Khao San Road Survival Guide: What to Do & What to Avoid

Khao San Road is a place you either hate with a passion or can’t get enough of. This 400 meter long street in the heart of the Old Town divides opinion like no other - backpackers love it for its budget hostels and wild nightlife, and sophisticated travelers find it tacky and seedy nowadays. That being said, we think it’s still worth visiting just with a long list of caveats.

Apparently in the 1990s, when we were kids, Khao San Road had this amazing bohemian vibe. You hear stories from back in the day how people would hang out here, meet other travelers and plan their trips around Southeast Asia. As it got more popular, it started to lose its soul a bit and became more of a touristy walking strip and out-and-out party zone.

Then, after the pandemic, it changed again. A bunch of legal cannabis shops popped up and for some reason the nightclubs installed even louder speaker systems. A purist who visited back in the 90s will find Khao San unrecognizable today, however it remains one of those bucket-list destinations you have to see at least once. Here’s the honest truth about surviving Khao San Road in Bangkok. But first, let us tell you about our experiences.

Khao San Road

Mega-bars of Khao San Road

Kat with her friends down Khao San Road

Our Experiences in Khao San Road Over the Years

Cam first saw Khao San Road as a teenager on a family holiday. His parents booked a hotel halfway down the street and so he had to walk there (at midnight) with his backpack on, which was quite the experience. It was a sensory overload being offered scorpions, shots of alcohol and just a crazy atmosphere to experience right off the plane. He turned to his parents and said “where have you taken us?” and they simply shrugged their shoulders.

That was when Khao San had this atmosphere of pure fun. You could even get novelty IDs as souvenirs and Cam’s brother thought it would be funny to get one named McLovin. Another awesome experience we had was when we rang in New Year’s Eve there in 2020. Cam had met Kat at this point and so she came along with Cam’s family as well. We all got dressed up in Hawaiian shirts, parked up at a live music bar and enjoyed the night.

There was so much going on, from Chang beer promotions to YMCA singalongs. The best part was the countdown. We joined thousands of people on the street (a mix of tourists and Thais) for an epic light show and celebrated together when the clock struck midnight. Since then, we’ve visited Khao San Road sporadically but it’s not a place we go to party or get involved in the sleazy or strange side of Thailand. We prefer its surrounding street food options and the more relaxed alleyways that run parallel to it.

New Year’s Eve celebrations with Cam’s family

Kat at the Khao San Countdown 2020

10 Best Things to Do on Khao San Road

• Try fried scorpions

• Shop at the clothes stalls

• Get a street-side foot massage

• Order a famous cocktail bucket

• Eat Thai donuts at Patonggo Cafe

• Listen to live acoustic music down Thanon Ram Buttri

• Have Thai Hot Pot (Jim Jum) on the surrounding streets

• Head to The Club after midnight for some nightclubbing

• Join a street singalong at one of the bars with outside tables

• Catch a tuk-tuk through the historic Old Town back to your hotel

Kat with her friends down Thanon Ram Buttri

Live acoustic music down Thanon Ram Buttri

Thai Hot Pot (Jim Jum) just outside Khao San Road

10 Scams & Tourist Traps to Avoid

• Avoid the sleazy side of Khao San Road

• Be wary of poor quality and overpriced suits

• Be careful around heavily intoxicated tourists

• Don’t bring your family down here late at night

• Don’t get ripped off at the clothes stalls, barter a bit

• Watch out for the “Grand Palace is Closed Today” scam

• Don't take photos of specialty food stalls without buying

• Steer clear of fast food chains and embrace the street food

• Stay away from any drugs, cannabis and laughing balloons

• Don’t jump in a taxi outside Khao San (unless they use the meter)

Local noodle shop close to Khao San Road

Where to Stay in the Area

We don’t recommend staying directly down Khao San Road, unless you’re a young backpacker who can handle the noise at night. Everyone else is suited to the hotels surrounding the strip. Our favorite spot is Casa Vimaya: it’s a comfortable, quiet 4-star hotel with a rooftop pool only 5-10 minutes walk away. Another great option is The Gravitique Hotel which is even closer (2 minutes walk) but still has that much-needed sound insulation.

Casa Vimaya

How to Get There

Khao San Road is situated in the Old Town (the Phra Nakhon district), not too far from cultural landmarks like Wat Pho and the Grand Palace. Its central location is why we like staying in the area - it feels like one of the only places in Bangkok that’s actually walkable. Getting here from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) takes an hour by taxi, but is best done with a Bangkok Airport Transfer to avoid the (occasionally long) taxi queues.

A cheaper alternative from Suvarnabhumi is going on the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai Station, before grabbing a 20 minute taxi. If you’re based in the Sukhumvit area, the easiest option is taking the BTS Skytrain to Saphan Taksin Station and then jumping in a taxi or river boat. From other areas in Bangkok, your best bet is to head to Sanam Chai Station on the MRT. There’ll be a new MRT station right by Khao San Road in the future, but every time we visit we see it’s under construction. It’s projected to open by 2030.

The Grand Palace

FAQs for Khao San Road

How safe is this area of Bangkok?

In general, Khao San Road is very safe as long as you keep your wits about you and realize the main risk comes from drunk tourists (not locals). We’ve seen a few washed up foreigners in Khao San Road and it’s quite a sad state of affairs, but there’s always a few Tourist Police around to step in if needed. Solo female travelers should just be careful wandering around the dark alleyways at night, and families should avoid the main drag after 9:00 PM.

What are some attractions nearby?

Khao San Road is about 20 minutes walking distance to the Grand Palace, Giant Swing, Golden Mount (Wat Saket), and Rajadamnern Stadium - the best venue in Thailand to watch Muay Thai. It’s also a 30 minute walk to Wat Pho. Keep in mind too that the neighborhoods around Khao San Road are worth exploring - just for their local vibe and hidden food delights.

Golden Mount (Wat Saket)

Is Khao San Road worth visiting during the day?

Visiting Khao San Road during the day isn’t worth it in our opinion. The street gives off this weird, post-apocalyptic vibe, as it’s recovering from the night before. Vendors are slowly putting out their clothes and trinkets, and tourists are wandering around hungover and battling under the midday sun. There’s still a few food stalls open, but nothing really kicks off until nightfall when the street transforms into a party hub of neon lights.

What is the best alternative to Khao San Road?

The best alternative to Khao San Road would have to be the Chinatown area of Bangkok. The food is sensational and there are a few street-side bars and hidden rooftops if you’re after a bit of nightlife. You can also spend a day getting lost in Song Wat Road and the neighborhood of Talat Noi, known for their street art, cafe culture and authentic local restaurants.

Chinatown