Geographic orientation of Chiang Mai and surroundings
Whether you’re here for short-term or long-term, location is important. Here’s a geographic orientation of Chiang Mai and suggestions on how to find a nice place to stay.
Don't forget to use our maps, they show great detail.
We can also help you find a serviced apartment.
The Old Town is the area within the (square) moat and the river is a few kilometers on the east of it. Much of 'plain tourism' takes place here: temples, monuments, festivals, restaurants, markets, they're all here. The name Old Town may suggest there are many old buildings, but this is not true anymore, they are mostly gone except for some temples. Yet, there are many pleasant soi’s to walk or cycle around.
The Nightbazar is located in between the Old Town and the river, which runs from north to south and has many pittoresque spots.
The Old Town was of course the walled city in the past and together with the areas around the river, they are the oldest established areas in town with old neighbourhoods.
| accomodation | availability | price range (baht) |
| guesthouses | plenty | 100-700 per day |
| hotels and service apartments | plenty | 700-10,000 per day |
| condominium apartment | few | 9,000-20,000 per month |
| houses | some | 10,000 per month |
There is a total abundance of guesthouses and hotels in this area, within everyone's budget. Within the Old City and just around it there are very few condominium buildings, but around it and along the river there are several.
Nimmanhaemin area, or in short 'Nimman' is a completely new area in town, that has grown from bare fields some 20 years ago to one of the most popular places in town. Now full of trendy coffeeshops, boutique stores, bakeries, drinking places and other hangouts, it's a favourite area for many young people, both local and foreigner. The downside of Nimman's fast expansion and the lack of (urban) planning are traffic jams on the main roads and intersections. And, although this area is closer to the mountain the air isn't really cleaner due to heavy traffic.
Some people skip this area alltogether, others just love it. There is more emphasis here on atmosphere, style and drinking than on food and good restaurants (more on food: DC).
| accomodation | availability | price range (baht) |
| guesthouses | sufficient | 300-800 per day |
| hotels and service apartments | plenty | 700-4,000 per day |
| condominium apartment | sufficient | 9,000-30,000 per month |
| houses | some |
10,000-15,000 per month |
Overall, prices of accomodation in Nimman and surroundings are a bit higher. Recently, there's been an explosion of new construction projects, like condominiums, but they are more expensive in this area than anywhere else.
Read more about living in Nimmanhaemin area
This used to be a low-class area in town but it's quite okay nowadays, perhaps due to some new businesses and shops that established in this area. It's a rather busy and dense part of town with fewer trees and lots of people and scooters, mainly due to many students that live here in Thai-style apartment buildings. Its vicinity to the Old Town and Huay Kaew Road make it attractive, though.
| accomodation | availability | price range (baht) |
| guesthouses | sufficient | 300-600 per day |
| hotels and service apartments | plenty | 400-4,000 per day |
| condominium apartment | some | 9,000-15,000 per month |
| houses | some |
10,000 per month |
A pleasant old area, basically located adjacent to the river and actually including the Nightbazar, it can also be considered as an area along the river. It houses old neighbourhoods with established restaurants and small communities and it's not so congested.
| accomodation | availability | price range (baht) |
| guesthouses | sufficient | 300-600 per day |
| hotels and service apartments | plenty | 700-12,000 per day |
| condominium apartment | sufficient | 9,000-30,000 per month |
| houses | some |
10,000 per month |
This is the area all to the west of Nimman and going north and south along Canal Road. Chiang Mai University (CMU) is locked in between Huay Kaew Road and Suthep Road and there are many Thai-style apartments there for the students. It's a lively area, sometimes busy, with lots of local shops and food places for students.
| accomodation | availability | price range (baht) |
| guesthouses | sufficient | 300-800 per day |
| hotels and service apartments | plenty | 700-4,000 per day |
| condominium apartment | sufficient | 9,000-30,000 per month |
| houses | some |
10,000 per month |
If you prefer fresher air, less local air pollution due to traffic, a more rural feeling and you don't mind the ride to town, there are plenty of places out of town in all directions (except for the mountain).
This is the area going north from town in the direction of and including Maerim, at some 10-15km from town. It's very green and more rural.
Some very good hotels and resorts are located here and much of the day-trekking to tiger and snake farms and alike are in this area. Also some housing estates.
| accomodation | availability | price range (baht) |
| guesthouses | some | 300-600 per day |
| hotels and service apartments | plenty | 700-10,000 per day |
| condominium apartment | few | 9,000-15,000 per month |
| houses | some |
10,000 per month |
This is the area going south from Chiang Mai in the direction of and including Hang Dong.
Not so many hotels, mainly houses in housing estates (muu baan) and Thai-style accomodation.
| accomodation | availability | price range (baht) |
| guesthouses | few | 300-500 per day |
| hotels and service apartments | few | 700-2,000 per day |
| condominium apartment | few | 9,000-13,000 per month |
| houses | many |
10,000-20,000 per month |
This is the area going eastwards from Chiang Mai towards and including Doi Saket or Sankampaeng.
Mainly houses in housing estates (muu baan) and Thai-style accomodation, some new condominium buildings.
| accomodation | availability | price range (baht) |
| guesthouses | few | 300-500 per day |
| hotels and service apartments | few | 700-2,000 per day |
| condominium apartment | few | 9,000-13,000 per month |
| houses | many |
10,000-20,000 per month |
There is a total abundance of guesthouses and hotels in Chiang Mai. You can be sure to always find something within your range, except during special festivals when many places can be fully booked (such as the Royal Flora festival in the past).
Most guesthouses offer lower rates per month.
Negotiation on the rates is not common.
Contrary to what one might expect, it's cheaper to book a hotel through an intermediary site (such as Agoda, Hotelrooms.com, HotelstoThailand or Asiarooms) than to walk in and ask for the lowest rate.
Check our list of guesthouses here.
Check our list of hotels here.
Service apartments are scarcer than hotels and guesthouses, but there are some. Rates will be lower when you commit to a relatively longer period, such as a month.
Negotiation on the rates is not common.
Let us help you find one, click here.
The disadvantage of a hotel room or guesthouse room is of course the lack of a proper kitchen and home feeling. A condominium often can offer just that. Most contracts are for longer term, though, usually from a few months or 1 year. If you're looking to rent for shorter than that, check our classifieds or try via an intermediate site (such as Flipkey, Airbnb or Roomorama).
You can check our list of condominiums here, but often it's hard to find a unit just by contacting the building by email. If you're aiming to find a nice condo, contact us, perhaps we can help. Agents intermediate too, but most of them work very inefficiently and it's hard to cover the entire market here by just contacting one agent.
There is some possibility to negotiate with the owner.
If you are looking to buy a condominium check our Property section or contact us.
There are many houses for rent in Chiang Mai and surroundings, most of them owned by Thai. Most of the time, there is a minimum period of rent, such as a year. For the old houses, the going price is very often around 10,000 baht, irrespective of the quality of the house and the interior. Expect bugs, mosquitos and all kinds of insects but sometimes a charming cottage with a garden. Wooden houses are more romantic but prone to weather changes too.
For new houses, the price can fluctuate depending on all location, finishing and interior.
There is usualy little space for negotation with Thai owners, they usually just quote their price and you take it or leave it.
Houses in a housing estate or muu baan are usually surrounded by a boundary / fence and often have some form of security. There are many muu baan all around town.
Check our list of housing estates: here
Besides stand-alone houses, there are shop-houses or town-houses. A town house can be of any size and shape. A shop-house is typically a narrow, deep buildings with 3-4 floors high and each floor about 60 sq m, where the ground floor is a shop.
If you are looking to buy a house, check our Property section or contact us.
If you really want to save on costs and you don't mind so much about the size of the room and the interior, then you can easily rent one of the Thai-style apartments everywhere all over town that are mostly inhabited by local Thai. A typical room is sized 20-25 sq m and costs between 1,500-4,000 baht, excluding utilities, internet and tv. Internet is usually shared WIFI so can be slow and some buildings can be noisy.
Minimum contract period is often a few months.
No negotation on rates possible.
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 | Agazaclick Posted on November 29, 2015 at 13:00:57 There are many houses for rent in Chiang Mai and surroundings, most of them owned by Thai. Most of the time, there is a minimum period of rent, such as a year. For the old houses, the going price is very often around 10,000 baht, irrespective of the quality of the house and the interior. Expect bugs, mosquitos and all kinds of insects but sometimes a charming cottage with a garden. Wooden houses are more romantic but prone to weather changes too. |
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