Hotels Guide Thailand
Where to stay in Bangkok – neighbourhoods compared
Piyatad, CC BY-SA 3.0
Central Thailand

Where to stay in Bangkok – neighbourhoods compared

Updated |Editorial policy

Riverside, Rattanakosin, Silom, Siam, Sukhumvit and more. Which Bangkok neighbourhood suits your trip, how to get around and when to visit.

Bangkok is a huge, spread-out city, and where you stay affects your trip more than which hotel you pick. Traffic can be slow, so the most useful rule is simple: stay near a BTS Skytrain or MRT station, or near a river pier, depending on what you plan to see.

Neighbourhoods at a glance

Area Good for Transport
Rattanakosin and the old town Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, walking Chao Phraya Express Boat, MRT Sanam Chai
Banglamphu and Khao San Road Budget travel, nightlife, old-town sights Boat (Phra Arthit pier) and taxis
Riverside (Charoen Krung, Thonburi bank) Classic luxury hotels, river views Boats, BTS Saphan Taksin
Silom and Sathorn Business, food, Lumphini Park BTS and MRT
Siam and Pathum Wan Shopping malls, central location BTS Siam interchange
Sukhumvit (Nana to Ekkamai) Restaurants, nightlife, wide hotel choice BTS Sukhumvit line, MRT Sukhumvit
Chinatown (Yaowarat) Street food, character, old shophouses MRT Wat Mangkon
Pratunam and Ratchathewi Wholesale shopping, Airport Rail Link Airport Rail Link, BTS

For a first visit, Siam, Silom or lower Sukhumvit offer the easiest transport. If your trip is mainly about temples and history, stay on the riverside or in the old town and use the boats.

Airports

Bangkok has two airports. Suvarnabhumi (BKK) handles most full-service international flights and is linked to the city by the Airport Rail Link, which ends at Phaya Thai. Don Mueang (DMK) is used mainly by low-cost airlines and is served by the SRT Red Line commuter train. Check which airport your flight uses before booking a hotel near one of them.

When to go

November to February is the coolest and driest period. March to May is very hot, and the rainy season usually runs from about June to October, with heavy but often short downpours. During Songkran in mid-April, parts of the city become a giant water fight, while many residents leave town and traffic is lighter.

Getting around

The BTS Skytrain, MRT subway and Chao Phraya Express Boat avoid most traffic. Taxis are inexpensive but should use the meter; ride-hailing apps are widely used. Several lines accept contactless bank cards, which saves buying single tickets.

Day trips

Ayutthaya, the floating markets at Damnoen Saduak and Amphawa, the Maeklong railway market and Kanchanaburi are all within reach for a day or overnight trip.

Where to stay

  • Riverside (Chao Phraya)

    Riverside hotels on Charoen Krung and the Thonburi bank. Why the river is a good base for temples and the old town, and how the boats work.

  • Banglamphu and Khao San Road

    Bangkok's old town and backpacker district. What Khao San Road, Rambuttri and Phra Arthit are like, how to get around and who should stay here.

  • Chinatown (Yaowarat)

    Street food, gold shops, temples and old shophouses. What staying in Bangkok's Chinatown is like and how to get around from there.

  • Siam and Ratchadamri

    The shopping heart of Bangkok and its central transport hub. What staying around Siam, Ratchadamri and Chit Lom is like, and who it suits.

  • Silom and Sathorn

    Bangkok's business district by day and food and nightlife hub by night. Who Silom and Sathorn suit, transport links and hotel tips.

  • Sukhumvit

    What Sukhumvit Road is like section by section, who it suits, how to get around on the BTS and MRT, and what to expect from hotels there.

Hotels

  • Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

    Bangkok's historic riverside hotel, first opened as The Oriental in the 1870s. Location, history and what is nearby.

  • The Peninsula Bangkok

    A riverside tower hotel on the Thonburi bank with views across the Chao Phraya. Location, boat shuttle and what is nearby.

Things to do

  • Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew

    How to visit Bangkok's Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the dress code, when to go and where to stay nearby.

  • Wat Arun

    How to visit Wat Arun on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya, the best time for photos and how to get there by ferry.

  • Wat Pho

    How to visit Wat Pho, home of Bangkok's giant Reclining Buddha and the birthplace of Thai massage teaching. Tips, timing and getting there.

Festivals and events

  • Chinese New Year

    Where to see Chinese New Year celebrations in Thailand, from Bangkok's Yaowarat to Nakhon Sawan, and tips for visiting.

  • Loy Krathong

    When Loy Krathong is held, the best places to see it, what a krathong is and how to take part respectfully.

  • Makha Bucha

    One of Thailand's most important Buddhist holidays. What Makha Bucha commemorates, the candlelit wian tian processions and travel tips.

  • Songkran

    When Songkran happens, where the biggest celebrations are, what to expect and how to book hotels around the Thai New Year holiday.