Khaosan Road, Bangkok
Khaosan Road, often called "the place to disappear" or described poetically as "a short road with the longest dream," is surprisingly brief, stretching just 410 meters. This road was built in 1892 during King Rama V's rule. The name "Khaosan" means "milled rice," pointing back to its history as a key rice trading spot.
In the past 40 years, Khaosan Road has become a globally known hub for budget travelers, offering a range of affordable accommodations. These range from very basic rooms to more comfortable 3-star hotels. During peak tourist season, the road welcomes between 40,000 and 50,000 visitors daily, while off-peak times see about 20,000 daily visitors.
Khaosan Road is a melting pot of diverse individuals. You'll find young Westerners taking a break from their privileged lives, high school graduates on their gap year, Israelis recently finished with military service, university students on vacation or a sabbatical, young Japanese experiencing a coming-of-age ritual, typical vacationers, former volunteers from different organizations, and others.
The area's shops offer various items including handicrafts, art, clothing, local fruit, pirated CDs and DVDs, a variety of fake IDs, second-hand books, and other items essential for backpackers. After sunset, the atmosphere shifts as bars open up, music fills the air, street food vendors offer exotic snacks like barbecued insects, and promoters advertise unique shows. Khaosan Road is especially lively before the Thai New Year (Songkran festival) in mid-April, known for its massive water fights.
Additionally, the historic Wat Chana Songkram Buddhist temple, under royal patronage, sits across from Khaosan Road to the west. The area to the northwest is home to an Islamic community and several small mosques.
In the past 40 years, Khaosan Road has become a globally known hub for budget travelers, offering a range of affordable accommodations. These range from very basic rooms to more comfortable 3-star hotels. During peak tourist season, the road welcomes between 40,000 and 50,000 visitors daily, while off-peak times see about 20,000 daily visitors.
Khaosan Road is a melting pot of diverse individuals. You'll find young Westerners taking a break from their privileged lives, high school graduates on their gap year, Israelis recently finished with military service, university students on vacation or a sabbatical, young Japanese experiencing a coming-of-age ritual, typical vacationers, former volunteers from different organizations, and others.
The area's shops offer various items including handicrafts, art, clothing, local fruit, pirated CDs and DVDs, a variety of fake IDs, second-hand books, and other items essential for backpackers. After sunset, the atmosphere shifts as bars open up, music fills the air, street food vendors offer exotic snacks like barbecued insects, and promoters advertise unique shows. Khaosan Road is especially lively before the Thai New Year (Songkran festival) in mid-April, known for its massive water fights.
Additionally, the historic Wat Chana Songkram Buddhist temple, under royal patronage, sits across from Khaosan Road to the west. The area to the northwest is home to an Islamic community and several small mosques.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Bangkok. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Khaosan Road on Map
Sight Name: Khaosan Road
Sight Location: Bangkok, Thailand (See walking tours in Bangkok)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Bangkok, Thailand (See walking tours in Bangkok)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Bangkok, Thailand
Create Your Own Walk in Bangkok
Creating your own self-guided walk in Bangkok is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Flower Market to Chinatown
One of the shopping capitals of the world, Bangkok is a city where you can buy almost anything, provided you know where to find it. And if shopping spree is high on your agenda, then the local markets are the best place to go.
Vibrant atmosphere, smiling faces, plus the staggering variety of unique things on offer, including wealth of delicious street food and snacks – there's nothing... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Vibrant atmosphere, smiling faces, plus the staggering variety of unique things on offer, including wealth of delicious street food and snacks – there's nothing... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Wats and Temples of Bangkok
The “City of Angels” – Bangkok – is a home to over 400 temples. Known locally as "wats", some of them are massive complexes, quite famous and attracting thousands of tourists every day, while others are smaller and lesser-known, located far down the tiny "sois" (side streets), well out of tourist traffic. Still, all these shrines equally form an integral part of the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Food Walk
There aren't many cities out there, if any, beside the Thai capital to be just as voracious and passionate about eating! Food in Bangkok is a key aspect of daily life, attesting to which are the numerous eateries all over the city. And what's more, regardless of where you have it, be it a scrumptious street food stall or a fancy restaurant, the local food never fails to impress.
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Bangkok Old City Walk
The Thai capital Bangkok emerged in the 15th century as a small trading post in the Chao Phraya River delta. The origin of the name “Bangkok” is unclear and was likely a colloquial adopted by foreigners, in which Bang is the Thai word for “village on a stream” and Ko means “island”, referring to the city's watery landscape. Another opinion is that it may be shortened from Bang... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Chinatown Walking Tour
Bangkok's Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. Founded in 1782, the core of it lies along Yaowarat Road, which serves as the main artery and sometimes lends its name to the whole area.
The district has been the center for trading by the Thai Chinese community for almost 200 years, progressively evolving from a vast wilderness outside the city walls to a major... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
The district has been the center for trading by the Thai Chinese community for almost 200 years, progressively evolving from a vast wilderness outside the city walls to a major... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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