Khaosan Road

Khaosan Road is a 410-metre street in Bangkok's Bang Lamphu area, about 1 km north of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. Built in 1892, it developed from a rice-market street into an internationally known backpacker district. Its dense mix of street commerce, nightlife, religious sites, and Songkran celebrations makes the road itself the attraction.

Don't miss

• The centuries-old Buddhist temple Wat Chana Songkram, directly opposite the road to the west.
• An Islamic community and several small mosques to the northwest.
• The massive water fight during Songkran (Thai New Year, 13–15 April), which has made Khaosan a model for other celebration venues.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Khaosan Road

Cheapest way inPrivate Bangkok Airport Transfer with Free Tollway4.4★ · 382 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$17 per personSee dates →Best full dayBangkok Private Highlights Tour with Local Guide4.9★ · 4,594 travelers~8 hoursFrom$72 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleBangkok Foodtour by tuk-tuk and Khao San Road5★ · 11 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$113 per personSee dates →

Getting there

Know before you go

• The wet season (May–Oct) brings massive downpours that can flood the area.
• Bangkok is one of the world's hottest cities; the cool season (Nov–Feb) is the most pleasant, though daytime temps still hover around 32°C.
• Compass directions are rarely used by locals; navigate by neighbourhoods or references toward/away from the Chao Phraya River.

A bit of history

The name 'Khaosan' means 'milled rice', reflecting its past as a major rice market, likely dating to the early Rattanakosin period. The first guesthouse opened around 1982 in a narrow alley off Ratchadamnoen Avenue. In 2018, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration attempted to remove street vendors, but many defied the order. A 2019 facelift, accelerated by the COVID-19 tourism decline, installed drainage gutters, emergency vehicle parking, and a space management plan with designated vendor stalls and scheduled shifts.