Tag: Bangkok

Every good backpacking trip through Thailand starts right here: Khao San Road is the gateway for anyone who wants to explore Thailand or the whole of Southeast Asia with a backpack. In this article, I’ll show you what the myth of Khao San Road is all about and give you a few insider tips if you want to experience more than morning hangovers from all-nighters and grilled scorpions on the side of the road.

Where is Khao San Road located?

Khao San Road is located in the Banglamphu district of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Although it is difficult to identify a real city center in the megacity of Bangkok, Khao San Road is relatively central and close to popular sights such as the Grand Palace with the famous Wat Phra Kaeo temple, the Wat Pho temple and the lesser-known Wat Suthat temple.

By the way, another beautiful temple in Bangkok is Wat Traimit with its Golden Buddha!

Why Khao San Road is so famous

Somehow, Khao San Road has always been a major attraction in Bangkok. The mix of shops, street food stalls, bars, and restaurants keeps the street bustling around the clock. But Khao San Road didn’t really become a must-see for every backpacker until 1996, with the publication of Alex Garland’s novel “The Beach.” In the book, the protagonist begins his trip to Thailand right here, amid the hustle and bustle of cheap bars and the wild nightlife. The subsequent film adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio did the rest, and the legend of Khao San Road was born.

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Khao San Road: Now for everyone

Originally more of a meeting place for low-budget vacationers and backpackers, Khao San Road is now actually a must-see for any Bangkok visitor. In the evenings, the atmosphere ranges from parties to social gatherings, while during the day there are endless shopping opportunities. Street food is available around the clock anyway. Particularly popular photo motifs are snack stands with grilled insects, worms or scorpions, which are always used for culinary tests of courage. Even tattoo studios can be found here. I don’t want to know how many people wake up early in the morning with a tattoo as a souvenir: The nights on Khao San Road can get wild!

If you’re not into dancing the night away, you can take it easy around Khao San Road. Between the bars, there are always individual massage parlors where you can have your feet massaged in comfortable armchairs right on the street, for example. Personally, I don’t find it particularly appealing and always somehow a bit unhygienic, but people seem to be into it!

Rambuttri Road: The laid-back alternative to Khao San

The parallel street, Rambuttri Road (or Rambuttri Alley), is much quieter. There you will find not only tourist hangouts, but also very cozy bars and unexpectedly hip food locations!

From the Molly Bar, you can watch the hustle and bustle on the street, listen to music and enjoy the nightlife with a cocktail. And Camp Burger has really good burgers if you’re not into Thai cuisine.

Insider Tip: Samsen Road

I’ve been to Bangkok several times and I’m not necessarily one of those people who has to start a Thailand trip compulsorily near Khao San Road. For many, this is simply part of a perfect trip to Bangkok. What I can also somehow understand is that the vibe around Khao San Road is very special. During my last stay in Bangkok, I also ended up there rather by chance, because I had booked a hotel so spontaneously that I didn’t really realize where it was. But it was still a 20-minute walk to Khao San Road. That way, I’ve discovered quite another insider tip!

If you’re in the mood for a cozy, tropical-warm evening with good food and want to escape the hustle and bustle of Khao San Road for a while, you only need to walk a few streets further in the direction of Samsen Road. Around Soi 2 (the side streets of a main street are often just numbered) you’ll find a cute little neighborhood with nice restaurants, like So Samsen, which is really nicely decorated. Along Samsen Road itself there are also some less touristy, exciting locations like Neighbourhood (address: 59, 61 Samsen Rd) for evening/nighttime or Ganja Café for daytime.

Shopping on Khao San Road

You can shop endlessly on Khao San Road and the surrounding area. However, the stores are very focused on tourists. So if you can no longer see the infamous Elephant Pants either, I recommend a visit to Chatuchak Market or The One Ratchada night market, which replaced the formerly popular Ratchada Train Night Market after the pandemic.

If you don’t have time to browse through the huge markets, I have a little shopping tip for you near Khao San Road: At something about us, you will find beautiful little things such as costume jewelry, accessories and fine stationery by local artists.

Where to stay near Khao San Road

However, I find that there are so many great neighborhoods and exciting locations to stay in Bangkok that I tend to avoid the direct area around Khao San Road.

How to get to Khao San Road

There are direct bus connections to Khao San Road from both the major Suvarnabhumi Airport, where all long-haul flights land, and Don Mueang Airport, which is often served by low-cost airlines. Alternatively, you can take a cab or the Thai equivalent of Uber, Grab.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is also connected to the city by the Airport Rail Link, a skytrain. While this is super convenient and fast, it only has a few stations. To use it to get to Khao San Road, you would have to get off at Phaya Thai station, and then transfer to bus or cab.

Want the ultimate shopping experience during your stay in Bangkok? Then you have to go to Chatuchak market. Cheap clothes and souvenirs can be found on almost every corner in Bangkok, but the Chatuchak market is really worth seeing just because of its size.

The Chatuchak market at the weekend

Here you can spend away the whole day, because the market is the world’s largest weekend market! Lose yourself in the narrow, crowded aisles of the covered market and indulge in the shopping frenzy.

What can you buy at Chatuchak market?

You’ll find almost everything you can imagine at the Chatuchak Market! From clothes to household goods to live pets, the choice is endless! To give you an impression of how big the market is – here is the location map (you can also get a free folding map at the market’s information booth – and yes, it’s helpful!):

Street food at the Chatuchak market

Fortunately, the entire market is neatly divided by industry, so if you’re looking for specifics like vintage clothes, art, soaps or something, you’ll know right where to go. Of course, you can also eat here – there is one street food stand after another on the outer sides.

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There are also some bars, such as Viva 8, where you can enjoy a live DJ and show cooking.

Chatuchak Market Hours

Chatuchak Market is open Saturdays and Sundays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is very easy to reach by bus or metro.

You’ve probably seen them before: the magnificently decorated temples for which Bangkok is so famous. The Thai capital is home to over 400 Buddhist temples, many of which are absolute architectural masterpieces. Whether magnificent royal temples with golden towers or small hidden sanctuaries in quiet side streets: Each temple gives you fascinating insights into Buddhist culture and Thailand’s long history.

Bangkok and its impressive temples

A particular highlight is Wat Traimit with its legendary Golden Buddha. This temple may appear more inconspicuous from the outside than the large magnificent buildings, but inside it holds an absolutely unique treasure – the world’s largest solid gold statue of a seated Buddha.

Where to find the Golden Buddha in Bangkok

The Golden Buddha in Bangkok is housed in the Wat Traimit temple, which can easily be combined with a visit to nearby Chinatown. If you’re looking for a little exercise while sightseeing, there are a few steep steps to climb up to Wat Traimit. Once inside, you’ll find the stunning Golden Buddha, made entirely of pure gold, shimmering and gleaming beautifully.

Facts about the Golden Buddha at Wat Traimit in Bangkok

The Buddha is not only called the “Golden Buddha” – it is actually made almost entirely of gold! Weighing over 5 tons and worth around 250 million US dollars, it stands in the open, without any special safety precautions, in the small temple at the top of the building. Fascinating. Once more, your first impression might be right: first, Thais hold their religion in high regard, and second, theft is heavily disapproved of — making people feel much safer here compared to many other countries.

Important rules for visiting the temple

As in all temples, if you want to see the Golden Buddha up close at Wat Traimit, take off your shoes and cover your shoulders and knees. After all, temples are religious sites that should be respected. Even though the weather in Thailand often calls for light clothing, you should refrain from wearing shorts and tank tops when visiting temples.

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However, in Wat Traimit – as in most temples popular with tourists – there is a small clothes stall with scarves and shawls, which you can help yourself to for a small donation. The stall is located right at the top of the temple.

Chinatown in Bangkok

From Wat Traimit you also have a great view of the gateway to Bangkok’s Chinatown, an exciting district that you should definitely visit in conjunction with the Golden Buddha.

Chinatown is one of Bangkok’s oldest and liveliest districts. The streets are lined with traditional stores, cookshops and gold stores, which are particularly lively and brightly lit in the evenings. Here you can sample authentic street food and get to know the life of Bangkok’s Chinese community.

Other temples worth seeing in Bangkok

In addition to Wat Traimit, there are many other impressive temples in Bangkok that you should not miss. Wat Pho is home to the famous reclining Buddha, which is one of the most impressive Buddha statues in the world, measuring 46 meters in length.

Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, stands out with its striking prang (tower) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and is a magical sight, especially at sunset.