Bangkok is a hostel city: cheap, well-designed, social. The only real decision is the neighbourhood.
By area#
| Area | For | Against |
|---|---|---|
| Khao San, Rambuttri | Party, Old City temples on foot, cheapest | Noise, no BTS, the Khao San version of Thailand |
| Chinatown, Old City edge | Food, character, MRT at Wat Mangkon | Quieter nights |
| Silom | BTS and MRT, Lumphini Park, bars | Less "Bangkok" |
| Sukhumvit (Asok to Ekkamai) | BTS, a grown-up crowd, Thonglor nights | Further from temples |
Where to stay in Bangkok covers hotels by the same map; Khao San Road is honest about that street.
Party or quiet#
Khao San hostels have a bar downstairs and a pub crawl at 9. Chinatown and Silom hostels have a rooftop and people asleep by midnight. Sukhumvit has both, a BTS stop apart. Decide before you book.
Private rooms#
Most good hostels have them and they beat a budget hotel: the design, the rooftop and the crowd with a locking door. They sell out before dorms do.
What to look for#
A bar or a kitchen (that's where people meet), a rooftop, free walking tours, lockers, air conditioning that works, and a location on a BTS or MRT line or walking distance to the river. BTS and MRT shows why the line matters.
Near the airport#
Only for a flight before about 7am. Airport to the city is 30 to 45 minutes either way; sleep in the city.
When the hostel bar isn't enough#
Post your dates on Roavi Community: travellers in Bangkok on the same days appear in one place, and Local Friends who live here can reply. How to meet other travellers in Bangkok has the rest, and a Local Friend is how the hostel crowd gets out of the hostel crowd for an evening.
Staying in a Bangkok hostel? Post your dates and see who else is in town.
Post your tripNext stop for many: Tokyo hostels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which area is best for hostels in Bangkok?
Khao San and Rambuttri for the party and the Old City on foot; Chinatown for food and character; Silom or Sukhumvit for the BTS and a quieter, slightly older crowd. All three have excellent hostels.Do Bangkok hostels have private rooms?
Most do, and they're often better value than a budget hotel: a hostel's design, rooftop and bar with a door that locks. Book early; private rooms sell out before dorms.Should I stay in a hostel near the airport?
Only for a flight before about 7am. Suvarnabhumi is 30 to 45 minutes from the city by rail link or taxi; Don Mueang about the same by taxi. Sleep in the city otherwise.How do I meet people in a Bangkok hostel?
Pick one with a bar, a rooftop or a kitchen, join the walking tour on day one, sit in the common area with a beer at 7pm, and post your dates on Roavi Community so travellers in Bangkok on the same days find you.
