Chiang Mai is compact, and each area has a clear personality. Pick the one that matches your trip and almost everything else is a ten-minute ride.
The areas at a glance#
| Area | Best for | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Old City | First visits, temples, walking | Historic, walkable, every budget |
| Nimmanhaemin (Nimman) | Cafés, coworking, nightlife, nomads | Modern, young, busy evenings |
| Ping River | Calm, nicer hotels, couples | Leafy, quiet, riverside dinners |
| Night Bazaar area | Convenience between Old City and river | Touristy, central |
| Santitham | Longer, cheaper, local stays | Residential, markets, apartments |
Old City#
Inside the moat, with the main temples, the Sunday Walking Street and countless cheap restaurants within walking distance. Hostels, guesthouses and boutique hotels at every price. The best choice for a first visit and for the November lantern week (Chiang Mai in November), when it books out early.
Nimman#
West of the Old City near the university: cafés, coworking spaces, modern Thai and international restaurants, and the city's main nightlife. The nomad and student neighbourhood. Stay here if evenings and work matter more than temples.
The Ping River#
East of the Old City: riverside hotels, calm streets, dinner on the water. Quieter and a bit more expensive. Good for couples and anyone who wants to come back to peace.
Santitham#
Just north of the Old City: residential, local markets, cheap apartments by the month. Where longer-stay travellers end up once they know the city.
Getting around#
Songthaews (red trucks) and Grab cover everything. Nothing on this list is more than fifteen minutes from anything else.
For the rest of the trip: Bangkok vs Chiang Mai, and the best time to visit Thailand.
Ask someone who lives here#
Which street, which soi, which guesthouse: a local knows. Roavi Local Friends in Chiang Mai set their own rates and message you directly before you meet.
Get the inside view on where to stay.
Meet a Local Friend in Chiang MaiFrequently Asked Questions
Where should a first-timer stay in Chiang Mai?
In or just outside the Old City. You can walk to the main temples, the Sunday Walking Street and dozens of cheap restaurants, and it has every budget from hostels to boutique hotels.Is Nimman or the Old City better?
Old City for temples, history and a first visit; Nimman for cafés, coworking, modern restaurants and nightlife, and for digital nomads. They're ten minutes apart by Grab.Where is the quietest area to stay in Chiang Mai?
Along the Ping River, east of the Old City: calmer streets, riverside hotels and restaurants, a short ride from the centre.Where do long-stay travellers live in Chiang Mai?
Nimman for the nomad scene, Santitham for cheaper apartments a short ride north of the Old City, and the quieter streets around the university.How much do hotels cost in Chiang Mai?
Less than Bangkok or the islands. Hostels and guesthouses are cheap, mid-range boutique hotels in the Old City are good value, and even the riverside hotels cost less than their equivalents elsewhere in Thailand. Prices rise for the November lantern festival.