Where to Stay in Bangkok – Best Hotels And Areas (Updated 2020)

It can be slightly overwhelming deciding where to stay in Bangkok, as there are so many options available. All the different areas have their own allure, and it really depends on what you want to see and do. Therefore, I have compiled a list of of six best places to stay in Bangkok, along with their respective best hotels. You can refer to the map below to get an idea of the areas’ locations. This article was last updated on 05 June 2020.

Summary of Where To Stay In Bangkok

1. Pratunam – This is the best place for budget shopping, street food, cheap massages, and affordable hotels.
2. Siam – This is the best place for modern shopping malls and restaurants.
3. Sukhumvit – This is the best place for upscale malls and amazing cafe scene.
4. Old City (Rattanakosin) – This is the best place for historic attractions, backpackers, and cheap bars.
5. Silom – This is the best place for nightlife.
6. Along Chao Phraya River – This is the best place for luxury hotels.

Map of Bangkok

1. Pratunam

Pratunam is the prime location for shopping, authentic Thai food, and massages in Bangkok! The wife and I frequently stay at this popular area during our Bangkok holidays.

Why Stay in Pratunam

Pratunam is a fantastic area for budget shopping. We enjoy shopping at the Platinum Fashion Mall (retail and wholesale fashion), the Pratunam Market (wholesale fashion), CentralWorld (modern shopping mall) and Pantip Plaza (cheap IT gadgets, cameras).

We will usually also visit the huge supermarket BIG C to buy lots of tidbits, because the prices here are extremely reasonable.

Most importantly, there are many wonderful affordable accommodations in this area, as you can see in the next section.

There are lots of awesome street food in this area! We loved the delicious wanton noodles and pork trotters rice at SabX2, and the savoury pork trotter rice at Khao Kha Moo Trok Sung.

The Charcoal-Matcha soft serve ice cream at Demi Concept (a pushcart stall located outside Platinum Mall) is a must-try too.

And of course, the wife and I often go for massages in Pratunam. One of our favourite massage parlours is Number One Massage at Soi Petchburi 15. Most of our massage sessions here were great, but there were a few times when we got masseurs that were not really up to standard. There are several other cheap massage parlours along the short road too.

The downside is that there are no BTS Skytrain stations located directly in Pratunam. The nearest Chit Lom BTS station is a 15-minute walk away.

Where to Stay in Pratunam

Budget – GLOW Pratunam is a value-for-money hotel that is located within walking distance from Platinum Fashion Mall. It is a few minutes’ walk from SabX2, where you can indulge in delicious wanton noodles. The hotel has a decent gym, and the rooms are modern and clean. It offers daily breakfast buffet too.

Mid Range – Amari Watergate is a fantastic value-for-money hotel and we have stayed here many times before. During one of our stays, we stayed at the Executive Club Room. This gave us exclusive access to the Executive Lounge where we enjoyed our daily breakfast buffet and Happy Hour with free flow alcohol every day! Service was great and it felt like we were being treated to true Thai hospitality in the hotel.

Mid Range – Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam is extremely convenient because it is located directly above Platinum Fashion Mall. If you enjoy shopping at the Platinum mall, this is the perfect place to stay. There are many eateries in the mall. Therefore, you can simply go back to the hotel to rest after a good meal, without jostling in the crowded streets of Pratunam.

Luxury – The St. Regis Bangkok is a luxurious five star hotel. We stayed at this wonderful hotel during one of our trips to Bangkok and it was a wonderful experience. Our room was clean and modern, but what we loved most about the hotel was the amazing complimentary spa facilities. Swimming in the rooftop pool which overlooks an expansive golf course was a special experience too.  The hotel is not exactly located in the Pratunam area, but it is conveniently connected to the Ratchadamri BTS Station. The station is a 15-minute walk away from Platinum Fashion Mall.

2. Siam

Siam is a vibrant shopping hub that is home to some of Bangkok’s biggest malls! It is our second favourite place to stay in Bangkok after Pratunam.

Why Stay in Siam

If you enjoy shopping at modern malls and eating at fancy restaurants, then this is a great district to stay at. Some of the malls here include MBK Center and Siam Square, a shopping complex that comprises Siam Center, Siam Square One, and Siam Paragon.

Also, the Siam BTS Station is located directly in this area, which makes travel really convenient.

The downside of this location is that it does not have much street food. However, this is not a big issue as the Pratunam area is just a 15-minute walk away.

Where to Stay in Siam

Mid Range – Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square is a good value-for-money hotel that is conveniently located in Siam Square. It is a good choice for anyone looking for a decent hotel but doesn’t want to break the bank.

Luxury – Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is a five-star luxury hotel that is connected directly to Siam Paragon shopping mall. If you are looking to pamper yourself with a luxurious hotel experience, I highly recommend this resort-style hotel. However, note that it is very expensive compared to other Bangkok hotels.

3. Sukhumvit

Sukhumvit is a large and diverse district with modern shopping malls, nice bars, fine restaurants, street food, and cafes.

Why Stay in Sukhumvit

You can find high-end malls such as the Emporium and the EmQuartier here.

Sukhumvit also offers a vibrant nightlife scene with plenty of famous pubs and nightclubs.

However, our favourite part about Sukhumvit is the amazing cafe scene! We had a great dining experience at Karmakamet Diner, a secret-garden themed cafe that serves delicious brunch and desserts. We also enjoyed eating at Another Hound Cafe, a classy restaurant serving Thai-Italian cuisine at decent prices.

Ekkamai is a small vibrant district in Sukhumvit that is home to several lovely artisan cafes.

theCOMMONS, a hipster open-air mall home to super popular cafe Roast, is located in Sukhumvit too.

There are many BTS stations such as Phrom Phong, Thong Lo and Ekkamai.

However, Sukhumvi is quite big therefore we needed to take a taxi from the BTS stations to get around most of the time. This is unlike other areas like Siam and Pratunam where we can simply walk between attractions.

Where to Stay in Sukhumvit

Budget – Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit is a budget hotel in a great location with many restaurants, bars and shops. It is very near to Emporium and EmQuartier. Location-wise, it is just a few minutes’ walk away from Phrom Phong BTS station, and is near Asok BTS station too.

Luxury – Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit is a 5 Star hotel that boasts a rooftop bar where you can enjoy Bangkok’s stunning night views. It also has a beautiful infinity pool. It is just beside Thong Lo BTS station, and is near Ekkamai BTS station too. For cafe lovers, this hotel is perfect because it is just a 10-minute car ride away from theCommons and the Ekkamai district.

4. Old City (Rattanakosin)

The Old City area is home to many beautiful temples, palaces and museums. I was in awe of the glittering Grand Palace and majestic Wat Pho (also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or Temple of the Reclining Buddha).

Why Stay in Old City

This is a convenient area to stay at if you are looking to visit the numerous historic attractions such as The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun.

There are also many popular eateries here! We enjoyed eating at both well-known establishments and hidden gems such as On Lok Yun, Kope Hya Tai Kee, Krua Apsorn, and Thian Song Roast Duck.

If you are a backpacker who loves to party, Old City is a great area to stay because the famous Khao San Road is located here. This one-kilometre long strip is home to plenty of budget accommodations. I could definitely feel the bustling vibe here with all the street pubs, clubs and massage joints. The popular Khao San Road Night Market is located here too, selling plenty of bohemian accessories and handicrafts.

However, Old City area is not a very convenient location as it is not near to any BTS Skytrain stations. Update (08 August 2019): The new extension of Bangkok’s MRT Blue Line now brings tourists to the Old City area too!

On the downside, if you choose to stay in Khao San Road, it can be pretty difficult to get a good rest because the area remains very lively till late at night.

Where to Stay in Old City

Budget – ibis Styles Bangkok Khaosan Viengtai is a great value-for-money hotel with clean and modern rooms. It is literally a few minutes’ walk away from the bustling Khao San road, which makes it the perfect place to rest after a night of partying. It even has a very nice swimming pool.

Mid Range – sala rattanakosin Bangkok is a nice hotel located by the scenic Chao Phraya River. You will be able to enjoy great views of the the river and glittering Wat Arun temple in some rooms. It is just minutes away by walking from The Grand Palace and Wat Pho. It is conveniently located beside the Tha Tien Pier, where you can use the Chao Phraya Tourist Boat as a mode of transport or to visit the historic attractions along the river.

5. Silom

Silom is the Central Business District of Bangkok so you will see many office workers walking briskly amidst tall skyscrapers.

Why Stay in Silom

Silom does not have many tourist attractions.

The area is better known for its bars and vibrant nightlife, therefore it will be more suitable for tourists looking to party. There are also many LGBT clubs and bars here.

One major attraction here is Lumphini Park, a large urban park with an artificial lake, lush trees and playgrounds.

At night, Patpong Night Market and Lalai Sap Market offer bazaar shopping and delicious street food. However, please be aware that Patpong is a red light district known for its dodgy bars and solicitation activities.

The Sky Bar at Lebua State Tower hotel is an amazing rooftop bar where you can enjoy paranomic views of the city skyline.

Silom is quite accessible as it has the Si Lom MRT station and Sala Daeng BTS station.

Where to Stay in Silom

Mid Range – W Bangkok is a stylish hotel located conveniently beside Chong Nonsi BTS Station. The hotel offers great service and is known for its delicious brunch buffet.

6. Luxury Hotels along Chao Phraya River

Below I have listed three hotels that are not located in the same area; rather they are all located at different points along the Chao Phraya River. Therefore, staying in these hotels will give you amazing views of the scenic river.

Why Stay along Chao Phraya River

If you are looking to pamper yourself at a luxurious hotel in a peaceful location, these hotels will be perfect. They are all relatively far from Bangkok’s city centre, but all of them provide free shuttle boat services to the Sathorn Central Pier, which connects to the Saphan Taksin BTS station. From Sathorn pier, you can also take the Chao Phraya River Tourist Boat to hop on and off along the river to visit popular tourist attractions.

Where to Stay along Chao Phraya River

Luxury – The Siam is a luxury hotel unlike any other, with a beautiful and exotic design that is different from usual modern luxurious hotels. Guests can enjoy the exclusive butler services, such as securing restaurants reservations and making transport arrangements. The hotel even provides guests with handphones so that they can contact their butler at all times. There is a free boat service to the Saphan Taksin BTS station, but the ride takes around 40 minutes.

Luxury – Located downstream is The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, a modern luxurious hotel that is known for its great service. The hotel provides an ideal balance between luxury and convenience because it is located near to the Saphan Taksin BTS station. The hotel rooms offer great views of the river, and the hotel restaurants have wonderful reviews.

Luxury – Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort is a villa-style resort known for its huge pool surrounded by lush greenery. The hotel is located across the river from Asiatique, a fancy night market that boasts open-air street shopping, upscale restaurants, and even a ferris wheel. The hotel is a 20-minute ferry ride away from Saphan Taksin BTS station. There is also free boat service to Asiatique (and onwards to Saphan Taksin BTS).

This article is part of our completely free and fantastic Ultimate Bangkok Travel Guide. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?