Chiang Mai’s best neighborhoods
Read on to discover the best of Chiang Mai, neighborhood by neighborhood.
Thailand’s “Capital in the North,” the mountainside city of Chiang Mai is a brilliant, bustling destination where hip, creative cool seamlessly blends with ancient tradition.
The terracotta architecture within the city and the lush green landscapes that surround it quickly capture the hearts of visitors, as does the range of things to do in Chiang Mai. Here, you’re never far away from a forested waterfall, a medieval temple or a fantastic jazz club.
This low-rise metropolis is quite compact, with the best areas to visit just a short distance apart. It’s easy to get from A to B using songthaew minivans (a top local experience in Chiang Mai) or taxi-hailing apps Bolt or Grab. Which means no matter which neighborhood you settle into, the others are never far away.
These are the best areas to explore and stay in Chiang Mai.
1. Old City
Best neighborhood for history
Surrounded by an impressive water-filled moat, Chiang Mai’s walled Old City buzzes with life and activity, and is packed with the city’s top attractions. You’ll find Buddhist temples – such as the red-brick Wat Chedi Luang, teak-decked Wat Phan Tao and gold-leafed Wat Phra Singh – on every main road. The large museums Lanna Folklife Museum and Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center also keep history-loving tourists busy.
Just 1½km (1 mile) in length and breadth, the Old City begs to be explored on foot or by bicycle, stopping whenever something catches your eye. And the neighborhood is not just for culture vultures: it’s packed with pretty cafes and some of the liveliest nightlife spots in the city, from the classy North Gate Jazz Co-op to the raucous Zoe in Yellow, and cocktail bars like The White Rabbit and THUUB Bar rivaling any in Bangkok. As all of Chiang Mai’s other neighborhoods radiate out from the Old City, it’s a great place to base yourself on your first visit to Chiang Mai.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai’s Old City: Tamarind Village, riion Chiang Mai, Baan Boo Loo Village
2. Nimman
Best neighborhood for digital nomads
A comparatively new neighborhood to the west of the Old City, Nimman (short for Nimmanhaemin) is packed with boutique hotels, modern condo buildings and handy coworking spaces. Drinking and dining options here have boomed in the past 10 years, making Nimman a busy evening destination full of cafes, bars and restaurants.
Every possible cuisine is executed to near-perfection here. Choose from the quintessentially Northern Thai noodle dishes at Kao Soy Nimman and Ginger Farm Kitchen. International spots cover Chinese, Indian, Italian and Korean food – and there are burgers galore. Nimman is also home to award winning coffee roasters Roast8ry Lab and Ristr8to Original, and the wonderful vegan community hub Free Bird Cafe.
Where to stay in Nimman: Hotel YaYee, Buri Siri Hotel, akyra Manor Chiang Mai
3. Chinatown and Night Bazaar
Best neighborhood for street food
Just west of the Ping River sits Chiang Mai’s vibrant Chinatown, a trading post established in the 19th century that’s still thriving today. The main attraction, Warorot Market (also known as Kad Luang) is a large indoor shopping hub that sprawls across two blocks. It’s filled to the brim with clothes, homewares and – most importantly – food stalls galore, offering both Thai and Chinese cuisine. This a great area to base yourself if you love big community vibes and great, cheap eats – all just 1km (½ mile) from Pratu Tha Phae, the Old City’s east entrance gate.
Directly below Chinatown is the Night Bazaar zone, where you’ll find a souvenir market (the bazaar itself), two muay thai stadiums and tons of great restaurants. It’s also home to two of the most LGBTIQ+ friendly spots in town, Ram Bar and 6ixcret, where elegant drag performers sing and dance pop hits until the wee hours.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai’s Chinatown: Anantara Chiang Mai Resort, InterContinental Chiang Mai the Mae Ping, Shangri-La Chiang Mai
4. Suan Dok
Best neighborhood for zen
Adjacent to the Old City and south of Nimman, this historic neighborhood centers around and takes its name from the 14th-century Wat Suan Dok temple, the final resting place of the former kings of Chiang Mai. For those interested in learning more about Buddhism, the temple has a meditation center and English-speaking discussion group that visitors can join. The area surrounding the temple is very peaceful (apart from the sounds of planes taking off at the nearby airport); you can continue the meditative vibe with a throwing or clay-building class at InClay Studio, or by booking a spa day at Heart N Soul or Sense Onsen.
Where to stay in Suan Dok: Evergreen Cafe Hotel, The Chaya Resort, Hyde Park Chiangmai
5. Santitham
Best neighborhood for local bars
Directly north of Nimman but with distinctly fewer tourists, Santitham is a busy neighborhood where locals flock to cafes, schools, gyms and camera-repair shops during the day. But it’s the bars and clubs – all ready to keep patrons busy until the small hours – that draw visitors here.
Yawk Bar is a great spot to watch sports or just enjoy a few beers, while Santitham Plaza has a bunch of large open-air venues that are always busy and fun on the weekends. EDM fans will appreciate the small but mighty nightclub ReD Bar CNX; elegant rooftop spot Barglory, meanwhile, has sweeping views of the mountains. If you’re on a budget, just wander around and pull up a chair at one of the countless small roadside spots, most of which don’t appear on Google Maps.
Where to stay in Santitham: Glory Boutique Suites, Isty Hotel, Book Design Hotel
6. Jed Yot
Best neighborhood for budget travelers
Driving into Jed Yot from the highway, you may feel like you’re not in a city at all: the road twists and turns through green fields and quiet backstreets framed by the Suthep mountain range. This peaceful neighborhood is set apart from the nightlife in Nimman – and the 10- to 15-minute drive to the Old City means the area is both quieter and more affordable area than others.
That’s not to say it’s dull. Jed Yot is home to one of the oldest temples in the city, Wat Chet Yot – unique thanks to its Indian-influenced architectural style. There’s also a trio of great museums: Chiang Mai National Museum, Sbunnga Textile Museum and the Highland People Discovery Museum, the last providing an excellent introduction to the lives of the diverse hill tribes who populate the north of Thailand. The coffee scene is strong in this area, too – pop by Street Coffee Crew, where the owner spins his hip-hop LPs as baristas grind beans.
Where to stay in Jed Yot: Arte House, Hotel MAYU, CMOR by Recall Hotels 
7. Wat Ket
Best neighborhood for riverside vibes
Along the eastern flank of the Ping River, the Wat Ket neighborhood is lined with old wooden houses and warehouses from bygone years; squint and you could be in the 1950s. On the riverbank you’ll find laid-back bars, restaurants and cafes, like Good View and The Riverside, where you can easily spend several relaxing hours. Come back in the evening to see the nightlife here buzz – particularly on weekends, when locals and visitors enjoy the live music and dance floors.
Wat Ket is a great neighborhood to stay in, as it’s full of heritage properties. Historically, foreigners were allowed only to live east of the River Ping, making for a large number of renovated houses set back from the riverside.
Where to stay in Wat Ket: Rimping Village Chiang Mai, 137 Pillars House, Tanita House
8. Mae Rim
Best neighborhood for families
This large rural district north of Chiang Mai doesn’t lie within the city limits – yet the rolling mountainous scenery and tourist attractions in Mae Rim make it popular with families or visitors who want to be immersed in nature. A day out in Mae Rim might include a trip to the Siam Insect Zoo, Tat Mok waterfall, Sai Mok waterfall and Mae Sa waterfall, the last being a perfect place for families to take a dip. Continuing the waterfall theme, cafe Mai Heun 60 might have one of Chiang Mai’s best Instagram backdrops, while River Rock Cafe Hill, on the way to Queen Sirikit Botanic Gardens, is the city’s most picturesque place to enjoy a Thai roti.
The far northwest of the district is an area known as Mon Jam, where the flower fields and campsites have incredible views of the surrounding mountains. Older kids and thrill-seeking adults will love a trip to Pong Yang Jungle Coaster & Zipline, an adventure park with rides that whizz through the jungle.
Where to stay in Mae Rim: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Onsen @ Moncham, Baan Mon Muan
