Where to stay in Bangkok in 2023: Best areas and hotels

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been to Bangkok in my life. Maybe 20? 30? Possibly even more.

Each time, I’ve had the opportunity to explore different neighbourhoods and discover new places to stay in Bangkok. And the wonderful thing I’ve realised after all these trips – there really is no bad area!

Bangkok is a huge city with so much to see and do. But it’s also very tourist friendly and generally quite well connected by public transport (or cheap taxis). So regardless of where you stay in Bangkok, you’ll be able to get around the city.

There’s also a fantastic range of styles and budgets simply because there are so many Bangkok hotels to choose from. (Seriously, it’s estimated there are about 80,000 rooms in the city!)

But, even though I think you’ll be happy with any of the main tourist areas I’m about to discuss, there are certainly some attributes of each that lend themselves to particular travellers.

• Sukhumvit: A large area with lots of accommodation at a wide range of budgets, this is a good option for first-time visitors.
• Silom: Similar to Sukhumvit, this is a good area for anyone but it closer to some of the nightlife and a bit more central to the main business district.
• Siam Square: Close to the big malls, this is a great area if shopping is a priority, plus the accommodation is a bit more upmarket.
• Khao San Road: Traditionally this is the backpacker area, so you’ll get cheaper hostels here and more of a party vibe.
• Riverside: There are some stunning luxury hotels on the waterfront so this is a good area if you want something a bit quieter.
• Suvarnabhumi Airport: It’s a long way from the city centre but hotels around the airport are convenient for a night if you have an early or late flight.

Before I go into more detail about the best Bangkok neighbourhoods, have a look on the map and you’ll see where they’re all located.

You’ll find a decent range of accommodation in most of the main Bangkok neighbourhoods, so ultimately your decision may come down to whether there’s a specific hotel or hostel you want to stay at (that’s certainly how I choose sometimes).

So, to help you decide where to stay in Bangkok, I’m going to talk about the individual neighbourhoods, and some of the best Bangkok hotels that I would recommend.

Sukhumvit

One of the most popular areas to stay in Bangkok, you really can’t go wrong with Sukhumvit, a district that’s defined by the long road of the same…