Siam Square

The basics

Siam Square is often considered the center of Bangkok. When people refer to it, they usually mean a broader area beyond the square itself, from Rama 1 Road to Chulalongkorn University, and from Phayathai Road to Henri Dunant Road. There are all kinds of shopping malls and stalls throughout the area, so you can find almost anything you might want to buy here. There are also hotels, restaurants, and nightlife options, as well as some lovely attractions in nearby areas, such as the Erawan Shrine and the Jim Thompson House Museum. Most visitors to Bangkok explore Siam Square independently, but it can be included on guided tours.

Things to know before you go

• Don’t forget to bargain for a good price at smaller vendors and outlet shops, but don’t try it at the higher-end shopping malls with fixed prices.

• The upper floors of many shopping malls are often dedicated to restaurants or food courts serving tasty items from all corners of the world. For bargain Thai food, look for outside street stalls.

• Some of the biggest and most popular malls are the Siam Center, Siam Discovery, MBK, Siam Paragon, and Siam Square One.

How to get there

The easiest way to reach Siam Square from most parts of Bangkok is via the BTS Skytrain to Siam Station, as the two lines (Silom and Sukhumvit) meet here. If you're not staying near a BTS station, it’s still more efficient to get a taxi or motorbike taxi to the nearest BTS station and make your way to Siam Station from there. Avoid taking a taxi to Siam Square itself, as the traffic can be very bad there.

When to get there

Siam Square is lively throughout the day and night. Shopping malls are open into the evening, and restaurants and bars keep going till late. When the weather is hot (as it usually is in Bangkok), you can retreat to an air-conditioned mall or restaurant.

Visit the Jim Thompson House Museum

About 0.5 miles (1 kilometer) from Siam Square is the Jim Thompson House Museum. Thompson was an American who lived in Thailand in the mid-20th century, and was partly responsible for reviving the country’s silk-weaving industry. His beautiful house and gardens have been turned into a museum. It's a great stop for travelers interested in history, architecture, and Thai crafts, and a welcome break from the commercial frenzy of Siam Square.