In this article, I will explore where to stay in Bangkok, by looking at the best areas I’ve stayed in along with their accommodations and attractions.
The Thai capital Bangkok has increasingly featured on the ‘must visit destinations’ list of many discerning travelers. This has placed the city as one of the most visited in the world.
Located in the central plains of the tropical SE Asian country, Bangkok often serves as something of an ideal travel hub from which to visit the more northern and southern regions of the country, which are somewhat less developed by comparison.
With its diverse cultural mix and somewhat startling contrasts, the city of Bangkok offers a wide array of attractions to suit all. Alongside the street markets and famed food stalls, you’ll encounter high-end luxury shopping malls and the lush, well-kept greenery of city center parks.
Once armed with a little background information, Bangkok can be an ideal getaway location for singles, couples, and families.
Best Places to Stay in Bangkok
Just need to know where you will find the best accommodations in Bangkok? Don’t worry we got you covered with these quick picks.
- Best Overall Hotel – Novotel Siam Square
- Best Luxury Resort – Emporium Suites Chatri
- Best Budget Hotel – The Smile Inn
- ? Best Hostel – Greathouse 99
- Best Hotel For Families – Emporium Suites
- Best Hotel for Couples – Novotel
4 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Bangkok
1. Sukhumvit
The longest road in the country hosting, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, and red-light districts
Best Hotels in Sukhumvit – Emporium Suites by Chatrium • Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 • The Key Premier Sukhumvit
The Sukhumvit Road is the longest in the whole country. However, if you are in Bangkok, you can consider it to relate to the various districts somewhere between Chit Lom and Thong Lor, which are both on the main BTS line running the length of this area.
Chit Lom is a reasonably upmarket region close to the old British Embassy on Wireless Road and is suitable for trendy shopping malls, restaurants, and cafes.
A bit further along is the somewhat seedy Nana district, which has its adult entertainment plaza full of go-go bars. This stretch is also home to the city’s Arab Quarter, which offers some of the best Middle-Eastern cuisines.
Topside of Nana and within walking distance is the somewhat more inspiring Asok, home to the massive Terminal 21 shopping complex.
Another 10 mins up the road, you’ll find yourself in the upmarket district of Phrom Pong, home to 2 of the city’s most famous h-so shopping malls (Emporium and Emquartier), right next to a reasonably sized park.
The next stop is the trendy Thonglor district, a popular hangout for affluent young Thais. This constantly developing area offers some of the best restaurants, bars, and nightlife in the city.
Sukhumvit Mini Guide
The Best Area to Stay in for Nearby Services, Shopping Centers, and Restaurants
- Best Hotels – Emporium Suites by Chatrium • Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 • The Key Premier Sukhumvit
- Best Hostels – Jellybean The Blocks Hostel • Greathouse 99
- Best Apartments – 1 Bedroom Apartment • 2 Bedroom Apartment • 4 Bedroom Apartment
- Where to Eat – Enoteca Italiana $$$, Cabbages and Condoms $$, Cocotte Farm Roast and Winery $$
- Where to Drink – Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar, Havana Social, Levels Club & Terrace
- Top Attractions – Terminal 21 Mall, Museum of Science & Planetarium, Baan Kamthieng House Museum
2. Silom
Home to a massive market and many go-go bars
Best Hotels in Silom – W Bangkok Hotel • Amara Bangkok Hotel • The Cotton Saladaeng Hotel
The Silom/Sathorn region of the city is the Central Business District and thus attracts local and ex-pat workers to its many entertainment and leisure options.
Everything you could wish to find in a city is available in this area — from shopping malls and markets to trendy wine bars and international cuisines. However, the area itself is less modern-looking than Sukhumvit.
Silom is home to one of Bangkok’s most famous adult-oriented nightlife spots, which is something of a throwback and, these days is a fairly run-down affair.
The market outside the strip of go-go bars still attracts attention from tourists, although it is largely overpriced and doesn’t compare to places like Chinatown or even Siam for bargains.
Lumpini Park is a hotspot for joggers, cyclists, nature lovers, and outdoor types and is well worth spending at least half a day in.
This is probably the second most impressive park in Bangkok after the three closely-knit together in Chatuchak (Chatuchak, Rot Fai, and Sirikit), which comprise the largest green area in the city
Silom Mini Guide
The Best Area to Stay in for a Family-Friendly Visit to the City
- Best Hotels – W Bangkok Hotel • Amara Bangkok Hotel • The Cotton Saladaeng Hotel
- Best Hostels – Silom Space Hostel • Ekanek Hostel
- Best Apartments – 1 Bedroom Apartment • 1 Bedroom Apartment • 1 Bedroom Apartment
- Where to Eat – Eat ME $$, Sirocco $$$, La Table de Tee $$
- Where to Drink – Sky Bar, Maggie Choos, Distil Cocktail Bar
- Top Attractions – Lumpini Park, Lalai Sap Market, Kathmandu Photo Gallery
3. Siam
A shopping district home to the mega-complex CentralWorld and the super-trendy Paragon
Best Hotels in Siam – Siam Kempinski Hotel • Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square • Patumwan House
If you are a fan of shopping, then Siam is all your birthdays at once. With the highest concentration of the massive, super-shopping complexes that Bangkok excels in, you’ll find everything you could imagine in this commercial haven.
From the mega-complex CentralWorld to the super-trendy Paragon, you’ll find restaurants, coffee shops, and all manner of local and international brands that will be difficult to cover in a day.
Entertainment-wise, there are some of the best cinema multiplexes in the world, as well as impressive aquariums and ice skating rinks, to name just a few options.
Siam Mini Guide
The Best Area to Stay in for Upscale Shopping Centres and Food Scene
- Best Hotels – Siam Kempinski Hotel • Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square • Patumwan House
- Best Hostels – Siam Stadium Hostel • Lazy Sunday Hostel • Siam Eco Hostel
- Best Apartments – 1 Bedroom Apartment • 1 bedroom Apartment • 2 Bedroom Apartment
- Where to Eat – Coca $$, Pad Thai Fai Ta Lu $, Ban Khun Mae $
- Where to Drink – Red Sky Bar, 1897 Lounge, The Speakeasy Rooftop Bar
- Top Attractions – Jim Thompson House Museum, Bangkok Art and Culture Center, Pathum Waranum Temple
4. The Old Town
Ideal for those wanting to explore the history and culture of Thailand
Best Hotels in The Old Town – Bangkok China Town Hotel • Ayathorn Bangkok • Smile Inn
If you head over to the Old Quarter of Bangkok you’ll encounter an entirely different scenario from the ones you might find in any of the previously mentioned areas. Here is a region of the city near the river steeped in history and culture.
Many of the original shophouse buildings in the Chinatown district have been largely untouched by the onslaught of commercial development (although that is changing), and the famous backpacker destination Khao San Road is close by.
If you want famous temples like Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, this is the place to head. If you want breathtaking sunset river scenarios overlooking 15th-century temples you will find them in this region, along with one of the largest Chinatowns in the world.
Chinatown has traditionally been the hub of the many settlers that made Bangkok their home hundreds of years back and contains legendary street food and mazes of markets with the best prices in the city.
The area has become a bit more trendy and upmarket in recent years, with some old shophouses being converted into trendy cafes, bars, restaurants, apartments, and boutique hotels.
If you like the idea of authentic cuisine and riverboat cruises intertwined with some of Bangkok’s most visited temples and historical monuments, this is the place to stay.
The Old Town Mini Guide
The Best Area to Stay in for Sightseeing and Historical Attractions
- Best Hotels – Bangkok China Town Hotel • Ayathorn Bangkok • Smile Inn
- Best Hostels – Four Sisters Homestay • The Printing House Poshtel • Loft 22 Hostel
- Where to Eat – Thipsamai $, Krua Khun Kung $$, Steve Cafe and Cuisine $$
- Where to Drink – Adhere the 13th Blues Bar, Brown Sugar, Brick Bar
- Top Attractions – The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Bangkok National Museum
FAQs About Where to Stay in Bangkok
What are the best places to stay in Bangkok for first-time visitors?
Sukhumvit Road is the best area to stay in if you are visiting Bangkok for the first time. It provides guests with a central location within the city, a diverse catalog of nearby shopping centers and restaurants, and convenient access to the legion's public transportation network, making exploring Bangkok's various corners a breeze.
What hotels in Bangkok are best for families?
As the commercial center and one of the safest neighborhoods in the city, Siam is the best area to stay in Bangkok for families. Some of the best hotels for accommodating your family vacation to the area include the Anantara Siam Bangkok, the Siam Kempinski Hotel, and the Anantara Riverside Resort located along the Chao Phraya River.
What are the best luxury hotels in Bangkok?
Located directly along the Chao Phraya River, the Mandarin Oriental is one of the most luxurious hotels in Bangkok and features a world-class service experience provided in a historical complex first opened in 1876. Alternative luxury hotels in Bangkok include the Four Seasons Bangkok and the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok.
Where is the best area to stay in Bangkok for street food?
Bangkok is world-renowned for its street food culture, and several of these delicious stands and markets can be found all over the city. Still, Sukhumvit and Silom boast the most significant concentration and variety of these markets, making them the best areas to stay in Bangkok for exploring the destination's street food.
What is the best area to stay in Bangkok for nightlife?
Home to celebrated nightclubs and bars, Sukhumvit is the best area in Bangkok for exploring the region's nightlife. Sugar Club, Levels Club, and the Octave Rooftop Bar are just some of the social hotspots you want to visit when in the city.
What is the best area to stay in Bangkok on a budget?
While Bangkok is a relatively affordable city to visit in general, those looking to get the best deals on their stay should base their trip at one of the budget-friendly hostels along Khao San Road. Located near Bangkok's Old Town, this Khao San Road is a backpacker's haven.
Where is the best area to stay in Bangkok for Couples?
Located in the heart of the city, Sukhumvit is the best area in Bangkok for couples. Situated near several upscale shopping centers, attractions, and rooftop restaurants, Sukhumvit offers several fantastic date night activities for your romantic getaway.
So, Where Should You Stay in Bangkok?
- Sukhumvit — The longest road in Thailand, will allow you to explore different ends of the city, from the upscale shopping districts to the bustling red-light district.
- Silom — Ideal area to go for those wanting to stay saturated in the nightlife of Bangkok.
- Siam — A commercial district, you can spend countless hours shopping in some of the largest and trendiest complexes.
- The Old Town — With many temples and cultural landmarks, The Old Town is ideal for those traveling to Bangkok for its history and architecture over partying.
If a SE Asian capital city with some diversity sounds up your street, you’ll find that Bangkok is just the ticket. Here is a city in Thailand that offers something for everyone, although a little logical planning is recommended beforehand.