Chiang Mai is Thailand's cultural capital in the north, a city of ancient temples, night markets, and misty mountains. Once the heart of the Lanna Kingdom, it blends centuries of history with a thriving modern scene of cafes, art galleries, and wellness retreats.
Accommodation overview
Hotels by budget
Find accommodation that fits your travel budget.
Budget-friendly (under $50/night)
Lamphu House
A reliable and friendly budget guesthouse in the heart of the Old City, offering clean private and dorm rooms in a beautifully converted teak house with a lush garden courtyard. Centrally located a short walk from major temples and the Night Bazaar, making it a backpacker favorite.
Check rates on Booking.comYi's Garden Villa
A peaceful garden guesthouse in the Old City with comfortable air-conditioned rooms, a small swimming pool, and a lovely garden terrace perfect for relaxing after temple visits. Budget prices with mid-range comfort, and the owners provide excellent local restaurant and activity recommendations.
Check rates on Booking.comGreen Tiger House
A popular backpacker hostel near Tha Phae Gate with a lively social atmosphere, comfortable dorm beds and private rooms, and a ground-floor cafe serving excellent smoothies and Western breakfasts. The rooftop lounge is great for meeting fellow travelers.
Check rates on Booking.comDiva Guesthouse
A clean, comfortable budget guesthouse in the Old City run by a friendly local family, with air-conditioned rooms, free bicycles for exploring, and a pleasant breakfast garden. Excellent value and a genuine welcome make this a standout budget pick.
Check rates on Booking.comChiang Mai International Youth Hostel
An official HI-affiliated hostel just outside the Old City walls with both dormitory and private rooms, a communal kitchen, and a garden. Great for solo travelers on tight budgets who want a social environment and easy access to city transport.
Check rates on Booking.comRiverside House
A charming budget guesthouse on the banks of the Ping River, offering simple but well-kept rooms with river views, a shared terrace, and a relaxed atmosphere. The river location feels a world away from the tourist bustle while remaining accessible by songthaew.
Check rates on Booking.comMid-range ($50-150/night)
The Inside House
A beautifully designed boutique hotel set in a converted traditional Lanna teak house within the Old City walls, featuring private pool rooms and loft-style suites. Wonderfully atmospheric with exposed brick, Thai antiques, and a rooftop pool overlooking nearby temple spires.
Check rates on Booking.comVilla Sirilanna Hotel
An upscale boutique hotel inside the Old City moat featuring 40 rooms with dark teak wood paneling, four-poster beds, and spa baths. The beautiful swimming pool is surrounded by tropical gardens, and the central Old City location is ideal for temple visits.
Check rates on Booking.comThe BOOK Design Hotel
A literary-themed boutique hotel in the Santitham neighborhood with 42 uniquely decorated rooms inspired by different book genres. The common areas feature an impressive library, communal reading spaces, and a rooftop bar. A 10-minute walk from Nimman Road.
Check rates on Booking.comMaladee Hotel
A well-designed contemporary hotel in Nimman area with 60 spacious rooms decorated in modern Thai style, a rooftop infinity pool, and a lively lobby bar. Popular with design-conscious travelers and digital nomads who want easy access to the Nimman cafe and restaurant scene.
Check rates on Booking.comPing Nakara Boutique Hotel
A Victorian-influenced boutique hotel in a converted early 20th-century colonial house near the Ping River, featuring 19 individually decorated rooms with antique furnishings, wooden floors, and a stunning rooftop garden pool. One of Chiang Mai's most romantic mid-range options.
Check rates on Booking.comU Chiang Mai
A stylish mid-range hotel next to the Sunday Night Market with a shaded outdoor pool, quiet rooms despite the central location, and a small gym. The helpful staff make it an excellent base for first-time visitors wanting to be walking distance from the Old City's main attractions.
Check rates on Booking.comLuxury ($150+/night)
137 Pillars House
An intimate and elegant boutique property in a beautifully restored 19th-century teak mansion, offering 30 uniquely designed suites with private plunge pools. Each suite reflects the colonial heritage of the original home of East Borneo Company manager, William Bain, blending Lanna antiques with modern luxury.
Check rates on Booking.comFour Seasons Resort Chiang Mai
Set amid terraced rice paddies in the Mae Rim valley 30 minutes north of the city, this award-winning resort offers private-pool villas, an acclaimed cooking school, and a world-class spa with traditional Thai treatments. The resort's elephant camp and trekking programs are exemplary.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai
An extraordinary 60-acre resort modeled on the ancient Lanna Kingdom, featuring palatial Thai-colonial suites and villas set amid lotus ponds, rice paddies, and tropical gardens. Rated among Asia's finest resort experiences with a 4,000 sq m spa, multiple restaurants, and an antique-filled cultural center.
Check rates on Booking.comRaya Heritage
A stunning 33-suite river resort on the banks of the Ping River built using local materials including teak wood, bamboo, and natural stone. Each suite features handcrafted furnishings by local artisans, and the resort's organic garden supplies the acclaimed Raya Restaurant with farm-fresh ingredients.
Check rates on Booking.comTamarind Village
A lush 42-room boutique resort in the heart of the Old City built around a 200-year-old tamarind tree, offering traditional Lanna architecture with dark teak wood rooms, stone floors, and a serene garden pool. The location is unbeatable for temple-hopping, and rates include a generous breakfast.
Check rates on Booking.comNa Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort
A charming 20-room boutique resort set in lush tropical gardens along the Ping River, offering exquisite Lanna-style rooms with private balconies, plunge pools, and hand-crafted teak furnishings. Adults-only, making it ideal for romantic getaways with attentive personalized service.
Check rates on Booking.comChiang Mai Marriott Hotel
A full-service 5-star hotel in the Night Bazaar area with 243 well-appointed rooms, a large outdoor pool complex, and multiple dining options including the award-winning Chiangmai Sala restaurant. Excellent concierge services and a prime location for evening market exploration.
Check rates on Booking.comAnantara Chiang Mai Resort
A sleek luxury resort on the banks of the Ping River housed in the beautifully restored former British Consulate building and grounds. Featuring 84 riverside rooms and suites, a large serpentine pool, a destination spa, and the highly rated Service 1921 restaurant inspired by the British consulate era.
Check rates on Booking.comRachamankha Hotel
A refined boutique hotel of 24 suites designed in a tranquil Lanna-colonial style, centered on a beautiful courtyard garden with an exquisite collection of antique art objects. Located steps from Wat Phra Singh in the Old City, the Rachamankha is renowned for its sophisticated atmosphere.
Check rates on Booking.comAkyra Manor Chiang Mai
A sleek, design-forward luxury boutique hotel in the Nimman area with just 30 rooms featuring minimalist Thai-modern interiors, a stunning rooftop pool and bar with mountain views, and the acclaimed Cuisine de Garden restaurant by culinary artist Duangporn 'Bo' Songvisava.
Check rates on Booking.comBest neighborhoods to stay
Choose your base based on your interests and travel style.
Old City
The moat-enclosed historic heart of Chiang Mai, packed with ancient temples, boutique hotels, and excellent restaurants. Walking distance to major attractions.
Best for: First-time visitors, temple-hoppers, culture seekers
Nimman (Nimmanhaemin)
Chiang Mai's hippest neighborhood with a concentration of specialty coffee shops, art galleries, boutiques, and the best brunch scene. Popular with digital nomads and Thai students.
Best for: Digital nomads, cafe lovers, young travelers, design enthusiasts
Night Bazaar District
The tourist hub for shopping with the Night Bazaar and its surrounding restaurants and bars. Convenient location between Old City and the Riverside.
Best for: Shoppers, night owls, travelers who want easy access to evening entertainment
Riverside (Watgate)
The historic Ping River district with colonial teak houses, upscale restaurants, and a peaceful local atmosphere. Less touristy with a genuine community feel.
Best for: Couples, luxury travelers, repeat visitors seeking a quieter base
Mae Rim
A scenic valley north of the city with rice paddies, elephant camps, the Four Seasons resort, and adventure activities. Requires transport to access but rewards with spectacular scenery.
Best for: Luxury travelers, families with children, nature lovers
Our top picks
Handpicked recommendations for every type of traveler.
137 Pillars House
An intimate and elegant boutique property in a beautifully restored 19th-century teak mansion, offering 30 uniquely designed suites with private plunge pools. Each suite reflects the colonial heritage of the original home of East Borneo Company manager, William Bain, blending Lanna antiques with modern luxury.
Check rates on Booking.comFour Seasons Resort Chiang Mai
Set amid terraced rice paddies in the Mae Rim valley 30 minutes north of the city, this award-winning resort offers private-pool villas, an acclaimed cooking school, and a world-class spa with traditional Thai treatments. The resort's elephant camp and trekking programs are exemplary.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai
An extraordinary 60-acre resort modeled on the ancient Lanna Kingdom, featuring palatial Thai-colonial suites and villas set amid lotus ponds, rice paddies, and tropical gardens. Rated among Asia's finest resort experiences with a 4,000 sq m spa, multiple restaurants, and an antique-filled cultural center.
Check rates on Booking.comRaya Heritage
A stunning 33-suite river resort on the banks of the Ping River built using local materials including teak wood, bamboo, and natural stone. Each suite features handcrafted furnishings by local artisans, and the resort's organic garden supplies the acclaimed Raya Restaurant with farm-fresh ingredients.
Check rates on Booking.comTamarind Village
A lush 42-room boutique resort in the heart of the Old City built around a 200-year-old tamarind tree, offering traditional Lanna architecture with dark teak wood rooms, stone floors, and a serene garden pool. The location is unbeatable for temple-hopping, and rates include a generous breakfast.
Check rates on Booking.comNa Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort
A charming 20-room boutique resort set in lush tropical gardens along the Ping River, offering exquisite Lanna-style rooms with private balconies, plunge pools, and hand-crafted teak furnishings. Adults-only, making it ideal for romantic getaways with attentive personalized service.
Check rates on Booking.comBooking tips
Get the best deals and avoid common mistakes.
Book 2-4 months ahead for peak season (December-January) as top hotels sell out fast
Shoulder season (October-November, March-April) offers the best value
Many boutique hotels don't appear on major OTAs - check their direct websites for best rates
Nimman hotels are often cheaper than Old City despite a similar or better quality level
Read reviews about noise - some Old City hotels face noisy temple bells from 6 AM
Alternative accommodations
Beyond traditional hotels, consider these options.
Guesthouses
Family-run guesthouses offer authentic local experiences and often include home-cooked meals. Great for cultural immersion.
Serviced apartments
Ideal for longer stays or families. Kitchen facilities help save money and provide flexibility.
Hostels
Budget-friendly option for solo travelers. Dorms and private rooms available with social common areas.