Thailand: Visiting Khao San Road For the First Time

Date: January 20, 2023

Yesterday, I most spent my time photographing famous Buddhist temples — first Wat Saket, and later Wat Arun. Today, after finishing my work, I decided to visit yet another popular Bangkok destination I had yet to explore — the famous Khao San Road.

Panthera Group Bangkok Thailand — Right outside my hotel was a company that is in the marijuana business. From the luxury cars outside… you can tell it’s clearly a profitable business!

Crab fried rice Bangkok — I had crab fried rice for a quick lunch

After that I decided to take the BTS.

Blackpink Lisa True ad banners BTS Bangkok — BlackPink is hands down the most popular K-pop girl group in Thailand. And Thai member, Lisa is literally the biggest celeb Thailand. Lisa is everywhere!

I got down at Chit Lom BTS station, walked through Gaysorn Village mall, and reached Pratunam Pier.

Pratunam Pier Canal taxi Bangkok — I was once again going to take the canal boat taxi service to get to the ‘Old Bangkok’ area

You can watch a video I made about my visit to Wat Saket, to get an idea about the canal boat ride:

The boat taxi is the quickest and cheapest way from Sukhumvit to the Old Bangkok quarters. You can take the canal boat taxi to the stop for Wat Saket, and just walk a kilometre to get to Khao San Road.

Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan road — I spotted a large Buddhist temple

Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan Bangkok — This temple is Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan, built in 1846

Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan 37 iron spires — It’s famous for its 37 iron spires

Since I have seen enough temples like this in Thailand, I didn’t feel like exploring it. Instead, I began my walk towards Khao San Road.

Democracy monument Bangkok Thailand — This is Bangkok’s Democracy Monument — a joke of a structure considering what happened to the young Move Forward Party in the last Thailand elections.

Ratchadamnoen Klang road Bangkok — I walked down Ratchadamnoen Avenue

Four headed elephant statue Bangkok — A marble four headed elephant statue

Wat Chanasongkhram Ratchaworamahawihan Bangkok — This is the Wat Chanasongkhram Ratchaworamahawihan (wat = temple). It’s right opposite the entrance to Khaosan Road

Khao San road entrance — And here I finally am!

Even when I first visited Bangkok back in 2009, I contemplated staying in Khaosan Road. This popular stretch became a hub for backpackers from all over the world. But once I realized how bad traffic in Bangkok is, and the fact Khaosan Road has no easy access to a metro station, I always end up staying in the Sukhumvit side, near a BTS or MRT station.

Khaosan Road Thailand panorama — Much of Khaosan Road now is a shopping street and a party destination once the sun sets

Tattoo henna Khaosan road Thailand — Touristy activities such as getting henna designs, hair braiding, and Thai tattoos are all available. Just don’t get tattoos when drunk.

Just like the rest of Bangkok, the legalization of marijuana has resulted in vendors springing up everywhere.

Ronald McDonald weed Khaosan road — Khaosan Road is the only place on earth where you will be misled into thinking Ronald McDonald is promoting marijuana consumption

Ronald namaste Plantopia Khaosan road — But look closely to the left and you will see a McDonalds inside this shopping complex

There are only a few hostels left right on Khaosan Road now. Post-COVID, even some hotels are yet to recover.

Khaosan Palace Bangkok Thailand — Khaosan Palace is one of the bigger hotels on Khaosan Road. A good choice if you wish to stay right in the action.

Backpacker Khaosan road Bangkok — Some backpackers still choose to stay in Khao San Road, so all is not lost

Khaosan Lady Hostel, Marcopolo Hostel, Phra Nakhon Poshtel, and 7 Holder Guesthouse are all backpacker-friendly budget accommodation right on Khaosan Road.

But do note — Khaosan Road can get very noisy at night. A lot of loud music is played at the bars and night clubs here.

Urbar Khaosan road Bangkok — The bars on Khaosan Road liven up only once it gets dark

The One nightclub Khaosan Bangkok — This is The One, one of the popular bars on Khaosan Road. The DJ stands at the very top.

Khaosan spa Bangkok Thailand — And if all the partying gets a bit much, you have plenty of massage parlours as well

Alligator grill Khao San road Bangkok — Khaosan Road has stalls such as this one selling alligator meat

Just a warning about these alligator meat stalls. Given the shock value, you would naturally take a photo — but the stall owners don’t like it. So some of them will demand money to take photos or videos, especially if you aren’t going to buy the meat to try. If you want to take just a photo, offer 20 Thai Baht or something.

Indian restaurant Khaosan road — You have some Indian restaurants on Khaosan as well

Khao San road Chang Bangkok — Khaosan Road is less than half a kilometre long, so once I reached the end of the stretch, I walked back

Rocco club Khao san road Thailand — At the entrance to Khaosan Road is Rocco, a long popular club

As much as I wanted to stay until sunset and see what the party scene of Khaosan Road was like, I had to move on. It’s nice I finally got to see Khaosan Road but clearly this stretch has changed. It’s no long the backpacker hub it once was. During COVID, Khaosan Road got a makeover too.

Just like many popular places in Thailand, touristy activities and heavy commercialization follow, and that has changed Khaosan Road into yet another tourist zone in Bangkok.

Still, there’s still fun to be had at Khaosan Road, and a kilometre or two away are Bangkok’s iconic attractions — the Grand Palace and The Reclining Buddha, and the Chao Phraya river. So it’s not a bad area to stay in.

Here’s a walkthrough I recorded, if you wanted to get an idea about vibe of Khaosan Road, before the loud music starts: