Often referred to as Thailand’s “second city”, loved by locals for its creative spirit and serene ambience, Chiang Mai is a place where ancient meets modern. On first impression it doesn’t seem particularly large, as its buildings are mostly low-rise, but it’s a wide metropolis, hemmed in by the mountains, jungle, river and rice fields that surround it. The close proximity to nature is a large part of Chiang Mai’s appeal, as are the reams of medieval architecture, cool live music venues, thriving art galleries and hundreds of beautiful temples – the north of Thailand being home to a deeply Buddhist population.
A vibrant university town and the kingdom’s capital of culture in the north, it’s also known for its delectable local food, hiking trails and its lovely inhabitants. While it’s long been a favourite with yogis, digital nomads and backpackers, recent years have seen Chiang Mai’s high-end hotel scene boom, with many properties making the most of elegant heritage buildings. Here is our pick of where to stay in Chiang Mai.
