Khaosan Road

Khao San Road showing street performance, street scenes and a city
A hot spot for backpackers, budget travellers and revellers, this street is crammed with raucous bars, cheap hostels, bargain clothing and party people.

The notorious Khao San Road has been attracting budget travellers since the 1980s, and is now Bangkok’s backpacker hub. Expect to see anything and everything on this short street that’s full to overflowing with hawkers, travellers, tour operators and revellers. By day you can pick up cheap clothes and jewellery, and at night you can get a Thai tattoo and party until the sun comes up.

In contrast to the serene atmosphere of the nearby Grand Palace, the Khao San Road is a riot of colour, people and noise. Scooters and tuk-tuks compete with pedestrians for space, and food stalls compete with fast food chains for your business. You can get everything from Thai to Indian to Israeli food here, along with the obligatory banana pancakes and Singha beer. Pull up stool and swap tales with your fellow travellers before heading to a bar or club when the sun goes down.

Despite appearances, Khao San Road dates back to the late 18th Century when Bangkok first became the country’s capital. For two hundred years it was just another street. This all changed in the 1980s when travellers started renting cheap rooms from the residents. Then the hit movie “The Beach” filmed its opening scene here, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Located in the Banglamphu district, Khao San Road is not on either of the inner-city train systems, so it’s best to get a tuk-tuk or taxi. You can also take a bus straight from the airport, or a ferry along the river. Very few places ever close on Khao San – it’s a 24 hour street.

Klub Hotel
Budacco
iSanook Bangkok
Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Reviews of Khaosan Road

3.9
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
107
" "5 - Excellent 33.4375%
4 - Good
112
" "4 - Good 35%
3 - Okay
67
" "3 - Okay 20.9375%
2 - Disappointing
23
" "2 - Disappointing 7.1875%
1 - Terrible
11
" "1 - Terrible 3.4375%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
15 Mar 2020

Travelling around Bangkok is so cheap and easy

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
26 Jan 2020

Great place to walk along, very diverse but very loud.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
4 Sep 2019

If you like to party, you could spend your whole holiday on this one road

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
31 Jul 2019

We went in the late afternoon at about 4pm. It was fab - it wasn’t busy at all and we had a lovely meal with quick service, and all the shops were open and ready for business! Might have a more exciting atmosphere at night but we just wanted to see it without it being impossible to move, which is what we’d heard.

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveller
13 Jun 2019

no quiet walking around here. Every other step I find myself smiling and saying, "No thank you!" So we were glad we came to the end of the street and took a diffrent street to go back. To loud, to crowded, and to much pushing.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
10 May 2019

Absolutely mental, watch out for pickpockets and steer very clear of the ping pong shows unless there is a big group of you. It's very easy to get fleeced otherwise!

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