Neil Aronson Like any great city, there are a number of the best areas to travel to, or just spend a few hours. Chiang Mai is no exception, with a variety of best areas featuring different activities, social life, cost, culture, and vibes. Our goal is to help you decide where you might want to be, especially if it’s your first time.
Whether your visiting or live there, everyone has their own option on what the best areas are, and where they like to be. So our goal with this article is to point them out, explain what each has to offer, and let you decide where you want to visit.
These are not all official names of the best areas. Some are, and some are what locals might call them.
By no means are these the only one of the best areas. Chiang Mai is a sprawling city that spreads out into the hills and mountains, and lots of people would rather be at the Four Seasons out in the mountains. Or staying at a treehouse hotel in jungle isolation.
For more about traveling to Chiang Mai for 2024 see our article, The Ultimate Guide.
Old City (Walled City)
My personal favorite area in all of northern Thailand. Because there is such a variety of things to do for fun, culture, history, the people, and it is extremely walkable.
Location
Right in the heart of Chiang Mai. This is on top of my list for best areas since it is convenient to get to all other areas. Only about 10 minutes to the airport.
Who Goes There
Good area for most everyone, from backpackers to partiers, to history and culture lovers. If you are looking for sprawling resorts however, you won’t find that here.
Why Go There
This area has everything to offer. Famous historic temples, museums, cozy streets, great restaurants and bars, coffee shops, Sunday walking street, shopping. There are a lot of massage parlors. Very friendly people. It is quieter than some areas at night, even though there are plenty of bars.
Highlights
Extremely walkable area. Famous temples such as Wat Chedi Luang (above) and Wat Phra Singh. Probably one of the best areas for museums. The Chiang Mai Cultural Center in the middle of town consist of four museums and the Three Kings Monument (below). Sunday evenings on Rachadamnoen Rd by the Tha Phae gate comes alive with its Walking Street. Here you can shop local handcrafted items, east great street food, and listen to live music.
This is also one of the best areas for local restaurants and smaller bars. One of my Thai wife’s favorite noodle shops in Blue Noodles. Other great local Thai is Aroy Dee. Local Thai food cooked out on the sidewalk. Great food and local prices. Street Food Everywhere. However you can find a lot over in the Night Bazaar, and the Sunday walking street has a lot of choices.
If you want a great burger stop at Arno’s. There are many great Pizza Places in Chiang Mai for more read our article. One of the best and most popular is an unassuming place on a quiet street in the old city called By Hand Pizza. They cook your woodfired pizza in a brick oven basically on the street.
One of my favorite places, not just for the food, but its unique treehouse setting is Airniversary Camp and Cafe (below). If you want excellent sushi on a quiet street hit up Gohanya Japanese on Moon Muang Rd Lane 7.
Local bars, western sports bars, and live music can all be found. Thaphae Grill Rooftop Bar, Formerly Improvise, they just remodeled and changed the name. But the roof top bar is the same and has amazing views of the city and Doi Suthep. Rachadamnoen Rd and right on the Sunday walking street.
Where To Stay:
There are literally dozens of great boutique hotels and hostels in this of the best areas. Most are moderately priced, but cheap by western standards for what you get. However a few that we always seem to go back to are these.
Book all Chiang Mai Hotels on Agoda.
Our favorite in Chiang Mai. The rooms and grounds are perfect, and rates are great. Walk to everything.
Next to Tha Phae Gate, on Sunday Walking Street. Walk to everything. Great free breakfast. Super friendly staff. Sells out a lot.
Smile Robotist Hostel This would be your budget dorm style backpackers spot with shared bathroom. Great location to walk everywhere.
Eurena Boutique Hotel The entire property was recently remodeled. It is one of the better values, in fact it is strangely inexpensive for what it is. It sits between Soi 6 and Soi 7 in the old city, near great restaurants, coffee shop and bars.
Somwang Boutique House Small with nice outdoors and pool. Excellent walking location. Our standard room was very big. Staff is friendly. Only 2 parking spots.
MD Boutique Located on Ratvithi Rd, which is central. Close to Zoe In Yellow if you like to party. Very nice rooms, parking, and the staff was so friendly when we were recently there.
Night Bazaar Area
Location
Walk east of the Old City from Tha Phae Gate toward the Ping River, and this is the Night Bazaar area. Considered one of the best areas for nightlife, clubs, and girly bars. For the purposes of this article I am extending it to include China Town and some of Riverside. The night Bazaar is west of the Ping river, and Riverside is on the other side of the river.
Who Goes There
Around the Night Market area, down toward Loi Kroh Road, it is definitely more for the younger crowd. In between the Old City and The Night Market, there are quiet streets with good boutique hotels. Across the river in what is called the Riverside area, it is more upscale, quieter, with more couples and professionals.
To be honest, if you want to escape being around a lot of westerners, then don’t go or stay here. We like to go to have fun for a few hours, then get out.
Why Go There
Most people go to these river side best areas to either go to clubs or live music, shopping at the large outdoor markets, or one of the many great restaurants. There is not much culture in this area.
Highlights
The markets of course. You have a lot of markets to check out. The Night Bazaar is the main attraction, and gets crowded. However here you can find great street food, as witnessed by Anthony Bourdain, in one of the episodes of his travel show he did in Chiang Mai.
Warorot Market (Kad Luang), north of the Night Bazaar, is also called the Chinatown area. Another sprawling marketplace with all kinds of goods and food. This market is well known in the source of selling local products, especially northern food, which is rare in other regions such as Sai ua (northern Thai sausage) and Moo yo (traditional Vietnamese pork sausage). Apart from local food, there are also clothes, ceramic, cloth, embroidery appliances, and a huge flower market to make up with your girlfriend.
This is top area for clubs, especially girly bars (strip clubs), on and around Loi Kroh Road. There are live music options as well.
Looking for a rooftop bar? On the 22nd floor of the Melia Hotel is My The Sky Bar. Spectacular views of the city, the place to be at sunset.
Across the river are two of the most popular restaurant/bars in Chiang Mai. Both located on the Ping River, and right next to each other. The Good View and The Riverside and where the more upscale ‘cool’ people go. Both are large places with multiple areas inside and out. The both feature (good) live music. Both are a lot of fun, and crowded on the weekends.
FYI, we got engaged at The Good View!
Where To Stay
Great location near all the markets and river. High rise hotel if that is what you are looking for. Good facilities.
Luxury Resort south of the Night Bazaar. Spectacular rooms , grounds and facilities. An escape in the city.
Luxury High Rise by the river. Spectacular rooms , pool and facilities. The best rooftop bar.
Nimmanhaemin
Location
Good location as this is one of the best areas just north west of the Old City, on the way to Chiang Mai University. Towards the edge of Doi Suthep National Park, puts this area close to the city center but also close to hiking, parks, and more nature than our first two best areas.
Who Goes There
Nimman, as it is referred by, is a more hip and modern area that attracts young people from the nearby University. This a very popular for ex-pats from all over the globe. There is a thriving trendy cafe culture here, and you’ll find digital nomads parked in front of their laptops around every corner of the many cool coffee shops. It is probably where more ‘sophisticated’ travelers will go, as there are many innovative restaurants and bars. Maybe as close to a cosmopolitan area in Chiang Mai as you will find.
Why Go There
If your looking for more modern, stylish hotels to stay at you would go here. Trendy restaurants and bars. Lots of boutique shopping and the big new modern Maya shopping mall. Closer to most hotels in One Nimman, which is another modern shopping mall with boutique shops, and Michelin star restaurants.
There are a number of rooftop bars to spend sunset time. Top of that list might be Rise Bar and Italics Restaurant. Tong Tem Toh is a popular trendy place to go if you want to have the authentic northern Thai cuisine. Some really cool coffee shops. This is also a very walkable area. Close to Wat Umong which is an amazing temple . Close to Chiang Mai Zoo and Aquarium. Also close to Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, for hiking and the famous temple.
You will spend more money eating and staying in this area then you would in our other best areas. There are a lot of tourists and westerners, and traffic can get bad especially in the afternoon.
Where To Stay
5 Start Hotel at 3 star prices. Located right in the middle of all the action. walk to restaurants, bars and shopping.
This luxurious all-suite hotel is located right in the heart of the popular Nimman neighborhood. Rooftop bar and pool to take it all in.
Buri Suri– In Nimman, is in a perfect location to walk to everything in that area of town. Very nice, and great pricing for they quality you get.
Vicortia Nimman Hotel, across the street to Buri Suri. Similar to Buri Suri, and has a very popular bar out front on the street.
Mae Sa / Mae Rim Valley
Location
Drive north of Chiang Mai city center on route 107 for about 30 minutes and you will be heading out of town toward the Mae Rim Valley. This is not usually on anyone’s list of best areas since it is out of town. But I thought it would be good to include an area that is more out in the mountains and nature. That said, this particular area has a lot of activities and attractions. Therefor there are a lot of tourists around.
Who Goes There
Locals and Tourists. There are a lot of tourist attractions, hiking, golf, hilltribe villages. So pretty much all types of people go. Most people go for the day to explore, since it is not far from the city center. However, there are some great resorts, boutique hotels, and camping.
Why Go There
This is one of the best areas for a wide range of tourist attractions. There are a few exceptional golf courses. Some amazing resorts such as the Four Seasons. Further out about 30 minutes in the mountains is Rabeang Pasak Treehouse Resort, to stay in actual treehouses.
There are several parks and attractions, such as the Phoenix Adventure Park Zipline, Botanical Gardens, Butterfly farm, Hilltribe communities you can visit. Visit waterfalls and elephant sanctuaries. And the list goes on.
In Mae Rim there are several amazing Cafes, including Grooveyard, Zombie Cafe, and my favorite Rim Nara, pictured here.
Further up in the mountains is where you go for white water rafting, ATV riding, camping, hiking.
Highlights
If your looking for sports and adrenaline, then we had so much fun white water rafting on the Taeng River. Can’t wait to do it again. Golf at either Summit Green Valley golf resort of Mae Jo golf resort and both excellent choices.
For sure one of the highlights is the Mae Sa Waterfall. It is an 10-level waterfall with a small plunge pool for swimming, a hiking trail, and is a popular picnic spot for locals. I would also recommend the Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens. There are a couple beautiful hiking trails there, along the river.
Past the botanical gardens off route 1096, is the mountain and hilltribe community of Mon Jam. My wife has been visiting since she was young, it is fairly famous for locals. It is a Beautiful farming community with panoramic views, such as this pictured, from YODDOI Coffee.
Now with some spectacular lodging, which we have stayed and recommend below. Eat lunch at Nong Hoi Royal Project Vegetable Development Center. This is an incredible restaurant of local Thai food. Farm fresh food as a result of using their own locally grown crops.
Where To Stay
Take a bath and look at the views off your balcony. Located in the Mon Jam valley. Tends to sell out.
Located in a quiet setting with beautiful grounds and rooms. Great value. All Villas, We just stayed there recently.
Set along a river overlooking nature. More of a budget option, however we loved it. Centrally located to all the above attractions.
We hope this help in your planning for Chiang Mai. Please subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date. Send us a note if you want any other information, we love to give it out.
For more about traveling to Chiang Mai for 2024 see our article.
