Khao San Road, Bangkok

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Khao San Road ( Thanon Khao Saan ; also spelled Khaosan, Kao Sarn, Koh Sarn and many other variations ) is technically speaking, a small street about three blocks long located about a block from the Chao Phraya River in the Banglamphu district northwest of downtown Bangkok. Backpackers and budget tourists are drawn by some of the cheapest accommodation and travel deals in Thailand.

I believe that Khao San Road in Bangkok is every backpackers 'Mecca' in Thailand. It is like 'the' place to be to meet with travelers from all around the world. It's more fun to come at night when the road is closed to traffic. I came here at almost 11pm and it was still packed with people! Lots of cheap accomodations, bars, shops, restaurants, etc. Lots of fun!

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The infamous Khao San road has everything a person on a budget needs to enjoy live in Bangkok. Although it is alot smaller than most usually expect, you'll find a sensory overload of cheap beer patios, tattoo parlours, laundry shops, souvenir stands and knock-off clothing booths. People from all walks of life meet here and finding new beer buddies seems to always happen. If you've never tried a 'bucket' here's your chance. You'll see them offered at the same make-shift stands that have guys holding up signs saying 'very strong cheap booze'. The buckets are literally what they're called; red-bull and sangsom (thai rum) in a big plastic bucket along with randomly hanging straws.

If you're resting with a pint on one of the patios, be sure not to sit at the front (near the street) unless you are looking to buy souvenirs. There are dozens of women dressed in traditional northern thai outfits that will harrass you to buy their necklaces or wooden, noise making frogs.

There are a ton of chill places to party on the road. A couple to check out would be the hippie bar, the reggae bar and gullivers.

I loved walking down KhoaSan Rd, anyone that knows the Fremantle Markets (Western Australia) will like this famous road. I prefer silver jewelery and brought a couple of rings and pendants from there, the hippie style clothes and bags were my style. Its also known for cheap accommodation, nice restaurants and the young tourists (backpackers), I heard so many different languages and accents spoken it really was multicultural.

This is a relief to the Patpong area, a Must-Do on the backpacker, and got even a trendy touristic place because of the "Beach" movie with Leonardo Di Caprio. Though I heard the Khao San Road already was a famous area before the "Beach" movie shot some parts here. I loved the Khao San Road, the street so alive with the spiritual touch ... and so many backpackers, even it is touristy, crowded and noisy.

Maybe close to the river, untypically Bangkok spheres and crowded with Hippie-like entertainments that's the reason the area attracts tourists looking for good to reach and cheap accomodations, night-market, anything-cheap-to-buy place, fine food, bars, coffee shops ... and ofcourse a lot of fun! All matters that travellers love ... me included!

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if you suddenly appeared at Kao San Road, you must be mistakenly thinking that you are somewhere in western country. Look around, you will find that most of the people (>70%) are foreigners or farangs... with the western style bar, restaurant, etc... everywhere is lifely... along the main street, you can see people doing shoping from the street stalls, people having their hair set, tasting the local foods, etc.
Look carefully at the row of shops, most of them are travel agents, arranging your short and long term travel, getting you budget hostel, getting you bus/train/flight/taxi/cow ticket... almost everything you can ask them to arrange for you...
But if you wanted to experience the local life, go other places...

It is special as you can find a lot of farang there and a lot of pubs without the bar girls inside:) The food there is reasonably priced and you can see a lot of guesthouses offering cheap accommodation.

Khao San Road has been the meeting point for backpackers from all over the world for many years. Here you find everything you might possibly need: cheap accommodation, great street food, travel agencies, souvenirs & jewellery shops, tailors, massage parlor, yoga studios...
At night lots of "minibars" open on the street where you can buckets full of Thai whiskey, coke and whatever.
But Khao Road has changed quite a lot over the years, these days you find American coffee shops and fast food outlets here aswell a some mid-range hotels.