Everything You Need to Know About Khao San Road, Bangkok

Known as the 'religious road', since it was home to a variety of shops that supplied the needs of monks and priests, Khao San Road found its true calling in catering to the needs of backpackers with a single guest house in the early nineteen-eighties. As its popularity grew, this street soon became the meeting point for backpacking travelers before they set off to explore the rest of this beautiful island nation. So, if your travel diary includes a trip to Thailand, make sure you start it off by making a stop at this epicenter of tourism.

Read on to find out the best time to visit this happing street, the things you can do there and all the delectable dishes that you should try.

When in Thailand, do not give Khao San Road a miss! Situated in the heart of Thailand’s capital, this tourist paradise welcomes guests at all hours of the day. Although the official working hours for most of the shops on this street start from 10 A.M. and end at 11 P.M. when the night sky is in full glory, yet, most of the cafes and bars are open till 2 A.M., inviting guests to let their hair loose. The street shops and hawker corners also stay open late at night, thus, you can walk around the streets picking up knick-knacks, to sum up, your trip or try the local street fair that is freshly served in these stalls. When the bars close in for the night, the local patrons move the party outside, turning the street into an open-air pub with music, lights and dance. So, join the local partygoers and let your feet dance through the tunes of the strumming guitar and blasting music systems all through the night.

However, if you are one who loves to shop on their holiday escapades, then the best time to visit Khao San Road would effectively be from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. During these hours the local vendors and shop owners are at their busiest and would be happy to sell you the best of their products at a bargained rate. You can pick up fancy beachwear, like kaftans and sarongs or fill your shopping bag with souvenirs for your friends and family. You can also find crafty showpieces and handicrafts to carry home to with you.

Since most travelers, no matter which part of the world they are flying from, come to Bangkok through the city’s main Suvarnabhumi Airport, here is a list of transport modes that you can use to directly reach Khao San Road from the main airport. Khao San Road is located towards the western part of the city and can be visited through various modes of transport, including, taxis, buses, and trains. Take a look at a few options that you can opt for.

Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok has a well-defined network of buses that can take you to different parts of the city. Route AE-2 is the designated four-wheel charter that goes till the end of Khao San Road. So, hop on to one and sit comfortably for the next hour,until it drops you off at Banglamp, near the backpacking street.

Cost: 150 baht
Time Taken: one hour.

One of the most convenient options for tourists in the city, Bangkok’s taxi fleet will take you directly to the heart of Khao San Road. You can hail one of these taxies right outside the airport,however, make sure that you ask them to travel by meter only. Please do not agree to a pre-defined amount or you might end up shelling out more than it costs to reach the street.
Cost: 400 baht
Time Taken: Twenty to Thirty minutes.

Probably the most budget-friendly way of travel from the airport to Bangkok city, the Airport Link Train has routes that can be followed to reach Khao San Road.
a) You can either take the Cityline train from the Phaya Thai Station that runs every fifteen minutes.
COST: 50 Baht
b) Or, hop on to the Express line from Makkasan Terminal, that also runs every fifteen minutes and takes about twenty minutes to reach the nearest destination to Khao San Road.
COST: 150 Baht.

Although, if you want to reach Khao San Road quickly, then it is advisable to skip the train ride, since it will take another cab ride of thirty minutes, from your nearest drop point to reach the street. Directly take a taxi or a bus from Suvarnabhumi airport to reach your destination.

Known for its potpourri of diverse culture and traditions, the Khao San Road is a lively example of co-existence where the local population comes together to enjoy and have fun along with the travelers and backpackers from all around the world. Sip on your beverage of choice while you sit at outdoor café and admire the different people that crowd the streets. Witness the little wonders running across the street, while the tranquil Buddhist monks browse through a few of essentials at the street corners. Hear the high-pitched sale cry of the roadside hawkers and be and awe of the famous ladyboys of Bangkok who freely walk around the streets.

Originally known as the Sathorn Unique Tower, built by the renowned architect Rangsan Torsuwan, the Ghost Tower of Khao San Road, is an incomplete and dilapidated structure that emanates an eerie aura as twilight befalls the street. If you are in the mood for an adrenaline rush and a little scare, climb on to the highest floors of the tower that offer a breath-taking view of the surrounding city and experience the chilly atmosphere that gave it the ‘ghost’ status. Standing tall as a modern-day epithet, amidst the serene temples and beaches of Bangkok, this looming tower is a sad reminder of the innovative urbanization that the city had almost gained but lost.

Known as the ‘War Victory’temple or the‘Temple of Victory in War’,the Wat Chana Songkhram is one of the famous Buddhist temples, situated on the Khao San Road. With a history that dates back to the 18th century and intricate construction, the golden walls and ornate carvings of this temple invite young and old alike to get lost in the calming tranquillity of this chamber of prayer.Although the temple is a stone’s throw away from the boisterous Khao San Road, it offers a peaceful serenity that will take you far away from your worries and leave you feeling rejuvenated and fresh. You can also find many locals inside the temple grounds who come to pay their respects to the divine inhabitant of the chambers

Does shopping for trinkets and local favorites sum up your holiday plans? Are you the one who cannot return home till you have filled your bags with more than you can carry? Then Khao San Road has the perfect place for you! Head over to the Khao San Market, that covers the expanse of his lively road and make sure get your hands on budget-friendly and classic knick-knacks from every corner. You can grab a couple of neon t-shirts for your days the beach or pick from a chic edit of stylish and modish handbags to take home with you. You can also buy hand-made statues, key chains and phone covers as gifts for your friends and family back home. However, Khao San Market has a golden rule, do not forget to bargain for the best prices as most of the vendors will try to take advantage of your tourist status.

Finding its place just beside the busy Khao San Road, the National Gallery of Bangkok is the one place to be if you want to learn about the history of this magnificent island country. Home to all the traditional examples of art and culture, it is a one-of-a-kind museum that talks to its visitors. Serving as the royal quarters during the rule of King Rama V, this building features colonial architecture with pillars and arches that have been decorated with monochromatic pictures that show the initial lives of Bangkok’s people. It is also home to vibrantly woven pieces of tapestries that narrate the tales of struggle and hardships that the Thai people had to face before they could settle down in this paradisiac land. The entry fees for the National Gallery is 200 Baht per person.

If you are planning to experience the best of Thailand, then you shouldn’t let go of the boat riding experience. The street of Khao San is located right across the Chao Phraya river, thus, you can enjoy a tranquil boat ride across the river with your special someone. A must-have experience with honeymooners, this boat ride allows you to listen to the soft splashing of the azure waters as you let the rhythmic sounds relax your nerves and enhance your vacation. What’s more? You can hail a water taxi at quite low prices and travel through the city just like the locals do.

A group of protestors, demonstrating peacefully against the dictatorship rule by the military in Thailand were killed on the day of October 14, 1973. To honor their sacrifice, a majestic war memorial was built along the corner of Khao San Road. This War Memorial building holds a special place in the heart of locals and is also listed as one of the places to visit in Thailand. It has a large number of photographs to illustrate the sad demise of more than seventy activists. The area is still favored as a place for holding silent protests and on particularly political days you will be able to find quite a few people sitting around with slogan placards that state some of the other political issues.

A haven for food lovers and travelers, Khao San Road in Bangkok is packed full of street stalls, authentic restaurants and aromatic corners that will offer you the best tastes of Thailand. Try the traditional fare or go for the huge variety of seafood that can be found here. The area is also home to cozy cafes and pizzerias for those who can’t do without their coffee. You can find restaurants that serve almost all types of cuisines from around the world. Here are some of the most renowned dishes that you need to try when you are traversing the paths of Khao San Road.

You wouldn’t need to walk very far to have the authentic tastes of Thailand and what is better than a bowl of spicy Pad Thai, to sum up, your experience with Thai cuisine? Khao San Road is packed with little hole-in-the-walls and rickety cafes that serve the best of Pad Thai noodles in the area. You can try one that is loaded with all kinds of meats or just go for a simple veggie one. Don’t forget to top it up with a sweet roti, a pancake-like sweet dish that will tingle your taste buds with its solid flavors.

Take a few steps into Khao San Road and you will be greeted with a slew of street stalls that serve the best delicacies from every corner of Thailand. You can have a plateful of nam prik, a famous Thai dish, or give your tongue a taste of the spicy curries that are available in every stall. Satay sticks, noodles and rice, you can get all these and some more in the local food market of Khao San Road.

When in Khao San Road make sure your first food stop is at the numerous buffet restaurants that are perched on the sides of the road. You can find all varieties of stir-fries, curries, noodles, and rice along with an array of spices and sauces to choose from to complete your meal of the day. Some of the must-try dishes in these buffet corners are Kaeng Matasaman (chicken and potato curry in coconut gravy) and kaai luuk kheuy ( deep-fried eggs in tamarind sauce)

A particular corner of Khao San Street is reserved for those brave hearts you love to try all things unique and weird. Khao San Road is full of little corners that serve fried bugs and beetles for you to try. The local people of Thailand love these crunchy and protein-rich treats as snacks and wouldn’t think twice before serving it to you. So, if you are up for it, take a small bowl of crispy fried grasshoppers and cockroaches along with scorpions and spiders. However, if you are icky about these creepy treats, then it is better to avoid this area of Khao San Road.

Due to its immense popularity, Khao San street is usually crowded to the brim with tourists and locals, hence, being wary of your surroundings is quite important. There are a few things that you need to be aware of when you are in Khao San Road. Take a look:

The hawkers and streets vendors will almost always ask for more money than the actual cost of the product when they realize that you are a tourist. Do not give in to them and hold your ground while bargaining. It is always a good idea to know a few local terms to put them off their track.

Another thing that you need to be vigilant about on this street are conmen who will go to any length to extort money from you and small-time pickpockets who can take away your wallets with the stealth of a cat. Thus, keep a check on your pockets and handbags at short intervals to check if it is there or not.

Already packing your bags for Thailand? Make sure the bright and exciting streets of Khao San are in your bucket list while you prepare to backpack around the sparkling beaches and verdant landscapes of this gorgeous beach country.