Khao San vs Old Town: Where to Stay in Bangkok

Khao San: Backpacker District. Old Town: Historic City Core. Side-by-side comparison from BangkokGotMe's 14,000+ venue directory.

	Khao San	Old Town
Vibe	Backpacker, Party, Tourist-heavy	Temples, Heritage, Tourist
Venues listed	231	870
Average rating	4.36 / 5	4.50 / 5
Rent level	Budget	Mid-range
Food prices	Budget	Mid-range
BTS / MRT	No BTS/MRT nearby	Sanam Chai MRT (limited)
Walkability	Good (in the immediate area)	Good (for sightseeing)

Venue counts and average ratings are computed from the public listings in this directory. The ratings are aggregated public scores, not our own reviews, and they are a snapshot from the last refresh.

Khao San

A long-established backpacker street, internationally recognised. Khao San Road draws budget travelers with cheap accommodation, street food, bars, and a 24/7 party atmosphere.

Why stay in Khao San

• Budget-friendly with some of the cheapest accommodation in the city
• Walking distance to Old Town attractions and temples
• 24/7 entertainment and social atmosphere

Why Khao San might not suit you

• Extremely touristy with constant hawking
• Not connected to BTS/MRT (taxi or boat only)
• Noisy and chaotic - not for light sleepers

Khao San carries 231 listed venues, averaging 4.36 out of 5 across the 217 of them with a public rating.

Full Khao San guide

Old Town

The historic core of Bangkok including Rattanakosin Island with the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun. A key area for culture and history, often better suited to day trips than long stays.

Why stay in Old Town

• Walking distance to the main historic temples
• Historical atmosphere
• Notable architecture and photo opportunities

Why Old Town might not suit you

• No BTS/MRT access
• Very touristy with higher prices
• Limited modern amenities and nightlife

Old Town carries 870 listed venues, averaging 4.50 out of 5 across the 833 of them with a public rating.

Full Old Town guide