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Here are the BEST Chiang Mai old city hotels for 2026. The best place to stay in Chiang Mai is in the old city. The old city has plenty of food, markets, coffee shops and temples to explore. With so many hotels it can be hard to know where to start. Especially if you can’t picture the old city.
We have travelled in Chiang Mai many times and experienced some of its BEST and worst hotels. It is our honour to share our experience with you to help you book the best Chiang Mai old city hotels. In this article we review and recommend the best Chiang Mai old city hotels. Every property that we recommend is situated inside the old city itself. At the end of this article we have also mentioned a few hotels which are close to the old town and are well worth a look.
We have listed a range of properties so that there is something for everyone. We have included budget hotels, hotels with swimming pools and beautiful boutique hotels. Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on the best areas to stay in Chiang Mai
Visiting Chiang Mai with kids? We’ve got you covered… don’t miss our full reviews of the BEST hotels in Chiang Mai for families.
Oh yeah, if you’re visiting Chiang Mai, be sure to check out this AMAZING 10 day itinerary in Chiang Mai (saving you thousands compared to booking with a travel agent). And if you’re interested in an amazing hotel experience outside of Chiang Mai, check out the Chai Lai Orchid Hotel With elephants. This is an innovative caring elephant project that supports locals, helps women at risk of trafficking and provides a safe happy home for elephants.
Summary of the best Chiang Mai Old City hotels
| Hotel name | Description | Rough price per night | Booking.com reviews |
| The Inside House 5 star | Best Chiang Mai old city hotel for 5 star luxury. Regal colonial style. Very Boutique. | £120 – £300 | 9.4 |
| Phra Singh Village 5 star | Best value for money. Asia contemporary style | £50 – £100 | 9.2 |
| A Day Villa Chiangmai 3 star | Best Chiang Mai old city hotel for families. Asia Muji style. | £45 – £90 | 9.6 |
| Tamarind village 4 star | Best Chiang Mai old city hotel for facilities. Traditional natural wooden style. | £130 – £300 | 9.1 |
| Saran Boutique Hotel 3 star | Great location and east asia zen style – very boutque. | £35 – £70 | 9.1 |
| Anumat Premium Budget Hotel 3 star | Best hotel for a low budget. Clean and stylish yet simple. | £15 – £30 | 8.8 |
Map of the Best Chiang Mai Old City Hotels
Getting to grips: What is the Chiang Mai old city?
The Chiang Mai old city is the area where the ancient city was originally built. It is a walled area of Chiang Mai surrounded by a moat with bridges. The old city walls are approximately 1.5km by 1.5km in length and some sections of the old city walls are still in great condition. It is pretty easy to walk the length of the old city, making it a great place to find a hotel and explore.
Transport around the old city is simple, cheap and super easy to find (20 baht on the red songthaew buses is around £0.40 or £0.50). The city walls provide beautiful walks and often boast local events. The old town is packed with many hotels – small and big, cheap and expensive, old and new.
The Chiang Mai old city gates form a focal point for food stalls, markets and local activities. The Chiang Mai old city is packed with small boutique coffee shops, relaxing spas and beautiful restaurants serving food from around the world. The Chiang Mai old city really is the best place to stay in Chiang Mai.
What are Chiang Mai old city hotels like?
Chiang Mai old city hotels tend to be quite small and have a more intimate feel to them. Chiang Mai old city hotels tend to be very stylish and boutique with features such as art, ornaments, fish pools and small gardens. Many Chiang Mai old city hotels offer balconies or terraces allowing guests to relax with a view of the old city and sometimes the surrounding hills.
Due to the lack of space in the old city, the hotels may not have the facilities and amenities you would expect in bigger hotels out of town. What they lack in facilities, they make up for in beauty.
It is slightly harder to find Chiang Mai old city hotels with swimming pools. If there are swimming pools in the old city hotels they tend to be quite small. If you are looking for a bigger resort with more facilities, amenities and space then you’re better off looking for hotels outside of the Chiang Mai old city.
Full reviews: The best Chiang Mai old city hotels
1 The Inside House – THE BEST Chiang Mai old city hotel 5 star luxury & style
This is genuinely one of the most stunning properties in Chiang Mai and perhaps even in Thailand. Super boutique and royal in style! The Inside House earns its spot as the best Chiang Mai old city hotel for 5 star luxury and style. Check out booking.com for more epic photos of this unbelievable property. The Inside House has a colonial regal style with light colour fittings and fixtures. The glass pool suites are genuinely unique and have the potential for hours of fun! The Inside House is as much about the experience as the stay.
They also have all of the facilities that you would hope for and expect in a luxurious 5 star hotel. Terraces, amazing food, a garden and more. The Inside house is also very close to Wat Phra Singh, the most prominent temple in the Chiang Mai old city.
This is also a great spot for the Chiang Mai night market and lots of tasty Chiang Mai street food. If you have kids this also also pretty close to Buak Haad Park – a beautiful green space complete with a kids play park. This is one of the most expensive Chiang Mai old city hotels. Rooms range £120 – £300 per night – this would be a great spot to mark a special occasion.
2 Phra Singh Village – TOP PICK Chiang Mai old city hotel value for money
Phra Singh Village offers 5 star service and facilities at 3 star prices. Rooms range from £50 – £100. You will be amazed how far this money goes at the Phra Singh Village hotel. Keep an eye out for deals. Peruse their pictures on booking.com to see why this is our top pick for value for money.
The Phra Singh Village features a restaurant, free bikes, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and an excellent continental breakfast. The hotel is super clean and excellently maintained. Just like the Inside House this is a great spot to visit Wat Phra Singh, the Chiang Mai night market and Buak Haad park. Check out the super impressive Grand Family Suite with its lush hot tub and balcony.
3 A Day Villa Chiang Mai – THE BEST Chiang Mai old city hotel for Families
Check out A Day Villa Chiang Mai for another superlative boutique hotel in the heart of Chiang Mai. If you’re looking for Chiang Mai old city hotels for families this is a great option for you. This property is reasonably spacious with a large outdoor pool. A Day Villa Chiang Mai has a contemporary Asian Muji style.
We have selected this one for families due to the large impressive family suite, spacious grounds and outdoor swimming pool. They offer rooms with balconies and bathtubs. They even have a kids playroom. Best of all, this one is super affordable for families too. Rooms generally range in price from £45 – £90. Finally, A Day Villa Chiang Mai is located to the north west of the Chiang Mai old city. This is a great spot for cafes and coffee shops. It is also not too far from Wat Phra Singh, the most prominent temple in Chiang Mai. If you’re staying here, don’t miss the Khom Chocolate House nearby.
4 Tamarind Village – TOP PICK Chiang Mai old city hotel for outstanding facilities
If you’re looking for Chiang Mai old city hotels with excellent facilities check out Tamarind village. Appropriately named, this beautiful property is surrounded by large tamarind trees. We mentioned that Chiang Mai old city hotels don’t have the same space, facilities and amenities as their cousins out of town. Tamarind Village is an exception. It is one of the larger Chiang Mai old city hotels. It features a spa, an outdoor pool and a poolside restaurant.The Tamarind village offers indoor and outdoor dining options.
The Ruen Tamarind Restaurant serves Thai and international dishes. They also have a bar offering a range of drinks and cocktails. Tamarind Village is in an excellent location in the old city. It is right next to the weekend walking market. It is also a short walk from Wat Chedi Luang – an ancient temple with a partially crumbled Chedi. Tamarind village is also a short walk from Tha Pae Gate – one of the main old city gates. This is one of the more expensive hotels in Chiang mai. Rooms range in price from £130 – £300
5 Saran Boutique Hotel – THE BEST Chiang Mai old city hotel for Asian style & location
The Saran Boutique Hotel is a great option if you are on a low budget but still want to enjoy a hotel with a unique asian style in an amazing location. We love the zen east asian style of this boutique hotel. This place really stands out due to the price and excellent location.
It is located on the bustling east side of the old town near Thapae gate. It is very close to the walking weekend market too. It is also under 1km from the Chiang Mai gate with its markets, excellent street food and happy vibes. Rooms range in price from £30 – £50. Find out the latest prices here. We love the suite with a balcony and bathtub.
6 Anumat Premium Budget Hotel – TOP PICK Chiang Mai old city hotel for budget
If you’re on a budget you can still enjoy Chiang Mai old city hotels. The Anumat Premium Budget Hotel is a 3-star property with rooms ranging from £15 – £30. Budget by name, budget by nature! Even at these low prices, rooms are clean, comfortable and stylish. The tastefully-furnished rooms feature teak wood-carving furnishings and a spacious bathroom with a rain shower.
The Anumat Premium Budget Hotel is also excellently located. It is a short walk from Wat Phra Singh Temple, the most prominent temple in the old town. Nearby you can find coffee shops, street food and the Buak Haad park. The Anumat Premium Budget hotel really is one of the best options if you’re on a low budget. If you’re really on a super low budget you could consider a hostel or check out the Anodard Hotel (this one is very basic and the cheapest hotel in the Old City).
A few excellent hotels just outside the Chiang Mai old city
If Chiang Mai old city hotels aren’t for you, there are lots of fantastic options outside the old town. Many of these are close to the Mae Ping river and also allow easy access to the Chiang Mai old city.
Rati Lanna Riverside Spa Resort
Located right next to the Mae Ping river, this is the best Chiang Mai hotel for luxurious royal decadence. The Rati Lanna really is a remarkable hotel. RESERVE your place at the Rati Lanna HERE.
Akyra Manor
Not far from the north of the old city this is a great hotel for comfort, epic views and contemporary style. BOOK the stunning Akyra Manor HERE.
Shangri-La Chiang Mai
This is a large, luxurious resort with excellent facilities and amenities. The outdoor pool even includes a waterslide! It is also our overall TOP PICK for a family holiday in Chiang Mai. Reserve YOUR STAY at the Shangri La Chiang Mai HERE.
Yak Guest House
This a fantastic option for a budget stay just outside the old city. Ideal location for Warorot market, Mae Ping river and Tha Pae gate. Lots of street food and great coffee shops nearby. Book your stay at the Yak Guest House HERE.
Chai Lai Orchid (outside of Chiang Mai)
Finally… Did you know you can stay in a hotel with elephants near Chiang Mai? Chai Lai Orchid is an innovative project that supports women rescued from trafficking whilst providing a safe, happy and caring home for elephants. You can receive a wake up call from elephants and even share breakfast with an elephant.
Where to next?
If you’re visiting Chiang Mai, consider a visit to Pai. This is a small beautiful town north of Chiang Mai in the Mae Hong Son Province. There is so much to do in Pai – waterfalls, hot springs, trekking and much much more.
