WHERE TO STAY IN CHIANG MAI

If you are interested in where to stay in Chiang Mai, you can also be interested in where to stay in Bangkok, where to stay in Phuket, where to stay in Krabi and where to stay in Pattaya.

Night Bazaar area, the best area to stay in Chiang Mai

The Night Bazaar area is by far one of the most appealing and attractive areas for tourists staying in the city as it is one of the safest neighbourhoods and you are never too far from any tourist facility. Another great reason to stay in this district is due to the amount of public transportation at your peril with songthaews (pickup trucks), tuk-tuks and taxis in abundance. You can also get around by bike and scooter, though most things can be accessed by foot. The airport, bus and train station are very convenient from this area and there will definitely be someone offering you a lift to and fro.

The Night Bazaar section of the city is located between the old city and the Ping River with the main square found just off the main road, Loi Kroh Road. In the day time, you will see lots of people congregating in the square with some markets on that sell clothes and souvenirs. However, come here after 6pm to see the area in its full flow as this is when the Night Bazaar opens, which is a huge indoor and outdoor market that consist of lots of stalls that sell many tourist-orientated items.

There is food, clothes, art, jewellery, souvenirs, handicrafts, garments and many other things as well as performances, massages and spa treatments on offer. It is one of the most mesmerizing things to see and do in the country, let alone the city. All around the square, there are many themed bars that sell cheap cocktails and host live music and restaurants that serve Thai, American, European and other Asian dishes with the majority being upstairs and therefore having excellent views of the city.

The best hotels are found around the square as well as south of it along the river with the majority being five-star hotels. There are also a few Thai Boxing arenas, which usually start early evening and there are a good amount of cooking schools, which are very hard to miss.

Other things to check out include Wat Ket, which is one of the largest and respected temples in the city and is open to the public. There are some incredible art places within the vicinity like the Chiang Mai University Art Museum, where there is an ever-changing display of art that has been produced by students and the building also hosts free concerts and drama productions.

Another fascinating art gallery is Art in Paradise, which provides a different angle on art as it is illusion art and is where you can get some unique and funny pictures. The Ping River is an excellent stroll as it takes you right from north to south of the city and can be very popular during sunset. There are also many tour companies that can arrange trips to various elephant parks, hill tribes, waterfalls, rafting, river adventures, canopy walks and even food tours.

Hotels in Night Bazaar

Historic city centre, the other recommended area to stay in Chiang Mai

The historic centre is the walled city that is located close to the Night Bazaar area and is a brilliant area to stay in due to the amount of tourist attractions that are within walking distance and the neighbourhood being very safe. Inside the remaining walls, there are over 30 temples that date back to the 1200s with the most spectacular being Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, which overlooks the city from a mountain. Other temples to explore are Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chiang Man and Wat Chedi Luang with many of them having influences from Burma, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

There is also the Arts and Cultural Centre, which has information on the history of the city and there are displays of traditional clothing, documents, photos and art. There are Thai massage places, cooking schools, boxing arenas, theatres, cinemas and lots of different shops with the main concentration being found on Ratmakka Road and Rachadamnoen Road. The same roads are best for nightlife as the best bars, restaurants and hotels can be found there.

Hotels in Chiang Mai Old City