Where to Stay in Bangkok in 2023 | Best Areas & Hotels

Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital, offers a wide range of accommodation options, from budget-friendly hostels to luxurious five-star hotels. We’ll walk you through the best neighborhoods to stay in, based on your interests and budget.

Whether you’re looking for a lively backpacker district or a relaxing riverside getaway, we’ve got you covered. So read on to learn more about the best places to stay in Bangkok; let us be your guide!

The 5 Best Places to Stay in Bangkok

Bangkok’s vast size offers countless areas to stay in, but here are our expert recommendations:

1. Sukhumvit: Generally considered as the best option for first-time travelers in Bangkok because of its exciting nightlife, good transportation options, and plenty of shops.
2. Silom: The most versatile and family-friendly area in our guide, which also provides great nightlife options but also the biggest park in the city and fine architecture.
3. Siam: The definite shopping center in Bangkok, with some of the best shopping malls in the whole world.
4. Bangkok Old Town: The historical and cultural center of the city, full of palaces, temples, and museums.
5. Khao San Road: The cheapest area on our list, close to the Old Town and the center, providing a lot of budget-option accommodations.

Where to Stay in Bangkok: Best Areas & Hotels

As one of the most visited tourist locations in the world, Bangkok is packed with hotels of all types and sizes. No matter what area you’re staying in, there’ll be plenty of options to choose from — from cheap two-star hotels and hostels to luxurious and extra-expensive four- and five-star accommodations.

That being said, some areas are more suitable for those travelers who are looking for luxury, and others more to the taste of backpackers who are searching for a decent budget option.

You can find decent budget options in probably all of the areas on our list except Sukhumvit, which is packed with high-end five-star hotels. But most of the budget options are located on Khao San Road, close to the downtown.

Don’t worry about luxury hotels since there are a lot of five-star and four-star options in every area presented in our guide.

1. Best Area for First-Time Visitors: Sukhumvit

If you want to be at the center of things in Bangkok, where the fun and the crowd are, you better choose Sukhumvit as your permanent base. There’s almost an universal consensus that this 18-mile street that stretches through the center is the most convenient location for first-comers.

There are many reasons for that but mostly because of the vibrant and exciting nightlife, the easy-to-access and navigate transport options, and a lot of other modern activities.

If you are looking for an authentic Asian vibe, Bangkok Old Town would be a better option, but more on that later. The famous elevated Skytrain (BTS) and the subway line (MRT) are the two main reasons for the popularity of Sukhumvit since they make all transport easy and fast.

With their help, you can travel an 18-mile road in no time and move from one activity to the next in a matter of minutes. But let’s be honest and say it outright that people mostly come to Sukhumvit (and to Bangkok in general) for its nightlife.

Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza are probably two of the most famous red districts in the world. They are full of bars and clubs: Nana Plaza on Soi 4, for example, boasts more than 30 bars and clubs.

The other magnet for tourists in this part of the city is the shopping centers, which offer shops of all types and sizes and various great food courts.

You’ve probably already heard about the Terminal 21 shopping mall, Emporium (famous for expensive brands), and Gateway Ekamai Shopping Mall (which is more affordable).

Speaking about accommodation, Sukhumvit is literally packed. Some of the best and most luxurious hotels in the city can be found in this neighborhood.

But you won’t find anything lower than a three-star hotel, and if you are looking for more budget options, you should choose some other district, like Khao San Road.

Sukhumvit Budget Hotels

• twothree a homely hotel – SHA Extra Plus is a very comfortable three-star hotel that has more to offer than your typical budget place. With a swimming pool, fitness center on the premises, nice garden, 24-hour desk, and tasty breakfast, the hotel is particularly suitable for couples.
• Rezt Bangkok is another more than nice three-star hotel that comes at a lower price when you consider the circumstances. It has free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and parking, a beautiful garden, tea and coffee makers in every room, and daily housekeeping.

Sukhumvit Mid-Range Hotels

• Hotel Clover Asoke – SHA Extra Plus is a perfect three-star hotel with an outdoor swimming pool. It offers free Wi-Fi and parking, family rooms with coffee and tea machines in each of them, a fitness center, spa and wellness center, and a bar on the premises.
• LA49 Hotel – SHA Certified is another great three-star hotel with a pool and a lot of other interesting things. Of course, there’s free parking, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning, a fitness center on the premises, and a balcony where you can have a drink.

Sukhumvit Luxury Hotels

• Grande Centre Point Hotel Terminal21 is a very luxurious and expensive five-star hotel that boasts two swimming pools, a gym, a spa and wellness center, a restaurant, and a bar on the premises. There’s also an airport shuttle available and a great breakfast.
• SKYVIEW Hotel Bangkok – SHA Extra Plus is another super-luxurious five-star hotel that has a lot to offer. It has complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and the parking, a swimming pool, rooms with views of parks and skyscrapers, an on-site restaurant, a bar, and a fitness center.

2. Best Area for Families: Silom

Silom is Bangkok’s financial district by day, but after working hours, it becomes one of the most exciting places in the city, where everything connected to business is transformed into pleasure.

In the same way as Sukhumvit, Silom has a lot of places for a wild night out and even some more red districts. But it’s also very safe and has the largest park in Bangkok. That’s why it’s usually considered as one of the most family-friendly areas in the city.

First, let’s talk about the nightlife. In Silom, you’ll find Patpong, one of Bangkok’s most infamous red districts. The biggest concentration of nightclubs, cafes, and bars are located in this part of the area.

Also, while you’re here, you can experience the Patpong Night Market, where you can buy a souvenir or some kind of memorabilia.

At Silom, shopping and going out go hand in hand because the night market is located inside Patpong, right next to the adult entertainment venues. But the biggest attraction in Silom is definitely Lumpini Park, both the biggest and oldest park in the whole city.

It was selected as the 2022 Travelers’ Choice and offers tracks for jogging and cycling (but only between 10:00 and 15:00). Smoking is strictly forbidden, and so are dogs and any other pets — aside from service dogs.

All in all, a tranquil place, which is in complete contrast to the bustle of business and the nightlife of Bangkok. Other things that are worth visiting in Silom are connected to architecture, culture, and history.

These include:

• King Power Mahanakhon, the tallest building in Thailand and its skywalk;
• The religious sites and buildings, such as Wat Hua Lamphong and Sri Mariam Man Temple, which hold the center of spirituality in Silom;
• The museums, like The Bangkokian Museum and Patpong Museum.

In terms of accommodation, Silom is both similar and different from Sukhumvit. Similar because it offers a bunch of high-end and luxurious hotels of all kinds and sizes, and different, as it offers a lot more budget options in the form of two-star hotels and hostels.

The restaurants, on the other hand, are quite amazing, with a lot of places that were selected as the 2022 Traveler’s Choice Best of the Best.

Silom Budget Hotels

• Urban Hostel Bangkok is a very cheap hostel located in the center of Bangkok. It has a shared lounge and a terrace (with a view of the city) and free Wi-Fi throughout the premises. There’s also an airport shuttle available and a very tasty breakfast in the morning.
• Ekanek Hostel is another very cheap hostel that doesn’t offer much, aside from the great location and low price. It offers free Wi-Fi and free air conditioning, but there’s also a laundry service and daily housekeeping.

Silom Mid-Range Hotels

• Bed By City Hotel is a decent three-star hotel with a great location. There’s free Wi-Fi throughout the premises, air conditioning and satellite TVs in every room, and a private bathroom. There’s also a 24-hour desk and daily housekeeping.
• Amara Bangkok Hotel is a more than a mid-range four-star hotel with a lot to offer — in other cities it would be considered a luxury accommodation. There’s an outdoor swimming pool, an on-site restaurant, room service, and great breakfast every morning.

Silom Luxury Hotels

• SO BANGKOK – SHA Extra Plus is a very luxurious five-star hotel inspired by five elements: water, fire, earth, and air — but also metal. It boasts an outdoor pool, an on-site restaurant and a bar, a fitness center, and a wellness and spa center.
• The Sukhothai Bangkok – SHA Plus Certified is a five-star garden paradise in the middle of Bangkok. It offers spacious rooms clad in teakwood, one of the best restaurants in the city (Celadon Restaurant), an outdoor swimming pool, a spa and wellness center, and a gym.

3. Best Area for Shopping: Siam

Bangkok is generally a shopping paradise, full of shopping malls and boutiques, but one area stands out as the de facto best shopping option in the whole city — Siam.

Located on the already mentioned Sukhumvit Road, it boasts some of the most elite and high-end shopping malls in Bangkok. Aside from that, it is also quite safe and family-friendly.

There are at least five of them that are worth your time, and we’ve listed them in the order of their popularity. Each of them requires around a day to completely check out:

• Siam Paragon: very expensive and upscale.
• CentralWorld: huge and family-friendly.
• MBK Center (Ma Boon Khrong Center): also huge and very diverse.
• Platinum Fashion Mall: with more than 2,000 shops.
• Siam Center: Thailand’s first shopping center by world standards.

All of the shopping malls are equipped with large food courts and full of restaurants of all shapes and sizes. One thing is certain — Siam is the best place in Bangkok for trying out Thai food.

We can’t argue with the fact that Siam is such an attraction mainly because of the shopping centers. However, there are some other things that deserve a piece of your time too.

• Jim Thompson House is an interesting museum full of Asian and Thai art
• Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC) works in the art domain too
• Madame Tussauds Bangkok is where you’ll meet your heroes clad in wax
• Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World for nature lovers

Siam is also great for tourists because of its accommodation options: there are hotels in all price ranges and with different numbers of stars.

Both budget travelers and the ones looking for luxury will leave Siam satisfied: the first because of the many two-star accommodations, and the second due to the luxurious five-star super-fancy hotels.

Siam Budget Hotels

• Lazy Sunday hostel is a very cheap accommodation with a great location, quite close to some of Siam’s most popular shopping malls. It doesn’t offer much, but it has free Wi-Fi on the premises, air conditioning, a 24-hour front desk, and room service.
• Happy 3 is a very nice but not very expensive three-star hotel with an outdoor swimming pool. It also has a restaurant and a bar on the premises, a nice breakfast every morning, free parking, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning. The place is particularly suitable for couples.

Siam Mid-Range Hotels

• ibis Bangkok Siam is a decently priced three-star hotel with a perfect view of the city. It offers a lot of things, like a restaurant and a bar on the premises, facilities for disabled people, free parking, air conditioning and Wi-Fi, and a great breakfast every morning.
• Holiday Inn Bangkok, an IHG Hotel is a not-so-expensive four-star hotel. It offers an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a spa and wellness center, a restaurant, and a bar on the premises. In terms of transport, it has free parking and airport shuttles.

Siam Luxury Hotels

• Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel is an elite five-star hotel with rooms furnished in a traditional Thai way. It offers an airport shuttle and free parking in terms of transport, as well as an outdoor swimming pool, a bar, and a fitness center on the premises.
• Pathumwan Princess Hotel – SHA Extra Plus Certified is another upscale five-star hotel that offers a nice vista of the city. Again, it offers an outdoor swimming pool, an on-site restaurant and a bar, a spa and wellness center, a fitness center, and a tasty breakfast every morning.

4. Most Historic Area: Bangkok Old Town

Bangkok is well known as the business, shopping, and partying center of Southeast Asia to almost everybody. But it should be emphasized that the history of this megalopolis goes back to the 15th century, and it has a lot to offer in terms of culture and history.

Lying right next to the Chao Phraya River, with one of the most striking vistas of the city, Bangkok Old Town presents the biggest historical attractions of the city.

Wat Phra Chetuphon is one of the most significant Buddhist temples in the region, with one of the biggest collections of Buddha images in Thailand.

Established sometime in the late 17th century or the early 19th century, it boasts one of the largest “Reclining Buddha statues” in the world, which is 46 meters long. To the north of Wat Phra Chetuphon lies the second most significant historical building in Bangkok — simply known as The Grand Palace.

One of the most visited destinations in Thailand, this magnificent complex of buildings has served as the residence for the kings of Siam since the 18th century.

The courtyards are simply fantastic, but don’t forget to visit the Queen Sirikit Museum — and its fabulous textiles — or the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre and witness its unforgettable masked performances.

That said, the most visited place in the Grand Palace is Wat Phra Kaew, better known to tourists from the west as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

It is considered as the holiest place in Thailand and the official place of worship for both the monarchy and the state.

It is a typical example of Thai practices crystallized in an architectural form. The old town is filled with tourists from all around the world and is chock-full of hotels, motels, and hostels in all price ranges.

That means that it’s suitable for people who want to save a bit of money (they can choose from a bunch of two-star accommodations) but also for those who prefer a bit of luxury.

Bangkok Old Town Budget Hotels

• Tim Mansion is a very nice two-star hotel with a lot of things to offer, usually not present in budget options. There’s a bar and a restaurant on the premises, free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning throughout the premises, and a nice garden.
• Peace Factory Hostel is a very cheap but quite decent two-star hostel that doesn’t offer much aside from the cheap price and the suitable location. There’s free Wi-Fi on the premises and private parking, air conditioning, and daily housekeeping.

Bangkok Old Town Mid-Range Hotels

• CHERN Bangkok is a great three-star hotel with an outdoor pool. There’s free Wi-Fi, free air conditioning, and free parking available, as well as a fitness center, a garden, and a restaurant on the premises.
• Feung Nakorn Balcony Rooms and Café is another great three-star hotel with sensible prices but with a lot of things to offer. It has a restaurant and a bar on the premises, an outdoor swimming pool, and a tasty breakfast.

Bangkok Old Town Luxury Hotels

• Villa De Pranakorn – Relais & Châteaux is a very luxurious five-star hotel with an indoor swimming pool. Every day you’ll wake up with the smell of American Breakfast. There’s also a fitness center, a restaurant and a bar on the premises, and facilities for disabled guests.
• Park Hyatt Bangkok – SHA Extra Plus is a very luxurious five-star hotel located in the neighboring area of Chinatown. There’s an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a spa and wellness center, a bar, and a superb breakfast every morning.

5. Most Budget-Friendly Area: Khao San Road

If the Old Town was all about history and culture, Siam about shopping malls, and Sukhumvit and Silom about nightlife, Khao San Road is usually considered as one of the world’s prime backpacking destinations.

Very close to the downtown of the city and just less than a mile from the Old Town, it’s definitely the cheapest area in our guide. We recommend this place to every budget traveler who still wants to be in the center, near the hustle and bustle of the city, and near to its major attractions.

Khao San Road is basically a street that’s 412, that’s very well connected to the big attractions of the Old Town, such as Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, and the majestic Grand Palace — all of which we covered earlier.

If you don’t mind walking — since Khao San Road is not really connected with public transport like the rest of the neighborhood —- you can visit each of them in no time.

You won’t be alone since thousands of other backpacking tourists will have the same idea. Being on one of the most famous streets in Bangkok — if not the most famous — has its perks.

You can see all kinds of people from all around the world, go to some interesting shops, and try some spectacular street food.

It is well known that Bangkok —- and especially Khao San Road — is a street food paradise. But there’s more to Khao San Road than budget attractions, such as Bangkok’s National Art Gallery, for example.

Then, there’s the gigantic Democracy Monument located centrally in the city and Phra Sumen Fort, also known as the Fortifications of Bangkok. That said, the biggest reason for placing Khao San Road on our guide is its very cheap accommodation options.

This is definitely the most budget-friendly area in the city and the only real option for travelers looking for cheaper accommodation but still want to spend their trip near the center of the city.

Khao San Road Budget Hotels

• Bangkok Saran Poshtel is a decent three-star hotel that comes at a low price. First of all, it offers free Wi-Fi and an airport shuttle, a great location (around one mile from Bangkok National Museum), and a nicely prepared breakfast every morning.
• The LOL Elephant Hostel is a very cheap accommodation that doesn’t offer much, aside from its suitable location close to the main attractions of the city and its low cost. The hostel has free Wi-Fi and air conditioning, a pretty terrace, and a garden.

Khao San Road Mid-Range Hotels

• Baan Noppawong is a perfect mid-range three-star hotel, with rooms furnished in an elegant way and wood ceilings — all of them arranged according to the principles of feng shui. It also offers free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and parking.
• Old Capital Bike Inn – SHA Certified is another decent three-star hotel. This one offers a free airport shuttle, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning on the premises of the hotel, a 24-hour front desk, room service, and a jacuzzi.

Khao San Road Luxury Hotels

• Praya Palazzo – SHA Plus is a great five-star hotel with an outdoor swimming pool. An oasis of peace right in the middle of Bangkok, this luxurious hotel offers a restaurant on the premises, as well as a spa and wellness center, and a tasty breakfast every morning.
• Chillax Heritage Hotel Khaosan – SHA Extra Plus is a luxurious four-star hotel that has a lot to offer. There’s free Wi-Fi and air conditioning, a swimming pool, a gym and a restaurant on the premises, a 24-hour desk, and room service.

So, Where Should You Stay in Bangkok?

Reaching the end of our road left us both satisfied and stunned by the beauties and intricacies of Bangkok. To get our heads straight, let’s do a quick recap and repeat some of the most important points about all the areas that we’ve covered.

🏆Best for First-Time Visitors	Sukhumvit
👪 Best for Families	Silom
🎁 Best Area for Shopping	Siam
🏰 Most Historic Area	Bangkok Old Town
💲 Most Budget-Friendly Area	Khao San Road

So, with so much to see and do, what are you waiting for — book your trip to Phuket and experience all that this amazing province has to offer!