Visiting Khao San Road is one of the best things to do in Bangkok. This 400m long street is one of the most famous backpacker hubs of South East Asia. It is a great place to enjoy a vibrant nightlife scene with lots of bars, clubs, restaurants, and street food stalls.
In this travel guide about Khao San Road, we will look at its location, how to get to, how to get around, and things to do in and around Khao San Road.
Where is Khao San Road?
Khao San Road is a 400m long street located in the heart of Bangkok Old town, stretching from Chakrabongse Rd to Thanon Tanao Road. It is within walking distance to the major attractions of Bangkok such as Chao Phraya River, Grand Palace, and Wat Pho.
I recommend checking Where to Stay in Khao San Road for more detail of areas and top hotels in Khao San and its nearby neighborhoods.
How to get to Khao San Road?
If you stay in Bangkok Old Town (Rattanakosin Island), you can walk to Khao San Road. You can also use tuk tuk or Grab Bike (motorbike taxi) to reach this street. The Old Town (which includes Khao San Road) is a relatively small area, so you can easily get around on foot.
There are no BTS sky trains or MRT underground trains running through Khao San Road. The closest MRT station is Sam Yot, located around 2km away.
If you stay in downtown areas of Bangkok such as Silom, Siam, Sukhumvit, or Pratunam, you can use MRT trains to get to Sam Yot Station. From Sam Yot Station, you can walk, take a tuk tuk, or Grab a taxi to reach Khao San Road.
From nearby neighborhoods such as Chinatown, you can use Grab or tuk tuk to reach Khao San Road. It will take 10-15 minutes to travel between these two areas. A Grab Bike will cost around 50-100 baht.
Being located close to Chao Phraya River, you can also easily reach Khao San Road by taking the ferries to Phra Arthit Pier. From the pier, you can walk for 10 minutes to get to Khao San. Taking the ferry is a great way to avoid road traffic, enjoy the river views, and experience local life.
From Suvarnabhumi airport, you can take a taxi or bus to get to Khao San Road. Bus S1 runs through this route daily on every hour from 6am to 8pm. The price is 60 baht. It will take around 1-2 hours to reach Khao San. If you take a taxi, it will cost around 300-500 baht.
It is possible to get to Khao San Road from Suvarnabhumi airport by train, but it might not be convenient for first-timers because it will involve swap of the trains, and additional transportation such as Tuk tuk, Grab taxi, or walking to reach your destination.
If you want to use the train, you can take the Airport Rail Link to Makkansan Station, the swap for MRT trains to get to Sam Yot Station. From here, you can walk or take a Grab taxi to get to your final destination. The two train rides are around 60-70 baht, and the additional taxi is around 50-100 baht.
What to do in and around Khao San Road?
Eat Thai Street Food
There are many street food stalls on both sides of Khao San Road from mid afternoon to late night. You can try a variety of Thai street food for a reasonable price. You can try pad thai, mango sticky rice, pancakes, pineapple fried rice, spring rolls, coconut ice cream…
If you are brave enough, you can try fried insects at one of the several food vendors. If you just want to take a photo, they will charge a small fee of 10-20 baht for it.
Some restaurants and street food stalls have tables and chairs to sit and eat. With around 50 baht, you can buy pad Thai coconut ice cream, or cut mixed fruits…
Party and Drink
Khao San road is lined with bars and nightclubs glows with neon signs. These places offer cheap beers, cocktails, and buckets of alcohol. Many of those stay open late, often with live music or DJs. If you are after a party and backpacker vibe, this is a great place to visit.
The music at bars and clubs on Khao San Road is quite loud. It might not be to everyone’s taste. If you want a quieter atmosphere, head to the nearby Soi Rambuttri for trendier bars.
Shop for souvenirs
In addition to stalls selling street food, this area is home to many stalls selling clothing, souvenirs, and handmade goods. You can shop for some typical Thai souvenirs such as elephant pants, T-shirts, or handicraft items.
Get a Massage
If you want to relax, you can try Thai massages at one of the many massage shops along Khao San Road and the surrounding streets and alleys. The price is very good, only 200 baht per hour for the body massage when I did it late 2024.
The massage here is cheap but still as good as anywhere else in Thailand. It was very similar with the full body Thai massage I did in Wat Pho. But way more cheaper. I paid 450 baht for a one hour Thai massage in Wat Pho.
People-Watch
Khao San Road is packed with locals and tourists from all over the world. It is a great place to grab a drink or a meal and enjoy people watching. You can observe the unique mix of global travelers at a restaurant, bar, or even when doing foot massage outside of the street.
Explore Soi Rambuttri
Soi Rambuttri is the quieter version of Khao San Road. It is located between Khao San Road and the Chao Phraya River. From Khao San Road, you can walk for a few minutes to reach Rambuttri Alley.
Soi Rambuttri is home to many bars, restaurants, cafes, and massage shops. There are also many stalls on the street selling clothing and souvenirs.
Visit Democracy Monument
The Democracy Monument is a popular point of interest in Bangkok Old Town, located just 300m from Khao San Road. It was built in 1939 to commemorate the Siamese Revolution of 1932, which marked the transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.
Democracy Monument has a beautiful Four wing-like structure and is beautifully lit up at night. It is a good stop for taking photos while visiting Khao San Road and Bangkok Old Town.
Boat Ride on Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya River is located just 500m from Khao San Road and is packed with things to do and see. You can consider taking the boat ride along the river visiting famous attractions such as Wat Arun, ICON Siam, Chinatown, and Asiatique.
The riverside also has many nice restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy the drink and the stunning views of the water and the city.
The National Gallery & National Museum
If you are interested in art and history, you can check out the National Gallery and National Museum. These attractions are located just a few minutes walking distance from Khao San Road.
You can learn more about the history of Bangkok and Thailand through artifacts, exhibits, traditional Thai art, textiles, clothing, weaponry, and musical instruments.
Wat Pho & Grand Palace
These are iconic attractions in Bangkok and are a must-see while visiting the Thai capital. They are located close to each other and are only 1.3 km away from Khao San Road. You can easily walk for 20 minutes or take a short tuk tuk ride to these places.
Wat Pho is best known for housing the giant reclining Buddha and the first massage school of Thailand. There are lots of temple towers and halls in its ground, but you must check out the reclining Buddha and consider taking the massage at the historic location.
The Grand Palace was the residential place of the Thai King for more than 150 years from its foundation. The royal family no longer stays here and it is now open to the public to explore. It is a massive complex with beautiful buildings and temples.
The most famous attraction in the Grand Palace is the Wat Phra Kaew, which is home to the 14th century Emerald Buddha. This Buddha statue is the most sacred temple in Thailand. The temple is always packed with people. So, if you want to avoid crowds, consider visiting early in the morning.
Wat Saket (Golden Mount)
Wat Saket is located just 1.5 km from Khao San Road, around 20 minutes walk or 5 minutes on Grab Bike (motorbike scooter). The temple is known for its chedis located on the top of an artificial hill, and it has stunning views of the city.
It is a popular place to visit to watch the sunset. You can climb the winding stairs to reach the top and enjoy stunning views of the city at golden hours.
Is Khao San Road worth visiting?
In my opinion, yes. It is worth a visit even if you are not into nightlife and parties. I don’t do these things, but I still visit to see what it looks like with my own eyes. If you don’t drink, you can still try street food and buy souvenirs. Even if you don’t do these things, you can still enjoy people-watching.
It is only 400m long street, and you can easily look around for 15-30 minutes. And you can head to the nearby Soi Rambuttri for more exploration. The Chinatown Night Market is only 10-15 Grab Ride away, and can add to your itineraries while visiting Khao San Road.
I hope you found my travel guide about Khao San Road helpful. It is the backpacker center of Bangkok, and is one of the many places to go for crazy nightlife in Bangkok. See more: 8 Best Areas to Stay in Bangkok