Khaosan Road

Street in Bangkok

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Kevin Poh

Khaosan Road, often referred to as “the place to disappear” or described as “a short road with the longest dream,” is a modest 410 meters long. Built in 1892 during the reign of King Rama V, its name, “Khaosan,” translates to “milled rice,” reflecting its history as a prominent rice trading hub.

Over the past four decades, Khaosan Road has evolved into a world-famous destination for budget travelers, offering a variety of affordable accommodations ranging from basic rooms to comfortable 3-star hotels. During the peak tourist season, it draws 40,000 to 50,000 visitors daily, while in the off-season, it still sees about 20,000 visitors each day.

This vibrant street is a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds. Among the visitors are young Westerners seeking adventure, high school graduates on gap years, Israelis fresh from military service, university students on vacation or sabbatical, young Japanese celebrating a coming-of-age milestone, typical vacationers, former volunteers, and countless others.

The shops lining Khaosan Road cater to backpackers, selling items like handicrafts, art, clothing, local fruits, pirated CDs and DVDs, fake IDs, second-hand books, and more. After sunset, the street transforms into a lively nightlife scene with bars, street food vendors offering exotic snacks such as barbecued insects, music filling the air, and promoters advertising unique shows. The atmosphere is especially electric during the Songkran Festival in mid-April, famous for its massive water fights.

Nearby, the historic Wat Chana Songkram Buddhist temple, under royal patronage, lies just west of Khaosan Road. To the northwest, an Islamic community with several small mosques adds to the area’s rich cultural diversity.

The Khaosan Road appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Bangkok!

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