Districts · Bangkok
Bangkok by district
Think of Bangkok as two halves joined by the BTS and the river. West: the old city (Rattanakosin) with the palace and temples, then Chinatown, both along the Chao Phraya. East: Siam, Silom and Sukhumvit, where the malls, hotels and rail lines are. Plan each day on one side.
About these names
Districts (khet) are official; travellers and drivers use neighbourhood names and the nearest BTS or MRT station instead.
- Rattanakosin (Phra Nakhon)เกาะรัตนโกสินทร์seeSuits: Temple morningsGrand Palace, Wat Pho, museums, river piers. Quiet and thin on beds and food at night.2 sightsDistrict guide →
- Banglamphu and Khao SanบางลำพูsleepeatSuits: Backpackers, budget stays close to the templesWalkable to the palace; loud on Khao San until late; no rail except the MRT at Sanam Chai 2 km away (check).Walkable to the palace; loud on Khao San until late; no rail except the MRT at Sanam Chai 1.2 mi away (check).District guide →
- Chinatown (Yaowarat) and Talat NoiเยาวราชeatseesleepSuits: Food trips, second visitsStreet food after dark, gold shops, old shophouses; MRT Wat Mangkon. Boutique hotels in old buildings.1 eatsDistrict guide →
- Riverside (Charoen Krung, Bang Rak)เจริญกรุงsleepeatSuits: Couples, splurge staysGrand hotels on the river with their own boats; BTS Saphan Taksin; the old customs house and galleries.District guide →
- Siam and Pathum WanสยามseeeatSuits: Malls, heat and rain daysThe BTS interchange, Jim Thompson House, Siam Paragon, MBK. Few mid-price hotels.1 sightsDistrict guide →
- Silom and SathornสีลมsleepeatSuits: First visit with park and river accessBusiness district with Lumphini Park, BTS and MRT; Patpong night market and the Soi 2/4 bars.1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Sukhumvit (Nana to Ekkamai)สุขุมวิทsleepeatSuits: First visit, families, long staysHotels on the BTS, international food, malls; Asok and Phrom Phong are the useful stops. 45 min or more to the temples.1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Ari and Phaya ThaieatSuits: Café hunters, repeat visitorsLeafy lanes, local food and cafés on the BTS north of Victory Monument.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- ChatuchakseeSuits: Weekend market morningChatuchak Weekend Market and Or Tor Kor food market; MRT Kamphaeng Phet or BTS Mo Chit.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- Thonburi (west bank)ธนบุรีseeSuits: Canals and Wat ArunWat Arun, canal boat trips, ICONSIAM mall on the river. Few places to stay beyond the riverside.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- Ratchada and Huai Khwangeatskip as a baseSuits: Night markets on the MRTJodd Fairs and local night markets; big clubs; not a base for sights.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- On Nut, Bang Na and outer Sukhumvitskip as a baseSuits: Cheap long staysLower rents on the BTS; 40–60 min to anything on a first-visit list.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
Hover, tap or tab to an area to see what it is like. Pins are sleep areas; arrows at the edge point to the airport.
Off the map: Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) (50–80 min by the usual route).
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Banglamphu and Khao San, Riverside (Charoen Krung, Bang Rak), Ari and Phaya Thai, Chatuchak, Thonburi (west bank), Ratchada and Huai Khwang, On Nut, Bang Na and outer Sukhumvit. See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- Rattanakosin (Phra Nakhon) (เกาะรัตนโกสินทร์): Grand Palace, Wat Pho, museums, river piers. Quiet and thin on beds and food at night. Suits: Temple mornings.
- Banglamphu and Khao San (บางลำพู): Walkable to the palace; loud on Khao San until late; no rail except the MRT at Sanam Chai 2 km away (check).Walkable to the palace; loud on Khao San until late; no rail except the MRT at Sanam Chai 1.2 mi away (check). Suits: Backpackers, budget stays close to the temples.
- Chinatown (Yaowarat) and Talat Noi (เยาวราช): Street food after dark, gold shops, old shophouses; MRT Wat Mangkon. Boutique hotels in old buildings. Suits: Food trips, second visits.
- Riverside (Charoen Krung, Bang Rak) (เจริญกรุง): Grand hotels on the river with their own boats; BTS Saphan Taksin; the old customs house and galleries. Suits: Couples, splurge stays.
- Siam and Pathum Wan (สยาม): The BTS interchange, Jim Thompson House, Siam Paragon, MBK. Few mid-price hotels. Suits: Malls, heat and rain days.
- Silom and Sathorn (สีลม): Business district with Lumphini Park, BTS and MRT; Patpong night market and the Soi 2/4 bars. Suits: First visit with park and river access. Price band $$.
- Sukhumvit (Nana to Ekkamai) (สุขุมวิท): Hotels on the BTS, international food, malls; Asok and Phrom Phong are the useful stops. 45 min or more to the temples. Suits: First visit, families, long stays. Price band $$.
- Ari and Phaya Thai: Leafy lanes, local food and cafés on the BTS north of Victory Monument. Suits: Café hunters, repeat visitors.
- Chatuchak: Chatuchak Weekend Market and Or Tor Kor food market; MRT Kamphaeng Phet or BTS Mo Chit. Suits: Weekend market morning.
- Thonburi (west bank) (ธนบุรี): Wat Arun, canal boat trips, ICONSIAM mall on the river. Few places to stay beyond the riverside. Suits: Canals and Wat Arun.
- Ratchada and Huai Khwang: Jodd Fairs and local night markets; big clubs; not a base for sights. Suits: Night markets on the MRT.
- On Nut, Bang Na and outer Sukhumvit: Lower rents on the BTS; 40–60 min to anything on a first-visit list. Suits: Cheap long stays.
- Sleep area Silom–Sala Daeng: suits First visit with park and river access, price band $$.
- Sleep area Sukhumvit (Asok–Nana): suits First visit, families, long stays, price band $$.
- Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), about 25 km16 mi from the centre, 30–40 min by the usual route.
- Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), 50–80 min by the usual route.