Bangkok’s many distinctive neighbourhoods all offer something different. But which one is the right choice for a foreigner moving to the city?
One of the major considerations is connectivity, and with this in mind, we have chosen three neighbourhoods that all have good Skytrain or Subway links and are popular with foreigners.
Central Sukhumvit (Asoke to Thong Lor)
Starting at the Ploenchit intersection and running all the way through Pattaya to t
he Cambodian border, Sukhumvit is often described as the longest street in the world. Even in Bangkok, its different sub-sections have their own unique characteristics. Here we focus on the most popular stretch for well-off foreigners – Asoke to Thong Lor.
A stroll around the central Sukhumvit area will have you brushing shoulders with
the trendy young things of Thai society. It is the most fashionable part of Bangkok with Termin
While central Sukhumvit is a magnet for trendy young Thais, it’s easy for a Westerner to feel at home here, too. There is an abundance of international pubs and restaurants, many high-street shops and supermarkets that you will be familiar with from back home, a good choice of world-class hospitals and clinics, and several international schools.al 21 and The Emporium providing luxury shopping options, while Thong Lor is packed with trendy cafes, restaurants and clubs.
This familiarity doesn’t come cheap though. If you are looking for an inexpensive neighborhood, then you may want to look elsewhere. But if you want to be in with the cool crowd with all the conveniences of home, then there is nowhere quite like Sukhumvit in all of Bangkok.
View houses and condos in Central Sukhumvit
Silom
If you’re after a neighborhood that offers a bit of everything, then Silom is a good choice. Fine international dining restaurants and luxury stores sit side by side with local Thai eateries and shops, meaning you can choose to splurge or save however your mood takes you.
Silom is also the financial district of Bangkok, which means many high-rise office buildings and a frenetic pace, especially during weekday lunchtimes. But it also offers the expansive tranquillity of Lumphini Park where you can take a leisurely stroll, burn off a few calories with a jog, or even marvel at the large water monitor lizards which roam freely through the park.
The downside is that prices tend to be high in the Silom area, too. But if you want the perfect balance of local culture and international style, then it is a price well worth paying.
View property in Silom for sale
Phaya Thai
Phaya Thai offers better value for money than the other two options but is also lacking in the Western comforts that they both offer. However, that is not to say that you won’t find any expat bars or familiar supermarkets here. They are still to be found, particularly around Victory Monument.
What you get instead is a sense of living amongst the locals, as you will be shopping in Thai stores, browsing market stalls and sharing the pavements with more Thai families than Westerners.
Phaya Thai’s central location means the roads are often jammed but this is compensated for by the best transport links of anywhere in the city.
So, if value for money, great transport links and a feeling of being part of the Thai community is more important to you than a few of life’s luxuries, then start checking out a few properties in the Phaya Thai area.
