Chiang Mai – creative, relaxed & always worth a visit!

Through small alleys to Fenci Cafes ☕

🛵🌸 I've been there five times now , and each time I discover something new. Chiang Mai isn't just temples and tourists—it's also art, coffee, curves, and really good vibes. 🛺 🐘

🎨 Artists' town with soul

Chiang Mai feels like the more relaxed, alternative counterpart to Bangkok. Up here in the north, at the foot of the mountains , life is slower—but in a really good way. Small alleys are lined with galleries, handmade jewelry, secondhand shops, murals, and cafés with freshly roasted coffee. Many artists from all over Thailand (and the world) settle here, and it's noticeable. The city has style, but not in a fake way—more like the creative guy who always walks around barefoot and still looks cool. 😄🎨☕

Wassergraben um die Altstadt

🛕 The old town & the night market

Sure, the old part of town with its countless temples is beautiful. The walls and moats surrounding the old town give Chiang Mai its own unique character. But honestly? I love the Sunday Night Market the most . It stretches across half the city and is probably the largest night market in Thailand .

Here you can find:

• Handmade (really, not just Made-in-China stuff)

• Street food at its finest (Mango Sticky Rice! 🥭🍚)

• Live music

• Foot massages in the middle of the street

A feast for the senses – and yes, a little touristy, but in a charming way.

Sonntagsmarkt in der Altstadt

🛵 Out of the city – into adventure

What makes Chiang Mai truly special for me is what's around it . Rent a scooter (they're available everywhere – from small scooters to big bikes 🏍️, everything's there).

Just drive off :

• Through small villages where time seems to stand still

• To hidden temples on hills where you are often alone

• Over winding mountain roads where the wind blows your head clear

  
  

📍 Tip : The Samoeng Loop is a fantastic motorcycle route – around 100 km of pure riding fun through nature, hills, coffee plantations and small rest areas with views.

[Mini illustration of a scooter with a backpack on it].

📍 Tip: Paramotor flying, 🪂💨 not for the faint of heart but a unique experience in the clouds above the rice fields of Chiang Mai. If you book, you will be picked up from your hotel in Chiang Mai and taken about a 30-minute drive from the city, where there is a small airfield. Paramotoring is essentially the same as paragliding, but from flat land using a propeller engine.

Paramotor

You shouldn't miss the nightlife

🌃 🍹A good Thai dish in one of the countless small restaurants or perhaps something more upscale by the river—anything's possible. Afterwards, head to a cocktail bar for a nightcap or a trendy little bar in the old town with good live music. 🎶

🌿 Versatile like no other place

Chiang Mai is a place where you can:

• Eating avocado toast in a hip café in the morning 🥑

• eat an incredible Khao Soi for lunch 🍜

• stroll through galleries in the afternoon

• watching the sunset in the evening while meditating in the temple 🌅

Or just spend the whole day on your scooter and explore the area. 😎

🌤️ Unlike the rest of Thailand – the climate

A small but significant difference: The climate here is truly pleasant. From November to February, it's dry, sunny, and warm during the day—but it can get quite chilly in the evenings . So don't forget your hoodie! 🧥 Nothing compared to the oppressive heat in the south. For me: the perfect weather for traveling by motorcycle or

Scooter tours. 😆

Hotels:

🏨 Whether there are any hotels that I can recommend to you based on my own use and experiences.

Gategaa Village

The small boutique hotel is almost too cozy to leave 😄

If you're looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai where you don't feel like a tourist , but rather like you're staying with friends, Gategaa Village is exactly the place. 👌

I was there – and honestly: it's a great place if you don't want to be right in the old town, but rather a bit off the beaten track and more relaxed. Ideal if you're already traveling by bus or train.

🌿 Location: Not in the middle, but just right

Okay, the hotel is n't directly in the old town , but that's exactly what makes it special: You can get anywhere in 5 minutes , but you're staying in a quiet place, without the usual hustle and bustle of the old town. And if you're traveling by scooter or car, you'll love it. There's even parking—which is practically a luxury in Chiang Mai. 🅿️

🛏️ The rooms: Stylish, cozy, simply wow

I had a room that was almost too nice to be just a place to sleep . Light colors, lots of wood, a comfortable bed, a chic balcony, and a truly thoughtful design. It doesn't feel like a hotel—more like an Airbnb apartment where you just want to stay for a few weeks.

📦 Safe, refrigerator, kettle—everything's working.💧 And the bathroom? Clean, stylish, with decent water pressure (no misty showerhead nonsense).

🍳 Breakfast in the lobby café: small, fine, just right

Downstairs in the lobby, there's a small café where breakfast is served in the morning. It's not a huge buffet, but it 's really well-done .

• Freshly prepared eggs (however you like them – fried, scrambled, Love Egg Special)

• Toast, jam, juice, coffee

• A little fruit, a little Thai style

• And always a nice smile from the staff

Everything you need to start the day – without stress or food coma . ☕🍍🍞

👥 Staff: Almost too friendly 😄

The staff are truly worth their weight in gold . Helpful, attentive, but never pushy. They'll help you with scooter rentals, taxi bookings, restaurant recommendations—or simply with a smile. You can tell: They're keen to make you feel comfortable. And that's what they do here!

✅ Gategaa Village – my insider tip for Chiang Mai

If you're looking for a stylish, quiet place to unwind and relax — away from the hustle and bustle, but not in the middle of nowhere —then check in to Gategaa Village .

🏡 Cozy like a homestay🧼 Clean like a boutique hotel 🛵 Ideal for those who want to explore Chiang Mai on their own

I'd book it again anytime. And I'm not just saying that.

99 The Heritage Hotel

🏛️ 99 The Heritage Hotel – Colonial charm meets Chiang Mai coolness

If you're keen on Chiang Mai but don't want to sleep in the middle of the hustle and bustle, check in here . 99 The Heritage is a charming boutique hotel on the edge of the Old Town , close enough to explore on foot , but still quiet enough to sleep at night without earplugs. 🛌

🏡 Colonial style with style

The hotel boasts a colonial style —chic but not pretentious. White shutters, lots of wood, a pretty courtyard... you almost forget you're actually on a city break and not writing a book in a hammock. 📖🌿

🛏️ Room: Small but mighty

Our room wasn't exactly a ballroom, but more in the "smart and cozy" category. But you know what? It was completely sufficient . Everything was clean, thoughtfully furnished, a nice bathroom, and a comfortable bed. And honestly: Who wants to hang out in a hotel room in Chiang Mai when the whole city is calling outside?

☕ Breakfast in the courtyard = pure relaxation

There is a small café in the courtyard where breakfast is served – really cozy , almost like being at a friend's home in the garden.

• Freshly brewed coffee

• Eggs on request

• Fruit, toast, Thai snacks

• And all this in such a chilled atmosphere that you'll immediately move on to your second coffee. 😅☕🍳

  
  

💦 Pool & Lobby: Small but nice

The lobby is open and inviting. Behind it: a small pool , perfect for cooling off after a day exploring the city or putting your feet up with a book or a cocktail (okay, usually both). 📚🍹

🙋♀️🙋♂️ Staff: Simply top

The team is incredibly helpful, welcoming, and always there when you need anything—from a city map to a restaurant recommendation. You can tell this isn't about mass processing, but rather genuine hospitality. And you can feel it.

✅ Conclusion: 99 reasons for 99 The Heritage

If you are looking for a hotel that:

✔️ is stylish (but not pretentious) ✔️ is centrally located (but still quiet) ✔️ feels small and intimate (but is professionally managed)

… then you have come to the right place .

For me: the perfect base camp for a city trip to Chiang Mai . The old town is just around the corner, breakfast in the countryside, and the pool is at your back—what more could you want?

✅ Conclusion: Chiang Mai – my personal favorite spot

It's hard to say exactly what makes Chiang Mai so special for me. Maybe it's the mix of culture, creativity, nature, mountains, and laid-backness . Maybe it's the feeling that you can just be here —no rush, no show.

Anyone who truly wants to experience Thailand— not just in tourist mode —shouldn't miss Chiang Mai . And me? I'll be back. I promise. 💛