Where to Stay in Chiang Mai With Kids: Best Areas for First-Time Visitors

Choosing where to stay in Chiang Mai can have a much bigger impact on your trip than many families realise.

Unlike Chiang Rai, where most attractions are concentrated in a relatively small area, Chiang Mai is larger and more spread out. The best area for your family depends on whether you prioritise temples, markets, nightlife, day trips or simply finding a hotel with enough space to relax after a busy day.

Quick Answer: Where Is the Best Area to Stay in Chiang Mai With Kids?

For most first-time visitors with children, I'd recommend either:

• Old Town – best for sightseeing, temples and walking access to attractions.

• Nimman – best for cafés, modern restaurants and a more relaxed atmosphere.

• Just outside the centre – best if you have a car and want more space and better value.

We stayed at Grand Napat Serviced Apartments, just outside the city centre, and it worked brilliantly for our family. We had more space than a typical hotel room, easy access to the Old Town, and none of the noise that comes with staying in the busiest tourist areas.

This guide covers the main areas to stay in Chiang Mai, the pros and cons of each, and the hotels I'd consider for families visiting northern Thailand.

Just a quick note: some links throughout this guide are affiliate links. This doesn't affect the price you pay, and we only recommend hotels we'd happily book ourselves

Chiang Mai Old Town: Best for First-Time Visitors

If it's your first visit to Chiang Mai, the Old Town is the easiest area to recommend.

This is the historic heart of the city, surrounded by ancient walls and a moat, and home to many of Chiang Mai's best-known attractions. Staying here puts you within walking distance of famous temples such as Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang, as well as the Sunday Walking Street Market, cafés, restaurants and street food stalls.

What makes the Old Town particularly appealing for families is the convenience. You can spend the morning visiting a temple, stop for lunch at a local café, browse a market and grab an ice cream or smoothie, all without needing to arrange transport. We found this style of sightseeing worked much better with Joshua than constantly jumping between attractions in taxis.

If you're planning to spend most of your time exploring Chiang Mai's cultural highlights, it's hard to beat the location. Many of the attractions featured in Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai With Kids are either within the Old Town itself or only a short journey away.

Hotel Options in Chiang Mai Old Town

• Budget: POR Thapae Gate – modern, family-friendly and in a great location for exploring on foot.

• Mid-Range: 99 The Heritage Hotel – a popular boutique hotel close to Chiang Mai's main temples and markets.

• Higher-End: The Inside House – one of Chiang Mai's standout luxury hotels, with beautiful rooms and private pool options.

The biggest advantage of staying in the Old Town is being able to walk out of your hotel and immediately start exploring. The trade-off is that hotels here tend to be smaller boutique properties with fewer family-focused facilities than you'll find in some of Chiang Mai's larger resorts. For families prioritising sightseeing over hotel time, however, it's one of the best locations in the city.

Nimman: Best for Cafés, Restaurants and Modern Chiang Mai

If you prefer modern hotels, easy dining options and a more contemporary side of Chiang Mai, Nimman is a great choice.

Located just west of the Old Town, this neighbourhood is known for its:

• Trendy cafés and coffee shops

• Shopping centres, including Maya Lifestyle Mall

• Modern restaurants and family-friendly dining

• Dessert cafés and bakeries

• Easy access to Doi Suthep

It feels very different from the historic Old Town. Instead of ancient temples and narrow streets, you'll find tree-lined roads, modern hotels and plenty of places to eat within a short walk of your hotel.

For families, Nimman can work particularly well if you enjoy having lots of restaurant choices nearby. It's also a good base if you're planning day trips such as Doi Suthep or Doi Inthanon National Park.

Hotel Options in Nimman

• Mid-Range: U Nimman Chiang Mai – one of the most popular family-friendly hotels in the area, directly opposite Maya Mall.

• Higher-End: Akyra Manor Chiang Mai – stylish boutique hotel with larger rooms and a rooftop pool.

The biggest advantage of Nimman is convenience. If your family enjoys eating out, grabbing smoothies, browsing shops and having plenty of options nearby, it's hard to beat. The trade-off is that you'll need transport to reach many of Chiang Mai's historic attractions, whereas in the Old Town you can simply walk out of your hotel and start exploring.

Just Outside the Centre: Best Value for Families

This is the option we chose. Rather than paying a premium to stay in the busiest tourist areas, we based ourselves at Grand Napat Serviced Apartments, a short drive from Chiang Mai Old Town.

For families, this area offers:

• Larger rooms and apartments

• Separate living space

• Kitchen facilities

• Swimming pools

• Easier parking

• Better value for money

What worked particularly well for us was the extra space. After busy days exploring temples, markets and attractions, it was nice to return somewhere that felt more like an apartment than a standard hotel room. We also had a hire car for part of the trip, so staying slightly outside the centre made parking and getting around much easier.

It's a particularly good area if you're planning day trips such as Doi Inthanon National Park or exploring northern Thailand by car. Planning a trip to Thailand's highest mountain? See Doi Inthanon National Park With Kids: Waterfalls, Views & Family Tips for our favourite Chiang Mai day trip.

Hotel Options Just Outside the Centre

• Budget: The Grand Wipanan Residence – spacious rooms, family-friendly layout and excellent value.

• Mid-Range: Grand Napat Serviced Apartments – where we stayed, offering apartments, a pool and plenty of space for families.

• Higher-End: Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel – larger rooms, excellent facilities and a more resort-style feel while still being close to the city.

For families who don't need to walk straight out of their hotel into the Old Town, I think this area offers some of the best value accommodation in Chiang Mai. We spent very little time in our hotel during the day, so having more space and a pool was far more useful than being right in the middle of the tourist district.

If you're planning to rely on walking and Grab taxis, I'd probably stay in the Old Town or Nimman instead. However, if you're hiring a car and plan to explore the wider Chiang Mai area, I think staying just outside the centre offers some of the best value accommodation in the city.

Read our full Grand Napat Serviced Apartments Chiang Mai Review.

Riverside: Best for a Relaxed Family Stay

The Riverside area sits along the Ping River, just outside Chiang Mai's historic centre. It offers a very different feel from both the Old Town and Nimman, with wider streets, larger hotels, riverside cafés and a much calmer atmosphere.

This area is particularly popular with families looking for:

• Riverside restaurants and cafés

• Larger hotels with pools

• More green space

• Quieter surroundings

• A slower pace than the Old Town

You don't necessarily need a car if you stay here. Grab taxis are readily available, and most attractions are only a short journey away. However, if you're planning day trips such as Doi Inthanon National Park or exploring more of northern Thailand, a car can still be useful.

Hotel Options in the Riverside Area

• Mid-Range: Cross Chiang Mai Riverside – modern riverside hotel with spacious rooms, a family-friendly atmosphere and a rooftop pool.

• Higher-End: Anantara Chiang Mai Resort – one of Chiang Mai's best-known luxury hotels, offering riverside views, excellent facilities and plenty of space for families.

• Luxury: 137 Pillars House – a beautiful boutique property with larger suites and a peaceful setting close to the river.

The Riverside area works particularly well if you see your hotel as part of the holiday rather than simply somewhere to sleep. While you'll spend a little longer getting to the temples and markets than if you stayed in the Old Town, many families find the quieter surroundings and larger hotels more than make up for it.

How many days do you need in Chiang Mai?

I'd recommend 3–5 days for most families.

This gives you enough time to explore the Old Town, visit a few temples, experience the night markets, take a trip up to Doi Suthep, and enjoy at least one day trip such as Doi Inthanon National Park or an ethical elephant sanctuary. If your children enjoy more active experiences, it also leaves room for attractions such as Sticky Waterfall, a cooking class or the Grand Canyon Water Park.

If you're combining northern Thailand destinations like we did, you can still see many of Chiang Mai's highlights in 2–3 days. See Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai With Kids: A 3-Day Northern Thailand Itinerary to see exactly how we split our time between the two destinations and what we'd prioritise if visiting again.

Final Verdict: Where Should Families Stay in Chiang Mai?

If you're visiting Chiang Mai for the first time:

• Old Town → Best for temples and sightseeing.

• Nimman → Best for cafés, restaurants and a modern atmosphere.

• Grand Napat / Outside the Centre → Best if you have a car, want value and space.

• Riverside → Best for a more relaxed resort-style experience.

Personally, if I were travelling again with a child around Joshua's age, I'd probably still choose Grand Napat Serviced Apartments or a similar family-friendly hotel just outside the centre. It gave us the flexibility to explore Chiang Mai while still having enough space to relax, which ultimately made the trip easier and more enjoyable for the whole family.

FAQs About Staying in Chiang Mai With Kids

What is the best area to stay in Chiang Mai with kids?

For most first-time visitors, I'd recommend either Chiang Mai Old Town or an area just outside the centre. The Old Town is best for walking to temples, markets and restaurants, while areas outside the centre often offer larger rooms, better value and more family-friendly facilities.

Do you need a car in Chiang Mai?

No. Most families can get around easily using Grab taxis, organised tours and the occasional songthaew. If you're staying in the Old Town or Nimman, you can often walk to restaurants, cafés and some attractions without needing a vehicle.

However, if you're planning to visit attractions such as Doi Inthanon National Park, explore northern Thailand at your own pace or combine Chiang Mai with Chiang Rai like we did, a hire car provides much more flexibility. We found staying just outside the centre worked particularly well because we had a car and weren't relying on taxis for every journey.

For our experience hiring and driving a car in northern Thailand, see Driving in Chiang Mai: Is It Safe, Easy and Worth It for Families? where I cover road conditions, hiring a car, costs and whether I'd recommend it for families.

Is it better to stay in Old Town or Nimman with kids?

If it's your first visit to Chiang Mai, I'd choose Old Town for the convenience of being close to temples, markets and major attractions. If your family prefers modern cafés, shopping centres and restaurants, Nimman may suit you better.

Which Chiang Mai area is best for families visiting Doi Inthanon?

Families planning day trips to Doi Inthanon National Park may find staying just outside the city centre more convenient, particularly if hiring a car. This gives you easier access to the main roads while still being only a short drive from Chiang Mai's attractions.

If you're planning a visit, see Doi Inthanon National Park With Kids: Waterfalls, Views & Family Tips.

What are the best things to do near Chiang Mai's family-friendly hotels?

That depends on where you stay.

• Old Town: Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Sunday Walking Street Market, cafés and street food are all within walking distance.

• Nimman: Maya Mall, cafés, restaurants, dessert shops and easy access to Doi Suthep.

• Just Outside the Centre: Convenient for day trips such as Doi Inthanon National Park and exploring northern Thailand by car.

• Riverside: Riverside restaurants, river cruises, larger hotels and a quieter atmosphere while remaining close to the city.

For a full breakdown of the attractions we enjoyed most, see Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai With Kids

plan your TRIP TO chiang mai

If you’re planning your family trip to Chiang Mai, these guides will help you pull everything together:

About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.