Living & Moving — Bangkok areasIllustrated guide: Bangkok area map. 13 recommended areas for hotels, sightseeing, living, and the airports
On a first trip to Bangkok, the hard part is picking which area to stay in. I put 13 areas, the 2 airports included, onto one map that reads easily in English. Tap an area and its sightseeing, hotel, living and station notes open.
Where Bangkok is: its place on the map of Thailand
First, where Bangkok sits inside Thailand. A little south of the middle of the country, just before the Chao Phraya River reaches the sea.
Bangkok inside Thailand
The pink spot, enlarged, is the shape of Bangkok as a whole
The next map splits that shape into districts and reaches out to Suvarnabhumi Airport, which sits in the province next door to the east. For a trip or for a home search, the names that come up are these 13 areas (counting the 2 airports).
Bangkok area map: information area by area
Bangkok area map: the 13 areas travelers and residents go to
Suvarnabhumi Airport is in the province next door to the east
1Phra Nakhon District (Grand Palace / Khao San)
The Grand Palace in Phra Nakhon District. It stands on the same grounds as Wat Phra Kaew.
- Sightseeing
- The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, the Democracy Monument, Pak Khlong Talat flower market. The old town, ringed by the river and the canals
- Entertainment
- Street stalls and bars on Khao San Road
- Daily life
- Lodging is mostly guesthouses. Getting around means buses and boats
- Stations
- MRT (subway) Sanam Chai, Sam Yot
行くときThe morning of the first day or of day 2. Mornings are cool. In the afternoon it is a walk over to Chinatown, area 2
あみの印象The palace and the temples are full of tour groups from early in the morning. Khao San Road is the street where backpackers from all over the world stay. I have not been there yet.
For people walking the temple circuit, and for people staying on Khao San Road
2Samphanthawong District (Chinatown)
Signs on Yaowarat Road, Samphanthawong District.
- Sightseeing
- Gold shops and Chinese restaurants on Yaowarat Road, Wat Traimit (the golden Buddha), the old streets of Talat Noi
- Entertainment
- Eating along the street
- Daily life
- Wholesalers and gold shops
- Stations
- MRT Wat Mangkon, Hua Lamphong
行くときEvening into night. The stalls come out after the sun goes down. It follows on from the Grand Palace, area 1
あみの印象Yaowarat Road is packed with gold shops and Chinese restaurants. At night the seafood stalls come out. It is the oldest shopping street in Bangkok, a street made for eating on the move. I have not been there yet.
For people who like street food and old streets
3Pathum Wan District (Siam / Chit Lom)
CentralWorld at the Ratchaprasong intersection, Pathum Wan District.
- Sightseeing
- Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, MBK, the Erawan Shrine, Lumphini Park
- Entertainment
- Cinemas and meals inside the malls
- Daily life
- The student quarter around Chulalongkorn University, and the embassy row on Witthayu Road. High-end condominiums on Ratchadamri
- Stations
- BTS (Skytrain) Siam, Chit Lom, Phloen Chit / MRT Lumphini, Silom
行くときA day for shopping and a film. A few stops on the BTS from Sukhumvit, area 6. In the evening the roads clog and taxis stop moving
あみの印象CentralWorld and Siam Paragon have just about every famous brand there is. The customers are middle-class Thais and tourists. This is where I go most. The cinemas have seats with beds.
For people here mainly to shop, and for people in Bangkok for the first time
4Ratchathewi District (Pratunam / Phaya Thai)
The Victory Monument in Ratchathewi District.
- Sightseeing
- Pratunam Market, Baiyoke Tower, the Victory Monument
- Entertainment
- The observation deck of Baiyoke Tower
- Daily life
- Around Phaya Thai Station, but a different place from Ari, area 8, which sits in Phaya Thai District and shares the name
- Stations
- Phaya Thai, the last stop on the airport train (change to BTS Phaya Thai) / BTS Ratchathewi, Victory Monument
行くときThe day of arrival on the airport train, and the morning of the flight home. 2 stops on the BTS to Siam, area 3
あみの印象Pratunam is the wholesale clothing district. Around the market it is busy with buyers and food stalls. Around Phaya Thai station there are a lot of hotels for travelers coming in on the airport train. I have not been there yet.
For people going back and forth to the airport a lot
5Bang Rak and Sathon Districts (Silom / Sathon)
King Power Mahanakhon in Bang Rak District. The tower that marks Silom.
- Sightseeing
- The long-standing riverside hotels (Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La), Assumption Cathedral, the Saphan Taksin pier
- Entertainment
- Patpong and Thaniya (the drinking streets at night)
- Daily life
- Embassies and Japanese companies along Sathon Road
- Stations
- BTS Sala Daeng, Chong Nonsi, Surasak, Saphan Taksin
行くときWeekday afternoons, and dusk along the river. From Saphan Taksin a boat crosses to area 11
あみの印象On weekday afternoons it is a district of offices and embassies. Along the river the long-standing hotels line up, with a lot of Western tourists. I have not been there yet.
For people here on business, and for people staying at a riverside hotel
6Watthana and Khlong Toei Districts (Sukhumvit)
Terminal 21 at Asok, Watthana District. Inside it there is a model of the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Sightseeing
- Terminal 21 (Asok), Emporium and EmQuartier (Phrom Phong), Benchakitti Park
- Entertainment
- The cafes and restaurants of Thong Lo and Ekkamai, the nightlife strip at Nana
- Daily life
- Supermarkets with Japanese groceries, and hospitals where Japanese is spoken. North of Sukhumvit Road is Watthana District, south of it is Khlong Toei District
- Stations
- BTS Nana, Asok, Phrom Phong, Thong Lo, Ekkamai / MRT Sukhumvit
行くときFor the shopping run, eating out, a hospital visit. At night, the places in Thong Lo and Ekkamai. A few stops on the BTS from Siam, area 3
あみの印象Thong Lo and Phrom Phong have a lot of Japanese restaurants, and the expensive ones stand out. The customers are mostly Thai, Korean, and Chinese.
For first-timers and for residents alike
7Phra Khanong District (Phra Khanong / On Nut)
Near Punnawithi station, Phra Khanong District.
- Sightseeing
- Covered together with Sukhumvit, area 6 next door
- Entertainment
- Local markets and street stalls
- Daily life
- Plenty of new condominiums. Rents sit below Sukhumvit, area 6
- Stations
- BTS On Nut, Bang Chak, Punnawithi
行くときWhen the house hunt moves next door to area 6
あみの印象Out of the station, a residential area lined with markets and condominiums. A few stops on the BTS to Sukhumvit, area 6. I have been there.
For people living in a new condominium along the BTS
8Phaya Thai District (Ari)
Breakfast in Ari, Phaya Thai District.
- Sightseeing
- Chatuchak market, area 10, is close by
- Entertainment
- Cafes and restaurants
- Daily life
- A quiet residential area. A shopping street and a BigC (a large supermarket) at Saphan Khwai. Government offices too, the Ministry of Finance among them
- Stations
- BTS Ari, Sanam Pao, Saphan Khwai
行くときA day off spent in a cafe
あみの印象A residential neighborhood with a lot of independent cafes and small restaurants. No big malls. 20 minutes by taxi to Don Mueang Airport.
For people living in a calm part of town
9Huai Khwang District (Ratchada / Rama 9)
A Bangkok night market from above. Ratchada and Rama 9 is the part of town people head out to at night.
- Sightseeing
- The Thailand Cultural Centre
- Entertainment
- Royal City Avenue, Central Rama 9, Esplanade, the night market
- Daily life
- Affordable condominiums along the MRT
- Stations
- MRT Thailand Cultural Centre, Huai Khwang, Rama 9
行くときNight. The places fill up after dark. 3 stops from MRT Sukhumvit station in area 6
あみの印象A night district. Royal City Avenue is lined with clubs and bars. The night market opens from the evening into the night. I have not been there yet.
For people who go out at night, and for people living along the MRT
10Chatuchak District (Chatuchak)
An aisle in Chatuchak Weekend Market.
- Sightseeing
- Chatuchak Weekend Market (the largest market in Thailand), Chatuchak Park, Or Tor Kor Market
- Entertainment
- Weekend shopping
- Daily life
- The terminus for long-distance trains (Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal) and the northern bus terminal. The student quarter around Kasetsart University
- Stations
- BTS Mo Chit / MRT Chatuchak Park
行くときSaturday or Sunday morning. 2 stops on the BTS from Ari, area 8
あみの印象The weekend market opens on Saturday and Sunday only, and more than 10,000 shops line up inside it. I have not been there yet.
For people going to the market at the weekend, and for people heading out to the provinces by train or bus
11Khlong San District (ICONSIAM)
ICONSIAM seen from the river, Khlong San District.
- Sightseeing
- ICONSIAM, Lhong 1919 (old Chinese-style buildings on the river)
- Entertainment
- The bars and restaurants of the riverside hotels
- Daily life
- Residential streets on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River
- Stations
- BTS Krung Thon Buri
行くときDusk. The hour for looking at the city from the river
あみの印象The riverside has a lot of Western tourists and a row of high-end hotels. The ferry from the east bank crosses over to ICONSIAM.
For people staying at a riverside hotel
12Don Mueang District (Don Mueang Airport)
An AirAsia aircraft at Don Mueang Airport.
- Airport
- Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). The base for low-cost carriers (LCCs) such as AirAsia, Nok Air, and Lion Air
- Into the city
- Into the city on the SRT commuter line, from Don Mueang station in front of the airport. Otherwise a taxi
- Nearby
- An air force base and the air force museum
行くときArrival day and departure day. With a morning flight home, leaving the city before the traffic builds
あみの印象The budget-airline airport, north of the city. 20 minutes by taxi from Ari, area 8.
For people arriving on a budget airline
13Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province, next door to the east of Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport)
A concourse at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the walkway the gates line up along. The wave-shaped roof is the giveaway.
- Airport
- Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK). About 25 km east of central Bangkok
- Into the city
- The airport train, as far as its last stop at Phaya Thai station. Otherwise a taxi
- Nearby
- Mega Bangna (a big suburban mall)
行くときThe day an international flight lands and the day it leaves. Landing in the evening, the airport train to Phaya Thai station, area 4, gets past the traffic
あみの印象The airport east of the city, where most international flights land. SIM cards are sold in the arrivals hall. Into the city it is about 30 minutes by taxi. Around the airport there are resort hotels with wide pools.
For people arriving on anything other than a budget airline
Tap a pink or pale blue area and its information opens (photo, sightseeing, entertainment, daily life, stations)
Recommended areas by purpose: hotels, living, the airports
The area to look at first changes with the purpose.
Where to stay in Bangkok: hotels come down to how close the station is
For people looking for a hotel, distance to the station settles it fastest.
Area 1, the Grand Palace and Khao San, is a long walk from the stations. It suits people staying near the temples or on Khao San Road.
Where to live in Bangkok: rent levels and the character of the neighborhood
For people looking for somewhere to live, it starts at Sukhumvit, area 6, then widens to Phra Khanong / On Nut in area 7, Ari in area 8, and Ratchada / Rama 9 in area 9. Opening an area on the area map puts the feel of each neighborhood and its rent levels side by side.
For a quiet residential street it is Ari, area 8; to live near the night market it is Ratchada / Rama 9, area 9.
Getting from the airports into the city: where Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang sit
There are 2 airports, and which one the flight lands at changes the way into the city. From Suvarnabhumi Airport, area 13, it is the airport train (Airport Rail Link); from Don Mueang Airport, area 12, it is the SRT commuter line or a taxi.
Staying in the city and riding the train out to the airport makes getting around easier for sightseeing and shopping than staying next to the airport.
Frequently asked questions
Surely the local areas have their attractions too? I would like more detail.
The handy tool for that is Google Maps.
