Where to stay · Chiang Mai, Thailand
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
6 areas worth booking in Chiang Mai, sorted by the budget each one actually suits — what the neighborhood feels like, and what a night there costs.
Budget — best areas
≈ $12 / nightThe square inside the moat: temples on every street, guesthouses, cafés and massage shops. Walkable and central, and the Sunday market runs through it.
A residential neighbourhood north-west of the old city with excellent cheap food and long-stay apartments.
Mid-range — best areas
≈ $50 / nightWest of the old city near the university: specialty coffee, malls, coworking spaces and digital nomads.
Between the old city and the river, the evening market and many mid-range hotels. Convenient, commercial and lively.
Luxury — best areas
≈ $200 / nightAlong the Ping River east of the centre, with colonial houses, boutique hotels and restaurants on the water.
The green valley twenty minutes north, with luxury resorts among rice terraces and waterfalls.
Now pick the hotel
Once you've settled on an area, the Chiang Mai guide carries our checked shortlist for each tier — what it costs, why it's on the list, and where to book it.