Finding where to stay in Bangkok is not an easy task, not because there are no options, on the contrary, but because it is a city with endless possibilities, each with its pros and cons.
With this post we will try to make your search easier by giving you a selection of what we consider to be the best areas to sleep in Bangkok and some of the best accommodations in all of them.
Based on the two times we have traveled to Thailand and the city, during which we wrote this guide to Bangkok and this post on the 16 must-see places to visit in Bangkok, we leave you a selection of places to stay in Bangkok and the best neighborhoods. Let’s get started!
Neighborhoods where to stay in Bangkok
As we mentioned, Bangkok has plenty of areas where to stay, so to make your search easier, we have selected those that we believe can fit all types of travelers, trips and budgets.
- Chao Phraya River (Riverside): this is the area on both banks of the Chao Phraya River, which divides the city in two. Along the two banks are most of the places of interest of the city.
- Sukhumvit: with 18 kilometers this is one of the main arteries of the city where a great variety of lodgings, shops and restaurants are concentrated.
- Khaosan Road: known for being one of the most famous streets in the city, it is also the favorite place for backpackers to stay in Bangkok.
- Siam Bangkok: this is the commercial area of the city par excellence and although a little far from the center, it is well connected, so it is a good alternative where to sleep in Bangkok.
- Silom: this is the business area of Bangkok, so it has transportation to access any area of the city.
- Chinatown: this is one of the best known and most visited neighborhoods in the city and one of the most popular places to stay for travelers.
1. Chao Phraya River (Riverside), one of the best places to stay in Bangkok
The Chao Phraya River is the main artery, which divides the city of Bangkok in two and it is on both banks where many of the places to see in Bangkok such as the Royal Palace, Wat Arun or Wat Pho are located.
Although depending on the area of the river where you sleep in Bangkok, it will be more or less lively, if you are looking to stay in a charming place, with good views and with a good range of restaurants, we advise you to stay in the area of the Phra Arthit Express Boat Pier, where there is a wide range of accommodation and restaurants as well as several streets around where you can find markets, stores and many restaurants.
In addition to this, in this area you can use the boats that run along the river to move around the different areas of the city such as Wat Arun, the Royal Palace, Wat Pho and even get closer to the surroundings of Chinatown or Khao San Road; or use the cab or Grab.
If you use this means of transport you can also go to the Sathorn pier, where you can connect with the skytrain, another of the most popular means of transport in the city, which will take you to the rest of the most important places in the city.
As you have seen, this area is perfect to stay in Bangkok because, although somewhat away from the main points of interest, it is very lively and above all, has unique views.
The price of accommodation in the Chao Phraya River is usually 30 euros per night although you can find cheaper options in more basic accommodations or more expensive if you choose to stay in higher category hotels.
2. Sukhumvit, another area to sleep in Bangkok
With almost 20 kilometers Sukhumvit is one of the main arteries of the city where many shopping malls and restaurants are concentrated, so this is a perfect option where to sleep in Bangkok.
Keep in mind that this area is far from the main attractions of the city, so it is interesting to look for a hotel that is near a stop of the Skytrain, the elevated train of Bangkok, with which you can get close to many of the most famous places like Silom.
In addition to this you will find accommodations for all budgets, something that is perfect for travelers who want to be in an atmospheric area but do not want to pay a lot for accommodation.
The price of accommodation in Sukhumvit is usually 20 euros per night although there are accommodations for all budgets.
3. Khaosan Road, the backpacker area of Bangkok
Known for being the place where most backpackers look for a hotel in Bangkok, Khaosan Road is an icon in the city and one of the places you must visit, whether you stay here or not.
In addition to having plenty of accommodation options, restaurants, entertainment venues and travel agencies, this street and the surrounding area are perfect for getting to know one of the most famous places in Asia, which for years has been the meeting place for backpackers.
Despite this, we have to say that although it has changed a lot in recent years and currently is perhaps too touristy and even vitiated, losing some of the authenticity that characterized it, we believe it is a place you should know and is perfect to stay in Bangkok if during your stay in the city you want to enjoy the night and the party.
Besides this it is quite close to many of the main attractions of the city, so it is an area to take into account. Of course, there is no public transportation nearby, so you will have to walk or use tuk tuk or cab.
The price of accommodation in Khaosan Road is usually 15 euros per night although there are accommodations for all budgets.
4. Siam, a central and commercial area Bangkok
Siam is the commercial area par excellence of the city as well as being one of the best connected areas of the city, through which pass two Skytrain lines with which you can reach many of the most important attractions of the city and being a very central area, you can take a cab or Grab and arrive in a relatively short time to your destination.
In addition to this here are the famous shopping malls Siam Paragon and MBK Center, which are two of the visits that many travelers include in their stay in the city.
But there are not only shopping malls. Siam also has a wide range of hotels and apartments as well as many dining options, so it has become another of the best areas to stay in Bangkok.
The price of accommodation in Siam is usually 50 euros per night although there are cheaper accommodations.
5. Silom, the financial area of Bangkok
Known for being the financial area of the city, Silom is another alternative where to stay in Bangkok because in addition to having a wide range of hotels it offers many restaurants and entertainment venues, especially on Silom Road, the main street.
Besides this, being the business area it is very well connected with the rest of the city, both by subway and skytrain, so you can move perfectly by most attractions.
In our experience, although Silom is quieter than Siam or Sukhumvit, we believe that the latter two are better options to sleep in Bangkok as they have more choice and are more lively.
The price of accommodation in Silom is usually 50 euros per night although there are cheaper accommodations.
6. Chinatown, another area to stay in Bangkok
Although it is easy to find cheap accommodation in Bangkok, Chinatown is especially cheap. Being the neighborhood where most of the Chinese community stays as well as being one of the most important in the world, here there are plenty of accommodations and restaurants, although you should keep in mind that all (or most of them) are focused on this culture and gastronomy.
Despite being a neighborhood that we believe should be visited on your trip to Bangkok, after our experience, we do not think it is the best area to sleep in Bangkok unless you really like Chinese culture and cuisine.
The price of accommodation in Chinatown is usually 20 euros per night.
Tips for finding cheap accommodation in Bangkok
In addition to choosing the best areas to stay in Bangkok, which we talked about earlier, we want to leave you with a list of tips and recommendations to make your choice of accommodation as easy and comfortable as possible.
- Knowing that there are quite a few areas to sleep in Bangkok, after our experience, we believe that the best areas to look for a hotel would be the Chao Phraya River area, around the Phra Arthit Express Boat Pier or in Siam, the commercial area of the city.
- Remember that the tourist sites in the city are far from each other, so you will probably have to use transportation to get around, no matter where you stay.
- As you have seen in Bangkok there are accommodations for all budgets in most areas, so it is a city where it is very easy to adapt to your budget.
- Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate we recommend you to use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, are free of charge and will save you a lot of money.
