From the streets filled with tuk-tuks and food stands, to the gleaming golden Buddhist temples and skyscraper hotels with LED-lit rooftop bars, Bangkok is never dull on the senses.

But to have the best experience in Bangkok, it matters a lot where you choose to stay. Every part of Bangkok is different and appealing to a different crowd.

Arun temple

Whether you’re on a business trip, a layover, en route to your Thai island holiday, a backpacker at the beginning of a great adventure, or simply staying in Bangkok for a while, here are some of the top areas to stay in Bangkok.

Along the way, we’ll also share tips for the best things to do and see in each neighborhood.

Note: Hotel links in this post go to Agoda, the Booking.com sister company specialized in Asia. It’s the best site for finding hotels in Thailand.

 

Siam

Central area on the metro line, great for shopping

Siam is Bangkok’s mall mecca, with your shopping options ranging from luxury boutiques to bargain department stores. It’s the beating heart of the city center, always buzzing with activity.

But step away from the megastores and you’ll also find a quirky, exciting neighborhood with plenty to eat and explore.

Siam is covered by three Skytrain stops: National Stadium, Siam and Chitlom and is easily walkable, making it an ideal base from which to quickly get to all other areas of Bangkok.

One of the busiest crossroads in the area is home to the Erawan Shrine, where Buddhists come to give thanks. The smell of incense and the chants of traditional Thai dancers offering thanks almost cover up the heavy traffic that zooms by, but the contrast is what makes Bangkok such an exciting place to visit.

For a calmer temple experience, go to Pathum Wanaram Temple which is sandwiched between two of the largest malls in the area and is often overlooked by visitors.

Where to stay in Siam

$$$ Hotel

Sindhorn Midtown Hotel

5-star hotel with rooftop swimming pool and luxury suites

$$ Hotel

COZ Ratchathewi

Budget-friendly hotel with a clean and stylish atmosphere (also has two dorm rooms)

Sindhorn Hotel in Siam

The Guggenheim-inspired Bangkok Cultural Centre gives you a glimpse into the art scene in Thailand, albeit curated by the State. Wander past National Stadium Station and visit Jim Thompson’s House. Based in Bangkok in the 1950s he exported Thai silk around the world and faithfully kept this canalside teak house as a homage to Thai history, which is now a museum.

For shopping with more soul than the malls, brave the maze in Siam Square. Here amongst the elephant pants you’ll find up and coming Thai designers. Favourites shops include Today Tomorrow Forever, where they repurpose vintage clothing and WWA, a multi-brand shop that stocks Thai designers. Sneak a peek at Bangkok’s retro Scala cinema to marvel at the art deco entrance before developers get their hands on the site.

For a modern take on Thai street food head to Som Tam Nua for green papaya salad and fried chicken. Baan Khun Mae is so cosy and welcoming. It serves Thai comfort food, from spring rolls to tom yum. Expensive but worth it is Sra Bua – Michelin starred Thai food that arrived in Bangkok via Copenhagen and gives diners a food experience to talk about for months afterwards.

 

Prapadaeng

Take a breath in Bangkok’s greenest enclave

While Bangkok is easily one of Asia’s most stimulating cities, it can admittedly be a bit much sometimes. If the crowds, traffic, and chaos are proving too much of an assault on the senses, you may wish to escape to a quieter area.

Luckily, to the east of the city center is a small neighbourhood known as Bangkok’s Green Lung. It’s sometimes hard to believe this is in Bangkok!

It’s such a contrast to rest of the capital. Most of the peninsula at Bang Krachao is car-free, but you can rent bikes or walk to explore the elevated concrete walkways that criss-cross the marshland and forest.

You won’t find any hotels in Prapadaeng. But if you like the idea of staying in a rustic guesthouse or an eco-friendly Airbnb surrounded by trees instead of skyscrapers, then this will be just the place for you.

Where to stay in Prapadaeng

$$$ Apartment

Bangkok Treehouse

Unique eco-home in the middle of trees, fields, waterways

$$ Hotel

Baanklangsoun Bangkorbour

Small hotel hotel in the middle of a lush garden with breakfast

$$ Homestay

Phuengnang Homestay

Cosy homestay in a traditional wooden house inside the park

Baan Makham tiny house (photo courtesy of Airbnb)

Prapadaeng is a lovely area to explore. Start at the Bangnamphueng riverside market, which is a genuinely local experience. There are plenty of stalls to buy lunch from, including spicy fish mousse parcels and Fak Kao, a spiked orange fruit that never seems to make it to other markets.

Nine temples dot Prapadaeng, and there are a host of spirit houses in curious locations. Wat Bang Krachao Nok is a highlight, with ornate painted murals in the main hall of the temple and an impressive golden Buddha.

If you buy food from the market it’s worth heading to the Botanical Gardens for a picnic. It’s a popular spot for local wildlife including plenty of birds and the occasional large monitor lizard. If unusual creatures are your thing then it’s worth visiting the Siamese Fighting Fish Gallery where you can get up close to these stunning creatures and watch them size each other up through a pane of glass (they are kept separate so they don’t hurt each other).

Bangkok Tree House

The Bangkok Tree House is worth a visit even if you are not planning to stay overnight. It has a fantastic restaurant on site which serves locally sourced, organic food and excellent coffee. The hotel has excellent eco-friendly credentials, only hiring staff who can walk or bike there and remove trash from the river for every guest who sleeps there.

Prapadaeng feels like it’s far removed from Bangkok, but getting there isn’t too complicated. The easiest way is using the pier at Wat Klong Toey, just a short cab ride from the MRT at Klong Toey.

 

Sukhumvit

Bangkok’s hotel district and main nightlife area

If you’re looking for luxury hotels, top-rated restaurants, and lively nightlife, then cosmopolitan Sukhumvit is the place to stay in Bangkok.

This modern district may lack some of the charms of other areas, but the amenities and nightlife make Sukhumvit ideal for business travelers, long-term apartment stays, or those on a layover from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Sukhumvit Road runs all the way down towards the distant beach resort of Pattaya, but in Bangkok, the area worth exploring runs from Soi 1 to 100, with several Skytrain stops along the way.

Thong Lor is a great place for foodies. Soi 38 still has a decent selection of Street Food including Hainanese chicken and rice, green curry and probably the best dessert in the city: mango and sticky rice. On Soi Thonglor, you’ll find Soul Food Mahanakorn, which does Thai fusion and proper cocktails or Supanniga, where the young Thai chef recreates the dishes his grandmother used to cook when he was growing up.

Where to stay in Sukhumvit

$$$ Apartments

Oakwood Suites Bangkok

Luxury studios and apartment with rooftop pool

$$ Hotel

Kokotel Sukhumvit

Budget-friendly hotel with modern rooms in a quiet location

Oakwood Suites in Sukhumvit

Head to Octave for happy hour sunset cocktails and a rooftop view. Australian entrepreneur Ashley Sutton has made a name for himself creating quirky and fantastical bars and restaurants across the city including many in Sukhumvit. These include Iron Fairies (imagine a dark forge with live jazz and deep leather seats), Mr Jones Orphanage (Willy Wonka cakes and creepy toys) and Sing Sing Theater (drinks and dancing in a Chinese Brothel).

Soi Nana is known for seedy nightlife, but cross the street to Soi 11 is a popular evening spot with some excellent street food, a fabulous Thai restaurant called Chilli Culture and a host of bars and nightclubs, including a couple of rooftop drinking spots.

The famous Cheap Charlie’s Bar, with its quirky decor and excellent value drinks, is located at the other end of Sukhumvit, near On Nut (Soi 50) and is worth a visit — especially as this area is not popular with tourists.

Sukhumvit doesn’t have as much to see as other areas, but Kamthieng House Museum allows you to step back in time and discover traditional Thai life and culture. There are also some lovely green spaces near Sukhumvit: Benjasiri Park and its sculpture garden or slightly further out Rama IX Park, which is worth the taxi ride and has gardens inspired by Italy, China, Japan and The USA as well as a space-age Pavillion.

 

Chinatown

Dive into the charm and chaos

Chinatown in Bangkok is a riot of colour, smells and noise and it’s easy to get the good kind of lost along the small lanes here, although Nancy Chandler’s map will help with navigation.

While it isn’t as well-connected to the rest of the city, Chinatown is one of the more traditional and fun areas to stay, especially if you enjoy random exploration.

It’s simply a joy to get lost in seemingly neverending alleyways filled with sellers, artisans, blacksmiths, and fishmongers. As a backpacker, I much prefer this area over the gleaming hotels of Sukhumvit.

Sampeng Lane may not actually sell anything you need but the narrow paths with stalls packed so high that you fear they might topple over at any second. Visit Wat Chakrawat to see the temple crocodiles and Wat Traimit for the impressive gold Buddha statue.

Street food is the way to eat in Chinatown. Just off Yarowat Road, you’ll find Lek & Rut Seafood for curry fried black crab, Krua Porn Lamai for mussel omelette and Kuay Jab Nai Huan for crispy pork noodles. Traditional Thai sweets make an excellent dessert and can be found at stalls on the corner of Yaowarat Road and Yaowa Phanit Road.

Yaowarat Road

If you have a few more baht to spend then enjoy dinner at Red Rose Chinese Restaurant and Jazz Lounge. The opulent restaurant serves delicious Peking duck and fluffy wasabi fried prawns. Make an evening of it and stay on and listen to the house band. For an afternoon treat, Double Dogs Tea Room serves the best brews from across Asia, including China, Sri Lanka and Japan, with staff who know their oolong from their sencha.

If you are in Chinatown on a Thursday or Friday evening, get tickets for the Khon dancing show, a traditional Thai dance where performers tell folktales and wear elaborate costumes and the occasional painted mask.

Those willing to get up early (or stay up late) should visit Bangkok’s Flower Market. Blooms come in from all over the country and are sold to shops and stalls across the city and it’s just as bustling and beautiful as the rest of Bangkok’s Chinatown.

Where to stay in Chinatown

$$ Hotel

The Orientale

Stylish room in boutique hotel with rooftop and close to MRT

$ Hostel

Our Secret Base

Budget accommodation with pod-style beds and great vibe

The Orientale in Chinatown

 

Thonburi

Across the river for plenty of local atmosphere

Most visitors to Bangkok only see the Thonburi area whilst whizzing past along its canal or visiting Wat Arun, the terracotta decorated Temple of Dawn (which is best visited first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds). These are both noteworthy, but they only really give you a glimpse of Bangkok’s left bank, if you want a taste of real Thailand in the capital, this is the place to be.

Thonburi is home to some fantastic art spaces. The Artist’s House is perched above the canal in a restored wooden house. It hosts traditional Thai puppet shows and you’ll often find artists sketching at the paint-splattered tables. The whole house feels like a gallery and there’s also a café on site as well as some excellent local restaurants just along the lane.

Where to stay in Thonburi

$$ Hotel

W Station

Stylish and budget-friendly hotel near BTS in a local neighborhood

$$$ Hotel

Siamotif Boutique Hotel

Local traditional boutique hotel with riverside views

Siamotif Boutique Hotel in Thonburi

Thonburi is also home to the oldest Catholic church and oldest mosque in Bangkok. Santa Cruz was built by Portuguese traders. Tonson Mosque was first established in 1688 and renovated in the 1950s. Bangkok has always been an international hub and these buildings give you a glimpse of that history.

The Jam Factory is another creative space with a large warehouse space that houses the gallery and a chic home décor shop. There are live music events at the weekend and a monthly farmer’s market. Never Ending Summer, which serves traditional Thai and fusion food.

Thonburi can be reached by public boat (pier N10 or N11) or crossing the river on Skytrain to Krung Thonburi.

 

Ari

Bangkok’s hipster neighborhood and expat base

Ari is a residential neighborhood of Bangkok with many nice cafes and restaurants and a quieter atmosphere than the very center. Many English teachers and other expat types choose to base themselves in Ari as it has a great mix of Thai and international vibes, though it’s also a perfect area to stay for anyone who’s on a repeat Bangkok visit.

Food trucks on Soi Ari

Two stops along the BTS from Ari is Chatuchak Weekend Market, a maze of covered stalls that sell everything from snakes to socks. It’s worth a visit even if you aren’t a shopaholic – there really is something for everyone. It will take at least half a day to get a sense of the 35-acre site, but there’s a fantastic outdoor food section that’s perfect for pit stops

Future Factory is a collaborative art space and often has live music. Hidden in the basement of an office block, you can visit the gallery at any time or check out upcoming events, where you will be rubbing shoulders with cool young Thais. Numthong Gallery is celebrating 20 years on the art scene and celebrates Asian art at its best, with eight different exhibitions each year.

Where to stay in Ari

$$$ Hotel

Bangkok Voyage Boutique

Beautifully decorated hotel where each room has a unique theme

$$ Hostel

The Yard Hostel

Chilled out hostel with modern rooms & dorms and lovely garden

The Yard Hostel in Ari

The locals see Ari as a hip neighbourhood to spend time in, so there are plenty of cool coffee shops and restaurants here. Salt is one of the places to be seen, with a fusion menu and a stunning glasshouse dining room. If you want something more affordable, head to Soi Ari for excellent street food, especially between Soi 1 and 3.

Ari has become a coffee mecca and whether it’s coconut lattes or cold drip there’s a café for your caffeine fix. If you are in a rush, try this streetside macchiato at Bangkok Espresso Bar.

Need to get your creative juices flowing? FabCafe is a working space with excellent espressos. For lounging and quirky interiors, The Coffee Zelection offers plenty of coffee treats, including jelly.

 

Silom

Park life and nightlife

Step off the Skytrain or subway on Silom Road and you’ll find yourself amongst the hubbub of street food vendors and stalls selling imitation goods. It can feel claustrophobic at first but step down the side sois and it’s far calmer and leafier.

Lumphini Park

If the hustle and bustle are too much for you, Silom is adjacent to Lumpini Park, the city’s favourite park. Here you can rent a Swan pedalo and tour the lake or wander around the lush tropical gardens. Food stalls operate at the entrance so grab your fresh coconut and chicken satay there.

Where to stay in Silom

$$$ Hotel

Baan Vajra

Beautiful small-scale hotel with leafy garden

$ Hostel

All We Need Is Hostel

Budget accommodation with nightly rooftop BBQ. Social and lively, great for solo travelers

Silom is known for some excellent restaurants. La Table de Tee is run by a young, creative chef who uses Asian flavours and Parisian training to conjure up a great value fixed price menu. Eat Me serves international cuisine in a sleek dining room and has a daily cupcake on the dessert menu.

Many of Bangkok’s famous sky bars can be found here, including Vertigo and Moon Bar at The Banyan Tree Hotel (no shorts or sandals) and Park Society at So Sofitel. Back at ground level and at the other end of the scale is Wong’s Bar, which opens at 2 am and is open until the last customer finishes their last beer.


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