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Chiang Mai
Chiang MaiOld City, Chiang MaiNight Bazaar, Chiang MaiNimman, Chiang MaiRiverside, Chiang Mai
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Experience Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai at a glance
Chiang Mai is where people go when Bangkok has worn them out. It is smaller, cooler and several hundred years older.
The Old City is a square moat enclosing temples on nearly every corner. West of it, Nimmanhaemin is the modern counterpoint: coffee, coworking, and brunch that would not look out of place in Melbourne. Most visitors split their time between the two without realising they are different trips. East of the moat, Chang Khlan holds the Night Bazaar and most of the city’s international five-stars. Across the river again, Wat Ket is quieter, and far enough out that most trips into the Old City mean a Grab.
One thing worth knowing before you book: the burning season. From roughly February to April, smoke from agricultural fires settles in the valley and the air quality becomes genuinely unpleasant. It is the one time of year we would tell you to go somewhere else.
Four areas.
One bar.
Every Chiang Mai hotel here is either somewhere we have stayed, or clears the same bar as the rest of Thailand: at least two booking platforms, 150 reviews between them and no score under 8.5.
Where to stay in Chiang Mai
Pick the area first and the hotel second. Ordered by the average guest score of the listings in each area, the same basis as the hotels below.
The Chiang Mai hotel list
Ranked by the average of each hotel's guest scores across the booking platforms, then the number of reviews. Having stayed somewhere does not move it up.
Travel guides
All guides
Thailand's Trains, From the State Railway's Own Timetable
The trains from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Surat Thani and Pattaya, with times from the State Railway's own timetable, which Bangkok station each uses, and how booking, changes and refunds work.
Get the good stuff first.
New listings, price movements worth knowing about, and the occasional note on somewhere that stopped clearing our bar. No list exists yet, so this button does nothing on purpose.