A temple in Bangkok at night.

Where’s the Best Place to Stay in Bangkok? Top Picks

Bangkok is full of accommodations, and there are great options whether you’re traveling with others or alone. But where you choose to stay will have a huge effect on whether you enjoy your trip or not. For example, history lovers might love Khao San Road, but people who come to relax should avoid it at all costs. In other words, individual preferences will largely determine the best place to stay in Bangkok. In this article, we’ll cover a few of the best or most popular places to stay in Bangkok, and explain which type of traveler each location suits best.

Sukhumvit

Sukhumvit Road at night.

To be fair, Sukhumvit is a long street. In fact, it’s almost 500 kilometers long, going all the way to the border with Cambodia.

When people say they are staying on Sukhumvit, they usually mean anywhere from Sukhumvit Soi 1 to Sukhumvit Soi 63, which covers Nana, Asoke, Thonglor, Ekkamai, and more, so it’s still not a small area by any means.

This area is one of the busiest in Bangkok, which makes it the first choice of city lovers. It’s filled with five-star hotels, Michelin restaurants, premium shopping malls, and nightlife options (both fancy and divey).

It has cheap accommodations as well as expensive ones, so that’s not an issue here. However, on Sukhumvit you are more likely than any other place in Bangkok to be accosted by a prostitute. Some of the more infamous entertainment complexes can be found here, but this doesn’t seem stop people from bringing their kids.

It’s a bizarre, cyberpunk-type atmosphere, that’s for sure, but in a strange way it’s a place for everyone.

Unless of course, you dislike crowds. Then, I wouldn’t stay here at all.

A night scene on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok, Thailand.
Adam Jones, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.

Khao San Road

Khao San Road has been a backpacker destination since The Beach came out at the very least.

In the daytime, it’s mellow, and there is a lot of local shopping nearby (no air conditioned malls, though!). People are more likely to harass you to buy things here, and you may have to watch out for some scams.

It’s not the prettiest street in town either, but it is in the old city, next to all the famous temples (such as The Grand Palace and Wat Pho), which is why many people choose stay here.

At night, it turns into a non-stop party. So if you book an accommodation on the road, good luck sleeping. It isn’t cheap for no reason.

The bars play all the same music, and it’s mostly geared towards young people. Don’t expect to have a conversation at many of the bars there, though. It’s too loud.

If you’re on a budget, though, it’s a great place to stay. If you love history, it could be OK, too. For anyone else, I would recommend that you avoid the headache.

A busy street, Khao San Road, in Bangkok.
ilf_, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.

Siam

Siam is Bangkok’s shopping mecca. This area has some of the biggest and most famous malls in Thailand, and they’re all lined up next to one another. You’ve got Siam Square, MBK Center, CentralWorld, Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, and Siam Center, all in one location.

Also, King Power on Rang Nam Street is just a stone’s throw away. It’s not technically in Siam, but it’s close enough. It’s a duty-free shopping center, perfect for picking up last-minute tax-free items before you head home.

I would recommend this area to anyone who loves to shop. However, there isn’t too much else to do here. It is right downtown and very close to Sukhumvit, though, so it’s still a great place location wise.

A popular shopping area in Bangkok, Thailand.

Bangkok Riverside

The riverside is a trendy and upscale escape from the chaos that Bangkok is famous for. It has many high-end hotels and scenic views, which makes it a great spot for couples. If you’re honeymooning in Bangkok (lol), this is your spot.

Compared to other parts of Bangkok, the riverside has some of the nicest views in the city. While Bangkok is not going to win beauty contests during the daytime, it is still picturesque here, especially at night.

There are also a lot of boat rides, too, if you’re into that. Ferries are constantly cruising up and down the river, and the Central Pier is a great spot to get on one.

Hotels and shopping malls on Bangkok riverside.

Where’s the Best Place to Stay in Bangkok? The Bottom Line

Bangkok has a lot of neighborhoods to choose from, but not a lot of them make sense for tourists. If you’re only staying a couple of weeks, I wouldn’t recommend areas that are too far from the action. Bangkok has horrific traffic, and it’s best to avoid it as much as you can. In general, though, Bangkok has at least one suitable area for everyone.

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