Neighbourhood guide
Siam, Bangkok
Siam is the centre of modern Bangkok and the point where the city's two BTS lines meet. It is convenient rather than characterful — which, for a first trip, is often exactly right.
Updated
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How we research
In this guide ↓
Best for
- First-time visitors
- Families
- Shoppers
- Short stays where transport matters most
Less suited to
- Travellers wanting local street life on their doorstep
- Nightlife (it quietens after the malls close)
Getting there
- Siam / Chit Lom / National Stadium · BTS Sukhumvit Line
- Siam / National Stadium · BTS Silom Line
- Pratunam / Hua Chang · Khlong Saen Saep BoatCommuter canal boat towards the Old Town
- Nightlife
- quiet
- First-time visitors
- Good
- Families
- Good
- Hotel budgets
- mid-range, luxury
What is Siam like?
Siam is the centre of modern Bangkok: a cluster of giant malls linked by skywalks, the university district around Siam Square and the interchange where the two BTS lines meet. It's bright, clean, air-conditioned and convenient. It isn't characterful in the way the Old Town or Chinatown are — but for a first visit, especially with children, that convenience is often exactly what you want.
Where is it, and how do you get there?
Siam is in the middle of the city, between the Old Town to the west and Sukhumvit to the east.
- BTS Siam — where the Sukhumvit and Silom lines meet. From here you can reach most of central Bangkok without changing.
- BTS National Stadium — for MBK, the BACC and Jim Thompson House.
- BTS Chit Lom — for CentralWorld and the Ratchaprasong shopping area.
- Khlong Saen Saep canal boat — a fast, rough-and-ready commuter boat that runs west towards the Old Town.
Best things to do
Jim Thompson House
Six traditional teak houses assembled by the American silk entrepreneur who disappeared in Malaysia in 1967.
1–1.5 hours · Best time: morning · National Stadium (BTS Silom Line)
See our full Jim Thompson House guide for the tour and the story.
Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)
A free contemporary art centre with rotating exhibitions, opposite MBK.
1 hour · Best time: afternoon · National Stadium (BTS Silom Line)
Siam malls (Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, CentralWorld)
Shopping, food halls and air conditioning. Siam Paragon's food hall is a good, easy introduction to Thai dishes.
- Allow
- 2–4 hours
- Go
- Afternoons, especially during rain or the hottest hours
- Pair with
- Jim Thompson House, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)
- Getting there
- Siam / Chit Lom · BTS Sukhumvit Line
Erawan Shrine
At the Ratchaprasong intersection, beside BTS Chit Lom, this Hindu shrine to Brahma draws a constant stream of worshippers offering flowers and incense, often accompanied by traditional dancers whom worshippers hire to give thanks for wishes granted. Visit respectfully; it's a working shrine. See our Erawan Shrine guide.
SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World
The aquarium beneath Siam Paragon is one of the most popular family attractions in Bangkok. See Bangkok with kids.
Where to eat
Siam's food halls are among the best introductions to Thai food: clean, varied and air-conditioned. Siam Paragon's is the best known. Around Siam Square and the side streets, you'll find casual restaurants and desserts aimed at students. For street food, head to nearby Banthat Thong Road in the evening. See our Bangkok food guide.
Nightlife
Siam is quiet once the malls close. Rooftop bars in Silom and Sathorn are 10 minutes away by BTS. See Bangkok nightlife.
Shopping
This is Bangkok's main shopping district:
- Siam Paragon — luxury brands
- Siam Center — Thai designers and younger fashion
- Siam Discovery — design and lifestyle
- MBK — phones, electronics and bargains
- CentralWorld — a huge mid-range mall
- Pratunam and Platinum Fashion Mall, just north — wholesale and cheap clothing (see our Pratunam guide)
Our shopping guide explains which is best for what.
Staying in Siam
Advantages
- The most connected base in Bangkok — both BTS lines
- Ideal for families: malls, aquarium, short journeys
- Food halls and air-conditioning on your doorstep
- Easy for a first visit
Disadvantages
- Commercial and quiet at night
- Hotels can be pricier than in Silom or the Old Town
- Little street life or local atmosphere
When to visit
Siam is at its most useful during the hottest part of the day and when it rains. Jim Thompson House is best in the morning.
Nearby
Silom is two BTS stops south; Sukhumvit is a few stops east. For the wholesale district of Pratunam, walk north from Chit Lom.
where to next?
- Best Shopping in BangkokBangkok has more retail than you could visit in a month. Start from what you want to buy, then pick the place.
- Bangkok With KidsBangkok is easier with children than its reputation suggests — if you plan around heat, keep mornings for sights and use the rail system instead of road traffic.
- Where to Stay in BangkokLocation matters more in Bangkok than in most cities, because traffic punishes the wrong choice. Start with how you want to spend your evenings and how close you need to be to the BTS or MRT.