I’m very confident I can give you a very good answer to the question of where to stay in Bangkok first time. Why?
Because I lived there from 2017 to 2022. My very first time traveling around Thailand was in 2015 and the capital of this country immediately grabbed me.
When you ask travelers what they thought of Bangkok, you often get two extreme answers: they loved it or hated it.
Yes, Bangkok is overwhelming, and certainly not a tropical destination. It is a city that never sleeps, with one of the most unique (street)food scenes in the world, a nightlife to lick your fingers at, and a rich history with fantastic temples and palaces spread throughout the city.
For many young travelers, Bangkok is the first stop on their backpackers’ adventure, but it also serves as a gateway through Asia for other types of travelers.
In this article, I will dive into the best neighborhoods that Bangkok has to offer, using my extensive experience. I’ll try to keep it as short as possible, make clear distinctions between the neighborhoods, and above all not recommend neighborhoods that don’t have something special to offer. With that said, let’s get started!
In brief: the best areas to stay in Bangkok first time are Sukhumvit, Riverside, Khao San Road, and Silom.
One of the most important aspects of choosing the right area is having access to public transport. In Bangkok, there are two options: the BTS (also called the SkyTrain) and the MRT (the metro).
Sukhumvit has the best access to both modes of transport and is therefore by far the best option.
This part of Bangkok is large and I will divide it into different neighbourhoods.
Riverside has less good access to both the BTS and the MRT but has beautiful views of the river and the rest of the city, which makes it a popular area.
Khao San Road is the backpackers’ paradise and the place to be for many young travelers. However, access to the BTS and MRT is far from optimal.
Silom has great access to both the BTS and MRT but is located a lot further south, which is why travelers often choose Sukhumvit over Silom, but it is definitely worth a visit.
You can easily navigate to each area by tapping the link. Or go straight to the overview of the best areas to stay in Bangkok first time.
Without a doubt, Sukhumvit is the most popular area to stay in Bangkok first time.
The vast majority is modern.
Sukhumvit Road is the most important street in Bangkok, but due to the heavy traffic, it is always at a standstill here.
Fortunately, the SkyTrain runs above this road from station to station and as a tourist, you can move around the city in no time.
You can divide Sukhumvit into different districts and I will divide the two most relevant districts later in this paragraph.
There are different nightlife areas in Sukhumvit.
Around Nana and Asoke you will find the infamous nightlife that is known for the Go-Go bars and prostitution.
That is also part of Bangkok.
But Bangkok has much more to offer.
A popular nightlife area where you can find a number of large clubs is RCA.
If you prefer rooftop bars and trendy lounges, walk through the various side streets at Thonglor (Sukhumvit 55) and Ekkemai (Sukhumvit 63).
Almost every BTS station also has large shopping malls.
For example, Asoke has Terminal 21, an affordable shopping mall, while Phrom Phong has EmQuartier, a shopping mall with all the luxury brands of the world.
If you want to see the sights of the city, which are mainly located in the older part of the city, you simply take the metro.
At Asoke BTS Station you will find the metro connection that takes you to this part of the city.
Finally, there is a BTS line from the international airport to the city center.
This means that you can travel by train from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Sukhumvit.
Sukhumvit is not for nothing the most popular area of Bangkok.
In the next two paragraphs, I will delve deeper into the two most popular neighborhoods of Sukhumvit.
One of the nicest areas in Bangkok is Thonglor and the adjacent Ekkemai.
Thonglor is considered a luxury area among the Thais, but that does not mean that you will only find luxury hotels here.
The most important thing is that you are very centrally located, with lots of nice eateries and cafes. You have access to the BTS and in the evening you have plenty of options to entertain yourself.
For example, there are several rooftop bars in the area, you have good access to the night markets, and there are three large entertainment areas within easy reach.
For more inspiration, check out our article on the best night markets in Bangkok.
If you want to visit one of the shopping malls, which are equipped with very good air conditioning, you have plenty of choice.
Many of these shopping malls also offer food courts and restaurants.
If you want to visit attractions such as The Grand Palace or Wat Pho, take the metro at Asoke.
Unfortunately, in Bangkok, the sights are spread out over the city, so you do not have a specific area that is optimal for sightseeing.
Perhaps a disadvantage of Thonglor is that it is quite modern, and that may not fit your expectations for your trip.
I personally find Thonglor very pleasant because it is equipped with so many amenities.
Ekkemai borders Thonglor and offers the same comfort. It is true that you will find fewer hotels here because you are further away from the tourist epicenter.
The further east you stay, the longer the travel times, and the less tourist-friendly the city becomes.
Asoke and Nana are adjacent districts and are particularly known for their wild nightlife.
Of these two, Nana is the most notorious.
Around Sukhumvit Soi 4 and Sukhumvit Soi 11 you can party until the early hours, but especially on Soi 4 you will find the red light district.
This attracts a lot of travelers, but also scares a lot of travelers. Fortunately, Asoke is a much safer option and even families choose this district to stay.
This is because you don’t really have to worry about the nightlife here, despite it being there.
What makes Asoke so special is that you have direct access to both the metro and the BTS.
This means that you never have to be stuck in traffic and can visit every (remote) corner of Bangkok in no time.
You can’t imagine a better district in terms of public transport than Asoke.
In the northern part of Asoke you will find one of the city’s business districts.
This means that it is extremely busy during the day and that you will find little authenticity.
But in terms of convenience, there is no better district than Asoke.
If you prefer a more lively district, which you can basically explore on foot, then I recommend staying in Thonglor and using the BTS (SkyTrain) when you want to go to the Asoke traffic junction.
If you prefer to discover Bangkok’s nightlife in places like Sukhumvit Soi 11 and RCA, where you will find many nice nightclubs, then Asoke is a better option.
If you absolutely do not want to have anything to do with nightlife and are looking for a relatively quiet area, then stay in the following recommended district.
A few things you should know about Bangkok:
Riverside is considered the ideal area for families and couples who want to stay in a relatively quiet area.
In this part of Bangkok you will find fantastic high-rise buildings and many hotels are located in these skyscrapers.
Due to the height, you not only have a fantastic view, you will also notice little of the noise pollution that Bangkok has.
In terms of location, you are closer to the highlights of the city, but you do not always have direct access to the BTS or MRT.
Many hotels therefore offer a free tuk-tuk service to the nearest station.
You will hardly find any nightlife here, except for a few rooftop bars.
And that is exactly why it is such a popular area.
After a long day of visiting the highlights in the heat, it is nice to get a good night’s sleep in a comfortable hotel.
Because you are staying close to the river, I recommend that you travel by ferry or boat taxi.
This makes it possible, and this is easier than you think, to go to the pier and cross the river.
Wat Arun but also ICONSIAM, the largest shopping mall in Southeast Asia are two highlights that you should definitely visit.
But you can also easily go to Chinatown, which is just around the corner.
A disadvantage is that reaching this district from Suvarnabhumi Airport is quite a job.
Unlike Sukhumvit, Riverside does not have a good connection to the airport.
So you are basically always forced to take a taxi and the chance that you end up in a traffic jam is considerable.
That said, I can deny that Riverside is one of the most popular districts in Bangkok and is almost the opposite of Sukhumvit.
How to get around in Bangkok: Traffic in Bangkok is chaos. Avoid taxis, buses, or motorbikes as much as possible.
Travel as much as possible with the BTS (SkyTrain) or MRT (metro). Therefore it is essential to book a hotel with good access to a station, this will save you a lot of time.
In the old part of Bangkok you do not always have the BTS or MRT at your disposal. Always choose a taxi with a taxi meter and never take the tuk-tuk.
Although tourists think this is a normal way to travel, you are actually always ripped off and it is far from a comfortable ride, compared to an air-conditioned taxi.
If you are staying near the river or near Siam, take the boat taxi or the ferry. This way of traveling is often overlooked by novice travelers but it is quite a nice and comfortable way to travel from the modern part of Bangkok to the older part.
Finally, there is a special BTS line from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city called Airport Rail Link. This is in many cases the fastest way to get to or from the airport.
Khao San Road is the ideal destination for backpackers.
If you are going on a long trip and are traveling through Southeast Asia or just Thailand, there is no better place to start your journey.
Here you will find travelers with the same goals as you.
As the backpacker’s epicenter of Southeast Asia, you will also find an abundance of hostels here.
Khao San Road is located in the older part of Bangkok and although this street itself is very westernized, streets like Dinso Road and Maha Chai Road are home to some of the best local eateries in the city.
For example, visit Thip Samai, the most famous Pad Thai restaurant in the world, but Mit Ko Yuan and Kor Panich are also among the best in the city.
If you are not into trying new dishes, don’t worry, because there are also plenty of Western eateries to be found.
It is very easy to visit Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and The Grand Palace from this area.
Although Khao San Road has no access to the BTS or MRT, you can still use the ferries and boat taxis.
What many people don’t know is that you can take the boat taxi from Wat Saket all the way to Siam, which will get you to the modern part of Bangkok quite quickly.
In the evening, Khao San Road transforms into a wild nightlife area with an abundance of cheap drinks and loud music.
This is the main reason why so many young travelers stay around Khao San Road.
If this isn’t for you and you still want to stay in an area where you will find a lot of backpackers, stay around Rambuttri and Samsen.
The last district I recommend is Silom.
Silom has many similarities with Sukhumvit.
In terms of location, it is even more favorable to choose Silom when it comes to visiting the highlights of Bangkok.
However, many tourists choose Sukhumvit over Silom.
This is mainly because Silom is a bit outdated, while Sukhumvit is much more modern and somewhat more comfortable.
However, this does not mean that Silom is a bad choice.
In fact, if you are looking for something more authentic, it is definitely worth staying here.
You will also find a nice nightlife here, although it is not as overwhelming as Sukhumvit.
Nevertheless, you will not be bored for a second here.
You have access to both the BTS and the MRT.
You also have direct access to Lumpini Park, the largest park in the city, and ideal for an early morning walk.
A little further south of Silom you will find Sathorn, a residential area. Silom is partly a business district, just like Asoke.
You have very good access to Chinatown, but also the older part of Bangkok where you can find Wat Pho and The Grand Palace.
With the metro you can get off at every relevant district.
You can best compare Silom as a combination of Sukhumvit and Riverside because it has a bit of both.
The only disadvantage is that it is quite a challenge to travel from the airport to Silom without getting stuck in traffic.
Families and couples in particular will certainly appreciate a stay in Silom.
French version: oulogerabangkok.com