Khao San Road is a famous street in Bangkok, known worldwide as a hub for backpackers and budget travelers. It is located on Rattanakosin island (Bangkok Old Town), and is a short distance from the city’s iconic sights like the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, and Wat Pho.
This backpacker paradise is only 400m long but packed with hotels, bars, clubs, travel agencies, restaurants, massage shops, tattoo shops, and weed shops. It is more lively from late afternoon till late night, with lots of street vendors on two sides of the street selling food and souvenirs.
With loud music and a chaotic party scene, Khao San Road might not be for everyone. I myself do not like the idea of staying on Khao San Road, but prefer to visit and explore this area. I stayed for a few nights in the Trok Sin area, which is a few blocks away from Khao San.
In this article, we will be looking at why you should/ shouldn’t stay in Khao San Road, and some of the good places to stay on Khao San Road and the quieter alternative nearby areas like Soi Rambuttri, Phra Athit, Ratchadamnoen, and Samsen Roads.
See more: Where to stay in Bangkok – The Ultimate Guide
Why Should You Stay on Khao San Road?
In my opinion, Khao San Road is a good area to stay in Bangkok if you’re looking to party, meet other backpackers, and don’t mind the noise and tourist scene. It’s not for everyone, but it’s a classic backpacker experience that many travelers remember for life.
It is best suited for:
- Young travelers
- Solo backpackers
- Budget tourists
- People looking for nightlife and socializing
Here are some of the Reasons to Stay on Khao San Road, from my perspective:
1. Budget-Friendly Accommodation
Khao San Road is known for its cheap hostels, guesthouses, and budget hotels, making it a good location for backpackers and budget travelers.
2. Lively Nightlife
Khao San Road comes alive at night with lots of bars, dance clubs, street performers, cheap cocktails and buckets. It’s a party hotspot, especially for younger travelers. If you’re looking for a social scene and an energetic vibe, this is a perfect place for you.
3. Backpacker hub and Meet Other Travelers
Khao San Road is the backpacker hub of South East Asia, so it attracts backpackers from around the world. It is a good place to meet new people, share travel tips, and find companions for your next destination like Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia…
4. Easy Access to Travel Services
Khao San Road and its surrounding areas are packed with travel agencies where you can book tours and buses, boats, and trains to all over Thailand to places like Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, or Chiang Mai. They also offer Visa services, SIM cards, laundry,… which is convenient for travelers.
Even though there are no BTS or MRT trains directly located in Khao San road, you can get to Khao San Road easily. There is frequently-run buses from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Khao San, which is a convenient and cheap way to get into this area from the airport.
5. Vibrant Street Food Scene
Khao San Road has lots of street food stalls, selling everything from pad thai and mango sticky rice to scorpions on sticks (if you’re feeling adventurous). It’s a great place to try local Thai food on a budget.
6. Central Location for Sightseeing
Khao San Road has a central location, within walking distance or short tuk tuk ride from many of Bangkok’s major cultural attractions like The Grand Palace, Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha), Wat Saket (Golden Mount) and Chao Phraya River.
From Khao San Road, you can walk to Phra Arthit Pier for the boat ride to explore many other attractions along Chao Phraya river such as Wat Arun, Icon Siam, Asiatique, Chinatown, or even Pratunam.
Why Shouldn’t You Stay on Khao San Road?
Khao San Road is bustling, chaotic, and full of life. But while some travelers love it, there are several reasons why you might not want to stay there during your visit to Bangkok:
1. Noise, All Night Long
Khao San is known for its parties and loud music, often continuing until the early morning. If you’re not planning to party every night, the noise can be overwhelming and ruin your sleep.
2. Tourist Overload and Low-Quality Food
The area is highly commercialized, catering almost entirely to tourists. You won’t get much of an authentic Thai cultural experience here.
I asked a few locals living in the area around Soi Rambuttri if they have any recommendations of good places to eat near Khao San Road. They only laughed and said you can find better food at 7-eleven.
That means much of the food in this area is tailored to tourists and lacks the authenticity of real Thai street food. Prices are often inflated compared to what you’d find a few blocks away.
3. Safety concern
While generally safe, Khao San attracts scammers and petty crime like pickpocketing, inflated prices or bait-and-switch scams, drug offers (which can lead to legal trouble or police setups).
4. Poor Transportation Links
Khao San is not connected directly to Bangkok’s excellent BTS Skytrain or MRT subway systems. But you can still walk to the pier and nearby MRT Station to get to other parts of the city. Sam Yot MRT Station is the closest MRT station to Khao San Road, located 25 minutes walk away.
Overall, Khao San Road is not ideal for families with kids, luxury seekers, or travelers looking for a quiet and local experience. You can consider staying in other parts of Bangkok Old Town for more traditional charm. You can choose to stay in Chinatown for a more authentic street food scene.
For better transport links, trendier nightlife, and shopping, I recommend staying in downtown Bangkok, in Sukhumvit, in Siam, in Pratuam, in Silom, or in the riverside area.
Best Places to Stay in Khao San Road
If you want to stay in the middle of everything and don’t mind the noise, you can book a stay right on Khao San Road. If you want a quieter alternative but still within a short walk distance from Khao San, you can book hotels at nearby areas such as Soi Rambuttri, Phra Athit, Ratchadamnoen, and Samsen Roads.
1. On Khao San Road
If you want to stay in the heart of the action, you can choose to stay in one of the many hostels and guest houses right on Khao San Road. The street is known for its non-stop party atmosphere with bars blasting music until 2-3 am or later, which is ideal for party goers.
Where to Stay in Khao San Road:
Dang Derm In The Park Khaosan
This hotel is located right on the Khao San Road in a very central location of Bangkok Old Town. You will be located steps away from a range of restaurants, bars, and shops. Major sights like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun are within a short distance away.
The hotel has a nice Rooftop pool area with city views, but the downsides, like all other hotels on Khao San, is loud music and the noise. If it’s not bothering you, it is a good choice. You can also ask for the back rooms which can reduce the noise.
Buddy Lodge, Khaosan Road
This is a quite popular hotel on Khao San Road with a nice rooftop terrace with an outdoor swimming pool and stunning views of the city. It is in prime location, so you can easily explore the nightlife and iconic attractions on foot.
Khaosan Palace Hotel
This is a 3-star hotel located in the middle of Khao San Road. It has Siamese architecture and is home to a great rooftop pool with lots of sun loungers. If you are into a party and don’t mind the loud music until late 3am, it is a good base.
2. Soi Rambuttri Alley
Soi Ram Buri is a quieter alternative to Khao San Road. It is a horseshoe-shaped street lined with leafy banyan trees located just a block away from Khao San. To reach Soi Ram Buri from Khao San, you just cross the busy Chakrabongse road.
This alley has trendier bars, restaurants, cafes, clubs, and vintage boutiques. There are also lots of street vendors selling street food and souvenirs along the road.
Where to Stay in Soi Rambuttri:
Rambuttri Village Plaza
This is a popular place to stay nearby Khao San Road, on Soi Rambuttri, in the heart of Bangkok Old Town. It is a short distance away from the nightlife and all the iconic sights of the city including the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. The hotel has a beautiful rooftop pool and excellent breakfast.
Lamphuhouse Bangkok
This hotel is located on Soi Rambuttri, just a few minutes walking distance from the bustling nightlife area of Khao San Road. It is in a quiet location and is surrounded by lush greenery. The hotel has an onsite restaurant and tour desk where you can book tours with them easily.
BBhouse Rambuttri 2
This guest house is a good accommodation on Soi Rambuttri in the central location of the historic part of Bangkok. All restaurants, bars, massage shops, and street vendors can be reached within easy walking distance from the hotel.
3. Phra Athit Road (Riverside Area)
Phra Athit Road runs parallel with Chao Phraya River and is only 300m from Khao San Road. It is a good base if you want riverviews, a quieter atmosphere, and an easy walking distance from the nightlife of Khao San and Soi Rambuttri.
This area is home to Phra Athit, which is convenient to take ferries to visit all major malls and temples along the banks of Chao Phraya River. You can easily take a boat ride to Wat Arun, Icon Siam, or Chinatown.
You can find several local historical landmarks in this area including the Phra Sumen Fort. This port was built when the old town was founded to protect the city from Burmese invaders.
Where to Stay in Phra Athit Road:
Chillax Heritage Hotel Khaosan
This 4-star boutique hotel is a popular hotel located along the bank of Chao Phraya River in Bangkok Old Town. It is in prime location within a few minutes walk from Khao San Road. Other iconic attractions like the Grand Palace and Wat are also within a short tuk tuk ride away.
The hotel has a beautiful rooftop pool, a fitness center, and spacious rooms with comfortable beds. It is a good value for money hotel according to many guests.
Riva Surya Bangkok
This 4-star beautiful hotel is centrally located on Phra Arthit Road, just a 5-10 minutes walk from the pier, Khao San Road, and the National Museum. It is a great base to explore Old Town and other parts of Bangkok on foot and by boat.
In terms of amenities, it has spacious rooms, a beautiful rooftop area with outdoor swimming pool and views of Bangkok skyline. You can choose rooms with a private balcony and river views for the best experience.
The StandardX, Bangkok Phra Arthit
This riverside hotel is located on Phra Arthit road, right next to the beautiful Santi Chai Prakan Park and its historic Phra Sumen Fort. It is steps away from Phra Athit Pier, where you can take a boat to explore Bangkok Riverside and its famous attractions.
The hotel has an onsite restaurant, a rooftop pool, bar, and comfortable rooms. It is in a good area just a couple of blocks away from the vibrant Khao San Road.
4. Ratchadamnoen Road
Ratchadamnoen Road is one of the main roads in Bangkok Old Town and is located a couple of blocks away from Khao San Road. There are several hotels in this area and its surrounding streets, which are within walking distance from Khao San.
The road is home to the famous Democracy Monument, beautifully lit up at night. At one end of the street, you can take a boat ride at Panfa Leelard Pier to explore other parts of Bangkok on the boat.
The beautiful Wat Saket (Golden Mount) is also in this area which is a nice place to climb up to the top for stunning views of the city, especially at sunset.
Where to Stay in Ratchadamnoen Road:
Siam Champs Elyseesi Unique Hotel
This is a beautiful boutique hotel located near Ratchadamnoen Road and Democracy Monument. It is a good base to explore the city on foot, tuk tuk, and motorbike scooter. Lots of local attractions, night markets including Khao San road are located within a short distance from this hotel.
Dinsomon Hotel
This hotel is located on Dinso Road, a few minutes walk away from the bustle and hustle of Khao San Road and Ratchadamnoen Road. Its central location makes it a good base for sightseeing and exploring the nightlife of Khao San Road without traveling too far.
With comfortable rooms, a good breakfast offering a wide range of dishes (both Asian and Western), a pool, and a central location, what more could you ask for?
Methavalai Residence Hotel
Methavalai is a beautiful hotel located just a corner from Democracy Monument and Ratchadamnoen Road. You can walk for a few minutes to Khao San Road, which is good to enjoy the nightlife while still having a quiet night sleep.
5. Samsen Road
The Samsen Road area (Around Samsen Soi 1, Soi 2, Soi 3) is a good area located just 500m from Khao San Road. It is separated from the old town by a Bang Lam Phu canal but still walkable to Khao San via Sam Sen Road and Chakrabongse Road.
Where to Stay in the Samsen Road Area:
Khao San Road is one of the must-visit places in Bangkok, but staying in this area or not really depends on your preferences. It is a good base if you’re party-goers, budget travels, and want to meet other fellow adventurers. Otherwise, you can stay somewhere else in the city, and put this lively street in your Bangkok travel itineraries.
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