Choosing a hotel in the wrong area can ruin your holiday so it's worth spending a couple of minutes looking at the pros and cons of each district before you choose where to stay in Bangkok.
Most people find planning a first trip to Bangkok confusing with many strange foreign words to learn and contradictory advice. Sound familiar? If you are a first time visitor, or just someone curious about where to stay, here is a quick rundown of the most famous and popular districts in Thailand's enigmatic capital.
MOST BOOKED HOTELS
Should I book my hotel in Sukhumvit?
How to decide...
This prominent 18km long road is the centre of up-to-the-minute shopping, eating and nightlife in Bangkok, and it's fair to say Sukhumvit has something to offer all visitors. While there are touches of 'Thai-ness' on every corner, the many fashionable restaurants, bars, air-conditioned malls, hotels and clubs give the area a distinctly modern, cosmopolitan flavour. Plus, the elevated Skytrain (BTS) helps make exploring incredibly easy.
Who is it For:
- Partygoers
- Shoppers
- Trendy restaurant fans
- People who want a bit of everything (but don't mind a bit of distance between venues)
What's Good:
- Plenty of nightlife and dining options
- Wide range of hotel prices, styles and star ratings
- BTS Skytrain route makes travelling easy
What's Not So Good:
- Sightseeing is few and far between
- Traffic is intense
- The coolest venues are spread out
- Things are spaced out so walking is often required
You like Sukhumvit? Now pick the right hotel!
Sukhumvit's hotels come in all shapes and sizes. From budget favourites to 5-star luxury, our alphabetical hotels section has got them all covered, and features many deals exclusive to bangkok.com.
Should I book my hotel on Riverside?
How to decide...
Bangkok's riverside is where Bangkok's historic roots lie; the traditional heartland of this magical city with origins that read like an epic novel. Nowadays, the city has moved on and the riverside reflects a constantly changing scene; water-taxis ferrying commuters and heavily laden rice barges chugging upstream, set against a backdrop of glittering temples and palaces, historical landmarks and luxury, five-star hotels.
Who is it For:
- Wealthy travelers
- Couples looking to escape downtown Bangkok but remain within the city
- Families who want a resort style vacation
What's Good:
- Stunning views
- Most romantic part of Bangkok
- Relaxed ambiance
- Cooling river breezes
- Many five-star hotels
What’s Not So Good:
- A little far from downtown (depending how far from the BTS Skytrain you are staying)
- Few budget options
You like Riverside? Now pick the right hotel!
Bangkok Riverside hotels are surely the finest the city has to offer. World-renowned five-star properties hug the riverbanks, offering resort experiences with impeccable service, sumptuous cuisine and more.
Should I book my hotel in Silom?
How to decide...
Silom is an area of contrasts. By day, sharply dressed business folk head into the numerous high rise offices and financial institutions along Silom Road. While at night, many of Bangkok’s finest restaurants bring people from far and wide, as well as the infamous nightlife scene around Patpong.
Who is it For:
- Business people (looking for an excuse to visit the red light district)
- People looking for vibrant nightlife
- Returning visitors
- People who want a compact area with everything at affordable prices
What's Good:
- Great restaurants
- Patpong (the iconic night market and red light district of Bangkok)
- Downtown location
- Wide range of hotel prices from budget to luxury
- Easy BTS, MRT and taxi access for convenient travel
What’s Not So Good:
- Lacking in culture
- Sidewalks are congested at night
- Traffic past 18:00 can be congested
You like Silom? Now pick the right hotel!
Home to bustling nightlife and thriving offices, Silom offers an interesting mix of accommodation from chic boutique to posh five-star. Find the hotel that suits your needs and budget here.
Should I book my hotel in Pratunam?
How to decide...
Pratunam is home to a sprawling 24 hour market and many more wholesale malls, each with packed with bargain fashion, apparel, handbags, sports gear, wig shops, and everything in between. It is a busy and bustling area with a cosmopolitan ambiance due to the wide range of tourists that come to shop to their hearts’ content.
Who is it For:
- Young travellers
- Shoppers on a budget
- Wholesale business people
- People who want to stay in a busy area
What's Good:
- The famous Pratunam Market
- Plenty of cheap restaurants
- Baiyoke Tower, the tallest view point in Bangkok
- Cheapest accommodation in the heart of Bangkok
What’s Not So Good:
- Traffic is intense
- Crowded
- BTS is 15 minutes’ walk away
- The area is a rundown compared to nearby Siam
You like Pratunam? Now pick the right hotel!
Pratunam has more hotels than almost any other area in Bangkok, ranging from boutique guesthouses for those on a budget to famous hotel chains and even the tallest building in Bangkok: Baiyoke Sky.
Should I book my hotel in Siam?
How to decide...
Siam is unquestionably the centre of shopping in Bangkok, home to some of the city's most popular shopping centres like MBK, Siam Center, and Siam Paragon. There's always a lively scene here, with a mix of students, office workers, trend-setting city dwellers and, of course, a throng of tourists. This is also the central BTS Skytrain Station so getting around town is easier from here.
Who is it For:
- Extreme shoppers
- Families
- People who want to be in the heart of the city
- People who want easy access to other areas of Bangkok
What’s Good
- Amazing shopping options
- Lots of family-friendly attractions
- The central BTS Skytrain Station makes travelling around easy
- Plenty of food options
- Compact area
What's Not So Good:
- Limited nightlife
- Not the most authentic part of town
You like Siam? Now pick the right hotel!
Siam is commonly referred to as the centre of Bangkok and it is certainly the heart of the shopping district with several of Bangkok's biggest and best shopping malls, including the famous Siam Paragon.
Should I book my hotel in Chinatown?
How to decide...
Busy, bustling and packed with market stalls, restaurants, shrines and the greatest concentration of gold shops in Bangkok, Chinatown is an experience not to miss. After sunset, the entire strip becomes a food haven for gourmands who flock here to enjoy street-side cuisine.
Who is it For:
- Backpackers
- Budget travellers
- People who want vibrant and colourful Bangkok
What’s Good:
- Huge amount of excellent street food
- Cheap, local-style shopping at the markets
- Frantic street life
- Great photo playground
What’s Not So Good:
- Very busy part of town
- Not many hotels
You like Chinatown? Now pick the right hotel!
Chinatown in Bangkok can be a confusing place even for long-time visitors to Bangkok so finding the best hotel is vitally important. This energetic, feisty area of the city can leave you feeling very far.
Should I book my hotel in the Old City?
How to decide...
The Old City (Rattanakosin) is home to Bangkok's most spectacular and revered historical attractions, among them The Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho. Not only part of the Kingdom's rich past, but intrinsic to it, a day or two exploring here provides a deep insight into the heart, soul and psyche of the Thai people. Also part of the Old City, Khao San Road is jam-packed with budget guesthouses, internet cafés, lively bars and clubs.
Who is it For:
1. Sightseers
2. Backpackers
3. Anyone looking for budget accommodation
What’s Good:
- Many famous landmarks and museums
- Relaxed atmosphere
- Authentic Bangkok life
- Great photo playground
What’s Not So Good:
- Transport to other areas of the city is tricky
You like the Old City? Now pick the right hotel!
