Where To Sleep in Bangkok?

The first time in Bangkok can be no doubt a confusing experience, that if you don’t know where you are going and why you’re going to that certain location in Bangkok.

Bangkok is huge, there are more than 8 million in the city and almost double it in the suburbs.

Many of the locals don’t speak English, Bangkok can be smelly, traffick is a burden sometimes and the pollution because it is noticeable, it can be noisy and overwhelmed. So where is the magic you ask?

The magic of Bangkok is everywhere, it’s the combination of it all, the food, and the smell of it that roam Bangkok, the old and the new, luxury shopping malls beside local old-fashioned houses, markets local and touristic, tuk-tuk and sophisticated very comfortable trains, BTS and MRT, golden temples, nightlife and so on.

But, before arriving in the capital city of Thailand, you better be sure where to stay in Bangkok?

Here some locations you might be interested in while in the city that will answer the question, Where to Sleep in Bangkok?

Sukhumvit Road

Sukhumvit road is one of the largest roads in Thailand, it starts in Central Bangkok, a continuation of Rama I road, and goes to the border of Cambodia, through Pattaya city.

The center of Sukhumvit will be between BTS Skytrain station Phrom Phong and BTS Skytrain to Chidlom Station (one station from Siam).

Between those stations a compound of a couple of hundreds of hotels in Bangkok, names like Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit, Grande Centre Point Hotel Terminal 21, JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, Holiday Inn Bangkok…

This section of Sukhumvit offers some of the major Shopping Malls in the city (The city is perfect for Shopaholics), names like Terminal 21, Emquartier, Centralworld, Gaysorn, Central Embassy shopping mall and so on.

All kinds of attractions for kids like ‘bounce’ at Emquartier which is trampolines, also at Emquartier (Helix 5th floor at the observatory) a toddler fun kind of playground.

Ice skating at Centralworld shopping mall, Lazgam which is Laser game at  Holiday Inn Sukhumvit hotel and more…

Sukhumvit also contains two of the three major red-light districts in Bangkok, Nana Plaza Near Nana stations and Soi Cowboy next to Asok station.

Restaurants all over including in shopping malls, and famous street food vendors locations such as soi 38, massages all over.

There are the BTS Sukhumvit line Skytrain and the skywalks in almost all stations that we’ve mentioned that passing through Sukhumvit and Siam which makes staying in the area very comfortable.

Siam

Siam location on Rama I road which if you look at the map it’s a continuation to Sukhumvit but before it.

Siam is very busy in the day time with a lot of shopping centers, such as Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, Siam Square One, all of the above surrounding Siam station, and MBK shopping mall just around the corner attached to BTS station National Stadium.

There are a few very photogenic locations at Siam, The square between Siam Paragon, and Siam Center.
The outside architecture of both sides of Siam Square One Mall is futuristic and mesmerize.

The upper square which connects MBK, Siam Discovery and BACC – Bangkok Art & Culture Centre is marvelous with the trains passing by above it.

Siam has some major kids attractions such as Kidzania, kids city in Paragon, Bowling in Paragon and MBK, Sea World at Paragon as well and more…

Siam getting quiet after 22:00 because the shopping malls are shutting down. Two of the BTS lines passing through Siam station (BTS Sukhumvit line and BTS Silom line) so you can get almost to every corner in the inner city.

Check out Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square One, Pathumwan Princess Hotel on top of MBK, Mercure Bangkok Siam hotel.

Khaosan Road Bangkok

Khao San Road is a small colorful road in Bangkok, full of life and action, especially after sunset, then it becomes kind of a street market closed to cars (most of the time) and transfer to an important nightlife spot in Bangkok.

Khaosan is a travelers street, or better say backpackers street, many travel agencies will arrange you a trip in and outside Thailand.

Also in Khorasan, many restaurants, pubs, clubs, massages, all kinds of stores, food vendors, tattoos and so on.

Characterized by endless signs that lit at night, young beautiful people, foreigners and locals alike.

The hotels at Khaosan Road are cheap, some offer even pools, hotels like Buddy Lodge Khaosan Road, Khaosan Palace Hotel and more.

Khaosan can get a bit crazy,  and it aims more for the younger generation if you want to sleep in the area but not in the ‘Heart of Darkness’ check out its parallel street Rambutrri, separated by small paths.

Riverside Bangkok

Riverside Bangkok is a long section that can be confusing, so let’s concentrate on the upscale maybe more luxury side of Riverside Bangkok (Hotel wise), and it will shorten the section, and make more clear.

So let’s say from the night market Asiatique to about the luxurious Iconsiam shopping mall, both on the riverbank of Chao Phraya river.

This section is perfect for those who are seeking after a luxury experience in Bangkok, romantic vacations and even honeymoon.

Most of the 5-star hotels in Bangkok within this section are provide shuttles to Iconsiam mall and to the major pier in the river, Sathorn (Taksin), which is located almost underneath Saphan Taksin BTS Skytrain station.

The riverside Bangkok characterized by high-rise buildings, some of them are hotels that offer a spectacular view of the river and the surrounding. Shopping malls, market local and touristic, golden temples and so on.

The main transportation while at Chao Phraya is, of course, boats, that can take you to attractions in Bangkok like Grand Palace, Wat Pho. Wat Arun, Khaosan Road, Chinatown, Iconsiam, Asiatique, Flower Market, and more.

See that some of the attractions we’ve mentioned aren’t located on the riverbank itself, so you might walk for a few minutes or take a tuk-tuk, or motorcycle-taxi.

Where to stay in Bangkok? Well if you are looking for a romantic holiday, you might like the riverside.

Silom Road

Silom Road is also one of the main hubs in Bangkok, host one of the three red-light districts in the city, Patpong, one of the most Iconic hotels in Bangkok, Lebua State Tower (Remember the movie Hangover Part 2), host major business spots in the city, and one of the most famous clubs Meggie Choos.

Silom can be divided into two sections, which will make it easier to decide where to sleep in the area.

The first section will be from Rama IX road or Lumpini Park (beginning of Silom) until Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Rd. The beginning of the section is kind of hustle & Bustle with two trains station MRT Si Lom and BTS Sala Daeng.

Many crowded stores, cheap hotels, food vendors, and merchandise vendors, four nightlife spots including two streets which belong to Patpong, in one of them located Patpong Night Market, Little Tokyo, and Silom soi 4 which aims more to the Gay community.

This section is alive, (let’s say until the Christian hospital, then it dies a little) crowded, maybe fits more to individual and young folks.

The second part of Silom is between Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Rd. until Charoen Krung Street, which the last one is just minutes from the river.

This section characterized by upscales hotels such as the famous 5-star Lebua state Tower, Pullman Bangkok Hotel G, Holiday Inn Silom 4-stars hotels,  Furama Silom Hotel, Novotel Bangkok Silom.

Fine restaurants, Massages, galleries, Thai cultures experiences like Silom Village, the “action” is more spread and upscale than the first section.

Final Words

Bangkok can be confusing, we hope this article helps a little, and answer the question Where to Stay in Bangkok?

There are more areas/districts in Bangkok, such as Chinatown or Pratunam, but for the first timer in Bangkok, we think those neighborhoods are more suitable.