Bangkok is one of the globe’s most visited capital cities today, dancing adeptly on a razor’s edge of myriad appeals. While decades ago, the city was known more for a good discount than the swanky shopping of Singapore; surefooted for a solid bowl of noodles, but not for the gastronomy scene found in Hong Kong; things have certainly changed in the last few decades. There’s the nostalgia—you can still haggle along Chinatown’s storied Sampeng Lane or slurp bowls of boat noodle soup along Victory Monument’s canal stalls. Yet, also, a knack for redefining luxury exists, as this city is home to sky-high, all-night pool parties and spas no other can touch in price and pampering.
The hotel market is where you’ll find that dance of old and new performed best, whether you prefer a skyscraper full of marble and glass or a teak river home to fuel your fandom for ancient architecture. Take the city’s Mandarin Oriental, with its iconic lobby that transports guests in the Indochine architecture of the early 1900s, and a bygone time when Bangkok’s grande dame hotel hosted authors and dignitaries. Simply put, Bangkok is one of the best cities in the world for those who adore hotels. To spend any night in Bangkok is a true daydream. Here are our absolute favorite hotels in the city for 2024.
Read our complete Bangkok travel guide here.
FAQ:
What are the best areas to stay in Bangkok?
Some busy capital cities are hop-in, hop-out airport necessities for travelers. That’s not the case with Bangkok, where you could easily spend a week or more exploring. The riverside neighborhoods of Rattanakosin and adjacent Banglamphu are a great starting point, with their famous temples like Wat Po, The Grand Palace complex, old forts, sunny parks, and the backpacker zone of Khao San Road. If you’re a fan of stiff drinks and sharp suits, visit ThongLor—often compared to Brooklyn—where a heavy Japanese expat community has resulted in great omakase joints, cool vintage purveyors, and a collection of high-end tailors. This is also the city’s nexus for hot new cocktail spots. Chinatown’s tiny lane, Soi Nana, gets global nods for the handful of craft libation and beer bars, all cutting edge but delightfully ramshackle. This neighborhood could take you a week to fully explore, jam-packed as it is with 300-year-old Taoist temples, darling coffee houses, serious dim sum, frivolous shopping, and a maze of old-world food markets. If serious shopping and art are on the agenda, head to Siam, where you’ll find the city’s largest art museum, as well as a range of malls.
What’s the best way to get around Bangkok?
Bangkok’s traffic is infamous. However, if you plan accordingly, it’s hardly an issue. In the riverside neighborhoods and Chinatown, it’s easy to walk. The streets are flat and the sites are ample and close together. Along Sukhumvit Road—the main artery that connects the mid-city neighborhoods like ThongLor, Siam, Prom Phong, and Sathorn—you can use the BTS Skytrain. It’s simple to follow English maps, posted nearly everywhere, with colored lines and an easy ticket purchasing process. This raised train runs every day from 6 a.m. to midnight and has three separate lines that connect huge portions of the city. Finally, make sure to hop in a tuk-tuk. Thailand’s famous rickshaw vehicles provide a fun, exhilarating way to experience the city.
Our top picks:
Every hotel review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
