Khao San Road
ถนนข้าวสาร
The 'world centre' of backpackers: a 400-metre street packed with bars, street food stalls, cheap guesthouses and hair-braiding stands, most lively at night.
Khao San Road is a street about 400 metres long in Bangkok's old town. From the 1980s it became a gathering place for backpackers from around the world, and the film The Beach made it famous. Today it epitomises Bangkok's nightlife and street culture. Both sides are lined with bars (with open-air seating and huge speakers), cheap guesthouses, travel agencies, tattoo parlours, hair-braiding and nail stalls, Pad Thai and grilled skewer stands, and stalls frying insects such as scorpions and crickets for curious visitors to photograph. The street comes alive after 6 p.m. and doesn't wind down until 1 or 2 a.m. The parallel Rambuttri Soi is quieter, with open-air restaurants and massage shops, and is better for dinner. During the Songkran water festival on 13 to 15 April, this is Bangkok's wildest water-fight zone, with Silom Road as the other main battleground. Nearby you can walk to the Democracy Monument, Wat Saket (Golden Mount), where 300 steps lead to a panorama of the old city for 100 baht, and the Pratunam area. In the daytime, see the Grand Palace first and then come to Khao San Road for dinner. There is no rail transit here. From Siam, take a taxi or Grab for about 20 to 30 minutes, or take a Chao Phraya express boat to Phra Athit Pier and walk for 10 minutes. Note that touts and pushy sellers are common around the bars, so keep your valuables secure. Photographing the insect stalls usually costs money, and it is best to choose sealed or freshly made drinks from street vendors.
Opening hours
Open all day (nightlife 18:00–02:00)
Nearby sights
- Bangkok National Museum
- Wat Ratchanatdaram (Loha Prasat)
- Wat Pho
- Wat Suthat & Giant Swing
- Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
- Wat Saket (Golden Mount)
- Museum Siam
- Pak Khlong Talat (Flower Market)