Khaosan Road is probably the most famous street in Bangkok and certainly the liveliest and most colorful. Toward evening, tourists from all over the city flock here, tired from daytime walks, museum visits, and other respectable activities. In this area, where life buzzes all night long, they look for informal socializing and entertainment at affordable prices.
Khaosan is a paradise for those who love to travel independently and on a minimal budget. Don’t be put off by the status of a “tourist ghetto” that some guidebooks have given this area. Students and young people actually like it here very much. In the local hostels, you can spend the night for as little as 3 dollars per person. You won’t have to spend much on food either: the whole street is packed with cafes, restaurants, and stalls selling local fast food. In the evening, all the bars turn on loud music, and vendors selling fried insects and other exotic fare come out onto the street.
Hundreds of shops and little stalls sell handmade souvenirs, paintings by local artists, clothes, books, and discs, as well as incense, natural cosmetics, and food products. Even if you are staying in another part of Bangkok, be sure to take a walk along Khaosan to try the local exotic fare and stock up on inexpensive gifts.
Khaosan Road is also known for its large number of inexpensive travel agencies that can arrange a good-value excursion for you, both around Thailand and on a one- or two-day trip to neighboring countries.
