Sawasdee kha! (Or hello in Thai).
Chiang Mai is one of the best destinations for exploring the culture of Northern Thailand. I visited Chiang Mai in 2024, and I can say it remains one of my favorite cities in Southeast Asia.
I’m here to help you narrow down your hostel of choice in Chiang Mai so you can quit worrying and start drooling over all the pad thai you’re going to eat.
After backpacking through Southeast Asia, I’ve gotten pretty good at recognizing the best hostel chains and knowing what amenities are best in a hostel. For many people, this includes things like swimming pools, air conditioning, private room versus dorm options. Solo travelers, however, should also look at social activities, common areas and the right vibe for their travel style.
I’ve created this guide to the best hostels in Chiang Mai for solo travelers. I’ve broken down these hostels into different categories so you can choose which type of hostel best matches your lifestyle.
On to the recommendations!
The Short Answer: Best Hostels in Chiang Mai for Solo Travelers
- Best Overall Hostel: Hostel Lullaby
- Best Party Hostel: Stamps Backpackers
- Best Chill Hostel: About a Bed
- Best Digital Nomad Hostel: Give Me 5
- Best Cheap Hostel: Family 2 Home
Best Overall Hostel: Hostel Lullaby
Hostel Lullaby is a stylish hostel located in the heart of Chiang Mai old town. This hostel has a great mix of social activities and chill, quiet spaces. It’s a convenient location to stay during your time in Chiang Mai.
It isn’t a party hostel; however, it’s social. They offer a lot of activities that give residents ample opportunities to get to know each other.
They have a lovely living room and garden for you to hang out in as you please.
They offer mixed gender dorm beds, female-only dorm beds as well as private rooms.
During my trip to Chiang Mai in 2024, I stayed in a couple of different hostels. This one was my favorite. You can read more about my experience here.
Pricing starts at $13/night.
Best Party Hostel: Stamps Backpackers
At Stamps, they understand the desire to travel as far and as long as possible. Their philosophy is to offer the best overall experience in Chiang Mai at a reasonable price (to keep you on budget).
They are definitely social and know how to party. With events like daily contests, tours and activities, they bring people together. The social activities are arranged nightly to bring travelers together to make lifelong friendships.
However, what’s nice about Stamps is that they only let the party linger in the hostel until midnight or so. Meaning you can still get a good night’s sleep if you don’t want to go out on the town after.
They offer mixed bed dorms that are very unique – instead of bunk beds, they are individual beds with their own curtain. Great for privacy!
Stamps Hostel was also one of the places I stayed during my trip to Chiang Mai in 2024. You can read my complete review about my experience for more details.
Pricing starts at $10/night.
Best Chill Hostel: About a Bed
About a Bed’s selling point is its peaceful atmosphere and clean dorms. It’s very safe and accessible to other areas in Chiang Mai. However, it’s not the most social.
Breakfast is not included (nor do they serve it), but they do provide free coffee and tea. There’s a communal kitchen/fridge so you can store leftovers there.
That being said, the staff is extremely kind and it is a great place to chill out after a long day wandering around town.
They offer 6-bed female dorms, 4-bed female dorms, as well as the same options for mixed gender dorms.
I actually stayed here during my trip to Chiang Mai in 2024. You can read my complete review about my experience for more details.
Pricing starts at $12/night.
Best Digital Nomad Hostel: Give Me 5
Located in the Old City, Give Me 5 is just a short walk from the famous Thapae Gate as well as other major attractions.
Each bunk is equipped with a privacy curtain, personal light, and charging station. The rooms are air-conditioned and kept clean.
They offer private rooms as well as 4-bed dorms, 6-bed dorms and 8-bed dorms.
As a quiet hostel, this would be perfect for digital nomads looking for a reliable place to sleep and work.
Pricing starts at $10/night.
Best Cheap Hostel: Family 2 Home
True to its name, Family 2 Home treats all guests like family.
Each bed comes with your choice of air-conditioning or a fan, plus convenient wall power outlets for all your devices. You’ll also have your own locker and bedside light for added comfort.
They offer standard mixed gender 6-bed dorms, 10-bed dorms and 12-bed dorms.
In addition, they host fun group activities to create a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Pricing starts at $6/night.
What to Look for in a Chiang Mai Hostel
Location
The best hostel for you should have a good location. This can vary based on what you want to do in Chiang Mai, so I highly recommend narrowing down what you want to see before you choose your hostel.
There are typically two areas for backpackers in Chiang Mai.
- Inside the Old City – The Old City is the historic heart of Chiang Mai, surrounded by ancient walls and a moat. It’s a great area for first-time visitors due to its central location and easy access to major attractions.
- Outside the Old City – Located outside the walls, this area is very local. However, it is farther away from major attractions.
My personal recommendation is inside the Old City. Staying here will mean you’re within walking distance to major attractions and the best food.
Price
Budget is always a priority, and I know some hostels can be cost prohibitive. Make sure you know what your nightly budget is before you start looking at hostels (I’ve often caught myself looking at the fanciest ones only to realize they’re out of budget).
In Chiang Mai, you get what you pay for. That being said, fortunately Chiang Mai is an affordable destination, so you shouldn’t have any issues finding a reasonably priced hostel.
Services and Amenities
Finding an affordable and well-located hostel is important, but what about amenities?
Well, it’s fair to say that some amenities are a need-to-have versus nice-to-have. Which amenities fall into which category depends on the traveler.
For example, is a pool something you need? Could you choose a different hostel without a pool and save a little bit of money?
Some services, like free WiFi, are need-to-haves in this day and age. The good news is Chiang Mai has so many good hostels that you won’t have any problems snagging the amenities you want.
Tips for Solo Travelers When Choosing a Chiang Mai Hostel
Below are a collection of best practices I’ve learned from booking hostels in Chiang Mai as a solo female traveler.
- Use HostelWorld to gather information and easily compare/contrast different hostels.
- Write a list of what you want to do in Chiang Mai and look at where those activities are located. Choose a hostel close to your top activities.
- Double check if the hostel has a website – you may be able to find a cheaper rate.
- Don’t worry about booking your hostel out too far in advance. Generally, a week is okay.
- Know before you go how they accept payment. Do they take card? Is it cash only?
I hope this has helped you narrow down your hostel of choice in Chiang Mai, Thailand!
