Silom (or Si Lom) is a dynamic neighborhood in Downtown Bangkok. It is known as a bustling CBD by day and a vibrant street-life and nightlife hub by night.
Silom is lesser-known than other areas like Siam or Sukhumvit, but it offers central location, affordable hotels, well-connected to public transportation, and lots of things to do and see within Silom.
Lots of visitors choose to stay in Silom, while others only visit this area to explore Lumpini Park, enjoy the nightlife at Patpong Night Market, and the gay-friendly areas such as Silom Soi 2 and Soi 4.
I found a cheap hostel in Silom and stayed in this area for a few nights. It was very convenient to use MRT subways and BTS skytrain to explore shopping malls in Siam, nightlife in Sukhumvit, and sightseeing in the Old Town and Chinatown.
In this travel guide on Where to stay in Silom, we will be looking at why you should stay in Silom, the downsides of staying in this area, and best places to stay in Silom.
See more: Where to stay in Bangkok – All Areas Guide
Where is Silom?
Silom is the area around 2.3 km long Silom Road, stretching from Rama IV Road to the bank of Chao Phraya River. This area is home to major attractions like Patpong Night Market, Lumpini Park, Mahanakhon Skywalk, several shopping malls, and nightlife areas such as Soi 2, Soi 4, and Little Tokyo.
There are several MRT subway and BTS skytrains running in Silom. These include Silom, Lumphini, and Samyan MRT stations as well as Sala Daeng and Chong Nonsi BTS Stations.
Why should you stay in Silom?
I chose to stay in Silom for a few days due to its wide range of cheap hostels, central location, and great connections to trains. I can easily walk to all attractions inside Silom districts and use trains for more shopping, nightlife, and sightseeing.
Silom is a good area to stay in Bangkok, and here are some reasons, from my perspective:
1. Central location and Transportation
Silom is very central in Downtown Bangkok, it is easily accessible to both modern and old parts of the city. It is only a short train ride from all Bangkok’s popular areas like Old Town, Chinatown, Siam, Sukhumvit, Pratunam, and Riverside.
Silom is well-connected to BTS skytrain and MRT subways. The BTS Silom line runs through part of Silom Road and North Sathorn Road. You can take the BTS Skytrain and transfer to other trains or ferries to visit major attractions such as Chatuk Chak Market, Siam Paragon, Icon Siam, or Asiatique .
The MRT Blue line runs through Rama IV Road which is convenient to visit iconic sights like the Grand Place, Wat Pho, Khao San Road, Yaowarat Road, or Jodd Fairs Night Market.
You can use the combination of Airport Rail Link and MRT train to reach the Silom area from Suvarnabhumi Airport. This is a very convenient and cheap way to travel between the Airport and your hotel on public transport.
2. Lively Nightlife
Silom has a vibrant nightlife scene with lots of bars and clubs scattered around this district. You can find a high concentration and adult entertainment venues around Thaniya Road, Silom Soi 2, Soi 4, and Patpong Night Market. Soi 2 and Soi 4 are famous gay areas of Bangkok.
In addition to a range of go-go bars and night clubs, Silom is also home to lots of stylish rooftop bars, and high end restaurants, and cafes.
3. Diverse Atmosphere
Silom has a blend of business, entertainment, and culture. It is busy during the day with professionals, lively and eclectic at night. You’ll find sleek skyscrapers, bustling offices, as well as go-go bars, nightclubs, and some cultural attractions like Bangkokian Museum and Wat Khaek.
I think that Silom has a more local feel compared to tourist-heavy areas like Sukhumvit. A lot of vendors, fresh markets (like Lalai Sap) serve local Thais, especially office workers, not just tourists or expats.
4. Affordable Hotels & Hostels
Silom has a wide selection of both budget hostels, stylish boutique hotels and luxury options. If you are looking for reasonable places to stay like me, Silom has many choices.
Downsides of staying Silom
The party zone of Silom, which includes red-light district, Soi Thaniya, and Soi 2, and Soi 4 can feel seedy or over-touristy, especially with the go-go bars and touts. Some travelers find the red-light district vibe off-putting, especially families or solo female travelers.
However if you want to avoid the nightlife, you can move a bit further from the party zone to the riverside area or along Sathorn Road.
If you want more traditional charm, you can consider staying in Bangkok Old Town. If you want cheaper hotel options and are close to the airport, stay in Pratunam. I recommend booking a hotel in Siam if you want to be in the heart of the shopping district.
For a more international atmosphere, consider staying in Sukhumvit. If you want a more backpacker vibe, why not choose a hostel on Khao San Road. For street food, head to Chinatown. If you want a peacefull and luxury vibe, stay in the Riverside area.
Best Places to stay in Silom, Bangkok
There are plenty of hotels and hostels along the 2.3km long Silom Road and its surrounding side streets. I will divide Silom into the 4 areas based on proximity to train stations and the clustering of nearby attractions.
The 4 best areas in Silom to book hotels include the Silom MRT Station, the Lumphini MRT Station area, Middle Silom Road, and Silom Riverside Area.
1. Near Silom MRT Station
The area around Silom MRT Station is the center area of Silom. This area is located right next to Lumphini Park, and the nightlife zone of Silom. You can relax at Lumphini Park during the day, and explore the bars and clubs near the Patpong area in the evening.
Silom MRT Station is an important station on the MRT Blue Line, located beneath Rama IV Road at the intersection with Silom Road. This station is connected to BTS Sala Daeng Station via skywalk, so you can easily transfer between MRT and BTS train lines.
The MRT blue line will take you to Sukhumvit, Chinatown, Old Town, Chatukchak Weekend Market, Jodd Fairs, and One Ratcha Night Market.
The BTS Silom line will take you to the shopping districts of Siam and Pratunam. To reach famous temples and malls along the riverside, you can get off the Saphan Taksin BTS Station, and walk to Sathorn Pier for ferries to Icon Siam, Wat Arun, and Asiatique.
If you stay around Silom MRT and Sala Daeng BTS Stations, you will also be located within walking distance from the nightlife and shopping zone of Silom. Famous places like Patpong Night Market, Soi 2, Soi 4, and Little Tokyo are all located near these train stations.
Additionally, there are a good selection of shopping malls in this area, including the Silom Complex, Park Silom, and Thaniya Shopping Centers. It is a good place to enjoy shopping and dining.
Where to stay in Silom near Silom Station:
Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park by IHG
This 5-star hotel is located on Rama 4 Road, within walking distance from Lumphini Park and Silom MRT Station. Lots of bars, clubs, and shopping malls in Silom like Silom Edge and Silom Complex are a short distance away from the hotel. You can take the Silom BTS line to the Siam shopping district easily.
The hotel has an outdoor pool, a spa, a fitness center, business center, and a tour desk. It is a good location for Business travelers and leisure tourists.
ibis Styles Bangkok Silom
ibis Styles is a popular hotel located on Silom Road, the main road of this area. It is only 300m from the Sala Daeng Station, which is convenient to get around on public trains.
You’ll also be a short walk away from the area’s nightlife hub where you can explore Patpong Night Market, Little Japan, Convent Road, and gay areas of Soi 4 and Soi 2. A cluster of malls like Park Silom and Silom Complex area also blocks away from this hotel.
The hotel has Stylish design and a compact rooftop pool with city views. It has a good selection of modern and clean rooms to choose from including single, twin, family suites, some with balcony or atrium views.
Silom Serene A Boutique Hotel
This is a 4-star hotel located in Silom Soi 3, 500m from Sal Daeng BTS Station. It is just a block away from the local Lalai Sap Market where you can try authentic Thai food. All bars and clubs are also within easy walk from the hotel.
The hotel has an outdoor garden pool and a wide range of room types: Deluxe, Premium Deluxe, Executive, Business Executive, and Suites. It is an overall good mid-range hotel in Silom for solo travelers, couples, business, and small families.
2. Near Lumphini MRT Station
This area is the convenient location to access the MRT blue line train and Lumphini Park. It is just one train line from Silom MRT Station. You can walk or take a short motorbike taxi (Grab Bike) to reach the nightlife and shopping area of Silom.
Lumphini Park is one the largest parks in Bangkok. It has lakes and lots of green trees where you can relax, swan padder, and enjoy the views of the city. From Lumphini, you can walk for 15 minutes on the green skywalk to reach Benchakitti Park for more exploration.
Where to stay in Silom near Lumphini Station:
SO/ Bangkok
This is a 5-star luxury hotel located in a central location, at North Sathorn Rd and Rama IV Rd. It is within a few minutes walk from Lumphini MRT station and Lumphini Park. It is a good base to explore Silom on foot and other areas of Bangkok on trains.
It has an infinitely pool with stunning views of Bangkok skyline. There are comfortable modern rooms, fitness center, onsite restaurants and bars.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok
The Ritz-Carlton is a high end hotel in Bangkok located on the eastern side of Lumphini Park, 300m from Lumphini Station. It is in a quiet location, but still having a short distance to the nightlife of Silom and Sukhumvit, and all the malls and markets in Siam and Pratunam.
The hotel has an infinity pool, multiple restaurants and bars, and an exclusive Club Lounge on the 23rd floor with free breakfast, afternoon tea, and all-day snacking.
The Cotton Saladaeng Hotel
This hotel is located on North Sathron Road, a short walk from Lumpini Park and the MRT Station. Like many other hotels in Bangkok, The Cotton has an outdoor pool to help you cool down in Bangkok’s tropical heat.
3. Upper Silom Road
There are a range of hotels on the Upper Silom Road which stretch from Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Rd, to Sirat Expy Toll Road. There are no public trains running in this 1km long road, offering a quieter atmosphere than the Lower Part of Silom Road (where all Silom’s the bars and nightclubs are located).
To access the BTS Silom line train, you need to walk to Chong Nonsi at Mahanakhon Tower, Sala Daeng in the lower part of Silom Road, or stations on North Sathorn Road.
Some major attractions in this area include Mahanakhon Skywalk, Bangkokian Museum, Neilson Hays Library, and Sri Maha Mariamman Temple (Wat Khaek).
Where to stay in Silom in Upper Silom Road:
The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon
This five star hotel is located in the famous King Power Mahanakhon building. It is convenient to explore the skywalk and rooftop. The BTS Chong Nonsi skytrain is located right next to the hotel, which is convenient to explore other parts of the city like the riverside area, Sukhumvit, and Siam.
The downside of this hotel is that it is quite expensive, but, if you have a generous budget, it is a good choice in Silom.
Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse
This hotel is located on Surawong Rd, 300m from Silom Road and 1km from the Patpong Night Market and Silom’s nightlife zone. The hotel has modern amenities and the highlight is its infinite pool on the Rooftop with stunning views of the city.
Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom by IHG
This is a mid-range hotel located near the end of Silom Road and close to Chao Phraya River. It is 1 km away from Sathorn Pier and Saphan Taksin BTS Station. You can walk or take a short tuk tuk ride to these stations to explore old town, Chinatown, the riverside, and downtown Bangkok.
4. Silom Riverside Area
There are a selection of high rise hotels in Silom along the banks of Chao Phraya River, where you can enjoy the stunning views of both the river and city skyline. This area offers a quieter atmosphere compared to the more central areas of Silom around Silom Station.
If you choose to stay in this riverside area, I recommend staying somewhere near Saphan Taksin BTS Station and Sathorn Pier for easy access to public trains and ferries to explore the city.
Where to stay in Silom Riverside Area:
lebua at State Tower
This is one of the most famous places to stay in Bangkok and the Silom area. The hotel is known for its Sky Bar, which is one of the city’s best rooftop bars. It is the filming location for the Hangover 2 movie.
Other facilities such as saltwater pool with river and skyline views, fitness center, and meeting spaces. The hotel’s location is convenient to explore Old Town and Chinatown with iconic landmarks like Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Grand Palace, and Yaowarat Night Market.
Shangri-La Bangkok
This is a luxury hotel located along the banks of the Chao Phraya River. It has views of the rivers and cityscape. It is just a few minutes walk from Saphan Taksin BTS Skytrain Station and Sathon Pier, so you can easily take public transport to major sights like Icon Siam, Wat Arun, Siam, and Sukhumvit.
Centre Point Plus Hotel Silom
This is a good choice in Bangkok, located near the riverside, and major transit like Sathorn Pier and BTS Skytrain. There are numerous restaurants and entertainment venues near the hotel.
Silom is a great area in Bangkok for tourists to be central but not overwhelmed by tourist crowds like nearby Sukhumvit and Siam. It is the business district by day, and red light district by night, so suitable for both Business travelers, LGBTQ+ visitors, and party goers.
Whether you are staying in Silom or not, I recommend putting this district in your itinerary in Bangkok to experience all aspects of the city. Some places in Silom such as Lumphini Park and Patpong Night Market, in my opinion, are some of the best things to do in Bangkok.
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