Khao San Road Map: Navigate Banglamphu Like a Local

We step out of the tuk-tuk and the night hits like a cymbal crash — wok-fire spitting from a pad thai cart, sweet rot of durian teasing from a street stall, the thump-thump from a bar that still swears it's 2 AM forever. Welcome to Khao San. This khao san road map guide is our compass through the chaos — a walking guide to the alleys we love, the river we ride, and the shortcuts that get us to temples before the tour buses wake up.

Khao San Road Map — Get Your Bearings

Here's the Banglamphu neighborhood on the map. Khao San Road itself is the short east–west strip in the center, with Soi Rambuttri curling behind it to the north and Phra Athit Road running along the Chao Phraya River to the west.

Zoom in and switch to satellite view to spot landmarks. The Golden Mount stupa pokes up to the east, the Chao Phraya river runs along the west, and the Grand Palace compound gleams to the south.

Download: Nancy Chandler's Khao San Road Map (Free PDF)

This is the real deal. KhaosanRoad.com has a custom version of Nancy Chandler's hand-drawn Khao San Road & Phra Athit map — the kind of illustrated map that Bangkok backpackers have relied on since the 1980s. Nancy and her daughter Nima walked these sois on foot, marking every roti cart, guesthouse, and temple gate by hand. We hosted the original on this site years ago, and we're bringing it back.

Download the Nancy Chandler Khao San Road Map (PDF, 6MB)

Note: This is the classic edition — some businesses will have changed, but the streets, temples, and landmarks are timeless. For the latest Nancy Chandler maps, check nancychandler.net.

The Four Zones of Banglamphu

Banglamphu isn't just Khao San Road — it's a neighborhood with distinct pockets, each with its own energy. Knowing the zones is the real map.

Khao San Road (the neon spine)

Short, loud, and proud. Khao San runs roughly east–west between Tanao Road and Chakrabongse Road. By day, T-shirt racks and massage chairs. By night, buckets, bass, and farang practicing their best sawadee. Street food leans touristy here — fun, but we usually eat around the edges and come to Khao San for bars, people-watching, and that absurd sense of sanuk.

• Scene: EDM and sing-alongs, plastic stools spilling into the street
• Watch-outs: touts, overpriced tuk-tuks, knock-off everything
• Good for: a first beer, a last beer, or a dance floor that won't judge

Soi Rambuttri (leafy loop)

Rambuttri curls behind Wat Chana Songkhram like a lazy khlong. Two halves: the quieter curve by Rambuttri Village Inn and the busier strip linking back to Khao San near Susie Walking Street. Think fairy lights, grilled chicken skewers, cheap open-air massage, and a pad kra pao that tastes better just because there's a fan pointed at you.

• Scene: mellow cafes, late roti, acoustic sets
• Good for: budget eats, foot rubs, staying central without sleeping on a subwoofer

Phra Athit Road (riverside grown-up)

Follow the breeze north to Phra Athit and the Chao Phraya. Students from Thammasat mix with expats, and bars tuck into shophouses. Santi Chai Prakan Park and Phra Sumen Fort catch golden hour perfectly. The river pier (N13) is your lifeline — hop boats to temples without touching Bangkok traffic.

• Scene: craft beer, jazz, and river air
• Good for: dates, sunsets, boat rides

Banglamphu Backstreets (Samsen, Dinso, Tanao, Chakrabongse)

Banglamphu is the wider neighborhood holding all this together. Samsen Road has guesthouses and a legendary blues bar. Dinso Road leads you toward City Hall and old-school noodle shops. Tanao Road is your north–south anchor — cross it for day markets and legit breakfast stalls.

• Scene: everyday Bangkok — uniforms at lunch, laundry fluttering, cats that own the soi
• Good for: real prices, real food, real quiet after midnight

Walking Routes & Times to Major Landmarks

Bangkok's old town is compact if you're willing to sweat. Here are our go-to routes from Khao San, hugging shade where possible.

Grand Palace & Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew)

• Time: 20–25 minutes, 1.6 km
• Route: From the west end of Khao San, take Soi Chana Songkhram to Phra Athit Road. Cut through Santi Chai Prakan Park along the river, then follow Na Phra Lan Road past the amulet market. Stick to the shaded side.
• Tip: Dress properly (shoulders and knees). Opens 8:30 AM. Get there by 8:15 to beat the buses. Entry ~500 baht.

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

• Time: 30–35 minutes on foot, or 15 minutes by boat
• Walk: From Khao San's east end, head down Tanao to Sanam Luang, then skirt the south edge to Maha Rat Road. Cross to Tha Tien market and follow signs.
• Boat: From Phra Arthit Pier (N13), ride south to Tha Tien (N8). Five-minute walk from the pier.
• Tip: Massage school closes earlier than the temple — plan post-temple foot bliss. Entry ~200 baht.

Democracy Monument

• Time: 10–12 minutes, 800 m
• Route: Walk straight down Khao San's east end to Tanao, then left on Ratchadamnoen Klang toward the big traffic circle. Wide sidewalks, some shade.

The Golden Mount (Wat Saket)

• Time: 25–30 minutes, 2 km
• Route: From Khao San, take Tanao south to Dinso, pass City Hall, then continue to Boriphat. Stairs wind up the mount. Bells, breeze, views.
• Tip: Go at 5 PM for sunset and fewer school groups. Entry ~50 baht.

Chinatown (Yaowarat)

• Time: 45 minutes walk; 20 minutes by boat + short hop
• Boat: Phra Arthit (N13) to Ratchawong (N5), then 10-minute stroll onto Yaowarat Road. Night truly wakes up after 7 PM.

Hydration warning: Bangkok heat humbles heroes. Plan loops with a 7-Eleven pit stop every 20 minutes. Water 10–15 baht, electrolyte drinks 20–30 baht.

Transport Links: BTS/MRT, Boats, Buses, Taxis

River Boats (Chao Phraya Express)

• Nearest pier: Phra Arthit (N13) on Phra Athit Road
• Lines: Orange Flag boats run roughly 6 AM–7 PM, every 10–15 minutes
• Fares: 16–20 baht depending on distance
• Key stops: Tha Chang (N9) for Grand Palace, Tha Tien (N8) for Wat Pho, Sathorn (Central Pier) for the BTS at Saphan Taksin
• Tip: Pay onboard; ignore freelance "guides" selling tours on the pier

MRT (Subway) and BTS (Skytrain)

• MRT Sam Yot: ~20-minute walk via Maha Chai Road; handy for Chinatown and Rattanakosin
• MRT Sanam Chai: Good for Wat Pho/Museum Siam; reach it faster by boat to Tha Tien, then a short walk
• BTS: No station in the old town. Connect via river boat to BTS Saphan Taksin at Sathorn Pier
• Fares: 17–50 baht depending on distance. Trains 6 AM–midnight

Buses

Ratchadamnoen Klang and Phra Athit see regular city buses. Classics like 15 (toward Siam/MBK area) and 47 (toward Hua Lamphong) roll by often. Fares: non-A/C 8–11 baht; A/C 12–30 baht. Have coins.

Taxis, Ride-Hail, and Tuk-Tuks

• Taxi pickup points we use: the police booth at Khao San's west end (near Wat Chana Songkhram) and the Burger King corner at the east end by Tanao Road — clearer for drivers
• Grab/Bolt: Reliable, usually cheaper than negotiating. Pin "Soi Rambuttri" or "Santi Chai Prakan Park" for clean pickups
• Tuk-tuks: Fun, pricey. Short hops 80–150 baht; don't accept 200 baht to go two sois

Where to Stay Near Khao San Road

We sleep around here a lot — sometimes by choice, sometimes because "one last Beer Lao" multiplied.

• Dang Derm Khaosan: Rooftop pool, big rooms, you're on the strip without having to hear it (much) once the balcony door shuts. Solid value. Budget–mid.
• NapPark Hostel (Tani Road): Clean dorms, a shady common area, and staff who'll scribble better food intel on your map than we will. Budget.
• Riva Surya Bangkok (Phra Athit): River breeze, pool overlooking longtails, and Babble & Rum downstairs does a mean khao soi. Pricey for Banglamphu but the pool is unbeatable. Midrange.

For the full list with vibes and price ranges: Best Khao San hotels.

Food, Bars & Late-Night Essentials

Street Food

• Rambuttri Banana Roti Cart (east end): Crispy-chewy, 30–60 baht. Open late until the oil runs out
• Som Tam & Gai Yang Cart (Rambuttri middle): Green papaya salad pounded to order, grilled chicken. 40–70 baht. Ask for "phet nid noi" for just a little spice
• Boat Noodles on Dinso Road (near City Hall): Tiny bowls, big flavor. 15–20 baht a bowl; stack three or four. Lunch only
• Pad Thai Thip Samai (Mahachai Road): Not strictly Khao San, but a 20-minute walk. The orange-robe pad thai is hype-worthy. Expect a queue after 6 PM

Bars and Live Music

• Brick Bar (inside the Buddy Lodge arcade on Khao San): Ska, reggae, Thai indie bands; the dance floor that forgives all. Cover most nights after 9 PM
• Adhere the 13th (Samsen Soi 1): Blues bar with soul, sweat, and no patience for posers. Go early; it's small

Late-Night Essentials

• 7-Eleven: Several along Khao San and Rambuttri — working ATMs and sit-down nooks
• Pharmacies: Boots/Watsons on Tanao and independent chemists on Rambuttri for rehydration salts and mosquito spray
• Cash: Multiple ATMs on Tanao and Rambuttri; watch the 220 baht withdrawal fee

Know Before You Go

• Heat & hydration: Hat, sunscreen, and two waters per hour if you're walking midday
• Temples: Shoulders and knees covered. Light scarf in your daypack saves you a rental fee
• Scams: Anyone telling you "temple closed, special tour" is selling a detour. Smile, wai, keep walking
• Noise: Khao San is engineered for decibels. If you're a delicate sleeper, stay on Rambuttri or Phra Athit
• Money: Many small spots are cash-only. ATMs eat 220 baht per foreign withdrawal

Getting to Khao San Road

• From Suvarnabhumi (BKK): Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai, taxi/Grab 15–20 minutes from there (120–180 baht). Or taxi direct 300–450 baht plus tolls; insist on the meter
• From Don Mueang (DMK): A3/A4 airport buses head toward Khao San/Banglamphu; cheap and easy
• Across the river: Cross-river ferry from Tha Tien to Wang Lang runs all day for coins

Still hungry for intel? Dip into our deeper dives: Where to party on Khao San and Street food in Banglamphu. We'll be on the corner of Rambuttri with a banana roti, eyes on the river, plotting the next walk at sunset by Phra Sumen Fort.