If you are interested in coming to Thailand, it is likely you will want to know about the best neighborhoods for remote workers in Chiang Mai. After all, this is northern Thailand’s biggest city and an increasingly popular hub for remote workers and tourists from across the world. Indeed, there is a lot going on across Chiang Mai, and a rapidly-developing tourist infrastructure has meant different parts of the city have distinct things to offer to visitors and remote workers. Wherever you decide to live in Chiang Mai, you can count on a lively experience filled with markets, amazing street food and a palpable sense of culture and spirituality. Below, we highlight some amazing neighborhoods for remote workers in Chiang Mai.
Certainly the heart of Chiang Mai, the Old City is the city’s touristic and cultural center. It will be the best neighborhood for remote workers in Chiang Mai looking to be at the center of all the action in town, and close to the main cultural attractions here. Chiang Mai’s Old City is walled and moated in testament to its history as the spiritual center of the region. Here you will find centuries-old Buddhist temples such as Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang, and be mesmerized by the many elaborate shrines and ornate gates around the area. The Old City has high-end restaurants and cafes as well as several Western-style restaurants, and is constantly crowded with tourists and visitors. This will be an expensive area, but expect good services and excellent links to the rest of the city by foot, Songthaew and Tuk-Tuk.
This will be the best neighborhood for remote workers in Chiang Mai looking to be near the city’s best cafes and coworking spaces. Nimmanhaenim is Chiang Mai’s main shopping district and here you will find the city’s upscale department stores, as well as the Think Park Mall with more authentic stores and a local crafts market. This area is also extremely popular with the city’s remote worker community because of the many modern and avant-garde coffee-shops in the area, as well as the many coworking spaces to have recently popped up. Don’t expect the cultural attractions of the Old City here, but do expect to find chic bars and the heart of the city’s vibrant nightlife scene for visitors in Nimmanhaenim. Rental prices here can vary widely.
The Night Bazaar area is the city’s most characteristic part and certainly the best neighborhood for remote workers in Chiang Mai who are passionate about street food and local culture. The Night Bazaar is the pulsating heart of Chiang Mai’s commercial activity, filled with crafts, food and clothing you will certainly find yourself walking the streets of the area many times during your time in the city. Culturally, the Night Bazaar area is always vibrant with street performances and live music throughout the week. The area is also perfectly located right between the Old City and the upscale Riverside area, and rents here will certainly be more affordable.
On the western banks of the Mae Ping River is the beautiful and upscale Riverside area. This part of town houses some of the city’s best fine-dining options as well as delicious local food markets. Riverside is attractive to remote workers looking for a more relaxing area to stay in Chiang Mai, away from the tourist crowds around the Old City and the bustling aisles of the Night Bazaar. Indeed, Riverside is also home to the city’s best spas and massage parlors, as well as the Chiang Mai’s unmissable flower markets. Local eateries and cafes along the river solidify this neighborhood’s position as one of the best for remote workers in the city.
Located across the river on the eastern banks of the Mae Ping River, Wat Ket will be one of the best neighborhoods for remote workers in Chiang Mai looking for a relaxed alternative away from tourists. Wat Ket is still easily reachable from the Old City and the Night Bazaar by Tuk-Tuk but certainly feels distinct with a more laid-back atmosphere palpable at the many local seafood restaurants and small cafes around the area. Wat Ket preserves much of the city’s cultural and spiritual significance also, with many elaborate temples visible around the neighborhood, as well as several elephant sanctuaries. For breathtaking views of the city from across the river, this is the place to be.
For more information about living in Chiang Mai as a remote worker, check out our complete Chiang Mai guide.