Where To Stay In Bangkok
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Bangkok is a huge and surprisingly spread out metropolis with over 50 districts and more than 2000 communities.
If you're visiting the Thai capital for the first time, it can be overwhelming to decide where to stay in order to get the most of your travels.
The good thing is, most neighborhoods are pretty safe and there are only a handful of areas near city center that are ideal for tourists.
I traveled Thailand and Vietnam for two months and before heading to Bangkok, consulted some local friends on the best areas to stay.
Based on their personal insights of growing up there and my experience of staying in Banglamphu for five days, here are the best areas to stay in Bangkok broken down by different interests and travel styles.
Bangkok’s Best Neighborhoods:
Rattanakosin / Old Town: best for visitors short on time | home to most cultural attractions but out of the way from main city | Browse Hotels in Old Town
Sukhumvit: best for solo travelers | business district with upscale dining, shopping, and nightlife | Browse Hotels In Sukhumvit
Riverside: best for luxury travelers | 5-star resort hotels that overlook Chao Phraya River | Browse Hotels in Riverside
Khao San / Banglamphu: best for budget travelers | gritty backpacker scene intermixed with some hidden gems | Browse Hotels in Banglamphu
Sathorn: best for couples | trendy district with amazing food and beverage scene | Browse Hotels in Sathorn
Siam: best for families | wholesome shopping district (albeit too commercial at times) | Browse Hotels in Siam
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Rattanakosin or Old Town
Best For: first-time visitors who only have a day or two to explore Bangkok
Nearby Attractions: The Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, Bangkok National Museum, Wat Saket
Pros: where all the famous cultural attractions are located
Cons: far from everything else
Old Town or Rattanakosin is the best place to stay if you're in Bangkok for the first time and only have a day or two to explore.
This historic area is located south of Khao San Road and is home to Bangkok's most well-known temples, monuments, and attractions including Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, and Chao Phraya River.
Hot take, but I think that if you're in Bangkok for the first time, the best thing to do is to see all the typical tourist attractions.
Old Town is located further from the rest of modern Bangkok, but if you only have one or two days to explore, you can easily fill an itinerary with all the attractions in the area and then take a day trip out to historic city of Ayutthaya or explore the Thai street food stalls of Chatuchak Market (the world's largest weekend market).
Where To Stay In Rattanakosin (Old Town)
Budget:
Mid-Range:
Luxury:
Sukhumvit
Best For: solo travelers looking to explore modern Bangkok
Nearby Attractions: Terminal 21, Benjakitti Park, Rama IX Park, Baan Kamthieng House Museum
Pros: centrally located with easy access to the BTS (sky train) and MRT (metro)
Cons: home to red light districts like Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy
If you're a solo traveler staying for more than two days in Bangkok and value the flexibility of exploring different neighborhoods, then the Sukhumvit area is the best place to stay.
Sukhumvit is a distinctly cosmopolitan and modern neighborhood in Bangkok known for its nightlife, shopping, and culture attractions.
It's a newer part of town with easy access to public transportation through the BTS, MRT, and multiple bus lines. It's also known as the city's business district and therefore can be fast-paced and chaotic (especially during rush hour).
Sukhumvit follows Sukhumvit Road and covers a huge area that extends from central Bangkok to the country's eastern seaboard. Although it's considered one neighborhood, the vibes vary drastically from street to street. You have everything from the infamous sexpat streets of Nana Plaza to the residential and affluent Thai neighborhoods of Thonglor.
Sukhumvit is my top choice for solo travelers because of its central location and easy access to transportation.
One thing that I regretted most about picking my accommodations near Khao San Road was that it took 30 minutes to even get to the metro lines. When you stay in Sukhumvit, you can easily hop on the BTS or MRT and get where you want to go within 20-30 minutes.
On the other hand, as a solo East Asian female traveler, one of the most annoying things that I encountered while traveling Thailand was the amount of entitled older white men that approached me thinking I was a sex worker. Those encounters made me feel deeply unsafe and made me question if I would visit Thailand again.
Because Sukhumvit is a business area known for its red light districts, there's a higher chance of these encounters happening during your stay. If you're booking a hotel in this area, definitely opt to stay either Mid or Upper Sukhumvit, and avoid Lower Sukhumvit where Nana and Asoke are.
Where To Stay In Sukhumvit
Budget:
Mid-Range:
Luxury:
Riverside
Best For: luxury travelers looking for a resort-like experience featuring riverside views
Nearby Attractions: Chao Phraya River, Wat Arun, Wat Prayoon, Asiatique: The Riverfront
Pros: romantic, exclusive, and seductive neighborhood
Cons: far from most MRT and BTS Sky Train Stations
If you're the type of traveler that needs to retreat into the quiet of your hotel room after a long day of exploring the city, you should definitely book a stay by Riverside.
This expansive neighborhood lines the east and west banks of Chao Phraya River, Bangkok's heart and soul. It's far(ish) from the hustle and bustle of the city, and is best know for its five-star hotels that feature stunning sunset views of Wat Arun along the peaceful waterways.
Riverside is the best place to stay for luxury travelers or couples looking for a romantic taste of the past while enjoying the benefits of modern amenities.
The one downside of staying in this area is that unless you're intentional about the hotel that you book, you're going to be far from the main MRT or BTS lines.
Don't worry, however, you can take the ferry like local Thais do, and catch an authentic glimpse of everyday life in Bangkok!
Just make sure to double check the ferry schedule! I accidentally lost track of time and had to take a Grab back to my accommodations from the pier.
Where To Stay In Riverside
Budget:
Mid-Range:
Luxury:
Khao San / Banglamphu
Best For: best for budget travelers
Nearby Attractions: Khao San Road, Golden Mount, Wat Suthat
Pros: cheap accommodations and proximity to main attractions
Cons: tends to draw a specific backpacking crowd
A lot of people recommend Khao San Road or Banglamphu as the best place to stay in Bangkok for first time visitors, and while I think it's an ideal place for budget travelers and backpackers, the energy certainly isn't for everyone.
I stayed in this area during my visit to Bangkok and while I really enjoyed the riverfront views of my accommodation (it was a small AirBnb tucked away on a side street), I'm not sure that I would stay there again.
Banglamphu is located just north of Old Town which makes it an attractive place to stay if you plan on seeing all the typical tourist sites. However it's a little bit out-of-the-way and I found myself walking 20-30 minutes in the hot Thailand sun just to get to an MRT or BTS station.
While the native NY-er in me loves to explore cities on foot, this additional transportation time made it harder to plan meet-ups with my local friends.
Khao San Road is also a backpacking street that (in)famously draws partying riffraff so it can get rowdy, noisy, and downright unsafe at times. That being said, the crowd mostly stays contained to that street so you can still find some peace and quiet in the surrounding neighborhood.
Stay in Banglamphu for its budget accommodations and proximity to Old Town, but choose a side street and get really familiar with taking Grab as an alternative to walking.
Where To Stay In Khao San / Banglamphu
Budget:
Mid-Range:
Luxury:
Sathorn
Best For: best for couples or foodies who enjoy upscale dining and bars
Nearby Attractions: Wat Yan Nawa, Blue Elephant Cooking School Bangkok
Pros: quiet and residential with access to public transportation
Cons: potentially too residential for some travelers
Sathorn is the best area to stay in for couples who want to explore Bangkok's incredible food and beverage scene.
This trendy business district stretches from Lumpini Park to the Chao Phraya River, and is commercial by day and residential by night. If you prefer modern boutique hotels or upscale furnished apartments, this is the best neighborhood for you.
I like to think of Sathorn as the grown-up version of Sukhumvit.
It's conveniently located in central Bangkok and offers easy transportation to other neighborhoods with the skytrain and the Chao Phraya Riverboat Service, and is an ideal area to explore upscale nightlife.
Spend your day exploring attractions outside of this area and then come back home to enjoy the swanky cocktail lounges, jazz bars, and nightclubs for a smooth wrap to the evening.
Where To Stay In Sathorn
Budget:
Mid-Range:
Luxury:
Siam
Best For: best for families looking for a wholesome neighborhood with kid-friendly activities
Nearby Attractions: Siam Paragon, MBK, Jim Thompson House, Erawine Shrine
Pros: clean, organized, respectable neighborhood with great transportation
Cons: commercial and centered around consumerism
If you haven't taken a step inside Asia's shopping malls, you're missing out.
Unlike the defunct malls of western countries, malls in Asia are still thriving and function as important community gathering spaces.
In an unbearably hot country like Thailand, the air-conditioned floors of a glitzy shopping mall provide a much needed refuge from the heat. Shopping malls in Thailand are a popular choice among locals and young people who want to spend time together window shopping or grabbing a quick bite to eat.
Siam is home to some of the city's most popular and iconic shopping malls including Siam Paragon, Siam Square, Central World, and MBK. This trendy area turns into a pedestrian friendly zone on the weekends and is the best place to stay for families with small children who need safe and kid-friendly things to do.
Siam gives you easy access to the BTS Skytrain and is a thriving hub for local shops, small eateries, thrift stores. On the weekends, it's a great place to connect with local artists and has a a relaxing, wholesome vibe with local performers, musicians, and food trucks.
Where To Stay In Siam
Budget:
Mid-Range:
Luxury:
Safest Areas to Stay In Bangkok
As I mentioned earlier, most neighborhoods in Bangkok are pretty safe but here are my top choices for tourists.
Riverside: the most luxurious neighborhood with 5-star offerings and top security
Siam: wholesome commercial area with insulated shopping malls and local shops
Sathorn: largely residential and upscale neighborhood catered towards working professionals
Neighborhoods To Avoid In Bangkok
There are some inherent risks to nightlife and as a solo traveler, I would avoid the red light districts and main partying hubs. These include:
Patpong: Bangkok’s oldest red light district located in SIlom neighborhood
Nana: where sexpats go. This is located in lower Sukhumvit. My Thai friend specifically said "stay anywhere but Nana."
Soi Cowboy: another famous street in lower Sukhumvit known for nightlife, entertainment, and partying
I hope this was a helpful summary of where to stay in Bangkok as a first time visitor.
Every neighborhood has its own charm and the best area for you just depends on your travel style.
On one final note, regardless of the area, you should definitely book a place that's is within walking distance from a BTS or MRT station. Access to public transportation will make your adventures in Bangkok that much more pleasurable.
If you need additional tips on planning your Thailand trip, make sure to check out this Ultimate Thailand Bucketlist!
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