A Guide for Choosing Where to Stay in Bangkok

Searching where to stay in Bangkok?

Choosing where to stay in Bangkok is an important decision because its going to have a huge impact on whether or not you enjoy your trip. I know, making a decision can also be overwhelming. It’s a big city with so many different areas catering to different tastes and a wide range of accommodation for all budgets.

Even reading online articles and blogs about where to stay in Bangkok can often lead to more confusion due to information overload. For these reasons many people wonder is Bangkok worth visiting? And often just skip Thailand’s Capital city altogether and go straight to the more manageable islands.

There’s also that saying that goes “you either love Bangkok or hate it”. That is true, in part. More often than not, the reason is choosing a location to stay in Bangkok that isn’t in line with the travel plan.

Whether you’re visiting Bangkok for the first time or you’ve been before, the information in this article will break down the various areas and neighborhoods in Bangkok where to stay. And don’t worry about information overload, you’ll only have what matters for your trip to the ‘City of Angels’.

Understanding Bangkok

Many people visiting Bangkok for the first time get it wrong because they don’t properly understand the layout of Bangkok. Another thing is that many guides explaining where to stay in Bangkok lack important information. The 2 most misunderstood areas in Bangkok are Sukhumvit and Khaosan.

Where to stay in Bangkok?

So now that the basics about Bangkok are sorted, you want to know where to stay in Bangkok? Below I will briefly reference each area to stay in Bangkok and as a whole what each one has to offer.

Silom and Sathorn – Convenient

I grouped these 2 areas together because I am referring to the parallel streets that run east from Lumphini park towards the Chao Phraya river. Not many places in Bangkok manage to be as convenient and have so much going on in a relatively compact area. There’s the BTS skytrain connecting to Sukhumvit, the MRT underground for Chinatown and the river boats for the temples. It doesn’t get much more convenient than this.

It’s not only convenience, there’s also a good mix of everything. Silom offers a list of western amenities including restaurants, chic cocktail bars and luxurious hotels which continues down to the riverfront home to the city’s most exclusive hotels like →Shangri-La and →Mandarin Oriental. Yet the local Thai charm is still present. Just walk down to Bangrak, the street next to →Lebua State Tower and you’ll be met with dozens of local eateries. These include Michelin rated Jok Prince (for porridge) and Prachak for their famous duck.

Hotels in Silom/Sathorn for any budget

Banthat Thong – Coolest Neighborhood

Banthat Thong road buzzes with life and has been rated the coolest neighborhood in Bangkok by TimeOut. It’s a street spiked with Asian restaurants, Thai restaurants, Japanese, hot pot eateries, cool hangout bars and tempting sweet and cakes shops. It’s bustling every night here with often long lines for the most popular spots. Strangely enough, the crowds are all locals and Asians with barely any westerners in sight.

Banthat Thong road is a rather convenient place to stay in Bangkok because it’s between Siam in north and Silom in the south. The closest BTS is National Stadium, about 15 minutes walk away. There’s only a handful of hotels nearby. I stayed at a cool boutique named →House of Papa another option is →Hotel Sapin.

Sukhumvit – Everything

Over recent years Sukhumvit has become a melting pot of entertainment. The areas of Thonglor and its neighbor Ekkamai stand out as the trendy upscale districts and attract a younger generation. The 2 streets run parallel branching off Sukhumvit and are packed with hip cafes, cool hangout spots and deliver a diverse Asian vibe with all the fancy Japanese inspired restaurants. Hotels such as →The Salil, →Hotel Nikko and →InterContinental are just a short walk from the BTS skytrain.

Also in Sukhumvit and along the BTS line is Nana. There’s some good hotel deals on offer such as →lyf Sukhumvit or the more exclusive →Hyde Sukhumvit. It’s a bustling part of the city with Sukhumvit market stretching for around 1 km along the main road. It’s also known for its red light district most famously Nana Plaza in Soi 4.

Rattanakosin – Culture

Rattanakosin is the old part of Bangkok. It’s the area west of Sukhumvit and is where all the main temples are located. If you want to easily explore the cultural sites, this is the best place to stay in Bangkok. Khaosan is also in Rattanakosin, but there is no need to stay there, unless you want to. For example, Soi Rambuttri is a street parallel with Khaosan. There’s a nice mix of accommodation like →Dewan Bangkok and →Tinidee Trendy Bangkok, cafes, pubs and restaurants. It’s like the tame version of Khaosan and perfect for couples and families.

Wat Tri Thotsathep Worawihan is a buddhist temple about 10 minutes from Khaosan. The surrounding is a gorgeous local neighborhood that has recently become a favorite area to stay. It’s still in the making so there is a nice balance of local eateries, cool cafes and really gorgeous accommodation at an affordable price such as Chillax Resort and the minimalist →Vali Villa. To meet other fellow backpackers →Back Home Backpackers is a great choice.

Hotels in Rattanakosin for any budget

Phaya Thai – Shopping

Siam is where all the malls are. It’s basically a commercialized district with congested traffic and in no way reflects any sense of Bangkok’s local culture. But if your sole purpose is shopping, stay in Siam. If you choose to base yourself in Siam, at least choose a nice hotel like →Anantara or →Renaissance.

An alternative is to stay near the Phaya Thai BTS station, which also serves as a stop for the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link. It’s just 1 BTS stop or 10 minute walk to the malls and blends in nicely with the local culture. There’s some nice hostels like →Siam Eco Hostel and affordable hotels →Pure Eleven.

Questions and answers

Where to stay in Bangkok for nightlife?

For the sake of this article I will assume nightlife means clubs, bars, lounges and the sorts. The little bars selling cheap drinks and pumping loud music in Khaosan attract budget travelers from all over the world. In the Sukhumvit area, Ekkamai and Thonglor standout for the chic cocktail bars and clubs popular among the younger generation. Sala Daeng in Silom is home to quite a few fancier and more expensive clubs. Then there is also the entertainment in red light districts such as Nana (Nana Plaza) and Asoke (Soi Cowboy). It just depends what style of nightlife you’re looking for.

Where to stay in Bangkok for food?

Yaowarat road in Chinatown is the most famous food street in Bangkok. But there’s a few other places. A competitor is Banthat Thong road which many westerners don’t know about but even more popular among locals and Asians. Bangrak, between Silom and Sathorn is a food lover’s haven with a few Michelin rated restaurants in a very compact area.

Where to go after Bangkok?

Bangkok is centrally located with the charming city of Chiang Mai and its beautiful landscapes to the north and the tropical island to the south. Where you go after Bangkok will depend what you want to do. Many travelers take an overnight train or fly to Chiang for 3 or 4 days. And then slowly make their way towards the island in the east (Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui) and then continue and end their trip in Krabi or Phuket in the west. Makes sure to check transport options the 12Go website because it will help you plan your trip more easily.

Conclusion

Choosing the ideal place to stay in Bangkok is the single most important decision because it will make or break your trip. Now where in Bangkok to base yourself is going to come down to personal preference alongside what you actually want to do in Bangkok.

Rattanakosin: Stay here if you want to be close to all the cultural sites and some of the best street food in Bangkok.

Silom/Sathorn: It’s the most convenient place to stay in Bangkok because it puts you on the edge of modern Bangkok with easy access to old Bangkok.

Sukhumvit: If you want to be close and have easy access to shopping, dining, entertainment and have the largest selection of hotels, then Sukhumvit is perfect.