The size of Thailandโs capital, Bangkok, is completely overwhelming. Spread across 50 districts with a population of over 10 million people, itโs no wonder so many travellers find themselves drowning in choice when deciding where to stay in the city.
The Bangkok neighbourhood you choose to base yourself in can make or break your stay โ so donโt take the decision lightly! Pick wrong and you could be plagued by buckets of vodka RedBull and loud music but choose right and youโll find friendly locals, mouthwatering cuisine and easy access to everywhere on your itinerary.
From hipster hoods to parts of the city that are more reminiscent of Thai village life than a cosmopolitan metropolis, here are a few of our favourite Bangkok neighbourhoods!
Why Trust Us? ๐ค
The South East Asia Backpacker team have years of combined travel experience across the region and everyone has visited Thailandโs capital multiple times. In fact, our founder Nikki even lived in Bangkok for a while. Expect lots of local tips below!
Related: (opens in new tab)
Where to Stay in Bangkok, Thailand
Best Neighbourhoods in Bangkok โ Quick Answers!ย
- Best Neighbourhood for First Timers โ Sukhumvit
- Best Neighbourhood for Attractions โ Banglamphu
- Best Neighbourhood for Partygoers โ Khao San Road
- Best Neighbourhood for Shopping โ Siam
- Best Neighbourhood for Couples โ Ari
- Best Neighbourhood for Families โ Siam
- Best Neighbourhood for Foodies โ Chinatown
- Best Neighbourhood for Wildlife Enthusiasts โ Bang Krachao
Which Neighbourhood in Bangkok is Best For You?
Khao San Road
Great for: Partying
Okay, I know we said choosing wrong could mean youโre surrounded by loud music and vodka Red Bull buckets… but what if thatโs what youโre after? For hedonistic backpackers, there is only one place to stay in Bangkok โ the infamous Khao San Road. However, in our recent readers’ poll, the Khao San Road was voted the 9th worst place to visit in the region!
Blaring cheesy music, greasy low-quality street food, overpriced hotels, and hordes of drunken (or in recent years stoned) backpackers on their first trip to the โEastโโฆ Itโs easy to see why a night spent on this street could give you a bad impression of Bangkok, or even of Thailand as a whole!
While Khao San Road is undoubtedly somewhere you either love or hate, it has almost become a rite of passage for travellers to the country. But remember, you donโt need to stay on the street to get the experience! Families and those who enjoy their peace will want to base themselves elsewhere and pop down for a visit. For those looking to party, a stay on Khao San will mean youโll find all the revelry you could ever need on your doorstep.
Where to Stay in Khao San Road:
- $: Tales Khaosan (Cafe & Hostel)
- $$: Revolution Khao San by The Bliss
- $$$: Buddy Lodge, Khaosan Road
Banglamphu
Great for: Proximity to attractions
Located in the Phra Nakhon district, Banglamphu is just a short walk from Khao San but boasts a much quieter vibe. Turn right at the top of the Khao San Road near the police station, walk by Wat Chanasongkram on your left, turn left into Rambuttri Roadโฆ and breathe.
The roads here still house a good percentage of the farangs (foreigners) that pass through Bangkok, but you can walk around without being sold a bucket, scorpion on a stick or a massage every 30 seconds! Donโt worry though, there are still plenty of bars and restaurants, cheap street food and massage places nearby.
The road behind Rambuttri, Phra Athit Road, is a trendy spot for locals to share beer towers with pals. Youโre also within walking distance of Phra Athit Pier, where you can catch a passenger ferry along the famous Chao Phraya River to many other areas of the city. This is a great budget-friendly base within walking distance of big-name attractions such as the Grand Palace and the National Museum.
Where to Stay in Banglamphu:
- $: Once Again Hostel
- $$: U&D guest house
- $$$: Central Old Town Cottage
Chinatown
Great for: Food
Chinatown is a culturally interesting place to stay in Bangkok. While much of the city centre has been gentrified, this neighbourhood has kept much of its traditional charm, making it a great place for those looking to explore a more โauthenticโ slice of the city. Itโs very close to Hua Lamphong Train Station, which is convenient for onward travel to Chiang Mai and other parts of the country.
A highlight of any stay in Chinatown is undoubtedly the amazing selection of Thai-Chinese food, which is very popular amongst tourists and locals alike. As well as countless street food stalls, there is also a range of fine dining establishments here. Staying in Chinatown will allow you to gain an insight into the culture of the Thai Chinese, whose ancestors emigrated from Southern China during the 19th and 20th centuries.
As well as Thai, you may hear Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochew and Hakka languages spoken in this area, which is commonly known as Yaowarat. (The main road which runs through Chinatown is called Yaowarat Road, or โRoad of the Dragonsโ.) With temples, shopping and festivals, a stay here is never dull. Be warned, though, the area is very busy with traffic and the pollution can be worse here than in other Bangkok neighbourhoods.
Where to Stay in Chinatown:
Bang Krachao
Great for: Wildlife
Also known as the โGreen Lungโ, this area of Bangkok is unique. Although not located in Bangkok proper, the neighbourhood has long attracted tourists who adore it for being a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Formed by a bend in the Chao Phraya River, Bangkokโs โGreen Lungโ is a hub of biodiversity, and nature lovers flock here for wildlife spotting opportunities. It is also an important spot for Thailandโs conservation and climate strategies, offering an urban escape easily accessible from the capital.
While it takes around an hour to reach the city centre, a stay in Bang Krachao offers an opportunity to explore a very different type of Bangkok. If you enjoy a slower pace of life and prefer to travel on two wheels, youโll love basing yourself here.
Where to Stay in Bang Krachao:
- $: 88 Homestay
- $$: Baan Glangsuan Bang Kobua
- $$$: Bangkok Treehouse
Thonglor
Great for: Hipsters and vegans
Welcome to Thonglor, Bangkokโs most fashionable neighbourhood. Youโd better grow that beard and don a pair of too-short jeans โ youโre in the hipster part of town now. Rooftop wine bars, art galleries, co-working spaces, chic coffee shops, expensive condos (some that are made to look like a street in England!), and seemingly hundreds of wedding shops line the streets around this wealthy area.
Thonglor is a popular place to stay, not just for tourists but also expats. Artsy folk flock to the area for its creative offerings. Make sure you check out The Commons, an open-plan community mall and The Paint Bar, a beginner-friendly place to get creative with a cocktail in hand. On the subject of nightlife, there’s a range of places to party too.
Mouthwatering cuisine is available everywhere, with everything from Japanese to Italian. As youโd expect from any good hipster neighbourhood, dietary requirements are also well-catered for, making Thonglor a great choice for vegans and vegetarians.
Where to Stay in Thonglor:
- $: 420 Hostel
- $$: Park 19 Hotel
- $$$: The Elite @ Thonglor 25
Ari
Located north of Victory Monument, Ari is a cool, upcoming area in Bangkok with plenty of chic bars, trendy cafรฉs, market stalls and boutique shops. Despite the upmarket feel of Ari, you can still find cheap street food stalls selling delicious Thai food for just a handful of baht. All you have to do to find these treasures is get off the main road and get lost in the tree-lined backstreets.
Staying in Ari provides convenient access to the BTS a.k.a. Bangkokโs Skytrain. Your nearest stations are Ari and Sanam Pao, which are just one and two stops away from Chatuchak, Bangkokโs biggest weekend market. There are also a few nice green spaces just a short journey away, which provide a welcome respite from the city streets.
Even though the area has become more popular with tourists over recent years, particularly for the award-winning hostel โThe Yardโ, it is still a local neighbourhood. Away from the main drag of Khao San Road, it offers a more relaxed experience and a sense of community not always seen in the busier parts of the city.
Where to Stay in Ari:
- $: The Yard
- $$: The Lek Aree
- $$$: Craftsman Bangkok
Din Daeng
It doesnโt get much more โauthenticโ in Bangkok than the bustling Thai neighbourhood of Din Daeng. While itโs a little way out from the city centre, the area is well served by Bangkokโs MTR (metro) โ specifically the Sutthisan and Huai Khwang stops.
The area is heavily populated with locals thanks to a large concentration of affordable (by Bangkok standards) apartments. Youโll find schools, colleges and universities in the area, as well as the broadcasting headquarters and of course, night markets.
Huai Khwang night market is particularly impressive with an amazing selection of seafood and exotic fruits โ you wonโt go hungry or break the bank here!
Itโs worth noting that the Pollution Control Department of Bangkok rates Din Daeng as the noisiest neighbourhood in the city, with the volume often exceeding safe recommended levels.
Where to Stay in Din Daeng:
- $: Phobphan Hostel
- $$: STAY Hotel BKK
- $$$: Avani Ratchada Bangkok
Siam
Despite what people may tell you, Khao San Road isnโt actually the centre of Bangkok. Siam is Bangkokโs true downtown! Here youโll have access to huge malls like Siam Paragon and MBK, art galleries, cinemas, Thai and international restaurants and a bustling taste of life in this pulsing city.
Siam Square, in particular, is renowned for its independent Thai fashion labels with customised clothing, kitsch designs and cutesy accessories. Look out for Thai fashionistas who browse the goods, pooch in handbag, whilst sipping a bubble tea. The area also has excellent transport access via the BTS to various parts of the city. (Unlike Khao San, where youโll have to get a tuk-tuk or taxi everywhere!).
Siam is one of Bangkokโs safest neighbourhoods, making it an excellent choice for families who want to take some of the stress out of travelling with kids!
Where to Stay in Siam:
- $: Bed@Town Hostel
- $$: Nine Design Place
- $$$: Pathumwan Princess Hotel
Top Tip ๐
When getting in a taxi in Bangkok, always ask the taxi driver to use the meter. In Thai say: โDit meter dai mai, ka/kaap? (for women/men).
Victory Monument
Most famous for housing its namesake, the eye-catching obelisk known as Victory Monument, this whole area is a fantastic place to base yourself in Bangkok. It has great access to the rest of the city thanks to the BTS and excellent onward transport links to other parts of Thailand. Minibuses leave frequently for other cities as well as some of the southern islands!
Like everywhere in Bangkok, there are shopping malls galore, massage parlours, every kind of restaurant you could hope for, and cheap and tasty street food. Thereโs also a lovely park along Soi Rangnam with exercise machines and a free and lively aerobics class at 6 pm every evening!
For market enthusiasts, Thailandโs largest open-air market, Chatuchak, is easily accessible from Victory Monument by either walking (roughly one hour), the BTS (around 25 minutes) or by taxi (approximately 15 minutes).
Where to Stay in Victory Monument:
- $: T Hostel @ Victory Monument
- $$: Fyn Hotel
- $$$: Century Park Hotel
Sukhumvit
When people speak of Sukhumvit, they are referring to Sukhumvit Road, the longest and most famous road in Bangkok, lined with glitzy shopping malls (like Emporium), fancy high-rise apartment buildings, bougie hotels like the Sheraton and Hilton and every kind of restaurant and bar you can imagine!
The road attracts tourists, business people and expats alike, who can find all of their needs met on this traffic-clogged highway with the sky-train soaring gracefully overhead. Along each of the streets that lead off Sukhumvit Road, youโll find a different kind of atmosphere.
Sukhumvit 4 is home to the infamous Nana Plaza, a three-story building thatโs believed to be the largest sex complex in the world!
Sukhumvit 10 is a good place for nightlife with trendy clubs a rooftop bars, with Soi 12 home to the intriguingly named Cabbages and Condoms, a restaurant dedicated to promoting a better understanding of family planning.
Itโs not the cheapest place to stay in Bangkok, but base yourself in Sukhumvit and youโre bound to have an incredible time.
Where to Stay in Sukhumvit:
Thonburi
Think you know Bangkok? Wait until you stay on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River! Thonburi is one of Thailandโs former capital cities. Itโs believed that King Rama 5 moved the capitalโs most important buildings to the eastern side to avoid constant flooding, leaving Thonburi without its former claim to fame. But in the 1970s, Thonburi was absorbed into the ever-growing Bangkok, so I guess it regained its capital city status!
Today, Thonburi has a very different vibe from the rest of Bangkok, a reminder of a time before high-rise buildings and modernisation. Quiet khlongs (canals) crisscross the neighbourhood and tree-lined streets lead to small twinkling temples.
Wat Arun is the most famous attraction in Thonburi but other than this, most visitors spend precious little time getting to know one of Bangkokโs best neighbourhoods. Donโt make the same mistake as them!
Where to Stay in Thonburi:
Silom
By day, Silom is as close to Wall Street as youโre going to get in Bangkok. Giant skyscrapers emblazoned with the names of famous financial institutions dominate the skyline. Keep an eye out for Bangkokโs famous โRobot Buildingโ โ youโll know it when you see it!
At night, the vibe changes completely. Street food vendors pop up on every corner and countless bars open their doors. No matter what youโre looking for from a night out in Bangkok, youโll find it in Silom.
Bangkokโs LGBTQ+ scene is based on Silom Soi 4. The swanky rooftop bars of the Banyan Tree Hotel and State Tower offer breathtaking views and expensive cocktails, countless cheaper options open up after dark at street level and for those looking for a more *ahem* adult experience, Soi Patpong is one of the more infamous red light districts in Bangkok.
Where to Stay in Silom:
- $: Kinnon Deluxe Hostel Coworking Cafe
- $$: Silom Serene A Boutique Hotel
- $$$: Bandara Suites Silom, Bangkok
Lumphini
Lumphini is one of Bangkokโs most exclusive areas thanks to the proliferation of embassies, consulates and expensive condos. Itโs also close to the financial area of Silom. Itโs not a cheap place to live but you can experience the area without needing to worry about the hefty property prices!
The area is most famous for Lumphini Park โ the first public park in Bangkok. Covering 56 hectares, the park is an excellent place to relax, cool down and find peace from Bangkokโs frenetic pace of life.
As well as the park and flashy high-rise buildings, Lumphini is home to some of the cityโs finest eateries and a variety of rooftop bars. The area is well connected to the rest of the city too, with both the MRT and BTS stopping within the neighbourhood โ if you choose to stay here, youโll easily be able to explore everything Bangkok has to offer!
Where to Stay in Lumphini:
- $: Maderla
- $$: Shama Yen-Akat Bangkok
- $$$: AETAS Lumpini
Have we missed your favourite neighbourhood in Bangkok? Let us know in the comments below, so we can help more travellers discover this vibrant and fascinating city!
Header photo by Pamela MacNaughtan – Savoir Faire Abroad.
Nikki Scott | Founder & Editor
Nikki is the founding editor of South East Asia Backpacker and The Backpacker Network. In her early twenties, she left her home in the North of England on a solo backpacking adventure and never returned! After six months on the road, she founded a print magazine that became legendary on the Banana Pancake Trail. The rest is history.
