Where To Stay In Bangkok For First Time Visitors

Bangkok is a chaotic city bursting at the seams. Rivaling Asian mega-cities like Tokyo and Seoul, the capital of Thailand tickles the senses with its tasty Thai food and exotic temples.

Discover our Thai food favorites.

A traveler could easily spend several days exploring colorful Bangkok and never get bored. However, with a size of 1,569 square kilometers and a population exceeding 8 million people, the city can overwhelm first-time visitors.

This is why it’s key to plan ahead and book a hotel room in Bangkok before your trip. We recommend the following neighborhoods when you’re deciding where to stay in Bangkok.

If you love Chinese food as much as we do, then Chinatown is the neighborhood for you.

Tantalizing aromas fill the bustling streets, with foods like steamed dumplings and roasted pork available at all hours of the day and night. Despite these tempting options, the cuisine is just one reason to stay in Chinatown.

This neighborhood also offers a peek into Bangkok’s storied past when Chinese traders spilled from buildings onto the narrow alleys. Plus, if you get tired of Chinese food, Little India is just a short walk away.

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Chinatown is located near the Hua Lamphong train station

Popular among backpackers for its famous Khao San Road, Banglamphu is a wonderful neighborhood for enjoying Bangkok’s social scene. This incredibly vibrant neighborhood features an endless number of pubs and street food stalls.

Crowds flock to Khao San Road on a nightly basis looking for a good time. However, the party scene is just one aspect of this neighborhood’s charm.

The other aspect is tourism. During the day, visitors can easily access some of Bangkok’s best attractions, such as the iconic and epic Grand Palace and Wat Pho with its famous reclining Buddha.

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Banglamphu is serviced by various means of public transportation, though Uber is probably the quickest transit option.

With high-rise buildings and swanky restaurants, Sukhumvit is a great neighborhood if you’re seeking a more urbane experience away from the tourist center.

Trendy shops fill the streets of Phrom and Thonglor along with third-wave coffee shops and French patisseries. The hotels and restaurants in this neighborhood trend more upscale, catering to ex-pats and businessmen.

However, savvy visitors can find delicious street food options hiding in plain sight in Sukhumvit, making it possible to eat a budget lunch in the afternoon and splurge on a fancy dinner in the evening.

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The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) Skytrain has a stop in Sukhumvit. Visitors can take the Skytrain straight from the international Suvarnabhumi Airport to this neighborhood.

A fantastic vacation must begin with a plan, especially when visiting an overwhelming Asian mega-city. If you’re visiting Bangkok for a short period of time, pick your spots judiciously.

Although Bangkok can be a chaotic puzzle, you can solve it by planning ahead. Once you choose the best neighborhood for your stay, the rest will unfold like magic.

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