Chiang Mai is the country’s second-largest city and the antidote to the chaos of Bangkok. Historically the seat of the Lanna Kingdom, modern-day Chiang Mai is now a popular destination for tourists of all stripes, from budget-minded adventurers to retirees in search of a quieter lifestyle and aid workers.

Numerous visitors either come back multiple times or extend their stays here well beyond the initial planned duration. Whether you’re in the city for the trekking adventure of a lifetime or to have your spiritual awakening at one of the many temples, you’ll be captivated by the city’s energy.

There is a wide variety of cultural and culinary experiences available within the city itself, from cooking lessons to temple tours, from upscale dining to delicious street fare. However, the mountains beyond its borders are home to pristine wilderness, incredible wildlife, and isolated locals. Chiang Mai is full of exciting sights, and we have compiled a list of the best ones for you to visit.

Ping Nakara Boutique Hotel & Spa was built in 2009, but this Lanna colonial-style hotel draws inspiration from Chiang Mai’s long history with the teak industry. Its candy-colored facade is modeled after Chiang Mai’s merchant houses from the turn of the 20th century.

All 19 rooms at this three-story hotel are named after flowers and feature teakwood furniture and other accessories evocative of the colonial era, while also benefiting from modern conveniences like free Wi-Fi and a pillow menu. There is an infinity pool on the premises, as well as a reading room and a restaurant serving authentic Thai cuisine inspired by recipes from the Teak Wallah era, as well as afternoon tea.

Located directly opposite the historic Tha Pae Gate, Phaya Naya, a legendary sea creature credited with assisting Thai kings in the construction of the city, is honored in the hotel’s name. The hotel is built in the traditional style of the Lanna Kingdom, complete with a steep gabled roof that slopes down from an elongated pinnacle into curved, flame-shaped eaves. It is made of teak wood and stands on stilts.

De Naga Chiang Mai features a spa, pool, restaurant, gourmet bakery, and an art gallery showcasing the owner’s personal collection in addition to the standard guest rooms and the open-air Lover’s Court at the property’s center.

This all-suite hotel of the Chiang Mai brand is located on the banks of the Ping River, and it features 14 suites across three different categories, all of which look out over the pool and gardens. Additionally, The Chiang Mai Riverside Hotel offers two penthouse options, each of which has its own unique layout and view.

The Vorra Bistro, with its stunning riverside location, is known for its creative and environmentally conscious Italian and Thai fare. Attend a class at the hotel’s cooking school to learn more about Thai cuisine or go on a full- or half-day tour led by the hotel’s staff.

This resort in the rural north of Thailand is set on 60 acres and features traditional wooden rice barns, ancient palace-like structures, and colonial mansions, all of which are meant to evoke the era of the historic Lanna Kingdom.

The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai features a spa and wellness center, a shopping village, sightseeing tours, and a culinary academy, in addition to 123 private hideaways (suites) with views of the resort’s grassy terrace and landscaped swimming pool. Cantonese, French, Northern and Classic Thai, regional Italian, and international breakfast and Sunday brunch are just some of the cuisines available at the hotel’s six dining establishments.

This five-star hotel boasts panoramic city views from its towering location, which houses all 375 of its rooms and suites. A large outdoor swimming pool with a spacious sunbathing terrace and a poolside bar serving cocktails and light fare can be found on the third floor.

The Empress Hotel Chiang Mai also features a coffee shop serving an international breakfast buffet, the Imperial-style Panda Palace serving lunch and dinner, and the relaxed-but-vibrant Owl Club serving as a retro bar in the evenings.

This Old City Rachamankha Boutique Hotel, adjacent to the temple Wat Phra Singh, features 25 rooms, including 23 deluxe rooms and two exquisite suites, and exudes tranquility thanks to its colonnaded courtyards, which are inspired by the architecture of Northern Thailand. While the rooms feature antique-style furniture, guests also have access to modern conveniences like Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. The restaurant has an extensive wine list and serves traditional dishes honoring Lanna, Burmese, and Shan cuisines.

This low-rise U Hotels & Resorts property is located about 20 minutes from the Chiang Mai airport and is close to the shopping district of Tha Phae Road. The U Chiang Mai building also has historical significance because it was once the governor’s official residence in Chiang Mai. The hotel also offers a program called “U Choose,” which allows guests to pre-select some of the services they’ll receive during their stay.

This five-star hotel sits along Chang Klan Road, a major shopping drag in the city, and offers convenient access to both the Night Bazaar and the Chiang Mai International Airport. This Shangri-La Chiang Mai features a business center, spa, health club, yoga pavilion, and a kids’ corner, along with more than 250 guestrooms and suites and the Horizon Club’s 61 luxurious rooms.

A variety of outdoor amenities are available, including a swimming pool, a spa pavilion, and a tennis court. Thai and foreign cuisines are both represented in the restaurant scene. Kad Kafé, named after the Khmer word for market, offers a varied international buffet every day of the week, including breakfast.

Guests can choose from a variety of Cantonese and Szechuan dishes at China Kitchen, drinks and snacks at Dhala Pool Bar, and light fare, cocktails, and afternoon tea at the Lobby Lounge.

This Le Méridien Chiang Mai hotel, part of the Marriott family and located on Chang Klan Road, blends the European aesthetic of the hotel chain with elements evoking the era of the Lanna Kingdom, which is historically linked to the establishment of Chiang Mai. The hotel’s spa has eight treatment rooms where guests can enjoy massages, body spas, and holistic therapies like the traditional Lanna style. Most of the hotel’s 383 rooms reportedly have views of Doi Suthep Mountain.

There are also two outdoor pools, one of which is specifically designed for children, and a fitness center. The all-day Latest Recipe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner from a global menu, while the Italian-focused Favola is open only in the evenings.

The Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai is nestled within the Mae Rim Valley and rice paddies about half an hour from the hustle and bustle of central Chiang Mai. There are a total of 98 guest rooms spread across 64 pavilions, 12 pool villas, and 22 private residence rentals at this five-star resort. Its layout, with its pavilions overlooking the Doi Suthep Mountain range and its surrounding rice farm, is reminiscent of a traditional Thai village.

The spa is designed to look like a temple in northern Thailand, reminiscent of the Lanna Kingdom. It features both indoor and outdoor treatment areas, with the latter catering to children staying at the resort. The resort’s three restaurants, Terraces (casual Italian), KHAO by Four Seasons (Thai), and Rice Barn (upscale, street-food-themed dinner concept), all feature dishes made with regional ingredients. Open air is how you can best describe the Raintree Bar and Lounge.

Unique, classy, and well worth the extra money. You can tell you’ve arrived at the right place when you see arched bamboo plants at the entrance leading to an art-filled, curved corridor and a lobby stuffed with beautiful Thai furnishings. The colonial aesthetic is enhanced by the terracotta roofs, whitewashed walls, and wooden railings. The rooms are located in 2-story buildings that look out onto lush gardens with ivy, chrysanthemums, and a 200-year-old Tamarind tree serving as the hotel’s namesake.

Many of the rooms in Tamarind Village are dim due to the old-fashioned design with thick stone walls and few windows, but they all have charming colonial details and a bathroom with a copper sink hidden away in a rattan cupboard. The pool is spacious and shady, with lovely decking on either side. Visitors can participate in activities like flower weaving, street tours, and painting. It’s located 100 meters away from the hustle and bustle of the main road lined with tourist attractions in the heart of the Old City.

Good taste, friendly atmosphere, convenient location, and no shoes required. The entrance to this four-story boutique hotel Makkachiva is shaped like a temple, and the hotel’s lobby, corridors, and courtyard are all decorated with elegant Thai furnishings and vibrant works of art. The Deluxe Rooms feature a rocking chair and an extended desk in keeping with the Buddhist aesthetic, but strangely, no closet space.

The rooms with the raised arched ceilings on the top floor are the best option. Although the double-glazing helps, all rooms facing the front will be noisy from the traffic and the view of the temple across the street will be obstructed by electricity poles and wires. The hotel is narrow, unassuming, and simple to miss, despite its prime location on a lively street surrounded by restaurants and shops in the heart of the Old City.

Those are some of the hotel recommendations around Chiang Mai, Thailand. If you are interested in coming to Thailand and visiting Chiang Mai, don’t forget to book your ticket flights and also your hotel room only from Traveloka.