Top Three Reasons to Stay in a Hostel Near Siam Paragon

When staying in Bangkok, you have plenty of choices when it comes to location; you can reside in hipster Ari, riverside Charoenkrung, lively Thonglor, downtown Sathorn or central Siam. Depending on your agenda, available time and budget constraints, each of these stops has a different appeal. Somewhere that ticks all the boxes, in terms of convenience, culture and entertainment is Siam, located in the heart of the city. Whether you’re staying in a hotel or a hostel near Siam Paragon, you’ll be in the ideal spot to check out many top attractions right on your doorstep. Let’s look at the top three reasons you’ll love being in this part of town.

1) Shopping

If you’re a shopaholic, staying in a hostel near Siam Paragon would be nice because it will be your dream location as it’s home to the biggest and best shopping destinations in the city. Top of every shopper’s Bangkok to-do list is the big three: Siam Paragon, Siam Centre, Siam Discovery. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, it probably doesn’t exist! Between them they sell a diverse range of international designer apparel, everyday fashion, Thai designers, electronics, homewares, books, toys, sporting goods, souvenirs, and so on.

Across the road can be found Siam Square. Despite the name, it is not a square in the traditional sense; more a rabbit warren of small lanes and streets filled with hundreds of tiny boutiques, restaurants, cafés, restaurants, record stores, bookshops, and even two retro ‘70s cinemas.

And lastly, if you’re still not shopped out, in front of BTS National Stadium station can be found MBK Center. This mega mall, spread over eight stories, contains more than 2,000 shops, restaurants and service outlets, including the four-story Tokyu Department Store. If you’re after a knock-off Louis Vuitton bag, iPhone or Nikes, this is the place to come.

2) Culture

The Siam area of Bangkok isn’t just about shopping; it also offers several great spots to learn about the history and culture of Thailand. Top of your list should be BACC (Bangkok Art and Culture Centre), a contemporary arts centre located opposite MBK. This is the capital’s home of all things artistic: theatre, film, design, art. In particular, the top two gallery floors of this impressive design-led building feature a rotating showcase of award-winning local and international art installations.

Just up the road can be found world-renowned Jim Thompson House. What was once the private home of Jim Thompson (creator of the famous silk brand of the same name), an American businessman, is now an impressive garden, museum, café and shop. The delightful premises feature several original teak houses and an impressive collection of thoughtfully curated Asian artefacts. Mandatory tours run approx. every thirty minutes.

Lastly, you can walk just around the corner onto Khlong Saen Saep and find Yellow House, a sprawling warehouse that’s been adapted into a cool multi-purpose space, with an art gallery, café, shops and co-working space. The top-floor café is a great place to sit with a refreshing drink and watch the canal boats zip on by outside the window.

3) Convenience

Siam is a major transportation hub; thus, it makes perfect sense to stay in a hostel near Siam Paragon if getting around Bangkok is on your agenda. First and foremost, Siam Station is the interchange between the city’s two main BTS Skytrain lines: Sukhumvit and Silom. With those two train lines, plus connections to the MRT (subway) at your disposal, you can get pretty much get everywhere you’ll need to go in the City of Angels.

For those seeking a more adventurous and speedy way to get around the city, we recommend you go around the corner to Hua Chang Pier and hop aboard a ferry travelling along Khlong Saen Saep. This canal cuts through the city; you can get to the Golden Mount (Wat Saket) and Khao San Road for less than THB 10.

Just two stops from Siam, at Phaya Thai BTS Station, can be found at the first stop of the Airport Rail Link (ARL). This comfortable train runs every 10-15 minutes between the city and Suvarnabhumi Airport. It costs only THB 45 and takes approximately 40 minutes; stopping at six local stations along the way.