Where to stay in Bangkok – the best areas & hotels.

Whether you are planning one night or a whole week, sooner or later, Thailand travelers are confronted with the question: where to stay in Bangkok? Since I am a Bangkok resident, I have a few recommendations and will share my favorite guesthouses, hostels and hotels in Bangkok. Plus, the best areas to stay, tips on how to find great accommodation and how to get around. 

The best areas to stay in Bangkok.

Where to stay in Bangkok? I love Phra Nakhon, Bangkok’s Old Town, which is perfect for first-timers and home to some major sights. If you prefer nightlife and shopping, stay along Sukhumvit with easy access to the BTS.

The city is huge, and it can be overwhelming to figure out where to stay in Bangkok, especially if you are coming for the first time. The most famous backpacker street, Khao San Road, is a must-see but not a great place to stay. However, the area around it, Phra Nakhon, is considered the Old Town of Bangkok and fantastic. Here you will find Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, tiny alleys and canals and a slice of original Bangkok life. 

Close by, you will find Chinatown, one of the world’s largest. This area still keeps its authentic appeal and is home to some of the best food in Bangkok. 

The Riverside is not really defined; you simply stay at one of the shores of the Chao Phraya River. Some of Bangkok’s most luxurious hotels are located here as well the Asiatique and ICONSIAM malls and iconic Wat Arun. It is the perfect area to stay in Bangkok if you want to avoid road traffic, as you can simply hop on a boat to get around. 

For skyscrapers, great shopping and nightlife, head to Sukhumvit. While Sukhumvit is often considered one of the best areas to stay in Bangkok, it is actually a major roads leading all the way to the border of Cambodia. With that in mind, you will want to choose your location wisely. Great neighborhoods along Sukhumvit are Siam, Asok, Phrom Phong and Thonglor. 

For those preferring a bit of greenery, Silom is the place to be. It sits between the Chao Phraya and Lumphini Park, is well connected to the public transport and is home to my favorite skyscraper in Bangkok: the King Power Mahanakhon. 

Tips for your Bangkok stay & how to get around.

As much as I love calling Bangkok my home, I hate the traffic. It is as notorious as the resulting bad air quality at certain times of the year. 

• With that in mind, you want to utilize the public transport, namely the BTS Skytrain and MRT, as much as possible. Unfortunately, access to the Old Town and Chinatown is limited, and the two systems don’t interconnect very well. However, if you are staying in Silom or along Sukhumvit, you can easily catch a train.
• Before you book your hotel, check the distance to the next station. While Bangkok locals use motorbike taxis to get from the station to their homes, many hotels offer a shuttle service for their guests. 
• If you are staying in Phra Nakhon, Chinatown or the Riverside, you can also use the Chao Phraya boats. These are cheap and never get stuck in traffic, plus they offer a bit of sightseeing with your commute. 
• How to get from the airport to your Bangkok hotel? From Suvarnabhumi Airport, you can use the Airport Rail Link that connects to the BTS and MRT. From Don Muaeng, you will have to use the Airport Bus. Especially when arriving late at night, I prefer to order a taxi with the Grab App (Asia’s version of Uber). Allocate enough time to get to or from the airport, especially during rush hour. 

My tip: If you are flying from Don Muaeng and have an early departure, I recommend staying at the Amari Don Muang. The hotel has a great restaurant on site, and you just have to walk over a covered bridge to get to the terminal. 

The best hotels in Phra Nakhon.

Phra Nakhon is the historic part of Bangkok and home to some of the city’s most famous sights. It is the perfect area for Bangkok first-timers and oh-so charming. Part of it is Bang Lamphu with the infamous Khao San Road. While its glory days are over, it is definitely still worth a visit. 

Baankachitpan Bangkok Hotel

• Best for: Solo travelers & cat lovers
• Double rooms from $32 per night

Baankachitpan was my home away from home whenever I visited Bangkok before I moved here. The little guesthouse is located in a small alley, and the neighborhood is as authentic as it gets. Jam and her team look after their guests with great dedication, rooms are cozy and the Thai breakfast is so yummy.

Book Baankachitpan

The Printing House Poshtel

• Best for: Backpackers & families
• Double rooms from $50 per night

You can choose between shared dorms or private rooms at the Printing House, and for families, they even have rooms with enough space for four. The rooftop terrace is the perfect place for a sundowner with stunning views over the Old City. 

Book Printing House Poshtel

Buddy Lodge

• Best for: Grown-up backpackers
• Double rooms from $53 per night

If you want to stay in the center of the action, stay by Khao San, not on Khao San. Buddy Lodge is the ideal choice for adult backpackers – cute private rooms, a quiet location and a big rooftop pool only a few minutes away from the never-ending party. 

Book 103 Bed and Brews

Tinidee Trendy Bangkok Khaosan

• Best for: Sleepy party fans
• Double rooms from $55 per night

You want to party on Khao San but have a quiet place to sleep afterward? That is no easy feat, but Tinidee Trendy Bangkok Khaosan ticks all the boxes. Simple, modern rooms are well insulated and allow for a relaxed slumber, plus there is a pool for a refreshing dip in the morning after.

Book Tinidee Trendy

The best hotels in Chinatown, Bangkok.

Chinatown is one of the most authentic areas in Bangkok and one of the best places to eat. Yaowarat Road is the heart of Chinatown, but don’t forget to explore its fun tiny alleys and night markets. 

103 Bed and Brews

• Best for: History & beer fans 
• Double rooms from $32 per night

Sleeping here feels like sleeping in a museum – you are, after all, staying in an old Chinese shop house. The rooms are comfy with AC and there is a cafe with lots of beers on tab downstairs.

Book 103 Bed and Brews

Shanghai Mansion

• Best for: Luxury seekers 
• Double rooms from $71 per night

Oriental Chinese elements merge with Art Deco at the Shanghai Mansion. The location of this little boutique hotel in Chinatown couldn’t be better – some of Chinatown’s best restaurants are at your fingertips. 

Book Shanghai Mansion

The Mustang Blu

• Best for: Artists & the Addams Family 
• Double rooms from $188 per night

Words like weird and wonderful come to mind once you set foot into Mustang Blu. Yes, there is a stuffed giraffe in the cafe, but the rooms in this restored mansion are hauntingly beautiful and may just inspire you to write a novel.

Book Mustang Blu

Tian Tian Hostel

• Best for: Backpackers
• Dorm beds from $15 per night

Shared and female-only dorms, as well as private rooms with aircon make this hostel a great spot to sleep. Prices are low, beds are comfy and you are right in the heart of Chinatown – what more could you want? 

Book Tian Tian Hostel

The best Bangkok Riverside hotels.

Bangkok’s Riverside is scenic and a great area to stay, as you will have easy access to the Chao Phraya boats. Many hotels even have their own boat shuttle that will take you to ICONSIAM, Wat Arun or simply the other side of the river. Paying extra for a room with a riverview is usually worth it. 

Anantara Riverside

• Best for: White Lotus fans 
• Double rooms from $152 per night

Where to stay in Bangkok with family? The classic Thai style, direct riverside location, a huge pool and affordable prices make this Anantara a great contender for the perfect Bangkok holiday home.

Book Anantara Riverside

Capella Bangkok

• Best for: Minimalist luxury travelers 
• Double rooms from $1,283 per night

Capella is the chicest yet probably most understated luxury hotel in Bangkok. The calm oasis has its own boat, one of the best spas in town and a 2-Michelin-star restaurant in-house. 

Book Capella Bangkok

BEAT Warii Hostel

• Best for: River-loving penny-pinchers
• Dorm beds from $8 per night

Modern clean rooms, incredibly low prices and a location right by the river make BEAT Warii such a popular choice in Bangkok. Capsules are small but well-appointed, and you can spend the money you save at Bar Us next door, recently voted one of Asia’s best bars. 

Book BEAT Warii Hostel

Sala Rattanakosin

• Best for: Photographers & dreamers
• Double rooms from $184 per night

If you want to fall asleep with a view of Wat Arun, Sala Rattanakosin is the place to stay. You can choose between a Corner River View or a River View Suite, which come with floor-to-ceiling windows, so you won’t even have to leave your bed. 

Book Sala Rattanakosin

The best Sukhumvit hotels.

Sukhumvit winds itself through half of Bangkok and is home to countless shopping and entertainment options. Choose a Sukhumvit hotel close to a BTS station or with a shuttle service to make the most of your stay. 

Public House Hotel

• Best for: The cool kids 
• Double rooms from $130 per night

As a Member of Design Hotels, Public House Hotel delivers urban charm. It is located on one of my favorite roads in Bangkok, Soi Sukhumvit 31. The hotel has a great co-working space as well as a cool rooftop pool with a bar. 

Book Public House Hotel

Volve Hotel

• Best for: Homey design-lovers 
• Double rooms from $84 per night

Volve calls itself a neighborhood design hotel, and with only 28 rooms, it is the perfect, intimate boutique hotel in Bangkok. One of my favorite features: the minibar that is stocked with complimentary Thai snacks. 

Book Volve Hotel

MUU 

• Best for: Longer stays 
• Double rooms from $126 per night

Clean lines and jewel tones await in the rooms of MUU Bangkok. If you plan on staying longer, get a Junior Suite with a living room and kitchenette, though chances are the proximity to the COMMONS will make you eat out. 

Book MUU 

Hotel Muse Bangkok

• Best for: Old world travelers 
• Double rooms from $118 per night

Wood paneling, leather and dark colors – Muse resembles a moody cigar lounge in the best way possible. To lighten the mood, there is a fantastic pool on the rooftop, a bar with killer city views and Lumphini Park within walking distance. 

Book Muse Bangkok

Rosewood Bangkok

• Best for: Epicureans 
• Double rooms from $347 per night

The Rosewood’s design sits somewhere between modern and Art Deco, while its outside shape is like a contemporary wai, the typical Thai greeting. One of Bangkok’s most beloved 5-star hotels comes with floor-to-ceiling windows, multiple restaurants, a speakeasy bar and a variety of activities that make you never want to leave. 

Book Rosewood Bangkok

Miami Hotel Bangkok

• Best for: hippies & TV fans 
• Double rooms from $50 per night

While the interior is colorful and chirpy with lots of 70s touches and a sparkling pool, Miami may look familiar and raise some goosebumps. After all, it was a location for the show The Serpent. Luckily, staying here is perfectly safe today, even around the corner from the infamous Nana Plaza.

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The best hotels in Silom.

Silom is a bit more relaxed than Sukhumvit but offers great public transport, making it the perfect area to stay in Bangkok. Plenty of fun rooftop bars are waiting to be explored, you are close to Lumphini Park and its water monitor lizards, as well as the Chao Phraya, where you can catch a river boat. 

Pullman Bangkok Hotel G

• Best for: Happy-hour friends
• Double rooms from $77 per night

The Pullman Bangkok Hotel G offers great value for money, especially if you book club lounge access with your room. It comes with complimentary afternoon tea, a free-flow happy hour and a la carte breakfast. 

Book Pullman G

Silom Space Hostel

• Best for: Solo travelers & groups of friends 
• Dorm beds from $8 per night

The Space Hostel has a fun communal area good for meeting other travelers and rooms for every budget. In addition to dorms and double rooms, they also offer convenient triple and quadruple rooms if you are traveling with friends. 

Book Silom Space Hostel

lebua at State Tower

• Best for: Instagrammers 
• Double rooms from $153 per night

The lebua is world famous thanks to its Sky Bar, where the movie Hangover II was filmed. The golden dome of the bar is easily recognizable from afar. While the Sky Hangovertini isn’t cheap, rooms at lebua are reasonably priced and you will know that you are sleeping in a Bangkok icon. 

Book lebua