as they must always be removed before entering.
- Book accommodation well in advance if you’re travelling during the high season (November to February). While there will always be rooms available, many of the best hotels get fully booked months ahead of time.
- Wifi is widely available in hotels and cafes, and it’s usually very fast. If you need internet access elsewhere for services like Grab and Bolt, consider buying a local SIM card or eSIM with data. It’s affordable and easy to obtain. We’ve previously used Airalo (adlink) with great success.
- The sun is strong. Remember your sun protection and stay in the shade during the hottest hours in the middle of the day.
- Credit cards are accepted in most higher-end establishments, but cash is more commonly used in local restaurants, smaller shops and regular taxis/tuk-tuks.
- ATMs and currency exchange spots are easy to find in Chiang Mai. It’s usually most cost-effective to withdraw money in baht, and to minimise extra fees, it’s a good idea to take out the maximum allowed amount at once.
- With several first-class hospitals, clinics and dental practices in Chiang Mai, medical care is readily available if you need treatment or assistance during your stay.
- Bring your own water bottle and refill it at cafés, restaurants and water dispensers around the city, where a litre of clean water costs just a single baht (or less).
- Remember travel insurance! We compare the best travel insurance for digital nomads and long-term travellers here.
Sustainable travel tips
To travel as sustainably as possible, we recommend the following:
- Book eco-friendly accommodation such as hotels with a sustainability focus or owned by locals.
- Minimise the use of air conditioning and turn it off when you are not in the room.
- Buy handmade souvenirs directly from the artist instead of mass-produced items in larger stores.
- Respect local traditions and follow the temple dress code.
- Eat as plant-based, local and organic as possible.
- Bring your own drinking water in a refillable bottle.
- Avoid disposable plastics as much as possible.
- Sort your waste correctly and do not throw it on the ground.
- Take only photos and leave only footprints. Avoid taking things from nature with you.
- Respect the local wildlife.
Planning a trip to Thailand? Don’t miss our guide with tips for visiting Thailand packed with must-know travel advice, local customs and important things to avoid for a lovely vacation and a respectful visit.
Thank you for reading along
Thank you for reading our guide on where to stay in Chiang Mai.
Hopefully, it has provided some inspiration for the best hotels in the city.
What are your thoughts on Northern Thailand’s (unofficial) capital? Where would you choose to stay?
Feel free to ask us anything in the comments if you haven’t been to Chiang Mai yet. We are happy to help.
If you’ve already been there, it would be great to hear your best tips and tricks for accommodation or the best areas to stay.
Our favourite travel resources:
- Booking.com for cheap hotels.
- Momondo for the best flight deals.
- SafetyWing for travel insurance. We also like World Nomads and True Traveller. All three compared here.
Our camera gear:
- Panasonic GH5. Used for all of our photos and videos.
- DJI Mavic 2 Pro. Best drone out there!
- Sirui Tripod. Lightweight and strong.
- See all of our camera gear here.
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