Where to Stay in Chiang Rai, Thailand: 3 Best Areas & Hotels

Planning a trip to Chiang Rai and wondering which part of the city is best to stay in? We’ve got you covered!

We loved how laid-back Chiang Rai felt compared to some of Thailand’s bigger cities, but there’s still plenty to see here, from colorful temples and night markets to mountain scenery. Although the city itself is fairly compact, where you stay can make a big difference to how easy it is to get around.

In this guide, we’re breaking down the three best areas to stay in Chiang Rai, including what’s nearby and the hotels we recommend at different price points. Whether you want to be right in the center or somewhere quieter, we’ll help you choose the best base for your trip.

Overview of the Best Areas to Stay in Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is fairly compact, but a lot of the attractions you’ll want to visit are spread out across and beyond the city. If you stay in the center, you can walk to plenty of restaurants and attractions, but you definitely don’t need to base yourself within walking distance of everything.

Grab and taxis are really useful here, but tuk-tuk rides can also be fun for shorter journeys! We also hired a private driver to tick off the must-see attractions like the White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House, and Singha Park in one day, and it worked so well. Renting a car can also give you a lot of flexibility for day trips further afield.

The best time to visit Chiang Rai is between November and February, when the weather is cooler and drier. This is also the busiest time of year, so we recommend booking your hotel in advance!

As for where to base yourself, you can’t go wrong with one of the three areas and hotels below:

• City Center – Best for first-time visitors – Stay here if you want to be right in the middle of the action, as you’ll be able to walk to multiple temples and the famous Night Bazaar. We love Nak Nakara Hotel for its authentic Thai feel, as well as its outdoor pool and handy location

• Riverside – Best for luxury & relaxation – Choose this area if you’d rather stay somewhere quieter with river views and more resort-style hotels. Speaking of which, The Riverie by Katathani is one of our favorite picks here!

• Central Plaza / Southern Chiang Rai – Best for value & shopping – This area offers modern hotels at affordable prices and easy access to Central Plaza for retail therapy. The Heritage offers spacious rooms and an upscale feel at a modest price, so what’s not to love?

Where to Stay in Chiang Rai

City Center 

BEST FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS

Pros

• Easy to explore on foot
• Close to the Night Bazaar and temples
• Lots of transport options readily available

Cons

• Can be noisy in the evenings
• Less peaceful than the riverside

If it’s your first time in Chiang Rai, we think the City Center is the best place to stay. It puts you in the middle of everything, so you can walk out of your hotel and start exploring right away, rather than having to organize a Grab every time you want dinner!

The famous Chiang Rai Clock Tower is right in the center, and the Night Bazaar is one of our favorite places to spend an evening. There are loads of food stalls and places to grab a drink, so you can just wander around and see what tickles your fancy. 

This area is also a very practical choice. Bus Terminal 1 is right in town, and you’ll find plenty of tour companies and drivers nearby for trips to the White and Blue temples and attractions further outside Chiang Rai.

There’s a great range of accommodation here too, from cheap guesthouses to gorgeous boutique hotels. The center isn’t as peaceful as the riverside, but staying here makes it super easy to get to know Chiang Rai and explore the wider area. It’s definitely the best pick for a first visit!

MORA Boutique Hotel – $$$

If you want to stay somewhere special in central Chiang Rai, MORA Boutique Hotel is a top-rated luxury pick. It has a gorgeous modern Northern Thai style, and the location is excellent for exploring the city on foot. Chiang Rai Saturday Night Walking Street and Wat Phra Singh are both within easy reach, so the location really couldn’t be better!

The rooms are spacious, with wooden furnishings and free minibars, and some even have balconies overlooking the pool. There’s also a lovely saltwater pool, a fitness center, and an on-site spa offering Thai massages and treatments, so you can rest and recharge between adventures.

Rooms often start from around $110 USD per night, which is definitely a splurge for Chiang Rai but still good value for a hotel this nice.

Nak Nakara Hotel – $$

Nak Nakara Hotel is a fantastic pick in the City Center. It’s only a couple of minutes on foot from the pedestrian street and around five minutes by car from the Night Bazaar and Bus Terminal 1, so it’s really convenient, but you’re not staying right on one of the busiest streets.

The rooms have a modern Lanna style, and there’s a large saltwater pool plus a separate kids’ pool, which makes this a particularly good choice for families. There’s also a restaurant, bar, fitness room, and massage treatments on-site.

Rooms can start from around $75 USD per night, so we think this offers fantastic value for such a central hotel with a pool.

If Nak Nakara is fully booked, Le Patta Resort & Hotel is another great option in the center. It has a saltwater pool, restaurant, and spacious modern rooms, while still keeping you close to the city’s main sights.

We also love SOOKNIRUND HOTEL if you want somewhere with a bit more character. The original hotel dates back to 1962, but the interiors have been beautifully updated, and you’re only around a 3-minute walk from Walking Street and right by the Clock Tower.

Hotel Selene – $

If you’re looking to keep costs down, Hotel Selene is a brilliant budget pick. The rooms are modern and spacious, and despite the low price, you still get an outdoor pool, restaurant, bar, and sun terrace. 

The location is slightly outside the busiest part of the center, but the King Mengrai Monument is only around a 5-minute walk away, and the Night Bazaar and bus terminal are still within roughly 20 minutes on foot. For the money, we think it’s a really strong option.

Rooms can start from around $40 USD per night, making this one of the best-value hotels in Chiang Rai City Center.

If Hotel Selene is full, Nakaraj Princess Chiang Rai is a fun alternative if you like somewhere with loads of personality. The interiors are covered in gold and ornate carved furniture, and the huge rooms really do make you feel like you’ve checked into a palace!

We also recommend Wiang Inn Hotel if location is your priority. It’s only around a 5-minute walk from the Night Bazaar and has an outdoor pool, so it offers a central base for exploring the city.

Riverside

BEST FOR LUXURY & RELAXATION

Pros

• Home to some of Chiang Rai’s nicest resorts
• Peaceful setting with river views and lots of space

Cons

• Usually too far to walk into the city center
• You’ll rely more on taxis and hotel shuttles

If you’re coming to Chiang Rai and want the hotel to feel like part of the trip, the Riverside area is probably your best bet. This is where you’ll find some of the city’s most luxurious resorts, with big gardens, swimming pools, spas, and views over the Kok River.

We think this area works especially well for couples and families, or pretty much anyone who wants somewhere calm to come back to after a day of sightseeing. The hotels here tend to have much more space than the ones in the center, so it’s easier to spend a lazy afternoon by the pool or book a massage without feeling like you’re wasting valuable exploring time!

The main thing to know is that Riverside isn’t as convenient as the City Center. You’ll usually need a Grab or a hotel shuttle to get into town for dinner or the Night Bazaar, so we wouldn’t stay here if being able to walk everywhere is important to you. But if you care more about having a beautiful hotel and a peaceful setting, the trade-off is definitely worth it.

Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort – $$$

If you want to well and truly treat yourself, Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort is our top luxury pick by the river. The whole resort feels incredibly spacious, and it’s surrounded by huge old rain trees and manicured gardens, with views over the Kok River. Even the standard rooms start at a whopping 53 square meters and come with private balconies – not bad! 

The infinity pool overlooking the river is a real highlight, and there’s also a spa if you fancy leaning fully into the relaxing resort experience. We think this would be a particularly lovely choice for couples, although the huge rooms work really well for families too.

Rooms often start from around $100 USD per night, although river-view rooms and suites cost more.

If Le Meridien is fully booked, Riva Vista Riverfront Resort is another gorgeous riverside option. It has two saltwater pools, including one right by the river, and some of the rooms even offer direct pool access.

We also like The Imperial River House Resort if you’d prefer somewhere smaller and more intimate. There are only 36 rooms here, with traditional Thai decor and lovely views over the Kok River.

The Riverie by Katathani – $$

The Riverie by Katathani is our top pick in this area, especially for families. It sits on a little island in the Kok River and feels much more like a full-on resort than a typical city hotel, with plenty to keep you busy even if you don’t feel like sightseeing for the day.

The big draw for families is the mini water park, complete with slides, a lazy river, and a splash area, plus there’s a huge kids’ club indoors. Adults haven’t been forgotten either, with several restaurants and bars, including The Peak Wine and Grill on the rooftop with fantastic views across Chiang Rai.

Rooms often start from around $80 USD per night, which we think is fantastic value for everything you get here.

If The Riverie is full, The Legend Boutique River Resort & Spa is another beautiful choice. It has a more traditional Lanna feel, with tropical gardens and an inviting pool that overlooks the river.

We also recommend Kahavadi Chiang Rai if you want something brand new. This Hilton Curio Collection property opened in July 2026 and combines Lanna-inspired design with a riverside setting, with a gorgeous outdoor pool and some lovely cultural touches throughout the hotel.

Chainarai Riverside – $

If you want the peaceful riverside setting without paying resort prices, Chainarai Riverside is an excellent budget option. The hotel mixes traditional Lanna influences with more modern design, and every room has its own private balcony overlooking the Kok River.

There’s also an outdoor pool and plenty of open space around the property, so you still get that relaxing resort feel even though you’re paying a lot less. We especially like this one if you’re planning to spend most of your days exploring and just want somewhere peaceful to come back to.

Rooms can start from around $40 USD per night, making this one of the best-value riverside stays in Chiang Rai.

Central Plaza

BEST FOR VALUE & SHOPPING

Pros

• Hotels tend to be more modern and affordable
• Handy for Central Plaza and attractions south of the city

Cons

• Not very walkable for sightseeing
• Less atmosphere than the City Center

Central Plaza and the southern side of Chiang Rai are a good choice if you care more about value and convenience than staying somewhere super atmospheric. The hotels here tend to be newer and more spacious for the price, and you’ve got Central Chiang Rai right nearby for shopping and coffee! 

We think this area works particularly well if you’ve got a rental car. You’re already on the southern side of the city, so getting out to places like the White Temple and Singha Park is really easy, and you can avoid driving through the center every time you head out sightseeing. The traffic here doesn’t get gridlocked like it does in Bangkok, but it’s still nice to be able to avoid it.

The trade-off is that this area doesn’t really have the same character as central Chiang Rai. You won’t be wandering out of your hotel and straight into night markets or little local restaurants, and you’ll probably use Grab or a taxi when you want to spend an evening in the center.

But if you want a comfortable hotel for a good price and don’t mind not being able to walk everywhere, this area makes so much sense!

The Heritage – $$

If you want a hotel that feels a little more upscale without paying luxury prices, The Heritage is our top pick around Central Plaza. It’s a large, modern hotel with Lanna-inspired design, and the rooms are very spacious. There’s even a hotel shuttle to Central Plaza, which is handy if shopping is high on your agenda!

There’s also a big outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a jogging track through the gardens. We think this is a particularly good option if you want the facilities of a larger hotel but don’t necessarily need to be right in the middle of the old center.

Rooms can start from around $65 USD per night, so you get a lot for your money here.

If The Heritage is fully booked, Grand Vista Hotel is another excellent option just a few minutes’ walk from Central Plaza. It has a saltwater pool and the rooms are modern, but still very Lanna-inspired, and some of them even offer direct pool access! 

We also like The Mantrini, which is just steps away from Central Plaza. It’s super convenient, but it feels very peaceful inside, with a leafy garden and outdoor pool tucked away from the main road.

Laluna Hotel And Resort – $

We love Laluna Hotel And Resort because it’s affordable, but it still has a bona fide resort feel! And instead of one big hotel block, the property is made up of 79 bungalows hidden among tropical gardens, so it feels much greener and more boutique than you might expect at this price point.

The huge lagoon-style pool is the real highlight, and there’s also a Jacuzzi, restaurant, bar, and poolside massage service. All in all, we think it delivers amazing value for money. 

Rooms can start from around $50 USD per night, making this one of our favorite budget stays in southern Chiang Rai.

If Laluna is full, Palin Family Cottage is a lovely little alternative with just 12 rooms. It has a much more personal, homely feel, with garden views and larger family suites if you need a bit more space.

Top Activities in Chiang Rai 

Now that you know where to stay in Chiang Rai, it’s time to plan the fun stuff! Between the colorful temples, tea plantations, waterfalls, and incredible Thai food, there’s plenty to keep you busy. These are a few of our favorite experiences to add to your Chiang Rai itinerary:

• See Chiang Rai’s top sights in one day – This full-day tour packs all of the must-see attractions in Chiang Rai into just one day! Yup, you’ll get to see the White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House Museum, Choui Fong Tea Plantation, the Golden Triangle, and more. It’s perfect if you’re short on time and want to see loads without figuring out all the transport yourself. 

• Learn to cook Thai food like a local – We LOVE Thai food, so this half-day cooking class is right up our street! You’ll start with a visit to a local market to pick up fresh ingredients, then learn to make dishes like papaya salad, tom yum soup, green curry, and banana in coconut milk. Best of all, you get to sit down and eat everything you’ve made afterward!

• Go trekking through hot springs and waterfalls – This full-day trekking tour takes you on an adventure through the jungle, with chances to soak in hot springs and cool off at secret waterfalls along the way. One of the coolest parts of the day has to be lunch, which is cooked the traditional way inside bamboo over an open fire! You’ll also get to visit small local villages and even a tea plantation, so it’s a fun and active way to see a different side of Chiang Rai.

Thanks for reading!

From wandering between Chiang Rai’s colorful temples to eating our way through the Night Bazaar and exploring the mountains beyond the city, there’s a lot packed into this laid-back corner of northern Thailand. Whether you want the convenience of the City Center, a relaxing escape along the river, or a great-value hotel near Central Plaza, each area offers a very different way to experience the city.

Hopefully, this guide has made choosing where to stay in Chiang Rai a whole lot easier! While you’re planning your trip, be sure to check out our other Thailand blogs for more itineraries, tours, and travel tips. Or keep reading with a few of our favorite guides below!

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