This high-octane capital puts its ancient history on a pedestal while looking boldly to the future.
With its dizzying markets and glittering temples, the Thai capital packs a kick as punchy as the street food it's known for. And while Bangkok's frenetic streets may seem overwhelming at first, you'll find that there's an order to the madness, with polar-cool malls and a dependable public transport system linking all corners of town. This is a city on the up, home to young-gun chefs and designers pushing creative boundaries, while simultaneously honoring their rich and multifaceted heritage.
Explore Bangkok
- Siam
- Sathorn
- Charoenkrung
- Thong Lor
- Chinatown
Siam
Overview
With streets lined with towering shopping centers and indie ateliers by emerging Thai designers, Siam is Bangkok's buzzy commercial hub. Beyond the malls, the incense-swirled Erawan Shrine and envelope-pushing BACC art gallery deliver a culture fix.
Known For
Shopping, Museums
Sathorn
Overview
Bangkok's main business district might strike visitors as a jumble of concrete and steel, but its gleaming high-rises hide some of the city's best places to eat. After its office workers have clocked out, Sathorn transforms into a lively nightlife hub with bars and restaurants doling out award-winning cocktails and dishes.
Known For
Dining, Nightlife, Galleries
Charoenkrung
Overview
Built as Bangkok's first paved road in the late 19th century, Charoenkrung Road and its surrounding streets were once a bastion for European ambassadors and other dignitaries. Today, it’s a great spot for ogling the century-old European-Thai architecture that still lines the road. The district is home to forward-thinking chefs and art curators who have turned the crumbling godowns in its labyrinthine alleys into some of the city's hippest hangouts.
Known For
Dining, Galleries, Nightlife
Thong Lor
Overview
Trendy Thong Lor, in the heart of downtown, gathers Bangkok's greatest concentration of drinking and dining venues — from Japanese izakayas to Michelin-starred Thai meals. Café-hop between some of the city's best specialty coffee shops during the day and hit up the district's thumping clubs and cutting-edge bars long after the sun has set.
Known For
Nightlife, Dining
Chinatown
Overview
Crisscrossed by rushing tuk-tuks and studded with golden spires and colorful shrines, Chinatown is Bangkok at its most frenetic. Weave your way past curbside markets selling fruits and spices, then cool down with an iced coffee in one of the many cafés. Come nighttime, the main drag turns into a neon-lit buffet where you can sample fiery curries, Chinese sweets, and steaming bowls of Nai Ek's peppery roll noodles.
Known For
Dining
Stay in The Center of it All
Immerse yourself in your destination at these centrally located hotels.
Experience Three Days of History, Eats and Sights in Bangkok
Surround Yourself in Culture
Head high up for a lay of the land before you cross Bangkok's postcard sights — the golden Wat Pho and the enchanting Grand Palace — off your list. Catch one of Thailand's famous muay thai boxing shows, then spend the night eating and drinking around Silom's buzzy night markets.
Get to Know the Creative Scene
Discover the rich history of Bangkok's oldest quarters through their old-timey restaurants, temples and labyrinthine alleyways. Stop by Talad Noi to see how a new generation of creatives has revived its crumbling godowns, then end your day out with drinks and bites at one of Bangkok's hippest nightlife hubs on the fringe of Chinatown.
Get Lost in the City’s Museums
Now that you've had a history fix and (likely) your fair share of temples, hop around the contemporary art museums, shopping malls and indie designer boutiques of Siam, Bangkok's commercial hub. For dinner, discover an admirably zero-waste restaurant, followed by expertly crafted drinks around the downtown nightlife enclave of Thong Lor.