Where to Stay in Bangkok (Based on Your Travel Style)

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Bangkok is massive, so you need to choose where to stay carefully. I have visited Bangkok 20+ times, and stayed in dozens of hotels in every popular area of the city. I know Bangkok well and I’m here to help you plan your stay. 

Honestly, most first-timers usually stay in Sukhumvit or Old Town. 

Sukhumvit is best if you want a Hangover-style trip focused on nightlife. If that’s you, stay at the SKYVIEW Hotel Bangkok or the Carlton Hotel. 

Old Town is better for quick visits focused on visiting temples and the main attractions. Ayathorn Bangkok is a popular hotel with a central location here. 

But – and here comes a curveball – I personally actually prefer the Silom/Sathon area for its more central location. It’s quieter than Sukhumvit but still close(ish) to the attractions. And I love the Banyan Tree Bangkok (pictured above), which is still my favorite hotel in Bangkok.

For families and luxury travelers, I’d also consider Riverside (the Anantara Riverside is stunning). 

Bottom line: Bangkok is huge. You have lots of options. If you read on, I’ll break down the pros and cons of each area. First, though, I’ve got some quick picks for the impatient readers out there.

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Best Places to Stay in Bangkok

If you’re short on time, you can’t go wrong with my top picks: 

• 🏆 My Top Overall Hotel – Banyan Tree Bangkok
• 📍 Best Location – Ayathorn Bangkok
• 🛺 Best in Sukhumvit – SKYVIEW Hotel Bangkok or Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit
• 🛕 Best Near Old Town – Ayathorn Bangkok
• 🔔 Best Boutique – Tints of Blue Hotel
• 💎 Best Luxury – Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort
• 👪 For Families – Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn
• 🐉 Most Unique Rooms – Shanghai Mansion 
• 🛏️ Best on a Budget – Villa Mungkala 

Next, scroll down for a deep dive into the pros (and cons) of each area of Bangkok: 

6 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Bangkok

Officially, Bangkok has 50 districts, each with its own subdistricts. As with many cities, official names don’t always match common parlance. For example, many tourists would count Sukhumvit as a single area, but it really spans several “official” districts.

Making things more confusing, there are often multiple spellings and transliterations for each area. In this guide, I’ll do my best to use the nomenclature that you’re most likely to encounter and do my best to disambiguate names in (parentheses). Refer to the map above for a general overview. 

Here are my top recommended Bangkok neighborhoods, for each type of traveler: 

Silom / Sathon

👉 Best for Central Location | ✨ Best Silom Hotels: Banyan Tree Bangkok • Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn • Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse • The Standard •  Sathorn Vista Executive Apartments 

This is controversial, but I personally rank the Silom and Sathon areas first because they are centrally located between the attractions of Bangkok’s Old City, the nightlife and shopping of Sukhumvit and Siam, and the greenery of Lumphini Park. Bangkok traffic is a nightmare to navigate, so I think the central location maximizes your ability to get around. 

I do want to be clear though that this area is fairly commercial and thus is not the most exciting to walk around. If you prioritize that, skip ahead to my next neighborhood. 

One advantage of the Silom area is the abundance of quality hotels. In particular, I highly recommend the classic Banyan Tree Bangkok. Every room is suite-style, the brand does lots of nice touches like nightly fruit and mini-bar inclusions, and the Vertigo rooftop offers the best views in Bangkok. It’s my personal favorite hotel in Bangkok, and if I could afford it (I can’t, lol), I would stay there on every visit.

Another popular large hotel, particularly for families, is the Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn. It offers rooms, epic views, a large pool, and a fantastic location that’s central but away from the nightlife. If I had kids, I’d stay here. 

But there are several other big-brand name hotels to choose from, including the highly rated Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse, and the stylish modern rooms at The Standard. 

Have a longer stay in Bangkok? I recently spent a month living in the remarkably affordable Sathorn Vista Executive Apartments, and I loved the mix of apartment-style living with the services of a hotel.

Pros of Staying in Silom / Sathon:

• Central location accessible to all of Bangkok’s best areas
• Lots of upscale hotels and dining options 
• Solid public transport connection (take the Blue MRT Line to Grand Palace) 

Cons of Staying in Silom / Sathon:

• It’s a business/commercial area, so doesn’t feel as lively at night in all parts  
• Not as many attractions 

Sukhumvit

👉 Most Popular for First-Timers | ✨ Best Sukhumvit Hotels: SKYVIEW Hotel Bangkok – Sukhumvit • Marriott Marquis Queens Park • Courtyard by Marriott Sukhumvit 20 • Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit • Tints of Blue Hotel

Sukhumvit is a modern area where most first-time visitors stay in Bangkok, and you’ll see lots of foreigners in this area. It’s a good, if unoriginal, choice because of the diversity of nightlife, dining, and accommodation options. If you want to be in the most lively area of the city, stay here.

Popular hotels here to consider include the aptly named SKYVIEW Hotel (views really are epic) and the quintessentially Thai boutique Tints of Blue, which has a nice location down a quiet soi (“side street”) but still close to the action. 

If you’re a Marriott fan like me, you might also like either the Marriott Marquis Queens Park for a luxury stay (I love the epic rooftop), or the brand new Courtyard by Marriott Sukhumvit 20 (more affordable, very solid breakfast). Both hotels are both located down more quiet sois (“alleys”) so the rooms are not affected by the traffic noise as much. 

Overall, Sukhumvit is a very safe and popular choice for where to stay in Bangkok. 

So … why do I rank Sukhumvit second then? Well, because it is far from the Grand Palace and Old City’s attractions.

Sukhumvit does offer easy access to the BTS Skytrain, which provides excellent connectivity to much of the city and Suvarnabhumi airport. But unfortunately, the Skytrain does NOT go to Old Town. Instead, you’ll likely take a taxi or Grab (Thailand’s version of Uber), and that can easily take an hour in traffic. Not ideal, in my opinion.

Pros of Staying in Sukhumvit:

• Easy access to the BTS Skytrain (elevated public transportation) 
• Safe, clean, and vibrant 
• Lots of options for food, hotels, and shopping
• Slightly closer to BKK airport, making it easier to get to and from your international flight 

Cons of Staying in Sukhumvit:

• It can be a bit of a journey to the Old City 
• This modern area doesn’t exhibit “traditional” Thai charm as much as others 
• A fair number of red-light areas may put off families 

Bangkok Old Town / Banglamphu / Khao San Road

👉 Best Area For Budget & Backpackers | ✨ Best Old Town Hotels: Ayathorn Bangkok • Old Capital Bike Inn • Villa Mungkala

Bangkok’s Old Town area is the most historic part of the city, and home to many of its must-sees like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and the famous Khao San Road. Though Khao San Road has changed a lot from its infamous days of yore, it remains a popular area for backpackers. 

While there aren’t as many modern hotels in Old Town, one good option is the stunning Ayathorn Bangkok. 

The abundance of smaller boutiques also makes Old Town a good area to stay if you’re on a budget. For an affordable stay, Villa Mungkala draws rave reviews from the budget crowd. Jam Hostel is also popular with the social crowd. If you have a slightly larger budget, check out the charming Old Capital Bike Inn.

Pros of Staying in Bangkok Old Town:

• Super close to the most important historic attractions 
• Very affordable boutiques and hostels 
• Lots of nightlife options 

Cons of Staying in Bangkok Old Town:

• Noise and crowds 
• MIght feel a bit touristy 
• Accommodation quality can be hit or miss 

Riverside / Khlong San 

👉 Best Area For Luxury Hotels & Epic Views | ✨ Best Riverside Hotels: Mandarin Oriental • Anantara Riverside Bangkok • Avani Plus Riverside • Riva Arun Bangkok • Arun Riverside

If you’ve got cash to splash, the Riverside area is home to some of Bangkok’s finest hotels, like the stunning Mandarin Oriental or the large suites of the Arun Riverside.

The area is close to the attractions of Old Town while offering more sophisticated accommodation options. Many rooms sport fantastic views of the skyline or the Chao Phraya River. Trust me, you have to see these views at night! 

Even if you don’t stay at Riverside, I recommend taking a Chao Phraya river dinner cruise during your stay. Clara and I recently took the luxury Manohra dinner cruise, which leaves from the stunning Anantara Riverside Bangkok (where I hope to stay someday!). 

Unlike other more generic dinner cruises that pack in a hundred or more tourists, our small rice-barge style boat felt very intimate. It was also open-air, which made for a fun experience as we were served delicious Thai cuisine while taking in the views of Bangkok’s temples and buildings lit up at night. It’s small, so if a spot is available during your stay, I definitely recommend reserving it!

Pros of Staying in Riverside:

• Epic views over the river 
• Easy access to Bangkok’s river boats (my favorite form of public transportation!) 
• Lots of high-quality luxury hotels 
• A relatively quiet, but still fairly central, part of Bangkok 

Cons of Staying in Riverside:

• Not budget-friendly (this is definitely a luxury-focused area!) 

Siam

👉 Best Area For Shopping | ✨ Best Siam Hotels: The Athenee • Cape House Langsuan Hotel • InterContinental Bangkok, an IHG Hotel • Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai 

Shopping malls might not sound like an attraction. Until your first trip to Southeast Asia, that is. Thanks to the hot and rainy climate, shopping malls in Bangkok function as multi-purpose community centers. They aren’t just about shopping: you’ll find food courts, game centers, and all sorts of indoor attractions and pop-ups. Some practically feel like a theme park. 

While you can find shopping centers all over the city, there’s no doubt that the highest concentration is in the Siam area. Check out the upscale Siam Paragon, which is connected by walkways to several other nearby malls, including Siam Square One, MBK Center, and central world. 

I spent almost a month staying in the stylish The Athenee hotel, and absolutely loved it. It offers luxury without pretense, and its location amid several embassies brings a sophisticated international crowd. I also loved the massive breakfast buffet.

Other highly-rated hotels in the Siam area include the spacious Cape House Langsuan Hotel and the Instagram-perfect Eastin Grand.

Siam is a convenient area to stay because it’s super well connected by public transport. It’s also ideal if visiting Bangkok during the smokey spring or muggy summer months since you can easily escape to the blissful air conditioning of the nearby malls. 

Pros of Staying in Siam:

• Tons of epic shopping malls nearby
• Solid public transportation connections
• Decently central location 

Cons of Staying in Siam:

• Some areas may be noisy (if sensitive, choose a hotel wisely or ask for a room facing away from the main road)
• Streets are quite crowded in the Siam area 

Chinatown / Yaowarat Road

👉 Best Area For Street Food & Photography | ✨ Best Chinatown Hotels: ASAI Bangkok Chinatown • Shanghai Mansion • Ba Hao Residence

Bangkok has one of the largest Chinatowns outside of China. This area (also known as Yaowarat) is worth a visit even if you don’t stay here. You’ll find tons of street food stalls, bustling markets that spill onto the streets, and glowing neon lights. Chinatown is a fun area to explore on foot just after dark.

Staying here also means staying relatively centrally. You’re within walking distance of the Chao Phraya River, as well as the Wat Trai Mit Witthayaram Worawihan temple. You can also conveniently take the MRT (train) to Old Town.

While you should definitely visit Chinatown, in my opinion, it doesn’t have Bangkok’s best hotels. Nonetheless, a few good options to consider are ASAI Bangkok Chinatown or the uniquely-themed Shanghai Mansion. Oh, and Ba Hao Residence is a really cool-looking boutique if that’s your style.

Pros of Staying in Chinatown:

• Exciting environment (it’s a treat for the senses)
• MRT connection at Wat Mangkon is just minutes to Old Town
• A fun area to explore at night on foot 

Cons of Staying in Chinatown:

• Very crowded, especially in the early evening 
• Parts of it are quite noisy 
• Not as wide a range of accommodation options (hotels tend to be older) 

Tips for Staying in Bangkok

Grab is Thailand’s Version of Uber

Uber doesn’t operate in Thailand, but you can find a very similar app called “Grab” in your app store. It works similarly and works well with my foreign credit cards.

You can also get food delivery via the Grab app. 

But Plan for Bangkok’s Traffic 

Bangkok traffic can become a nightmare. What your Maps app might say is a 20-minute ride could easily become an hour or longer Grab ride during rush hour.

Always build in extra time to get around and, for routes where you can, take the MRT or the BTS Skyline train as they are substantially faster. 

Noise is a Part of Bangkok City Life – Bring Earplugs!

Few cities in the world are as famously noisy as Bangkok. This means that if you’re a light sleeper, you’ll want to choose your hotel wisely. 

Stay away from hotels directly situated on large roads if you can, or ask your hotel for a room facing away from the street. Noise is an issue even on the high floors.

For more advice on what to bring, see Taylor’s packing list for Thailand.

Know the Issues with Peer to Peer Apartment Rentals 

If you search for apartment rentals in Bangkok, you’ll find plenty of gorgeous condominiums in buildings where the condo rules technically prohibit short-term rentals. 

I’ve had hosts try to “sneak” me into the building, not wanting me to bring my luggage through the lobby. It’s never been enough of a problem where I wasn’t able to stay in my rental. But it is an annoyance, especially if arriving after a long red-eye flight, and so these days I prefer to stay in hotels for this reason. 

Alternatively, know that Bangkok has many “aparthotels” that you can find on Booking. I stayed almost a month in the Sathorn Vista Executive Apartments and really recommend them. I had a full kitchen, a complete bedroom, an office chair, and all the trappings of an apartment. But it also had daily housekeeping, breakfast, room service, and the amenities of a hotel.

Smoke Fills the Air in Spring 

Air quality is a major issue in Bangkok year-round. But it becomes particularly bad from February to April, during the so-called “burning season.” You can see historical air quality info here.

It’s best to avoid visiting Bangkok altogether during these months if you can (the islands down south are usually clearer). If you must go through Bangkok, consider doing it like a local and using a mask for filtration when outside. Most hotels and restaurants have air purification systems. 

Take a Dinner Sightseeing Cruise

I said it above, but I’ll repeat it: I highly recommend seeing Bangkok from a dinner boat on the Chao Phraya River. So many of the historical sites and temples are situated along the river, and it’s just lovely seeing them lit up at night. 

I’ve taken several cruises, and by far my favorite is the luxury Manohra dinner cruise. It’s more expensive but super intimate compared to the larger cruises. 

You can find lots of other cruises here if that doesn’t fit your budget. Whatever you do, I highly suggest getting out on the water! 

👉 Heading to Phuket too? Read my guide to where to stay in Phuket

FAQs

What are the best areas to stay in for first-timers?

The most popular area to stay for foreigners is the Sukhumvit area because it has a lively atmosphere and lots of accommodations. However, it can be quite far to get to the Old Town to visit historical sites. If this is important for your agenda, I personally would suggest the Silom / Sathon areas, as these areas (while a little less lively) are more centrally located. Alternatively, if you have cash to splash, the Riverside area is a great area for luxury travelers. 

What are safe areas to stay in Bangkok?

Bangkok is generally a safe city, and all of the six above-mentioned areas are quite safe.

What areas of Bangkok should I avoid staying in?

There is no “bad” part of Bangkok, but most first-time visitors and tourists should probably stick in or near the areas I mentioned above. In particular, staying too far to the west of the river, or too far north, may be inconvenient for reaching the sites of central Bangkok. That said, every part of Bangkok has its charm.

What are the best parts to stay near the attractions? 

If you want to be close to the attractions, stay in Old Town or in Riverside. 

***

I hope I’ve helped you get your plans for Bangkok sorted! If you’re still on the fence, I can’t recommend my #1 hotel Banyan Tree Bangkok enough. 

And, if you still have questions, scroll down and leave me a comment. I’ll help if I can.

Next up, check out my guides to where to stay in Phuket and where to stay in Chiang Mai.

Enjoy Bangkok!