Khao San Road

The 500 metre Khao San Road strip is Bangkok’s infamous backpacker magnet. Packed with street market stalls selling classics such as tie-dye and Chang beer vests; raucous bars with cheap booze and music pumping out on to the streets; street food stalls touting crunchy insect snacks especially popular with party-goers enjoying the cheap booze; and tattoo parlours for those that want a permanent memory of their booze-fuelled night, that they might otherwise forget. At night time the street is flooded with neon lights and revellers looking to party the night away. Khao San Road lives up to its reputation! The strip is next to the Old Town area and depending on where your digs are situated you will be walking distance, short tuk-tuk or boat ride from some of the city’s big historical sites. These include the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Golden Mount, and Wat Indraviharn. While the strip itself does offer cheap digs, the surrounding area has much quieter streets with decent accommodation, where you can escape the bedlam when you choose. If you’re on a budget, looking to meet other backpackers and party, staying in this area is a winning bet. With its proximity to the Chao Phraya River transport and the Old Town, Khao San is still a great location even if you’re not that interested in the party strip. If you like your restaurants and partying a bit more upmarket, it’s worth taking a look at the Sukhumvit area.