The royal island in the river's bend — the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, the museums and the old shophouses. The place to stay to wake up among the great sights, with a traditional, low-rise feel; short on nightlife and the sky-train, but rich in history and river atmosphere.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€50–120
typical per night in Thailand
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Bangkok — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Rattanakosin and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Bangkok street food14 min walk1.2 km
- Khao San Road14 min walk1.2 km
- The Chao Phraya river9 min taxi3.0 km
- ICONSIAM10 min taxi3.3 km
- Jim Thompson House12 min taxi4.0 km
- A rooftop bar12 min taxi4.2 km
- A Thai massage23 min taxi7.5 km
- Chatuchak Weekend Market25 min taxi8.4 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 1.The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew — The dazzling former royal seat — a glittering complex of gold spires, mirrored mosaics and mythical guardians, home to the revered Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaew. Bangkok's must-see and utterly overwhelming; go early to beat the heat and crowds, and dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees).
- 2.Wat Pho & the Reclining Buddha — Next to the Grand Palace, the serene old temple of the giant gold Reclining Buddha — 46 metres long, its feet inlaid with mother-of-pearl — and the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, still taught and given here. Calmer and cheaper than its neighbour; end with a massage in the temple grounds.
- 3.Wat Arun — The 'Temple of Dawn' on the far bank of the river, its towering spire encrusted with a mosaic of broken porcelain that glows at sunrise and sunset. Cross on the little ferry and climb its steep steps for a view over the river; loveliest at golden hour, seen glowing from a riverside bar.
- 9.Chinatown (Yaowarat) — One of the world's great Chinatowns — a dense, neon-lit tangle of gold shops, herbalists and, after dark, an electric street-food scene of woks blazing on every corner. Come hungry at night for the best eating in the city; by day, lose yourself in the market lanes off Sampeng.
- 14.A tuk-tuk ride — The quintessential Bangkok thrill — hurtle through the traffic in a three-wheeled, open-sided tuk-tuk, engine buzzing, city rushing past. More expensive and less comfy than a metered taxi or Grab, but a rite of passage worth doing once; always agree the fare before you climb in.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Rattanakosin; flights via Google Flights.