If you’re wondering where to stay in Old Town Bangkok, I’d look first around Tha Tien, Phra Athit, Khao San Road or Sam Yot. These are the best spots if you want to be close to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, the river piers and the only two MRT stations that serve this side of the city.
Bangkok’s Old Town isn’t dominated by traffic the way Sukhumvit is. I walked around here one evening recently and was surprised by how quiet and calm it was. You also won’t find high-rise buildings or ultra-modern malls here, just temples, traditional houses, cheap eateries that regularly show up in the Michelin Guide and some really good cafés.
In this guide I’ll help you work out where to stay in Bangkok Old Town, which hotels are actually worth considering, what’s around them, and which one makes the most sense for your budget and travel style.
❤️This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Quick Answer: Best Hotels in Old Town Bangkok
If you just want the short version, these are the hotels I’d look at first:
- Best overall: Riva Arun Bangkok
- Best budget option: Bedspread Hostel
- Best boutique hotel: Inn A Day
- Best heritage stay: Chakrabongse Villas
- Best for design lovers: Na Tanao 1969
- Best for facilities and families: Riva Surya
- Best quiet base: Old Capital Bike Inn
NEVER WONDER WHERE TO GO IN BANGKOK AGAIN
150 of my favourite spots, ready on Google Maps. Tap once and the best restaurants, cafés, bars, shops, markets and sights land straight on your phone.
Get the maps · $12Is Old Town Bangkok a Good Area to Stay In? My Opinion
Yes, and it’s also the part of the city that should be on your “must-see” list if you’re visiting Bangkok for the first time. So it makes sense to base yourself here, because you can wake up in the morning and walk straight to the Grand Palace or Wat Pho instead of spending 45 minutes in a taxi or on public transport.
But whether the Old Town is the best place for your stay depends on what you actually want. If you want to be within walking distance of the fancy rooftop bars, popular brunch spots and malls, then you might prefer Sukhumvit. If you’re looking for a more authentic stay, then Old Town is probably the better choice.
What I like about this part of the city is that the streets are wider than in most of central Bangkok, there are pavements, so it’s pretty walkable, and the mornings have a calm you don’t get anywhere else. And I love how the temples glisten in the evenings.
You’ve got the Chao Phraya river on one side, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho in the middle, and Khao San Road at the northern end in case you want a night out. There’s a local market that starts at 5am where you can get yourself some traditional Thai breakfast.
The only real downside is that Old Town has no BTS and only two MRT stations at its edges, so from some parts of the Old Town it can be a bit tricky to get to Sukhumvit or Siam.
Plan your Thailand trip
A few things worth sorting early
Best Areas to Stay in Old Town Bangkok
Old Town is bigger than you might expect. Walking from the Pak Khlong Talat flower market to Phra Athit Road takes 40 minutes, so make sure you know exactly where your hotel is on the map before you book it.
Tha Tien and the Riverside
This is the strip along the river right where Wat Pho and the Grand Palace are, and when it comes to transport, this is the most convenient place to stay. You’re right in the historic centre, Wat Arun is directly across the river, the Tha Tien pier is at the end of the street and Sanam Chai MRT is about an eight-minute walk away.
During the day it can get super busy as tourists flock here to see the famous temples, but it goes really quiet after 8pm.
Phra Athit
Phra Athit Road lies between the Chao Phraya river and Khao San in the northern part of the Old Town. It’s a very pleasant street with nice cafés and there’s also the old Phra Sumen Fort at the end of the road.
You’re a ten-minute walk from Khao San Road, close enough to go there for the evening and far enough that you can’t hear it. There’s a river pier here too, so you’ve got boat access to the rest of the city.
There’s no MRT within walking distance, but you can walk or take a canal boat to Phanfa Leelard Pier, and from there continue towards Siam and Jim Thompson’s House, and if you get off at Pratunam Pier, you’re just a few minutes from the Erawan Shrine and CentralWorld mall.
Khao San Road and Rambuttri
Khao San is still the cheapest and liveliest place to sleep in Old Town, and if you pick the right street, you might be lucky enough to get some sleep. The street itself is loud until the early morning and the bass carries into rooms facing the street. I made the mistake of staying here for one night back in 2015 and had zero sleep!
Soi Rambuttri, one block north, is a different experience, leafier and calmer and usually winding down much earlier. Honestly, I’d stay at Khao San Road only if you’re really craving a proper backpacking experience or want to visit loud bars in the evening. Otherwise there are better areas to stay in Bangkok.
Sam Yot and the Giant Swing
This is the eastern side of Old Town, around Wat Suthat and Sam Yot MRT station. I think this location is perfect because you’ve got a metro station, you can walk to Chinatown in about fifteen minutes, and you can enjoy some of the best cheap local food here. There’s also the morning market, which I went to visit one day around 7:30am when the entire area was super peaceful.
Wat Saket Area
This area is on the far eastern edge, around the Golden Mount and Phanfa Leelard Pier. It’s supposed to be the cheapest part of Old Town and the one I’d only recommend if you’re happy using the canal boat, which is genuinely the fastest way to reach Siam. It’s pretty quiet here as well, and you’re 30 minutes on foot from the Grand Palace and a 20-minute taxi ride from Siam Paragon.
➞ Want to make the most of the area? Read my guide to the best things to do in Old Town Bangkok
Old Town Bangkok Accommodation: The Best Hotels
Riva Arun Bangkok
Best for: walking distance to Grand Palace and Wat Pho, Wat Arun views
Price level: $$
Nearest public transport: MRT Sanam Chai, Tha Tien Pier
Book here: Riva Arun Bangkok
Riva is a group of hotels with two locations in the Old Town and a new one in Hua Hin where I recently stayed. You can read my full review here. If I had to pick one hotel in Old Town, this would be it, mostly because of where it sits. You’re directly opposite Wat Arun, the pier is at the door and the MRT is a short walk away, which means you can reach the rest of the city without ever getting into a taxi. The rooftop restaurant has a full view across the water and the staff here get consistently strong reviews.
What’s available around the hotel
- Wat Pho and the Reclining Buddha
- The Grand Palace
- Tha Tien Pier for boats to ICONSIAM and Saphan Taksin
- The ferry across to Wat Arun
- Thai restaurant RONGROS, listed in the Michelin Guide
- SCR – Song Wat Coffee Roasters serving delicious coffee
Inn A Day
Best for: boutique hotel lovers, couples
Price level: $$$
Nearest public transport: Sanam Chai MRT, Tha Tien Pier
Book here: Inn A Day
Inn A Day is located on the same stretch of riverside as Riva Arun and nestled inside a former coconut sugar factory owned by the same Thai family for generations. There are only 8 rooms and most of them have river views overlooking the stunning Wat Arun.
I personally really like the minimal and bright design of the rooms, which always put my tired mind at peace after a long day of exploring. There’s a Thai restaurant on the first floor and the THYME rooftop on the 4th floor (with the Wat Arun view), so you don’t have to go far to have dinner.
What’s available around the hotel
- Wat Pho, the Reclining Buddha, the Grand Palace and the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles
- Tha Tien Pier at the end of the street
- The National Museum, only a 22-minute walk away
- Museum Siam
- The ferry across to Wat Arun
- Sanam Chai, the prettiest MRT station in the city, which looks like a temple inside
Chakrabongse Villas
Best for: heritage lovers, a special occasion
Price level: $$$$
Nearest public transport: Tha Tien Pier, Sanam Chai MRT
Book here: Chakrabongse Villas
This is the most special place to stay in Old Town. Prince Chakrabongse built it in 1908 as a retreat from palace life, and today it’s in the hands of his granddaughter, Narisa.
There are four luxury suites in teak villas around the garden, and three more Moroccan-themed rooms. You also get a pool, a riverside terrace looking at Wat Arun, and the house’s own long-tail boat for canal trips. I think this is a perfect choice if you’re looking for something for a honeymoon or an anniversary.
What’s available around the villas:
- Museum Siam
- Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, both walkable
- Pak Khlong Talat flower market
- Tha Tien Pier for river transport
Riva Surya Bangkok
Best for: families, travellers who want facilities
Price level: $$$
Nearest public transport: Phra Athit Pier
Book here: Riva Surya
If you want to stay in the Old Town but still want the amenities of a Sukhumvit hotel, then this is the best option. The hotel is located right by the river on Phra Athit Road, with two pools and a riverside terrace, so it works well if you’re travelling with children and need somewhere to cool off in the afternoon.
They also have a gym and the decor of the rooms here is contemporary. You’re also just a short walk from the pier, from where a boat will take you to the temples, Chinatown or ICONSIAM mall.
What’s available around the hotel
- Santichaiprakan Park and Phra Sumen Fort Baan
- Chao Phraya Art Gallery
- 108 Juices for delicious juices
- Pulse Phra Athit for coffee
- Khao San Road, around ten minutes on foot
- The National Museum and Sanam Luang park
Na Tanao 1969
Best for: design lovers, couples
Price level: $$
Nearest public transport: Sam Yot MRT (16 minute walk)
Book here: Na Tanao 1969
The building this hotel sits in is only 3.5 metres wide, and the family who own it built four floors and a rooftop out of it. The architecture won a well-deserved Dezeen Award in 2022. They call it a hometel rather than a hotel, which sounds like marketing until you stay. There are only four rooms, but all of them are super cosy and there’s also a Pulse café on the ground floor.
It’s a ten-minute walk to Khao San in one direction and the Giant Swing in the other, with some of the best cheap food in Old Town in between.
What’s available around the hotel
- Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing
- K. Panich for mango sticky rice
- Sae Phun, a Michelin Guide noodle shop
- Khao San Road, around ten minutes on foot
- Nuttaporn Ice Cream, Thai flavours
Old Capital Bike Inn
Best for: heritage lovers, cyclists, a quiet base
Price level: $$
Nearest public transport: Panfa Leelard canal pier
Book here: Old Capital Bike Inn
This family-run inn sits very close to Wat Saket temple. There are only ten rooms, decorated in a vintage bicycle style that you’ll hardly find anywhere else in Bangkok.
As the name suggests, the main theme is bikes, so it’s no surprise they keep a fleet of restored vintage bicycles that guests can use for free, and they run free night bike tours around Old Town. Cycling around Rattanakosin after dark, when the traffic has gone and the temples are lit, is one of the better ways to see this part of the city.
If you need to get more central, just jump on the canal boat at Phanfa Leelard pier and for 14 THB it will take you to Siam or Chidlom in just a few minutes.
What’s available around the hotel
- Wat Saket
- Nang Loeng Market and its old wooden shophouses
- Bangkok City Library
- Canal walk along Thanon Parinayok
- Khao San Road, around twenty minutes on foot
Bedspread Hostel
Best for: budget and solo travellers
Price level: $
Nearest public transport: Phra Athit Pier
Book here: Bedspread Hostel
This is where I’d send anyone travelling around Old Town on a budget. It’s tucked down a small alley about ten minutes from Khao San Road, which is the sweet spot, close enough to walk back after a night out and far enough that you’ll actually sleep.
The building was an old apartment block, and they’ve renovated it, with arches running along the front. There’s a lift, which almost no budget stay in Old Town has, a rooftop to sit out on, and a coffee and tea corner for guests. Apart from the classic dormitory rooms they also have double and twin rooms with private bathrooms.
What’s available around the hotel
- Khao San Road and Soi Rambuttri
- Cheap local eateries and cafés
- The Grand Palace, around fifteen minutes
- The National Museum and Sanam Luang
Best Old Town Hotels by Traveller Type
Best hotel in Old Town Bangkok for first-time visitors
Riva Arun Bangkok: The easiest combination of sights, river transport and MRT access.
Best boutique hotel in Old Town
Inn A Day: Only eight rooms inside a former coconut sugar factory, with Wat Arun across the water.
Best heritage stay
Chakrabongse Villas: A 1908 royal residence with teak villas, a pool and a private riverside garden.
Best hotel for design lovers
Na Tanao 1969: An Award-winning building just 3.5 metres wide, with four rooms and a café downstairs.
Best hotel for families
Riva Surya: Two pools, a riverside terrace and enough space to survive the afternoon heat.
Best quiet base in Old Town Bangkok
Old Capital Bike Inn: Free vintage bicycles, night rides around Rattanakosin and the canal boat to Siam at the door.
Best budget hotel in Old Town Bangkok
Bedspread Hostel: Clean, central and far enough from Khao San that you’ll actually sleep.
➞ Read my guide on how to use Grab in Bangkok for easy taxis, food delivery and stress-free travel.
How to Get Around from Old Town
As I’ve already mentioned, the most important thing you have to understand about staying in the Old Town is that there’s no BTS and access to the metro (MRT) is only in the southern part.
The river is your other metro. The Chao Phraya Express Boat stops at Tha Tien for Wat Pho, Tha Chang for the Grand Palace, and Phra Athit at the northern end, and it connects you to Saphan Taksin where you can pick up the BTS. It’s cheap and it never sits in traffic.
There’s also the canal boat on Khlong Saen Saep, which ends at Phanfa Leelard Pier next to Wat Saket. Coming from Siam or Pratunam (Chidlom) this is by far the fastest way into Old Town and hardly any visitors use it.
For taxis, budget 30 to 45 minutes to Sukhumvit, 25 to 35 minutes to Siam, and up to 70 minutes to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Add half an hour to any of those between 4pm and 7pm because of the rush hour.
You can always use Grab, and I really recommend downloading the app before coming to Thailand and linking your payment card to it. For this you’ll need data on your phone, I’ve switched to Saily this year and have been super happy with it.
If you’re still unsure how to plan your stay in Bangkok, read my Bangkok Itinerary.
➞ Read my guide on how to get around Bangkok, so you can move around the city with confidence.
FAQ About Staying in Old Town Bangkok
Is Old Town a good place to stay in Bangkok?
Yes, especially if you’re here for temples, history and early mornings. I wouldn’t base a full week here if one of your main reasons to visit is the malls and the modern side of the city, as you’d spend too much time commuting.
What is the best hotel in Old Town Bangkok?
It really depends on your budget and travel style. I’d go for Riva Arun if you want the best all-round location and the Wat Arun view, Na Tanao 1969 if you’re looking for something unique and design-led, or Bedspread Hostel if money is your concern.
Is Khao San Road noisy at night?
The main strip stays lively until very late. I’d avoid booking a place directly here, as I’ve done it once and it was a big mistake. You can still find hostels and hotels nearby that are in much quieter locations, so check out Phra Athit and Phra Sumen.
Which hotel in Old Town is closest to the MRT?
Chakrabongse Villas are a 3-minute walk from Sanam Chai metro, and Riva Arun is only 5 minutes away. There’s also the well-rated Siam Subway Hostel about 2 minutes from Sam Yot MRT.
Which hotels have a Wat Arun view?
Sala Rattanakosin, Riva Arun, Inn A Day, Arun Residence and Chakrabongse Villas all have it, but only a minority of rooms in each hotel face the river. Read the room category carefully and message the hotel to confirm before you pay.
How many nights should you stay in Old Town Bangkok?
I’d say three nights are the sweet spot. That’s enough for exploring the temples, paying a visit to the National Museum, visiting ICONSIAM, Chinatown and the flower market, and also having some chill time in local cafés.
Is Old Town safe to stay in?
Yes. I’ve walked around here late in the evening many times and never felt uncomfortable. Of course, make sure you apply the usual common sense, but this is one of the calmer parts of Bangkok after dark.
Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Old Town Bangkok
To sum it up, the Old Town works if your trip is built around temples and history, and if you don’t mind getting around by boat or sitting in traffic every now and then. The reason I keep sending people here is the accommodation itself, because a converted sugar factory or a 1908 prince’s villa gives you something that a 35-storey chain hotel never will.
You wake up to monks collecting alms and neighbours setting up their food carts, which is the version of Bangkok most visitors miss, because they turn up at ten in the morning when it’s all over.
➞ Would you like to get a better idea about the best areas to stay in Bangkok? Read my guide: Where to Stay in Bangkok for First-Timers: Best Areas and Hotels
Check Out My Other Bangkok Guides
- What to Do in Old Town Bangkok: My Ultimate Guide for 2026
- Bangkok Travel Guide for First-Timers: Everything You Need to Know
- Best Things to Do in Bangkok: My Favourite Sights, Markets & Hidden Gems
- Bangkok 3 Day Itinerary: A Realistic First-Time Route + My Tips
- One Day in Bangkok: What I’d Actually Do in 24 Hours
