Where to stay in Bangkok

Bangkok is a sprawling capital, and the district you sleep in shapes your days more than the hotel does. The royal temples and the backpacker lanes sit beside the Chao Phraya River in the west; the malls, the Skytrain and much of the nightlife lie several kilometres east. Traffic can turn a short hop into a long taxi ride, so it pays to stay close to what you came for, or near a BTS or MRT station.

The places listed here are mostly guesthouses, hostels and small independent hotels, spread from Khao San Road to Sukhumvit and out towards Suvarnabhumi Airport. Filter them by area and features below, or read the guide first.

Airports
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to the east; Don Mueang (DMK) to the north, used mainly by low-cost airlines
Airport to city
Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai, roughly half an hour
Getting around
BTS Skytrain, MRT, river boats, metered taxis and ride-hailing apps
Most comfortable months
Usually November to February

Places to stay in Bangkok

28 hotels

Hotel in Suvarnabhumi & Lat Krabang

Casa Narinya

A rooftop terrace and a restaurant for a layover night near Suvarnabhumi

  • rooftop terrace
  • terrace
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Guesthouse in Bangkok

Eco House

An adults-only guesthouse with a botanical garden and a sustainability focus

  • garden
  • terrace
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Guesthouse in Old Town, Khao San & Banglamphu

Green Teak House

Thai-style teak architecture a few minutes from the Temple of the Emerald Buddha

  • air-conditioning
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Hotel in Siam, Pratunam & Ratchathewi

Marwin Villa Hotel

Free parking and a guest lounge in Pratunam, walking distance from CentralWorld

  • air-conditioning
  • free Wi-Fi
  • free parking
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Hotel in Old Town, Khao San & Banglamphu

New Suanmali Hotel

A straightforward city hotel with a round-the-clock desk, pitched at Old Town sightseers

  • 24-hour front desk
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Hotel in Salaya & the western outskirts

TAP Salaya

Air-conditioned rooms close to Mahidol University's Salaya campus

  • air-conditioning
  • free Wi-Fi
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Hotel in Thonburi & the west bank

The HOG

A garden and a sociable lounge in residential Bangkok Yai, across the river from the Old Town

  • garden
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Hotel in Siam, Pratunam & Ratchathewi

Pratunam 19 Hotel

A no-frills shopping base near Pratunam Market and the Airport Rail Link

  • air-conditioning
  • free Wi-Fi
  • family rooms
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"Our order" puts hotels we have fully written up first. Commission doesn't affect the order.

Where to stay in Bangkok, area by area

Bangkok has no single centre. Think of it as an older riverside core in the west, a commercial heart around Siam, and Sukhumvit stretching east beneath the Skytrain, with the airports and university suburbs on the fringes.

Old Town, Khao San & Banglamphu

Best for temples and budget first visits

Rattanakosin, the historic royal quarter, holds the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho, with Banglamphu and Khao San Road just to the north. Khao San is loud, cheap and sociable after dark; the lanes around Soi Rambuttri, the streets towards the Golden Mount and the government district of Dusit are calmer. There's no Skytrain, so river piers such as Phra Arthit, the MRT at Sam Yot and taxis fill the gap. Chinatown's Yaowarat Road is a short ride south-east.

Thonburi & the west bank

Best for a local feel close to the river

Across the Chao Phraya from the Grand Palace, districts such as Bangkok Yai and Bangkok Noi are mostly residential, threaded with canals and older temples, Wat Arun among them. Cross-river ferries and the MRT Blue Line link the west bank with the Old Town, so evenings are quieter without the big sights being far away.

Siam, Pratunam & Ratchathewi

Best for shopping and Skytrain connections

The commercial heart of the city. Siam Square, Siam Paragon and MBK cluster around the main BTS interchange, CentralWorld and Gaysorn line the Ratchaprasong junction, and Pratunam's clothing market spreads north of the canal. Jim Thompson House, the teak-house museum near National Stadium station, marks the western edge. The Airport Rail Link stops at Makkasan and Ratchaprarop on its way to Phaya Thai.

Sukhumvit

Best for restaurants, nightlife and longer stays

Sukhumvit Road runs east from Nana beneath the BTS, with numbered sois branching off either side. Nana to Thong Lo has the densest mix of international restaurants, bars and malls; Asok is the MRT interchange, close to Benjakitti Park and the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Further out, around Phra Khanong and On Nut, rooms tend to be cheaper and streets more residential, with the Skytrain still on hand.

Silom, Sathorn & Yan Nawa

Best for business trips and evenings out

Bangkok's financial district, bordered by Lumphini Park. Silom Road has Patpong and plenty of bars, Sathorn is lined with office towers and embassies, and both run down to the river at Saphan Taksin, where the BTS meets the Chao Phraya Express Boat. Yan Nawa, to the south, is mainly residential and follows the curve of the river.

Suvarnabhumi & Lat Krabang

Best for early flights and layovers

The suburbs around Suvarnabhumi Airport are a long way from the sights, but a bed here makes sense before a dawn departure or after a late arrival. Lat Krabang has its own Airport Rail Link station and busy local night markets. Allow an hour or more by road to central Bangkok at busy times.

Salaya & the western outskirts

Best for visits to Mahidol University

Salaya lies just over the boundary in Nakhon Pathom province. It grew up around Mahidol University's large campus and the Phutthamonthon Buddhist park, and suits graduations, conferences and campus visits. Central Bangkok is a long drive east, so it isn't a practical base for sightseeing.

Questions about staying in Bangkok

Which area of Bangkok is best for a first visit?

If temples and street life come first, the Old Town and Khao San put the Grand Palace and Wat Pho within reach on foot or by boat. If you'd rather be on the Skytrain with malls close by, Siam, Pratunam or lower Sukhumvit are easier. Plenty of visitors split their stay between the two.

How do I get from Suvarnabhumi Airport into the city?

The Airport Rail Link runs from beneath the terminal to Phaya Thai, connecting with the BTS there and with the MRT near Makkasan. Metered taxis leave from the public taxi stand, and ride-hailing apps also operate. Road journey times vary a lot with traffic.

What about Don Mueang Airport?

Don Mueang, in the north of the city, handles many low-cost and domestic flights. The SRT Red Line links it with Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, and buses and taxis run to the centre. Check which airport your flight uses before booking near one.

Is Khao San Road noisy at night?

The road itself is busy late, especially at weekends. Guesthouses a few lanes away, around Rambuttri or towards Phra Sumen Road, are usually quieter while still an easy walk from the action.

When is the best time to visit Bangkok?

November to February is usually the most comfortable, with lower humidity and little rain. March to May is very hot, and the rainy season runs roughly from June to October. Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival in mid-April, is lively and crowded.

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