Are you planning a trip to Thailand? Discover everything you need to know about Khao San Road in Bangkok!
Officially, Khao San Road is not a Bangkok neighborhood. However, this place is so known to the backpackers that it is considered such. Khao San Road is frenetic, effervescent and perpetual transformation, day and night. A short walk in the heart of this neighborhood will expose you to everything that the street can offer you. Indeed, telephone accessories, clothes, massage lounges, catering and hotel facilities are present in number in this neighborhood. Visits during the day offer pleasant walks in front of shops and food stands. At nightfall, however, expect a sensory overload.
Whether it's your first visit or you're a regular, Khao San won't leave you indifferent. This is the best meeting point to exchange good travel plans with bagpackers around the world. Your trip to Thailand is soon? This mini guide will give you plenty of information to visit Khao San Road!
Khao San Road in a few words
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Khao San Road is a 410-metre long street, built in 1892 and located in the area Bang Lamphu . Originally, this street was a large rice market. Its name comes from this market, since Khao Sa n means white rice . In the early 1980s, this street and those around gradually turned. The travellers noticed the proximity of this neighborhood with the main monuments of Bangkok. They then start renting their rooms at home and visiting Khao San Road.
A few years later, Khao San Road was then immortalized thanks to the shooting of The Beach with Leonardo Di Caprio. The international fast food and coffee chains will enjoy this notoriety to settle in the neighborhood. Since then, the number of guesthouses, restaurants, street vendors and other souvenir shops will continue to increase. Today, the neighborhood is more alive than ever and many are those who want to visit it.
What to see and what to do in Khao San Road?
When you arrive at Khao San Road, you'll probably wonder what to start. Light teachers, yelling at tuk-tuks drivers and klaxons concert, it is sometimes difficult to concentrate. You want some ideas? So, here's what you could do or see during your stay.
Relax: massages and body care
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Did your plane trip get tired of you? You will find many massage lounges while visiting Khao San Road. Leg massage, Thai massage oil or plants and much more. You will have a wide choice depending on your preferences. If you hesitate in your choice, consider asking for advice at the entrance to the living room.
After your massage, why not chain by one facial care, pedicure or manicure ? In recent years, care centres have developed around the neighbourhood. Are you ready to try a new haircut? While you are visiting Khao San Road, you can do everything. And care is not that expensive.
Eat street food
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Thai food is considered the most gustative of the whole South East Asian. Eat in the street in command at an ambulance stand is common here. In addition, the risk of food poisoning is really minimal. Enjoy this moment to taste one of the most popular dishes, the Pad Thai Chicken or shrimp. For this, we recommend you go to the street Soi Rambuttri parallel to Khao San Road.
For the most adventurers, you will be able to taste strange dishes, such as larvae, grasshoppers or scorpions. Visiting Khao San Road might be the time to try new things?
Buy souvenirs
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Souvenir shops in Khao San are legions. The proposed articles are very varied. It is therefore an opportunity for you to spot the gifts you could buy at the end of your stay.
If you are planning to travel light, feel free to complete your wardrobe at Khao San Road. In this area you will find many shops of t-shirts, shorts and trousers perfectly adapted for tourism. Printed with elephants, beer brands or superheroes, you will certainly find what you need. The quality varies from one store to another, it can be an asset for negotiating prices .
Visiting Khao San Road is also an opportunity to buy some jewelry. Indeed, gold or silver jewellery in Thailand cost less expensive than France . This is a great opportunity to capture to bring back beautiful bracelets, necklaces and earrings, for yourself or your loved ones.
Feast
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The night falls and the music bars begin to welcome their first guests. It falls well, you also came to visit Khao San Road for this. Beer bars, cocktail bars, with or without music, the choice is wide. The terraces fill, the atmosphere rises, it’s time to exchange your good plans with your table neighbours.
Visit the area
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Khao San in himself unfortunately has no interesting place to offer. As a result, you will have to get away from this area. Indeed, this will allow you to see traditional houses in teck or khlongs Bangkok.
- Near the Chao Phraya River, the area Phra Athit deserves the detour. It has a beautiful architectural heritage, including Chinese shop-houses dating from the late nineteenth century. As a point of pride, Fort Phra Sumen is built in a pleasant small park.
- Going south, the street Sri Ayutthaya aline bars and restaurants, some of which are installed on state-of-the-art jets.
Guided tours to Khao San Road
Khao San Road is a tourist attraction alone. It is therefore normal to see many guided tours being offered to all tourists who pass. So that we could no longer know what to do. You don't know what to choose? Here are some guided tours to visit Khao San Road!
Walking tour with a private guide
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Bangkok and its agglomeration have about 15 million inhabitants. Among them, you can find private guides via some online tourist booking platforms. By searching well, you will even find some francophones . Thus, you can customize your guided tour with it according to your expectations (visiting temples, ballad in the floating markets ...), or leave him carte blanche. Count between 30€ and 60€ per person for a private guide.
Guided tour in tuk-tuk
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Tuk-tuk is a very convenient way to move to Bangkok. With some applications like Tuk-tuk Hop, you can program your various stops. Thus, you will rent your driver the time you need to visit Khao San Road. In addition, you will know the fare in advance. In general, these applications work with reliable and English-speaking drivers , so don’t hesitate to engage the conversation.
Guided tour in a local market with culinary courses
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How about learning to cook and visiting a local market? Indeed, it is possible to pair the two activities while you are visiting Khao San Road. This will allow you to have a real insight into the Thai culinary world. Count about 40€ per person for this guided tour 4 hours with cooking lessons from Khao San Road.
Guided night tour
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To visit Khao San Road, a private guide can accompany you during your first night of exploration . Indeed, Khao San Road is recognized for its night life. So, a guide who has the knowledge of the places can take you to the best places. Even more importantly, it can give you a safe experience. For this guided tour, count on average 30€ per person .
Ready to live a festive experience in the Thai capital?
Best hotels to stay in Khao San Road
The Khao San Road district is gradually moving to other customers than backpackers. Thus, family hotels develop, especially in the north of the neighborhood. At the same time, existing guesthouses improve their standards. So you can now find many air-conditioned rooms, and some hotels with swimming pools. To be quieter, prefer the streets and streets away from the festive places. If you want to visit Khao San Road and choose the best hotel, turn to a Compare hotels . It will also make you find the best prices. However, here are some ideas:
- With four stars, the Riva Surya Bangkok offers views of the Chao Phraya River or the city. This luxurious hotel has a swimming pool, a gym, a restaurant and a bar. Everything is very appreciated by traveller couples. Count about 85€ for one night.
- For smaller budgets, the hotel The Mulberry Bangkok also has a swimming pool, located on the roof of the building. In the heart of Khao San Road, the rooms of this hotel are fortunately soundproofed. Count about 35€ per night.
- For travellers who do not need a double bed, dormitories The Alley Hostel towardsBistro are for you. For about 10€, you will be ideally located in the heart of the neighborhood.
Where to eat in the Khao San Road area?
In Thailand, food is at every corner of the street, and Khao San does not derogate from the rule. From the simple stand pad Thai at 1,50€ At the more classy restaurant, there will be for all scholarships. Don’t hesitate to walk in the adjacent alleys to find your happiness while visiting Khao San Road. If you see that the customers of a restaurant are only Thai, take a chair, it will necessarily be very good.
In case you miss Western food, fast food chains and international restaurants are also present.
How to get to Khao San Road?
If you want to visit Khao San Road, know that it is easy to access from many places in Bangkok. Lines bus, taxi and metro are among the main means of locomotion proposed from Suvarnabhumi International Airport . You'll need about 1 hour to reach the neighborhood.
If you come from a point close to the river, go up in a River shuttle like the Chao Phraya Express.
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