Silom is a modern district located in downtown Bangkok, located between Bangkok Riverside and other popular neighborhoods such as Sukhumvit and Siam.
Silom is known as a business district by day and transformed into a vibrant nightlife area by night. During the day you can explore attractions such as Lumphini Park and King Power Mahanakhon. At night, you can head to the Patpong Night Market, Little Tokyo, Soi 2, and Soi 4 to enjoy the lively nightlife scene.
This district is very well connected to public transportation with both MRT underground train and BTS skytrain running through this area. This makes it easy to explore Silom and other areas of Bangkok by train.
In this article, we will be looking at the best things to do in Silom, including parks, nightlife spots, markets, shopping malls, viewpoints, and rooftop bars. I’ll also show you how to get to and get around Silom.
If you looking for a place to stay in Silom, check out this article: Where to Stay in Silom.
12 Best Things to do in Silom
1. Lumphini Park
Visiting Lumphini Park is one of the best things to do in Bangkok. It is one of the two major parks in the heart of the Thai capital. Located in Silom, Lumphini is a great place to relax, exercise, and escape from the heat.
Lumphini is a huge park with around 900 m long and 800m width. It was founded by King Rama VI in the 1920s, making it the first public park in Bangkok. You can find the King Rama VI Monument at the southern end of the park.
Inside the park, you will find several lakes, and lots of paths for walking and running. There are benches scattering all around the park, where you can sit, relax, and enjoy the stunning views of the city. You can spot some monitor lizards in the park. The lakes are popular places to enjoy swan paddle.
From the northern end of the park, at Sarasin Road, you can take a walk on the elevated Green Bridge, to reach Benchakitti Park. It is around 10-15 minutes to travel between these two parks.
Lumphini Park is open everyday and there is free entrance to the public. If you stay in Silom, you can walk to Lumphini Park.
If you are staying in other areas of Bangkok, you can use the MRT subway or BTS sky train to reach the nearby Silom or Lumphini MRT Station or Sala Daeng BTS Station. From these stations, you can walk to the park for a few minutes.
2. Patpong Night Market
Patpong Night Market is a major night market in Bangkok, located on Thanon Phat Phong Road in the heart of Silom. The road is 230 m long but it is packed with people, street food stalls, bars, and nightclubs. If you are into nightlife, you should put this night market in your Bangkok itinerary.
This market is lined with stalls selling food and souvenirs as well as go go bars, dancing bars, and Cannabis shops. There are tables and chairs at the markets where you can sit and eat.
Like lots of other markets in Bangkok and Thailand, you can find lots of counterfeit goods at reasonable prices. Make sure to bargain as you do in other markets in Southeast Asia. For food, it has a wide range of Thai food like pad thai, fried rice, and mango sticky rice…
I’m not into parties, just visited the market to see what it looks like. I recommend being aware of touts, and pickpockets when exploring the market.
Patpong Night Market is only a 3 minute walk from Sala Daeng BTS Station and 6 minute walk from Silom MRT Station. You can reach the market by taking a train to either Sala Daeng or Silon, then walk for a few minutes to get to your destination.
After exploring the night market, you can check out numerous shopping malls nearby, or have a look at popular nightlife spots such as Soi 2, Soi 4, and Soi Thaniya. They are all located within walking distance from each other.
3. Silom Complex
Silom Complex is one of the several shopping malls around Sala Daeng BTS Station. It is directly connected to the BTS station via the skywalk, making it convenient to do shopping and eating at the mall.
This complex has 6 floors with restaurants and a food zone can be found on each floor. You can find Tops Market in the basement level. Additionally, it is also home to lots of stores selling clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and beauty services.
If you stay in the Silom area, or just pass through the Sala Daeng BTS Station, it is worth checking out the mall. It has a good air-conditioning system, which is a good place to escape from the outdoors and the sun.
4. Park Silom
Park Silom is a multi-purpose complex located at the intersection of Silom Road and Convent Road. It is right next to Sala Daeng BTS Station and Silom Complex. It is home to lots of offices, restaurants, supermarkets, shops, bars.
It is worth checking out when you combine it with a visit to other more popular places in Silom such as Patpong Night Market, Silom Soi 4, Little Tokyo, and Silom Complex.
There is a small urban park located at the entrance of Park Silom, which is good for hanging out with friends, resting, and taking photos.
5. Thaniya Plaza & Don Don Donki
This shopping mall is located in a lively area at the interstation of Silom Road and Soi Thaniya (Little Tokyo). The plaza is home to Don Don Donki, which is home to a variety of imported Japanese items. Don Don Donki is also 24/7, and you can find Japanese beers, meats, snacks, and chocolates.
Known as Asia’s largest golf equipment and accessory retail center, Thaniya Plaza is a haven for golf aficionados. It is home to dozens of shops selling golf equipment and its accessories.
In addition to golf stores, this mall is also home to lifestyle shops, beauty clinics, and several authentic Japanese restaurants and cafes. After visiting the mall, you can head to the Thaniya alley, also known as Little Tokyo for more exploration.
Thaniya Plaza is located just a minute walk from Sala Daeng BTS Station. You can easily reach this shopping canter by taking the sky train to Sala Daeng then walking to the mall.
6. King Power Mahanakhon
As one of Thailand’s tallest buildings at 314 meters, King Power Mahanakhon is one of the best places to visit for breathtaking city views.
King Power Mahanakhon is home to the highest observation deck in Thailand. There is an Indoor Observation Deck on the 74th Floor and an Outdoor Observation Deck on the 78th Floor. On the 78th floor, you can step onto the glass floor for a thrilling view straight down in the city.
The SkyWalk operates daily from 10 am to 7pm, with the last admission at 6:30 pm. Take a note that the outdoor deck may close during inclement weather for safety reasons.
You can buy a ticket on the 1st floor or buy it online in advance. It costs 1,050 baht per adult to access both the indoor and outdoor observation deck.
King Power Mahanakhon is located just a block away from Silom Road, the main road of Silom. If you are at Sala Daeng BTS Station or MRT train, you can walk for 15 minutes to reach the building. Otherwise, take the BTS train to Chong Nonsi Station, which is located right next to King Power Mahanakhon.
If you can’t make it to the top of King Power Mahanakhon (maybe it’s expensive), you can check out many other rooftop buildings in Bangkok such as ICONSIAM, Sky Bar at Lebua State Tower, or Baiyoke Sky Tower.
7. Little Tokyo (Soi Thaniya)
Soi Thaniya is a 230m long street connecting Silom Road and Surawong Road. It is known as Little Tokyo because it is lined with Japanese restaurants, bars, Izakayas, Karaoke Bars, and night clubs. The Japanese supermarket Don Don Donki can be found at one end of Soi Thaniya.
Soi Thaniya is quiet during the day. As night falls, this street transforms into a neon-lit hub reminiscent of Tokyo’s Kabukicho district. Many venues cater to Japanese expatriates and business travelers.
There were lots of girls sitting on chairs on the pavement waiting for the customers. This reminds me of Little Japan Town in Ho Chi Minh City and Kabukicho red light district of Tokyo.
As a first-time solo female traveler to Soi Thaniya, I felt a bit scared walking though this short street. I walked behind a group to have a quick look of this area.
There are also many Japanese on the surrounding areas of Soi Thaniya such as in Soi 1 and smaller alleys connecting Soi Thaniya and Soi 1.
8. Silom Soi 4
This small alley is located close to Pat Pong Night Market and has a high concentration of gay bars. The best time to visit is from 9 pm to late night. There are bars on both sides of this small alley and they have outdoor seating, which is great for drinking and people-watching.
9. Silom Soi 2
Similar to Silom Soi 4, Silom Soi 2 is a popular destination to explore gay bars and clubs. It is just a block away from Little Tokyo Street, and is easily found from Surawong Road. You can find DJ Station, the most iconic gay nightclub in Bangkok, at the end of the alley.
10. Lalai Sap Market
Lalai Sap Market is a lesser-known night market in the Silom area of Bangkok. It is located on Silom Soi 5, 300m from the more famous Pat Pong Night Market.
The market is home to an array of Thai street food stalls serving dishes. It is a favorite among local office workers, coming for breakfast and lunch. There are also shops selling a variety of men’s & women’s clothing, cosmetics, household items, and souvenirs.
11. Samyan Mitrtown
This shopping mall is located just a km from Silom MRT Station, and is another option to do shopping while in Silom. The mall is home to wide selections of shops, including the largest MUJI in Thailand, Uniqlo, and many other stores.
It also has lots of dining options, a rooftop garden, and a free 24-hour co-working space, which is a good learning and working space for students and freelancers. It attracts lots of young crowds as it is located next to Chulalongkorn University.
Samyan Mitrtown is easily accessible by taking the subway blue line to Samyan MRT Station. The station is directly connected to Samyan Mitrtown via an underground walkway.
12. Rooftop Bars
There are lots of rooftop areas in Bangkok where you can enjoy stunning views of the city. In addition to the King Power Mahanakhon, you can have a look at Sky Bar on the 63rd floor of Lebua State Tower, Vertigo & Moon Bar on the 61st floor of Banyan Tree Hotel.
The Sky Bar is Famous from The Hangover Part II, dramatic skyline and river views. It is a good place to enjoy the nightlife, the views, and high-end ambiance.
How to get to and get Around Silom?
Silom is home to both MRT subway and BTS skytrain stations. Popular stations in this area include Silom MRT station, Samyan MRT station, and Sala Daeng BTS Station.
Silom MRT station is an importation station in this area because from this station, you can walk to Sala Daeng BTS Station to change to the BTS line. These two stations are located just 300m from each other. You can travel between them by walking on the pavement or the sky walk for a few minutes.
You can easily explore Silom on foot. All major points of interest in this area such as Patpong Night Market, Shopping malls, and nightlife clubs are located on the first 1 km of Silom Road from Lumphini Park to ITF Tower.
To get to Silom from Siam, Pratunam, and Sukhumvit, you can use the BTS sky train to Sala Daeng BTS Station. From Chinatown, Old Town, and Khao San Road, you can use the MRT subway to get to Silom MRT Station.
From Suvarnabhumi Airport, you can take the airport rail link to Makasan Station, then swap for the MRT train to get to Silom Station. The cost is around 60-70 baht for two trains.
See more: 8 Best Areas to Stay in Bangkok
So this is my list of top 12 things to do and see in Silom, a downtown area of Bangkok. It is Bangkok’s financial center by day bustling with office workers and modern skyscrapers. At night, the area has a vibrant nightlife scene with lots of bars and night clubs open until early morning.