Where To Stay In Chiang Mai For Female Solo Travellers

I currently live in Chiang Mai and I have made a few mistakes in the past month. Because I knew I wanted to stay long term, I chose a quieter area far from the centre.

On paper it seemed like a great idea, but in reality it is not walkable at all and I do not want to rely on grabs every time I want a coffee or a meal.

After staying in different neighbourhoods and getting frustrated more than once, I finally know exactly where I should have stayed and why.

If you are a solo traveller and you want convenience, comfort and something fun to look forward to when you need a little pick-me-up, Nimman is the place I keep coming back to. It is not only the shops and cute restaurants.

There is always something happening. Live music, events, little activities that make you feel part of the city.

I will also go through other areas because Chiang Mai has very different neighbourhoods and each one can work depending on your plans.

Accommodation Overview:

Top Hotel Pick	What It Is Like	Price
CHINO NIMMAN Luxury Boutique Hotel	Stylish rooms, fresh design and a cute courtyard pool.	From $177 👉 See rooms
AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai	Big suites, a great rooftop pool and a very comfortable feel.	Around $200 👉 View prices
The Inside House	Elegant stay with beautiful rooms and impressive pool suites.	From $546 👉 Book now
Makka Hotel	Thoughtful design, cosy corners and a lovely upstairs library.	From $131 👉 Check deals
Sabai Sabai Chiangmai	Modern rooms, a nice pool and very good value for money.	From $55 👉 See offers
Khunluang Hostel	Clean dorms, bigger beds and a tidy quiet space to rest.	From $10 👉 Book a bed
Shangri La Chiang Mai	Five star comfort with a huge pool and consistently great service.	From $191 👉 Check prices

Best Areas To Look For In Chiang Mai

I recommend Nimman because it is lively, convenient and full of cafés, restaurants and little things to do at any time of the week, which is ideal if you are travelling alone and want a bit of company around you.

Old Town is perfect for first-timers. Because you can walk to temples, cafés and night markets without thinking about transport, but it is busy and very touristy.

Jed Yod is completely different. I lived there for a while as an expat and it is incredibly quiet with a lot of slow local life to observe. You see families going about their day, little noodle shops opening in the afternoon and neighbours chatting outside their houses.

It works really well if you are staying for a long time or if you are moving here, especially if you have a scooter. But it is not ideal for a short visit because everything is far, the cafés close early and the walk to Nimman takes at least thirty minutes.

Below are some safe, central and comfortable places. I added a short description, the location and the starting price so you can compare easily.

CHINO NIMMAN Luxury Boutique Hotel

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Location: Nimman

The CHINO NIMMAN Hotel is a great pick if you want something stylish right in the centre of Nimman. The rooms look beautiful and everything feels new and very well looked after.

Some of them have balconies facing the courtyard pool which is really nice after a full day out. The staff are friendly and the location is honestly perfect. You can walk to Maya Mall, One Nimman and so many cafés in just a few minutes.

A night here usually starts at $177, and the rooms sell out fast during busy weeks.

👉 Check availability at CHINO NIMMAN Luxury Boutique Hotel. The location is unbeatable and being able to walk everywhere made my days so much easier.

AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai

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Location: Between Nimman area

The AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai is the hotel I always point people to when they want something comfortable in Chiang Mai. The rooftop pool has an incredible sunset view with the sun disappearing behind the big mountain and it is such a nice way to end the day.

The suites are huge, very clean and everything looks new and well kept. There is a restaurant downstairs and a small rooftop bar for the evening. It is close enough to Nimman to walk, which is great if you want all the cafés nearby without staying right in the middle of everything.

Prices go around $200 per night, depending on the season and room chosen. Sometimes they have really good deals, including on black friday!

👉 Book a room at AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai before it sells out! The rooftop pool view at sunset is honestly one of the nicest in the city.

Inside House

Location: Old Town

The Inside House is one of the most beautiful stays in Old Town and it works really well if you are travelling alone and want to feel properly looked after.

The rooms are stunning and some of the suites have private pools that look incredible in real life. The staff are very attentive which is something I always appreciate when I am staying by myself.

The breakfast is huge with so many options and everything is delicious. The location is great because you can walk to temples and cafés without needing any transport.

It is a premium stay and the pool suites usually start at $546, but if you want to treat yourself for a night or two during your trip, this is a very special place.

👉 Check The Inside House here. It is expensive, but the private pool suites and the attention to detail make it a real treat if you want to spoil yourself on this trip.

Makka Hotel

Location: Old Town

Makka Hotel has a really beautiful design with lots of natural details and cosy corners that make the whole place feel thoughtful and welcoming.

The rooms are simple but very comfortable and everything is kept in great condition. I completely fell in love with their library upstairs. It looks amazing and has the kind of sofas where I could easily fall asleep while holding a book.

Even though you are right in the centre of Old Town, the whole place feels like a little retreat. The breakfast is very good and the staff are lovely, which makes it a great pick if you are travelling alone. Stays here usually start at $131, especially for the suites which are the most popular option.

👉 Check Makka Hotel here. The library upstairs alone makes it stand out from many other places in Old Town.

Sabai Sabai Chiangmai

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Location: Between Old Town and Nimman

Sabai Sabai Chiangmai is a very good value option if you want something clean, modern and not too far from either Old Town or Nimman.

The rooms are spacious, the beds are really comfortable and everything is kept in good condition. The pool area is lovely and has a great mountain backdrop which gives you a nice change from the busy streets.

There is also a small fitness room which is handy if you like having that extra facility during your stay. Staff are extremely friendly and helpful which makes the whole experience feel very easy. Stays here usually start at $55 which is great if you want comfort without spending too much.

👉 Check Sabai Sabai Chiangmai here. The value for money is genuinely one of the best in this part of Chiang Mai.

Khun Luang Hostel

Location: Old Town

Khun Luang Hostel is a boutique style hostel with clean dorms, warm design touches and bigger beds than most hostels in Chiang Mai.

The bathrooms are separated by gender and everything is kept very tidy which many solo females appreciate. The location is one of the best parts because you are right in Old Town and can walk to temples, cafés and the Sunday market in just a few minutes.

It is not a party style hostel, so it works well if you want a reliable and comfortable base without the loud hostel vibe. Dorm beds usually start at $10 which is excellent value for this area.

👉 Check Khunluang Hostel here. The dorms are clean, the beds are comfy and the communal space downstairs is handy if you want a quick spot to sit before heading out!

Shangri-La Chiang Mai

Location: Chang Khlan

I really like Shangri-La because I had a great experience with the one in Bangkok too, so I already knew what to expect.

The service is consistently high and I appreciate that even more when I travel alone. The rooms are spacious, the beds are very comfortable and the pool is huge if you want a proper swim. Some people get a day pass only to use the gym even if they are not staying at the hotel – that’s how nice the pool is!

The gym is also very good and the location is convenient for the Night Bazaar and quick rides to Old Town. Stays usually start around $191.

👉 Check Shangri La Chiang Mai here. I trust this brand and the service has always been great for me when I travel alone.

Some Tips For Your Accommodation

Tap water is not drinkable!

You cannot drink tap water in Chiang Mai, so plan this before you arrive. I usually buy the big water tanks from the supermarket and bring them to my room with Grab scooter or car.

They are cheap and last a long time. You can also order water deliveries which is even easier if you are staying for more than a week. Having the big tanks in your room means you can fill up your bottle (I use this one) whenever you want without buying plastic bottles every day.

Get cash

Chiang Mai still runs very much on cash. Many cafés, small shops, street vendors and massage places only take cash. Even the ones that accept cards usually add a fee between 3% and 5%.

I withdraw from the green ATM machines outside seven eleven or the big supermarkets. They are everywhere and very simple to use. It is always better to have cash on you before you go to a market or any local food spot.

Get a swimming pool if you can

Chiang Mai gets very hot, especially from February to May, and there is no sea anywhere near the city. If your budget allows it, staying somewhere with a pool makes a big difference.

Even a quick deep in the afternoon is incredibly refreshing. It is one of the nicest ways to reset your energy if you have been walking around temples or moving between cafés all day.

Choose the right time of the year

Avoid the smoke season if you can. The air quality gets really bad from around February to April, sometimes earlier or later depending on the year.

Many travellers leave Chiang Mai during this time. If you have flexibility, come outside of these months so you can enjoy the city properly without worrying about the air.

Hot water in your bathroom

Do not worry if the water from your bathroom sink is cold. Most places in Chiang Mai are built like this.

The heater is usually connected only to the shower, not the sinks.

In my apartment for example, I have hot water in the shower but none in the kitchen sink or the bathroom sink. It surprised me at first, but it is completely normal here and also common in other parts of Southeast Asia.

FAQs

Where I’d Stay Again And Why

If I could choose all over again, I would stay at AMANOR Hotel. The rooftop sunsets stayed in my head for days and the suites were so comfortable that I actually looked forward to going back to my room in the evening.

It is close enough to Nimman to walk everywhere and still quiet when you want your own time. It just worked well for me and it made my days in Chiang Mai so much easier.

👉 Check availability here

Ciao for now,

Silvia x

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