Where to Stay in Bangkok: Best Neighborhoods and Accommodation

Where are the best neighborhoods and hotels to stay in Bangkok? I’ve got you covered! Bangkok is one of my favorite cities in the world and I have spent a ton of time there.

What I love most about Bangkok is that it’s endlessly interesting. Beyond that, Bangkok has some of the most delicious street food on the planet. And my personal favorite: you can get massages everywhere for super cheap — only about $7 per hour! No reason not to get daily foot massages! And compared to other major cities, Bangkok has very reasonable prices.

If you’re traveling extensively through Southeast Asia, chances are you’ll route through Bangkok several times. And if you’re visiting other destinations in Thailand, you’ll likely spend the beginning and end of your trip in Bangkok.

So you should try to stay in the neighborhood that is best for you — or even multiple neighborhoods if you’ve got enough time! Let’s figure out where to stay in Bangkok — for you personally, my dear traveler.

This post was last updated in January 2023.

Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Bangkok

Bangkok is a megacity, and it is chock full of diverse neighborhoods. You can’t paint the city with a single brushstroke. Some frenetic neighborhoods are more suited for partiers; others are more suited for people who want to get away from Bangkok’s craziness.

Your biggest consideration should be how you plan to spend your time in Bangkok. If you plan on zipping all over the city, you’ll probably be better off close to a transit station — the BTS Skytrain or the MRT (Bangkok metro), or even a riverside ferry stop on the Chao Phraya.

If you’re coming to Bangkok for an overnight after a trip to the islands, you might want a few days of peace and quiet in Silom.

If it’s the last day of your trip, you might want to stay in a shopping district like Silom or Pratunam so you can buy tons of souvenirs to take home.

And maybe you’re craving the backpacker lifestyle. If that’s the case, Khao San Road is a great place for you.

Whatever you’re into, Bangkok has the perfect neighborhood for you!

Frequently Asked Questions About Where to Stay in Bangkok

Siam

It’s so hard to pick a best Bangkok neighborhood when they’re all so different, but Siam is my pick for the best area to stay in Bangkok. 

Personally, I think the Siam area is a great neighborhood. This popular area is central, close to tons of shopping malls and activities, and home to some glorious hotels and hostels. It’s a good introduction to everyday urban Thai life, as you have tons of teenagers hanging out, taking selfies, and trying to see and be seen. (In fact, Siam Paragon was once the #1 most-photographed place on Instagram in the WORLD!)

In the Siam area, you can shop like crazy at the high-end Siam Paragon (when you’re sick of Thai food, head to its basement), or hit up Siam Discovery, Siam Center, or MBK. You can head to Jim Thompson’s house and marvel at this beautiful architecture, a relic from the past. You can enjoy dining options at every price level.

And if you want to get out, you have multiple Skytrain lines at your doorstep. You never have to go very far to find something you need in Siam.

That said — that’s my personal opinion of where to stay in Bangkok as a frequent visitor to the city. Some people are wild about Sukhumvit but it doesn’t do anything for me; some people think Khao San Road is the best neighborhood in Bangkok but others are repulsed by it.

It’s all about what you’re into as a traveler (and I know that whatever I write here, Bangkok superfans will complain about it).

The biggest drawback? Siam doesn’t have a neighborhood feel; it’s very commercial. It’s also very crowded, which isn’t one of the best places to stay in Bangkok if you’re looking for a low-key neighborhood.

Best Siam Hotels:

• Luxury: Vie Hotel Bangkok
• Midrange: Noursabah Boutique Bed Bangkok
• Budget: Restiny Hotel
• Hostel: Lub d Bangkok Siam Hostel
• Find deals on Siam hotels here.

Khao San Road

For Southeast Asia backpackers, all roads lead to Bangkok, and Khao San Road is the backpacker center of the universe. If you’re a first time backpacker or newbie traveler, you should stay in the Khao San Road area; it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Bangkok when you’re new to the city.

Here you’ll find wild bars and fun restaurants; tons of street stalls hawking t-shirts, bathing suits, and jewelry; lots of outdoor massage stands; street food vendors; and hotels, guesthouses, and hostels. This is where Leonardo DiCaprio landed in The Beach.

Even if you don’t desire to be surrounded by backpackers, you might still enjoy this area because it’s easy. Located in the Banglamphu neighborhood, Khao San Road also makes a great landing spot for your first trip to Bangkok.

You’ll probably arrive feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, and it’s a lot easier to settle in and find your first meal when you’re in a neighborhood that caters to foreigners.

IMPORTANT: I don’t recommend staying on Khao San Road itself, as it’s extremely loud. Instead, stay in the surrounding area — I particularly recommend the area around Soi Rambuttri (not Thanon Rambuttri), which is still lots of fun but quieter and lovely. The hotels I recommend below are all far enough from Khao San Road that you can get a good night’s sleep.

Khao San Road is within walking distance of the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, and you’re just across the river from Wat Arun. This is a good base neighborhood for visiting those sights.

The biggest drawback? There is no MRT or Skytrain near this neighborhood. To get to other parts of Bangkok, you could take a ferry on the Chao Phraya to Sathon Pier to pick up the BTS, or you could take a cab or tuk-tuk. And if you hate the backpacker scene, you will not enjoy it here.

Best Khao San Road Hotels:

• Luxury: Riva Surya
• Midrange: Thanabhumi
• Budget: Wild Orchid Villa
• Hostel: Nappark Hostel @ Khao San
• Check out more Khao San Road Area hotels here.

Ari

If you’re looking for the coolest neighborhood with the best cafes and restaurants, where you’re on the verge of something hip and amazing, Ari is the Bangkok neighborhood for you. For years, Ari (sometimes written as Aree) was primarily a residential neighborhood for middle-class Thais without any attractions.

But in the past few years, dozens of new restaurants and cafes have opened in Ari, making it where to stay in Bangkok for the hipster set.

Ari has lots of delicious restaurants, quirky shops, and luxurious places as well. It has its own night market if you’re looking to eat on the cheap. And if you’re here to work, Ari has a high concentration of excellent coffee shops.

Ari is conveniently located with its own Skytrain stop, giving you access all over the city, and it’s very close to Chatuchak Weekend Market.

The biggest drawback? There aren’t a ton of hotels in Ari at this time. Many people who stay here tend to use home rentals. Don’t expect to see any major hotel chains arriving soon, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see more boutique hotels spring up in Ari in the next few years.

Best Ari Hotels:

• Midrange: Vib Best Western Sanam Pao
• Budget: KenCOZY Accommodation Bangkok
• Hostel: The Yard Hostel
• Check out more hotels in Ari here.

Victory Monument

While every neighborhood in Bangkok is a great neighborhood for foodies, I think Victory Monument is the BEST neighborhood for foodies. Bangkok is a great place to find outstanding cuisine on every corner, and some of the best dishes come from street carts.

Victory Monument is home to some of the best street food in the city, for much cheaper than the tourist-driven neighborhoods. You won’t find a ton of tourists in this neighborhood — this is where you come to live like a local.

Victory Monument is one of the major transit hubs of Bangkok, making it an ever-changing landscape of buses, tuk-tuks, and scooters, as well as the SkyTrain, and travelers from all over Thailand. As a result, you have a lot of drivers who are looking for cheap eats. And taxi drivers worldwide are experts on finding cheap, delicious food.

Soi Rangnam is one of the most hopping streets in the neighborhood, and here’s where you’ll find some of the best high-end restaurants, some of the best street food stalls, bars, and the King Power duty-free shopping mall. And it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Bangkok for transportation connections.

The biggest drawback? This is a neighborhood for locals who live here, not tourists who are looking for things to do. It’s not as popular with expat tourists, either. That may be a pro for you, actually, if you enjoy getting off the beaten path a bit.

Best Victory Monument Hotels:

• Luxury: Pullman Bangkok King Power
• Midrange: Le Tada Residence
• Budget: S3 Residence Park
• Hostel: VM1 Hostel
• Check out more hotels near Victory Monument here.

Sukhumvit

If you’re coming to Bangkok to enjoy the best parties, bars, and restaurants, head to Sukhumvit, the best neighborhood for nightlife in Bangkok. While Khao San Road is known for being a party zone, Sukhumvit is more upscale.

Here you’ll have easy access to the rooftop bars, high-end clubs, excellent restaurants, and fun, chilled out bars for a fun night out. Sukhumvit is home to Soi 11, one of the best party streets in the city.

Sukhumvit is also home to some red light district hotspots, like Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza. And if you’re into shopping, there are plenty of great neighborhoods around.

Sukhumvit Road is the longest street in Thailand, and you navigate the neighborhood by the number of the soi off the main road. The Skytrain literally runs down the road, giving you easy access all over Bangkok. Which is a very good thing, as the traffic can be terrible around here. This is where to stay in Bangkok if you want to stick to public transportation.

The biggest drawback? It can be more expensive here. Also, Bangkok has a lot of sex tourists, and while you can find them in every neighborhood, quite a few of them tend to congregate in Sukhumvit. Seeing older Western men with Thai women barely out of their teens is just part of visiting the city, but you may prefer to hang out where this scene is not as prevalent.

Best Sukhumvit Hotels:

• Luxury: Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit
• Midrange: Galleria 10 Sukhumvit
• Budget: Udomsuk Inn @BTS Udomsuk
• Hostel: Rezt Bangkok
• Check out more hotels in Sukhumvit here.

Silom

If you’re looking for peace and quiet, Silom is the best neighborhood in Bangkok for you. As much as I love Bangkok, the city isn’t for everyone. A lot of travelers are overwhelmed by Bangkok’s chaos and prefer to stay somewhere quieter and more isolated.

If that’s you, Silom — Bangkok’s business district — is a great choice. Frankly, every time I’ve stayed in Silom, I’ve been surrounded by travelers who had spent their trips in Chiang Mai or the islands and were only staying in Bangkok to catch their flight out of BKK the next day.

Silom is a business-oriented neighborhood with some of the best hotels in the city. It also has nightlife access — most notably, the red-light district of Patpong, as well as Patpong Night Market (great for fake designer bags). It has access to both the MRT and Skytrain, making it very convenient for getting around the city.

Silom also has easy access to Lumphini Park — and if you’re not a big city person, Lumphini Park may be what you need in order to avoid going crazy in Bangkok. Come here to run, walk, join a free workout class, or just breathe in somewhat-less-polluted air.

Another high point: Silom is one of the best neighborhoods in Bangkok during Songkran, the three-day New Year’s water fight in April, where chaos overtakes the neighborhood. Don’t expect Silom to be quiet and peaceful then!

The biggest drawback? Silom is a bit boring, to be honest. But you can always travel to the crazier neighborhoods.

Best Silom Hotels:

• Luxury: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
• Midrange: Aspira Gems Center Silom
• Budget: The House of Phraya Jasaen
• Hostel: Kinnon Deluxe Hostel
• Check out more hotels in Silom here.

Pratunam

The Pratunam neighborhood is home to some of the best shopping destinations in Bangkok, if not all of Southeast Asia, making it the best Bangkok neighborhood for shopping. You’re a short walk from the Platinum Mall, the Central World wall, and Pantip Plaza — home to five floors of electronics!

If you’re coming to Bangkok to shop, especially if your visit does not coincide on a weekend day, when Chatuchak Market is open, Pratunam is one of the best neighborhoods in Bangkok for you. Pratunam’s eponymous market is a great spot for finding great souvenirs on the cheap.

For that reason, Pratunam is an excellent choice for the final days of your trip. Do your souvenir shopping last so you don’t have to schlep them all over Southeast Asia!

Pratunam is also the ideal choice for where to stay in Bangkok if you’re in the city on a brief stopover and need a central location. You can take the ARL (Airport Rail Link) straight from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Ratchapraprop and avoid Bangkok’s legendary traffic.

The biggest drawback? Like Siam, Pratunam is crowded and commercialized here — not as much of a neighborhood feel as you might want to have. If you get anxious around crowds, you might not be a big fan of this neighborhood.

Best Pratunam Hotels:

• Luxury Hotel: Amari Watergate Hotel
• Midrange Hotel: Glow Pratunam Hotel
• Budget Hotel: Tarawish Hotel
• Hostel: Good Day Hostel
• Find deals on Pratunam hotels here.

Where Not to Stay in Bangkok

There aren’t a ton of places to avoid in Bangkok if you’re concerned about safety. While petty theft exists, Bangkok for the most part is a very safe city. As long as you stay fairly central to the city, you’ll be able to enjoy your time in Bangkok.

I want to reiterate that Thailand is extremely safe for solo female travelers — and that goes for Bangkok, too.

There’s no need to stay near the airport unless you’re arriving late at night and departing early the next day.

I do warn you, however, to not go too cheap in Bangkok. There are so many quality places to stay for cheap in Bangkok that bare-bones cheap places tend to be next door to loud bars that blast music until morning, home to infestations, not have proper locking doors, or worse.

If something is too good to be true, it probably is.

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Best Luxury Hotel in Bangkok: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the best cities in the world for five-star hotels. There is an incredible variety of excellent luxury hotels, they tend to go for much cheaper than in other cities, and Asian luxury travel is a few levels up from Western luxury travel.

Basically, if you’re looking to splurge on a luxury hotel in Bangkok, this is the place. And if you’re looking for a VERY special place, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is one of the absolute best.

Everything is immaculately designed, you’ve got sweeping views over the Chao Phraya, a gorgeous outdoor pool with beautiful landscaping, and amenities like 24-hour room service, fitness center, a Turkish bath, and French and Chinese restaurants on the premises.

The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is located in Silom near the Chao Phraya.

Check for the lowest rates at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok here.

Top-Rated Bangkok Luxury Hotels:

• SO Sofitel Bangkok
• Banyan Tree Bangkok
• Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit
• Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok
• The Peninsula Bangkok

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Best Midrange Hotel in Bangkok: Galleria 10 Sukhumvit

Midrange hotels in Bangkok com with a lot of perks you wouldn’t find in other cities. If you’re looking for something nicer than budget but not too expensive, you can get a quite decent place for less than the worst hotel in your home city.

Galleria 10 in Sukhumvit is a hip, modern boutique hotel with colorful decor. You’ve got a rooftop swimming pool with lots of space to lounge around, and the rooms are decorated with a motif of Bangkok’s city skyline.

The hotel is located in the heart of Sukhumvit, near the Asok Skytrain station and just around the corner from the nightlife of Sukhumvit Soi 11.

Check for the lowest rates at Galleria 10 Sukhumvit here.

Top-rated Bangkok Midrange Hotels:

• Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11
• Glow Pratunam Hotel
• Le Tada Residence

Best Budget Hotel in Bangkok: Wild Orchid Villa

Wild Orchid Villa is the first place I ever stayed in Bangkok, on recommendation of a friend, and I almost always stay here when I’m in the city. It’s super basic — the simplest rooms have no windows and a shared bathroom — but it always feels homey and friendly to me. The nicer rooms have ensuite bathrooms and windows, and there’s now a rooftop pool.

The location is just off Soi Rambuttri, my favorite street in the Khao San Road area, and a short walk from Khao San Road itself. Even so, it’s pretty quiet and close to lots of good street food. After all these years, I still find the neighborhood a comforting spot where to stay in Bangkok, even though it isn’t as well connected by public transit.

Keep in mind that most hostels in Bangkok now have private rooms in addition to dorms, which can offer great value for money.

Check for the lowest rates at Wild Orchid Villa here.

Top-Rated Bangkok Budget Hotels:

• S3 Residence Park
• Udomsuk Inn @BTS Udomsuk
• Restiny Hotel

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Best Bangkok Hostel: The Yard Hostel

Bangkok is one of the best cities in the world for hostels. There are tons of them, they’re all over the city, and quite a few of them are of excellent quality (including every hostel on this list). But one that deserves special recognition is The Yard.

The Yard bills itself as a “social but not party hostel” and an oasis in an otherwise busy city. You’ve got a big green area in the backyard and the furnishings are constructed from environmentally friendly materials, giving the hostel a rustic-yet-modern design feel. There are group dinners, yoga classes, and events to help you meet fellow travelers.

Located in the hottest neighborhood of the moment, Ari, which will probably be on all the lists of best neighborhoods to stay in Bangkok in a few years, The Yard gives you easy access to some of the best restaurants and coffeeshops in the neighborhood, with easy Skytrain access to get you all over the city.

Check for the lowest rates at The Yard Hostel here.

Top-Rated Bangkok Hostels:

• Nappark Hostel @ Khao San
• Lub d Bangkok Siam Hostel
• Good Day Hostel

Bangkok Travel Tips

Don’t just get to Bangkok and leave — spend some time here. It’s one of the world’s greatest cities, one of my personal favorite cities, and it’s so different from the rest of Thailand. So many tourists arrive in Bangkok just to leave 24 hours later, but it’s the kind of city that takes time to get to know properly.

Get a SIM card as soon as you arrive. My first stop is always the Siam Paragon mall, where I pick up a SIM card at the AIS store. SIM cards are cheap and the staff here are used to assisting foreigners. Don’t forget to bring your passport.

Use cabs and tuk-tuks strategically. The traffic in Bangkok is legendary — be sure you leave more time than you need. Only get in a cab if the driver agrees to use the meter. Tuk-tuks are fun, but they’re best for short distances (Bangkok’s air quality is not great, especially when sitting in traffic) and you must negotiate the fare beforehand yourself.

Learn a few Thai phrases before you arrive. Just a few phrases can help you out. The most important phrases: “Sawadee ka/krap” (if you’re female/male) is hello and “kap khun ka/krap” is thank you. Adding “ka” or “krap” to the end of each phrase, if you’re female or male, is a polite thing to do.

Get yourself on Thai time as soon as possible. If you’re crossing several time zones to get to Thailand, you’ll likely be a zombie. I like to stay up as late as humanly possible, go out for walks while it’s light out, minimize napping (no longer than 90 minutes), and if I’m having trouble getting to sleep, I push things along with a 2 mg melatonin supplement.

Indulge in all the massages. Massage in Bangkok is dirt cheap — around 250 baht ($7) for an hourlong massage. Thais see massage as a vital part of staying healthy. If you’ve never had a foot massage before, get one here — I get them daily when I’m in Thailand!

Eat lots of street food. Bangkok is one of the best destinations for street food on the planet — and it’s safe to eat. Thais tend to eat out often because of how cheap it is. Look for busy street stalls that have a lot of turnover; these are the places where the food is both fresh and delicious.

Know that Thai food is ordinarily extremely spicy. The concept of “medium spicy” or “a little bit spicy” does not exist. To quote my late friend Wes Nations, Thais eat red hot coals for breakfast, so when the cook hears ‘a little bit spicy’ he thinks “Okay, I’ll use smaller coals.” And if you say “Thai spicy,” well, hope you’re ready to be murdered with chiles.

That said, many Thai vendors understand the phrase “not spicy,” and the Thai phrase is “mai pet, ka/krap.” Most vendors know that farang (foreigners) don’t have the spice tolerance of Thai people.

The water in Thailand is not safe to drink. If you’re not used to Thai water, drinking it can lead to illness. There are two ways around this: drink bottled or sterilized water, or sterilize it yourself.

While most travelers in Thailand rely on bottled water, it creates a major waste issue. For this reason, I recommend you bring a reusable bottle and invest in a SteriPen water purifier (much better and faster than tablets). Alternatively, you can bring a LifeStraw, a bottle that purifies water as you drink it through its straw.

Additionally, be mindful of waste. When you buy a drink at a 7-Eleven, the cashier will automatically put it in a plastic bag with napkins and a straw! Say “Mai ow, ka/krap” (no thank you) and take the bottle alone.

Guard yourself against theft while in Thailand. You should protect your belongings in your room and on your person. Lock up your belongings in a portable safe and lock it to something sturdy in your room.

When you’re out, use a crossbody purse that zips shut (see more here on what kind of handbag is best for travel) and you may want to try a Speakeasy Travel Supply Scarf, which has a hidden pocket for your valuables that no pickpocket will know about.

Use a good day bag that locks if you’re carrying your camera and lenses; I use this one.

Keep a backup stash of cash in USD and an extra debit card in your luggage. Hide these in different, random places. I like to keep around $100 handy. Hide it in maxi pads; nobody will look there!

Be prepared for tuk-tuk scams. If you are walking into a temple and a driver tells you, “You can’t go in, it’s a holiday,” or “You can’t go in, it’s a special ceremony,” and then offers you a cheap ride around the city, it’s a scam. He will be taking you to his friends’ shops expecting you to spend money. Don’t fall for this; it will ruin your day.

Visit during Songkran for the water fight of your life. Taking place in April each year, this New Year’s festival features a three-day water fight across Thailand! It’s a fantastic time to visit the city. Get ready to ride around in a Hawaiian shirt with a super soaker. The best water fights in Bangkok are on Silom Road and Khao San Road. Don’t forget to protect your electronics.

Be careful with the drinks, especially the buckets. It’s popular to drink buckets of Sangsom (“Thai whiskey,” or rum), Red Bull, and Coke, especially on Khao San Road. This binge-drinking can lead to dangerous situations, especially since you’re masking the alcohol’s effects with caffeine. Be very cautious here.

Do your souvenir shopping in Bangkok. If you’re planning a longer trip to Thailand or Southeast Asia, I recommend setting aside a day at the end of your trip in Bangkok to buy gifts for your loved ones (so you don’t have to drag them around the whole time). If you make it a weekend day, you can go to Chatuchak Market; otherwise, I recommend Pratunam or Siam.

Don’t Visit Bangkok Without Travel Insurance

A lot of people think travel insurance is an unnecessary expense — I couldn’t disagree more. Travel insurance is vital. It’s saved me hundreds of dollars and for a few of my friends who seriously injured themselves abroad, it’s saved them hundreds of thousands of dollars.

If your wallet is stolen at a bar in Sukhumvit, travel insurance will refund you what you lost.

If you slip and break your ankle while climbing Wat Arun or get appendicitis, travel insurance will cover your medical costs, which could run into the tens of thousands. Thai healthcare is cheap but it’s not THAT cheap. (If you need a hospital in Bangkok, I highly recommend Bumrungrad — it’s upscale and very comfortable.)

If an immediate family member dies while you’re halfway across the world, travel insurance will help you get home ASAP.

These are unpleasant things to think about, but it’s so important to be prepared for the worst.

I have used World Nomads Travel Insurance on my Thailand travels. Take a look at their policies before you buy to make sure they’re right for you.

My #1 Bangkok Travel Tip

Eat everything in sight. Even the stuff that looks weird. Don’t hesitate — just go for it. You’ll be glad you did. And get daily foot massages. Those are the two best things to do in Bangkok!

Bangkok is one of my favorite places in the world, and I hope this guide has helped you figure out where to stay on the trip of a lifetime.

Click here to find deals on hotels throughout Bangkok.

More on Thailand:

• Solo Female Travel in Thailand: Is it Safe?
• Ultimate Guide to Koh Lanta, Thailand’s Best Island
• Koh Phi Phi is Very Beautiful (And a Bit Dangerous)
• Khao Sok National Park: Cliffs and Adventure in Southern Thailand

Have you been to Bangkok? Where do you recommend staying?