Silom in Bang Rak District is one of the best areas to stay in Bangkok. In this detailed guide to the Silom area, you will find the essential information about this trendy neighborhood with the most popular attractions and things to do in Silom, transportation, and a selection of hotels according to your budget.
If you are looking for accommodation in Bangkok but still have doubts about what the best area to stay in is, you can definitely consider Silom Road and the Bang Rak district in general.
The Silom area is a financial and business hub in Bangkok that is home to local and international establishments, large office buildings, leading department stores, banking institutions, and audit and law firms.
This area is different from Sukhumvit, as Silom gives you green spaces with a huge Lumpini Park, where you can relax and soak up the atmosphere. Most of the hotels in Silom are upscale hotels set up in skyscrapers with trendy rooftop bars and offering top-quality services to tourists. The Silom Road area is packed with amazing cafes, high-end restaurants, and spots for a colorful nightlife. This area is a perfect place to stay for anyone looking for a good time in Bangkok.
Where is the Silom area in Bangkok?
The Silom area refers to the street of the same name, Silom Road, which is only 2.78 kilometers long but full of movement. It's the center of Bangkok's Bang Rak District. Its territory runs from Charoen Krung Road (Bang Rak Intersection) to the northeast and intersects with Mahesak Road-Surasak Road (Surasak Intersection), Pramuan Road (Pramuan Intersection), Decho Road (Decho Intersection), Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road (Silom-Narathiwat Intersection), and Convent Road (Convent Intersection). It ends at Rama IV Road or Saladaeng Intersection.
Things to Do in Silom, Bangkok
Silom is offering many interesting activities and places to go from day to night, so you will always find various things to do in the Silom area.
Soi Patpong: The oldest red-light district in Bangkok, which is a small alley about 200 meters long with numerous go-go bars and clubs.
Patpong Night Market: A night market on Patpong Road in Bangkok's entertainment district with most stalls selling miscellaneous goods, clothing, and accessories, and only a few food stalls.
Lumpini Park: A green area spread over an area of 56 hectares right in the middle of Bangkok city, perfect for exercise, walks, and picnics. At the park, you can join a Hatha or Vinyasa yoga class with a professional instructor.
King Power Mahanakhon SkyWalk: The most iconic observation deck in Bangkok, where you can walk on the edge of the building along the glass-floored skywalk to see a 360-degree panoramic view of the city's skyline.
Rooftop Bars: Silom is home to many rooftop bars, where you can enjoy nightlife with a spectacular view. The most famous rooftop bars in Silom are the following:
- Sirocco, Sky Bar & other Lebua rooftop venues: Spectacular open-air rooftop venues on the top of Lebua Hotel at State Tower, 63 floors above Silom Road, on the Chao Phraya River side.
- Scarlett Rooftop Bar: Perched on the 37th floor of Pullman Bangkok Hotel G in the heart of Silom and serving exquisite French cuisine, creative cocktails, a great wine list, and panoramic views of Bangkok’s skyline.
- Yao Rooftop Bar: Bangkok's first Chinese-influenced multi-level venue. With Bangkok's glittering high-rise skyline on one side and the historic old town on the other, offering dim sum selections along with signature refreshing mocktails and cocktails, located on the 32nd floor of the Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse.
Silom Complex Mall: A small shopping mall in the Silom area since 1993 with everything you could buy, from clothing and shoes to books. There are several cuisine restaurants, banks, a food court, and a supermarket.
Bangkokian Museum: A traditional Thai house that was built around the time of World War II, displaying furnishings and objects from the period, located on the corner of Surawong/Sriphaya Road.
Neilson-Hayes Library: A library with a neoclassical exterior and a collection of approximately 20,000 books. Exhibitions of paintings and other works are held inside the building.
Assumption Cathedral: The principal Roman Catholic church in Thailand and the main church of the Archdiocese of Bangkok. English Mass is held every Sunday at 10:00.
Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple: The main Tamil Hindu temple in Thailand was built by the Indian immigrant residents in the period of King Rama IV in the late 1870s, better known as Wat Khaek.
Wat Hua Lamphong: The third-class Royal Buddhist temple in Bangkok's Silom District, where locals come for merit-making activities 24 hours a day.
Wat Yan Nawa: An old Bangkok temple built during the Ayutthaya period with a unique boat-shaped prayer hall on Charoen Krung Road.
Thai Cooking School: Top cooking class in the Silom area, guided by qualified, professional instructors, where you can visit the local open market and handpick your own fresh ingredients for cooking several different Thai main dishes.
King Rama VI Statue: The memorial statue of King Rama VI, built to commemorate the opening of the surrounding Lumpini Park.
W Hotel Bangkok Pool: Even if you are not staying in this hotel, you can come to take a break from the bustle of the city and treat yourself to a day of chill vibes, refreshing dips, and ultimate wellness at WET, W Bangkok’s iconic outdoor pool.
Divana Virtue Spa Experience at Silom: A truly luxurious and indulgent spa experience, where you can enjoy Divana’s divine massage or nurture treatment package that not just relaxes you but nourishes as well. There is a Jasmine Mantra package for total relaxation, which includes herbal steam, warm oil massage, warm compress, and milky bath.
Places to Stay in Silom, Bangkok
Silom has a great choice of accommodations, from luxury 5-star hotels to hostels, even if higher-end hotels are dominant in the area. However, it's pretty easy to find a hotel you like at a price that suits you in the area.
Budget-Friendly Hotels in Silom
The Inn Saladaeng: an affordable 3-star hotel with comfortable rooms and a convenient location behind the Silom Complex shopping mall.
Pula Silom: a budget 3-star accommodation located right in the heart of Silom, Bangkok's business district area, next to BTS Sala Daeng station.
Tini Kati Hostel: a 4-story hostel in the heart of Silom offering both private and dormitory rooms. The hostel has a shared kitchen and laundry services and provides complimentary all-day snacks, tea, and coffee.
iCheck Inn Silom: a budget hotel in Silom that provides chic and affordable accommodation with 26 stylish bedrooms perfectly furnished to ensure maximum comfort. Featuring a nice blend of vibrant colors and sleek fittings, each room is fully air-conditioned and equipped with all needed facilities.
Hotel Furama Silom: Bangkok business hotel offering cozy accommodation featuring contemporary interiors with a cozy feel, kitchenettes, and views of the city. Chong Nonsi BTS Station is a short 10-minute walk away.
Bally Suite Silom: a design hotel conveniently located in the heart of Bangkok's business district, within walking distance from MRT Silom Station and Sala Daeng BTS Station.
Mid-Range Hotels in Silom
The Raya Surawong Bangkok: a modern boutique hotel offering 55 rooms and suites. Its convenient location, close to Patpong night market, spacious accommodations, and modern amenities make it a great choice for travelers.
Bandara Suites Silom: the 27-story 4-star hotel comprises a convenient range of accommodations. Hotel facilities and amenities include an all-day-dining restaurant, two swimming pools, a fitness center, and business facilities.
Novotel Bangkok Silom Road: a 4-star hotel with 216 guest rooms and suites featuring practical comfort and contemporary design, located on Silom Road near two BTS skytrain stations - Surasak and Taksin.
Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom: a 4-star hotel offering the ideal accommodation on Silom Road for those who prioritize comfort and convenience. The hotel has 684 rooms with a 20-meter outdoor swimming pool, a tennis court, a health club, an all-day dining restaurant, and a complimentary tuk-tuk to shuttle you to the nearby Surasak BTS station.
ibis Styles Bangkok Silom: a 3-star hotel offering 264 comfortable rooms and a modern urban design. The hotel has a restaurant, a lobby bar, a cafe, a bohemian-themed rooftop bar, a spectacular infinity swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and modern yet laid-back co-working spaces.
The Quarter Silom: a 4-star hotel that offers modern accommodation in the heart of the Silom CBD district with a large swimming pool, a sauna and steam room, and an all-day dining restaurant, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center, URBAN FIT, where guests can get advice from trainers and join free workout classes.
Luxury Hotels in Silom
Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse: a 5-star hotel with spacious rooms and suites filled with luxury amenities and décor that merge the traditional and the contemporary. The hotel has an outdoor infinity pool, a 24-hour fitness center, Quan Spa, restaurants, and the Yao Rooftop Bar.
Le Méridien Bangkok: An award-winning, art-inspired, five-star hotel on Surawong Road in the Silom business hub. Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with city views, spacious rooms are furnished with warm earth tones and digital systems.
Pullman Bangkok Hotel G: a 5-star hotel known for its contemporary lifestyle theme and setting. The rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of Bangkok. The hotel also provides a multitude of dining options, including 25 Degrees, the renowned 24-hour burger restaurant & bar, and Scarlett, the award-winning rooftop bar & restaurant.
lebua at State Tower: a world-class luxury hotel on the edge of Silom, close to the Chao Phraya River. Tower Club suites offer space, comfort, and some of the city's most stunning views.
The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon: an award-winning design hotel in one of the most iconic buildings in the city, King Power Mahanakhon, with rooms ranging from 40 sqm to a sprawling 144 sqm penthouse, a terrace pool, a state-of-the-art 24/7 fitness center with world-class TechnoGym machines, and a dynamic variety of food, drink, and nightlife venues.
Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park: Luxury hotel next to Sala Daeng BTS Station and Silom MRT Station. The newly renovated rooms with premium amenities are situated from the 24th floor onwards, providing breathtaking views of the vibrant Bangkok cityscape.
Transport in Silom, Bangkok
Bangkok’s Silom area is one of the best connected by public transport, surrounded by the BTS Skytrain, MRT, BRT bus, and the pier on the Chao Phraya River, making it easy to access sightseeing and attractions.
The Silom area has a BTS SkyTrain line spanning along Silom Road that begins at Bang Wa Station and ends at National Stadium Station. The main stops in the area are Sala Daeng BTS station and Chong Nonsi BTS station, which is connected to the MahaNakhon building and can be used to transfer to the BRT bus. These stations are on the same BTS line as Bangkok’s shopping district, Siam Square, and Saphan Taksin station, where you can jump on the Chao Phraya Express Boat at Sathorn Pier.
To make your travel experience more efficient, book a BTS Skytrain One Day Pass in advance for unlimited travel on the BTS Skytrain during a single day and avoid the long queues at ticket machines.
There is also the Bangkok MRT Silom station located in the area, so you can get from the Silom area to Chinatown, Rattanakosin, or Sukhumvit directly.
Several Bangkok bus routes pass through Silom: No. 15, 76, 115, 172, 177, 504, 514, and 544. Any of these buses will drop you in the Silom area.
In the area you can also use the sightseeing bus, as there’s a stop of the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour in Silom.
How to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Silom
By Train: The Airport Rail Link train connects the airport with the MRT Blue Line at Makkasan Station. From the connected Phetchaburi MRT station, you can travel to MRT Silom station, which is the station in the Silom area.
By Private Transfer: Enjoy a premium and hassle-free experience going from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to the Bangkok Silom area with private transfer service. The all-inclusive price includes a ride with comfortable seating and ample luggage space.
By Taxi: A Bangkok taxi ride from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the Silom area takes approximately 1 hour.
How to get from Don Mueang Airport to Silom
By Train: The SRT Red Line from Don Mueang Airport stops at Bang Sue station, which is connected to the MRT Blue Line and runs to Silom MRT station.
By Taxi: A taxi ride from Don Mueang Airport to the Silom area takes approximately 30-45 minutes, depending on the traffic.
Tips for a Stay in Silom, Bangkok
Silom is full of life with business in the daytime and transforms into the best entertainment district at night. If you are not a party lover, avoid staying near the red-light area of Patpong between Silom Soi 2 and Silom Soi 4, as the environment can be quite annoying from the noises and crowd.
If you like a modern and cosmopolitan atmosphere, Silom is the right place to stay in Bangkok.
In case your main focus in the area is Lumpini Park and you would like to stay as close to it as possible, explore the surrounding area of the park.
As it is the central area, traffic conditions in the Silom area can be heavy, meaning that a 15-minute trip can turn into a 1-hour-long journey. Public transportation such as BTS and MRT should be your preferred choice if you are not willing to waste your time in traffic jams. Save time by booking a BTS Rabbit Card or BTS One-Day Pass in advance.