Bangkok Siam
BANGKOK SIAM
Guide to Siam area in Bangkok
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Bangkok Siam - Guide to Siam Square Area in Bangkok

Siam in Pathum Wan District is one of the best areas to stay in Bangkok. In this detailed guide to the Siam area, you will find essential information about this trendy neighborhood, such as the most popular attractions and things to do in Siam, 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 Siam and the Pathum Wan district in general.

The Siam area is a fresh and trendy neighborhood to stay in Bangkok. Siam is a famous shopping and entertainment district, which is easily reachable from different parts of Bangkok. There is a top university, countless shopping malls, major cinemas, trendy restaurants, fashion boutiques, and chic cafes scattered around this area. The Siam area is a lively place worshiped by the upper-class teenagers for fashion shopping and hanging out during daytime. There are various hotels suitable for different budgets in the area even if luxurious options are dominant in Siam.

Where is the Siam area in Bangkok?

Siam is the modern city center of Bangkok. The area consists of 3 main sections:

  • Siam Square: A shopping hub with a lot of movement during the day, where you will find the famous shopping malls Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, Siam Square One, and MBK Center.
  • Ratchaprasong: One of the most prosperous commercial districts in Bangkok with several large shopping malls such as CentralWorld, Gaysorn, Big C Supercenter, and various sacred sites.
  • Ploenchit: A business and commercial area that is home to foreign embassies, office buildings, high-class condominiums, and a luxury shopping mall of Central Embassy.

Things to Do in Siam, Bangkok

Siam is Bangkok's premier shopping district, where many huge shopping malls are located. The area is also offering many interesting activities and places to go from day to night, so you will always find various things to do in the Siam area.

Shopping Venues in Siam

The concentration of shopping centers in Siam is the highest in Bangkok. Here you can find some of the most luxurious shopping centers in the city, as well as more affordable ones. Explore the main shopping venues in Siam below.

Siam Paragon: The leading luxury shopping center with many brand-name shops, restaurants, and a movie theater.

CentralWorld: Thailand's leading department store, where you will find the most famous brands. CentralWorld is also holding various festivals, such as the New Year's festival, Songkran Festival, and Chinese New Year.

Siam Center: A vibrant and lively shopping mall, located across from Siam Paragon, with a wide variety of stores and brands to choose from, mainly mid-priced trendy products that target the youth.

Siam Discovery: An ideal shopping mall for youngsters where they update new fashion trends, buy home decorations and electrical appliances, eat at restaurants, and watch movies at the theater.

MBK Center: A shopping paradise for tourists to shop for many things, from luggage to mobile accessories and souvenirs, where you can bargain for a discount.

Siam Square One: A 7-story modern shopping mall just opposite Siam Paragon Mall with many clothing and accessories stores, banks, beauty and tutoring centers, and numerous restaurants and coffee shops.

Central Embassy: A luxury shopping mall with various premium high-end brands like Prada, Hermès, Givenchy, YSL, and Rolex and a lifestyle store on the upper floor.

Tourist Attractions in Siam

Erawan Shrine: One of the most famous spiritual tourist destinations in the middle of Bangkok. This shrine is dedicated to the four-faced god of Hinduism, Brahma.

Jim Thompson House: A beautiful museum that was the former home of Jim Thompson, an American architect and businessman who played an important role in Thailand's silk industry. You can only explore the museum through a guided tour that lasts around 40 minutes.

SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World: The largest aquarium in Southeast Asia with over 400 marine species and 30,000 sea creatures, including many sharks, eagle rays, and Gentoo penguins.

Madame Tussauds Bangkok: A famous wax museum with hundreds of wax figures from local showmen and notable politicians to world-class athletes and award-winning scientists, which is a great spot for selfies with your favorite celebrities.

Wat Pathum Wanaram: An old Buddhist temple built since the reign of King Rama IV in the heart of the city, now located between two shopping malls - Siam Paragon and CentralWorld.

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC): The best exhibition center in the city with free admission. There are different kinds of art and photography exhibitions that change every month on multiple floors.

Other Things to Do in Siam Area

Rooftop Bars: Siam is home to many rooftop bars, where you can enjoy nightlife with a spectacular view. The most famous rooftop bars in Siam are the following:

If you want to watch Muay Thai fights in Bangkok, check the schedule of the MBK Center Muay Thai stadium, as they have free fight night events two days a month.

You can also experience Muay Thai from some of the best instructors in the country at FITFAC Muay Thai Gym, which has a branch a three-minute walk away from Phloen Chit BTS Station.

The Siam area is home to many famous spa centers, where you can enjoy professional Thai massage and spa treatments. Some of the best spas in the area:

Places to Stay in Siam, Bangkok

Siam has a great choice of accommodations, from luxury 5-star hotels to more affordable accommodations, 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.

Places to Stay in Siam Area

Budget-Friendly Hotels in Siam

Lub d Bangkok Siam: A funky, eclectic hostel with 24 private rooms and 14 shared rooms, as well as an outdoor cafe and a theater room. 

P18 Hotel Bangkok: A 3-star hotel with a rooftop terrace offering cafe tables and city views, located on a narrow lane 4 minutes' walk from Ratchathewi BTS station. 

Lazy Sunday Hostel: The modest hostel offering accommodation services for up to 28 guests with both private and shared rooms, located in the city center just 10 minutes’ walk from Siam Square.

Muangphol Mansion: An affordable accommodation with standard facilities and an excellent location, with the BTS National Stadium station within a 3-minute walk from the hotel.

House Of Papa Bangkok Siam: An affordable 3-star boutique hotel conveniently located behind National Stadium, with many restaurants around.

Mid-Range Hotels in Siam

ibis Bangkok Siam: The modern and comfortable pet-friendly hotel offers great-value rooms with a cozy bed, located just steps away from the convenience of National Stadium BTS Station and MBK Center.

Bliston Suwan Park View: A 4-star hotel provides a choice of one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts, each fully furnished and warmly decorated with rich wood and silk trimmings in a contemporary classic style.

The Duchess Hotel: A hotel in the Langsuan neighborhood, offering luxurious living in the heart of the city with modern, spacious, and comfortable apartments.

Evergreen Place Siam: A well-rated 4-star hotel offers 119 one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites in modern-contemporary design with a touch of Thai glamour, just a 2-minute walk to BTS Ratchathewi Station.

Hua Chang Heritage Hotel: A luxury design hotel in the heart of Bangkok offering all the facilities and amenities you can expect in a top-class hotel.

Luxury Hotels in Siam

Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok: A luxury 5-star city resort right behind Siam Paragon shopping mall and adjacent to Sra Pathum Palace.

Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel: A five-star hotel featuring modern amenities and upscale accommodations, offering city views and natural light from oversized windows.

Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok: A 5-star luxury hotel with resort-style facilities, strategically located in Bangkok's downtown Rachaprasong area, right next to the famous Erawan Shrine.

InterContinental Bangkok: A 37-story luxury Bangkok hotel, offering a modern, cosmopolitan escape and elegant stay.

The Okura Prestige Bangkok: A five-star luxury hotel in Bangkok offering impressive city views through triple-glazed tinted panoramic windows and an infinity-edge swimming pool on the 25th floor.

Pathumwan Princess Hotel: A 5-star property located opposite Siam Square, a short walk from MBK Center.

Transport in Siam, Bangkok

Bangkok’s Siam area is easily reached from different parts of the city by Skytrain, as Siam BTS Station is the station where BTS Silom and Sukhumvit lines connect. The area is perfect for getting around the city and even going to the airport.

Other BTS stops in the area are National Stadium, Ratchathewi, Chit Lom, and Phloen Chit.

In the Siam area, you can also find Sapan Hua Chang Pier, where you can get on the Khlong Saen Saep Boat and travel to the old town of Bangkok to visit the historic tourist attractions in a few minutes.

Many Bangkok bus routes pass through Siam, such as 2-2, 2-34R, 15 (4-2), 21E (4-7E), 37 (4-9), 40 (4-39), 48 (3-11), 54 (2-44), 73 (2-45), 73 (2-46), 93 (1-40), 141 (4-24E), 204 (2-52), and 501 (1-53). Any of these buses will drop you in the Siam area.

In the area, you can also use the sightseeing bus, as there are stops of the hop-on hop-off bus tour in Siam.

How to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Siam

By Train: The Airport Rail Link train connects the airport with the BTS Sukhumvit Line at Phaya Thai Station. There you can transfer to BTS and get off at Siam or any other station in the area.

By Private Transfer: Enjoy a premium and hassle-free experience going from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to the Bangkok Siam area with a 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 Siam area takes approximately 1 hour.

How to get from Don Mueang Airport to Siam

By Bus: Bus A3 can be used to transfer from Don Mueang Airport to CentralWorld in the Siam area.

By Taxi: A taxi ride from Don Mueang Airport to the Siam area takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the traffic.

Tips for a Stay in Siam, Bangkok

If you want to stay in a very central area of Bangkok, which is easily accessible by public transport, and shopping is part of your trip, it is best to choose Siam for a stay in Bangkok.

As it is the central area, traffic conditions in the Siam area can be heavy, meaning that a 15-minute trip can turn into a 1-hour-long journey. However, it is very well connected by public transport, so BTS Skytrain should be your preferred choice for transportation.

The Siam area has many mid-range and high-end hotels. If you want to stay in Bangkok on a budget, you can look for a hostel near the Phaya Thai area. That area also has direct access to public transport, as it is connected by the Airport Rail Link and BTS Skytrain.

Siam is also recommended for families with kids. There are many attractions for children and teenagers, such as Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World, the famous Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and shopping malls with a variety of indoor playgrounds.